HA LONG BAY WEATHER, CLIMATE AND HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Ha Long Bay Weather
and Climate
Ha Long Bay is in
North Eastern Vietnam. The coast stretches a vast 120km from Yen Hung to Van
Don. It has a tropical climate with two
distinct seasons: a hot and humid summer and a cold and drier winter. Ha Long
Bay’s average temperature is
from 15°C- 25°C. Follow the link for a current weather forecast if planning a
visit to Ha Long Bay, as the island experiences annual rainfall from
between 2 meters and 2.2 meters, so choose the best time to go!
The summer months in Ha Long Bay (June
to August), are generally much wetter, due to the tropical rainstorms. Average
temperatures range between lows of 17°C to highs of 32°C. In general August is
the hottest time of the year to visit, however also the wettest. Rainfall has
been recorded at approximately 265 millimetres, with the average rain or
drizzle falling on 14 days of the month. Sunshine throughout these months range
between 8-9 hours per day. Night time temperatures rarely drop
below 25°C, providing a very warm
evening.
During the winter months (November-February), Ha Long Bay's climate
tends to be a lot drier and cooler, making it the 'low season' to visit. Temperatures
range from lows of 0°C to highs of 24°C. There is usually around 5 to 8 hours
of sunshine per day, with November being the sunniest month. During these months
the humidity is approximately 83% and the average rainfall is 23mm, with the
wettest month being January. In general, these months usually present fog, and
tend to have low visibility.
Ha Long Bay Holiday
and tourist information
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located
in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The
bay consists of a broad cluster of over 3,000 limestone monolithic islands, each
topped with thick jungle vegetation. Some of the islands are hollow, with
enormous caves. Ha Long Bay is an
amazing seascape, sculpted by nature itself. Most of the islands are
uninhabited, because of their rocky nature. Significant features of Ha Long Bay
include the well developed limestone caves with pillars, notches and arches. In
addition, there are many lakes within the limestone islands. Also, there are
caves and grottos, filled with small waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors
can rent a kayak or a junk boat to explore the different islands.
The bay maintains a high level of naturalness, despite its
long history of human use. Many tourists visit Ha Long Bay each year, to feast
their eyes on its’ amazing limestone islands, rock formations and caves. The
islands and islets have odd shapes because rainwater has worked its way through
the limestone. Every year, heavy tropical rains wash out limestone and carve
out the odd shapes, creating caves and grottos. This phenomenon is called a
tower karst. Therefore, it is recommended that you view our rain charts before
planning your visit to Ha Long bay.
In contrast to the rest of the world, land formations in Ha
Long Bay are standing in the water, and the ocean waves continue to carve the
shoreline, deepening the caves and changing the face of the cliffs and grottos.
Ha Long Bay Tourist
Attractions
Dau Go Grotto Is one of the most famous caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave’s name is
derived from 13th century, when General Tran Hung Dao used the cave to hide his
lethally sharpened wooden stakes. These weapons were used later to destroy
enemy Mongol fleets.
Thien Cung Cave was discovered
recently in the mid-1990s on Dau Go Island. The cave can be reached by a steep
flight of steps. It is illuminated by floodlights in pink, green and blue that
draw attention to the sparkling stalactites that hang from the high ceiling.
Sung Sot Cave
Hang Sung Sot is located on Bo Hon Island, it is known as “The Cave of Awe” and
it features three chambers. The first cavern features a large rock that is lit
in pink. This rock is worshiped as a fertility symbol by the locals.
Dong Tam Cung is a large karst fissure; it consists of three chambers that are
full of stalactites and stalagmites. All three grottoes are illuminated by
strategically placed spotlights, which emphasize the variety of stalactites.
Trong Cave is southeast of Hang Bo Nau. It is known as the “Drum Cave” because
it echoes faintly with a percussive sound when a swift wind blows past its
stalactites and stalagmites.
Tuan Chau Island is a large island to the south of Bai Chay. It has been
developed as a recreation complex. The island provides tourist entertainment in
the form of whale, dolphin, and sea lion shows. Visitors can also relax on the
sandy beach and enjoy local cuisine at a number of seafood restaurants there.
Titop Island
Titop Island boasts an isolated beach that is great for swimming. You can hike
to the top of the islet to see the breath-taking view of Ha Long Bay. Visitors
can enjoy a number of water-sports facilities available at the small beach,
including parasailing.
Top Cultural Tips for Ha Long Bay
Dress code- Respect other cultures and abide local dress
attire. Woman's tops should cover their shoulders and both men and woman's
shorts should go to their knees, or longer. Shoes should be removed when
entering temples, and other religious sites.
Greeting the locals- Instead of shaking hands, it is
tradition in Vietnam to press your hands together in front of your chest and
bow slightly.
Watch out for your chopsticks- In Asia, incense sticks are
burned for the dead as a sign of respect. Therefore leaving chopsticks
vertical, in this fashion, is a powerful symbol and unappreciated.
Remove those shoes- When entering someone's home, it is
tradition to remove your shoes. Vietnamese maintain clean floors, therefore it
is deemed rude to keep shoes on. Also, never point the bottom of your feet
towards other people or anything sacred such as a Buddha. Again this is seen as
disrespectful and rude. Embrace the culture!