Bai Tu Long National Park

National Park Vietnamese bay park with karst islands and seascapes

Off Vietnam’s northeastern coast, Bai Tu Long National Park shares Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts; visitors take overnight boat cruises, kayak among isolated islets and visit fishing villages beyond the main tourist routes.

Overview Bai Tu Long National Park is a marine and island-protected area in Quang Ninh province in northeastern Vietnam, adjacent to the better-known Ha Long Bay. It conserves limestone karsts, islands and marine waters in the Gulf of Tonkin.

What visitors find Boating among karst islands, sea-cave exploration and shoreline fishing villages are the primary visitor activities. The park is often visited as an alternative to Ha Long Bay for quieter cruises, kayak trips and island stops among dozens of limestone islets. Wildlife and marine habitats are a focus of conservation across the park’s islands and waters.

History The area was designated for protection to preserve its karst islands and marine ecosystems and to manage tourism activity in proximity to Ha Long Bay. Protected-area status sets regulations for development and resource use across islands and waters.

Location The park sits off the northeastern coast of Vietnam in Quang Ninh province, north of Ha Long city and within the Gulf of Tonkin.

Relation to Ha Long Bay: The park lies immediately to the northeast of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province and is a less-crowded marine area of limestone karsts and islands.

How to Get to Bai Tu Long National Park #

Bai Tu Long National Park (Bai Tu Long Bay) is accessed by boat from Ha Long City (Hon Gai) or from Van Don/Cai Rong in Quang Ninh Province. From Hanoi there are regular tourist shuttle buses and private cars running east on National Highway 18 to Ha Long/Van Don - the drive is about 160-170 km (roughly 3-4 hours depending on traffic). From Hon Gai or Van Don take scheduled boats, day‑tours or overnight junks to islands within Bai Tu Long; boarding is at the city’s main tourist piers and boats land at designated islands and beaches.

Tips for Visiting Bai Tu Long National Park #

Choose an overnight cruise that visits Bai Tu Long (departures from Ha Long/Hon Gai) rather than a same‑day tour - overnight itineraries get you into the park's quieter lagoons and villages before the daytime crowds arrive.
Opt for itineraries that include Cong Do and Vung Vieng or small fishing villages; these areas of Bai Tu Long are less visited than central Halong and reward visitors with quieter anchorages and local community visits.
Book with an operator that handles park permits and mentions Bai Tu Long specifically - that ensures your boat goes into the national park area rather than staying in the busier Halong Bay corridors.