An independent guide to Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long
Understand the bays
Kayaking, swimming and beaches, by season
Kayaking and swimming are the two things most people want to do on the water, and both depend on rules and seasons that change. This page sets out where kayaks are allowed, what has closed, and when the sea is warm enough.
The season chart
Our reading of the climate data cited below: filled = generally comfortable, half = workable with trade-offs, empty = cold water, heavy rain or storm risk likely.
| Month | Sea °C | Air max °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | 20 | 27 |
| Feb | 19 | 20 | 31 |
| Mar | 20 | 23 | 43 |
| Apr | 23 | 27 | 91 |
| May | 27 | 31 | 168 |
| Jun | 29 | 32 | 244 |
| Jul | 29 | 32 | 267 |
| Aug | 30 | 32 | 312 |
| Sep | 29 | 31 | 206 |
| Oct | 28 | 29 | 119 |
| Nov | 25 | 25 | 55 |
| Dec | 22 | 22 | 24 |
Swimming is comfortable for most people from May to October, when the sea is 27 to 30°C. July to September are the warmest months but also the stormiest, so a swim stop is the first thing dropped when the weather turns. Kayaking works in a wider window, since a calm, cool day in March or December is pleasant on the water.
Sources: weather2travel — Ha Long Bay monthly climate averages (CRU and Met Office data) · last checked .
Kayaking on Ha Long Bay: where it is allowed
Kayaking on Ha Long Bay is permitted only at designated spots, and the list changes as areas are opened or closed for conservation and safety reasons. A tour company's 2025 guide gives the recent pattern:
- Luon Cave: a lagoon reached through a low tunnel, passable only at high tide, with a limit on kayaks per hour.
- Cong La – Ba Hang area: open only from October to March.
- Vung Vieng fishing village: allowed, keeping a minimum distance from homes.
- Cap La, Sang and Toi caves: need permission or prior authorisation.
- Closed: Thien Cung since 2024, Mat Rong island for ecological restoration, and Sung Sot, which is boat-only.
Life jackets are compulsory, guides need a permit, and landing on some islets is forbidden. Rental was reported at about 150,000 VND an hour where you hire directly; on most trips kayaks are arranged by the boat.
Sources: Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company) · last checked .
Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long
Lan Ha is the bay most associated with kayaking, and it has the most unsettled rules. Kayak services there were suspended in 2024 pending new regulations; the 2025 guide above lists Lan Ha as open again. We could not find an official Hai Phong notice setting out the current areas. Ask whoever runs your trip whether kayaking is licensed for your date, and where.
In Bai Tu Long, kayaking around the lagoons and passages near Cong Dam and Cap La is the highlight of most itineraries, according to a commercial guide, and paddling round Vung Vieng is allowed. Basic fitness is enough; expect to get wet.
Sources: Wikipedia — Lan Hạ Bay; Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company); Vietnamtourism.com — Bai Tu Long Bay overview (commercial guide) · last checked .
Where to swim
| Place | Bay | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Ti Top beach | Ha Long Bay | Small crescent beach below the viewpoint; basic showers; pebbles and coral underfoot; crowded at midday |
| Bai Chay beach | Ha Long city | Artificial beach about 1 km long; free; lifeguards in peak season; calm and shallow |
| Van Boi and Van Ha beaches | Lan Ha Bay | Small coves noted for snorkelling; reached by boat |
| Coves around Cat Ba | Lan Ha Bay | One count gives 139 small beaches in Lan Ha; the nearest to town fill first |
| Small beaches such as Ban Chan | Bai Tu Long | Swim stops on some trips; autumn has the clearest water |
Sources: Local Vietnam — Ti Top Island guide (independent guide); Bai Chay beach guide (published by a cruise company); Vietnam News Agency — Ha Long Bay–Cat Ba Archipelago, a world natural heritage; Wikipedia — Lan Hạ Bay; Vietnamtourism.com — Bai Tu Long Bay overview (commercial guide) · last checked .
What to bring and wear
- Swimwear under your clothes: changing space at landing stages and beaches is limited.
- Water shoes or sandals with a strap, for pebbly beaches, wet steps and getting in and out of a kayak.
- A hat, sunscreen and a long-sleeved top; reflected light off the water burns faster than you expect.
- A dry bag for phone, cash and passport copy, and a small towel.
- In the cool months, a windproof layer for the deck and the ride back from a kayak stop.
Most boats provide kayaks, paddles and life jackets; few provide snorkelling gear in good condition, so bring your own mask if snorkelling in Lan Ha matters to you.
Staying safe on the water
- Wear the life jacket you are given, in a kayak and on the boat's tender. The UK Foreign Office advises a full safety briefing and a life jacket on any boat.
- Swim only at stops your crew chooses, and not from a moving or anchored boat in a busy channel.
- Watch the sky in summer. The boat that capsized on 19 July 2025 was hit by a sudden afternoon thunderstorm.
- Do not paddle into caves or tunnels near the turn of the tide unless a guide is with you: the Luon tunnel is passable only at high tide.
- Keep your phone in a dry bag, and take water and sun protection; there is little shade on the water.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; Tuoi Tre News — loopholes found after the July 2025 capsizing; Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company) · last checked .
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Is kayaking allowed in Ha Long Bay?
Yes, at designated spots such as the Luon Cave lagoon and around Vung Vieng, with life jackets. Some areas, including Thien Cung and Sung Sot, are closed to kayaks.
When is the sea warm enough to swim?
From about May to October, when the sea averages 27 to 30°C. From December to March it drops to about 19 to 22°C.
Is Lan Ha Bay open for kayaking now?
It was suspended in 2024 and reported open again in 2025. Confirm with your boat for your date.
Can I swim at Bai Chay beach?
Yes. It is free, with lifeguards and marked areas in the peak season.
Related
Read next
The bays · Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay
The bay beside Cat Ba: beaches, kayaking status, getting there, seasons, costs and when to skip it.
Read more
Understand the bays
Caves and islands
Access notes for Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Ti Top, Cua Van and Vung Vieng: routes, steps and crowds.
Read more
Plan the dates
Weather by month
Temperatures, rain, sea temperature, typhoon season and what happens when boats are kept in port.
Read more
The bays · Ha Long city
Ha Long city
The city where most trips start: Bai Chay, Hon Gai, the beach, Sun World, markets, food and when to skip it.
Read more
The bays · Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long Bay
The quieter bay to the north-east: Vung Vieng, the national park, piers, seasons, costs and when to skip it.
Read more
Understand the bays
Which bay
What Ha Long, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long are each like, and who each one suits.
Read more
Start planning
Send a correction or a question
Tell us which page you mean, what you found, and when. A link to an official notice or a photo of a ticket helps us check it quickly.