Long Khanh Island: Ha Long Bay’s Hidden Gem Ashore

Quick Facts: Port — Long Khanh Island, Ha Long Bay | Country — Vietnam | Terminal — Ha Long Bay floating dock/pier (no dedicated cruise terminal building) | Tender or small boat transfer from anchor point | Distance to Ha Long City center — approx. 8–12 km by road/boat | Time zone — ICT (UTC+7)

Long Khanh Island sits within the UNESCO-listed waters of Ha Long Bay, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatic seascapes — a karst limestone landscape scattered with nearly 2,000 islands rising from jade-green water. Most cruise calls here anchor offshore, using tenders or local wooden junks to bring passengers ashore, so build an extra 20–30 minutes into your timing each way. Your single most important planning tip: confirm your ship’s tender schedule the night before, because this bay’s weather can delay small boat operations with little warning.

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Port & Terminal Information

Long Khanh Island does not have a purpose-built international cruise terminal. Ships anchor in designated Ha Long Bay anchorage zones, and passengers are ferried ashore by tender or traditional wooden junk to a floating pontoon or small pier. Find your approximate disembarkation point on Google Maps.

• Terminal facilities: Extremely basic at the island pier — no ATMs, no luggage storage, no Wi-Fi, and no formal tourist info desk onshore at the tender point. Bring cash and download offline maps before you leave the ship.
• Shuttle: No official shuttle. Ground transport into Ha Long City requires either a pre-arranged taxi/minibus or a tour.
• Distance to Ha Long City center: 8–12 km depending on your pier; approximately 25–35 minutes by road once you’re on the mainland.

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Getting to the City

• On Foot — The island itself is walkable for beaches and local trails, but Ha Long City is not walkable from here. Plan on transport.
• Bus — Local buses (Route 10 and Route 203) run between Ha Long Bay area piers and Ha Long City. Fare roughly 10,000–20,000 VND (under $1 USD). Frequency every 20–30 minutes, journey 30–40 minutes — useful if you’ve made it to a mainland pier first.
• Taxi — Metered taxis (Mai Linh or G7 are reputable) charge approximately 150,000–250,000 VND ($6–10 USD) from the main pier area to Ha Long City center. Always insist on the meter; tourist flat-rate offers tend to run 2–3x higher. Grab app works here and is strongly recommended to avoid overcharging.
• Hop-On Hop-Off — No HOHO bus operates in Ha Long Bay. Skip this option.
• Rental Scooter — Possible in Ha Long City proper (around 150,000–200,000 VND/day) but not practical from the island pier itself. Better suited to full-day independent explorers already on the mainland.
• Ship Shore Excursion — Worth every dong here. The logistics of tendering, finding reliable transport, and navigating between limestone islands on your own are genuinely complex. For a first visit, a ship excursion or a pre-booked tour through Viator or GetYourGuide is the smarter call.

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Top Things to Do in Long Khanh Island Vietnam

Ha Long Bay rewards depth — the more slowly you move through it, the more it gives you. Here are the experiences worth your hours ashore.

Must-See

1. Ha Long Bay Junk Cruise (from $29 USD) — The quintessential experience: gliding between limestone karsts on a traditional wooden junk, stopping at caves and floating villages. Even a half-day version transforms your understanding of this place. Book the Ha Long Bay Day Tour with Lunch, Cave Explore & Titop Island on Viator 🎟 Book: Ha Long Bay Day Tour with Lunch, Cave Explore & Titop Island. Allow 6 hours minimum.

2. Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) (~$8–12 USD entry) — Ha Long Bay’s largest and most impressive grotto, with cathedral-sized chambers and surreal stalactite formations. Go early before tour groups arrive. 1–1.5 hours.

3. Titop Island (~$4 USD landing fee) — Climb 400 steps to a panoramic hilltop lookout with a 360° view of the bay, or swim the small crescent beach below. The view from the top is genuinely the best in Ha Long Bay. 🎟 Book: A Perfect Day in Ha Long Bay: Cruise, Explore, Island and Unwind 1–2 hours.

Beaches & Nature

4. Long Khanh Island Beach (free) — The island’s own beach is quiet, pebbly-sandy, and backed by jungle. Far fewer visitors than Titop — good for a calm swim or a walk. 1 hour.

5. Kayaking in Luon Cave (from $41 USD) — Paddle through a low limestone arch into a hidden lagoon ringed by jungle-draped cliffs. One of the bay’s most peaceful and magical experiences — you’ll understand why the moment you emerge inside. Book the Ha Long Bay excursion with Titop Island and kayaking in Luon Cave on Viator. 🎟 Book: Excursion to Ha Long Bay with Titop Island and kayaking in Luon Cave 2–3 hours.

6. Floating Fishing Villages (free to view, small boat hire ~$5–8 USD) — Visit Vung Vieng or Cua Van, where families live year-round on the water in wooden houses. A quietly extraordinary glimpse into a disappearing way of life. 1–2 hours.

Day Trips

7. Ha Long City Market & Bai Chay Beach (free) — Ha Long City’s waterfront promenade and local market are worth 2 hours if you’re heading to the mainland. Good for souvenirs and a bowl of bún bò.

8. Full-Day Phoenix Cruise (from $55.56 USD) — If your ship allows enough time, a full-day cruise hits multiple islands, caves, and beaches in one go. The Vietnam: Ha Long Bay Tour by Phoenix Cruise on Viator covers the highlights in 10 hours. 🎟 Book: Vietnam: Ha Long Bay Tour by Phoenix Cruise

Family Picks

9. Titop Island Swimming Beach (~$4 USD) — Kids love the sheltered beach and the manageable hike up top. Calm, clear water, life jackets available from vendors. 2 hours.

10. Vietnam Cooking Class Ashore (from $85 USD) — Shore-based cooking experiences introduce kids and adults alike to Vietnamese flavour-building with fresh local ingredients. Book A Taste of Vietnam on Viator. 4 hours.

Off the Beaten Track

11. Dau Go Cave (entry included in most bay tickets) — Less visited than Sung Sot but equally spectacular, with vivid stalactite formations and a quieter atmosphere. Early morning is nearly empty. 1 hour.

12. Cat Ba Island ferry crossing (ferry ~$3–5 USD one-way) — For independent travelers with a full day, the ferry to Cat Ba Island gives access to a national park, limestone trails, and excellent seafood at a fraction of tourist-zone prices. 3–4 hours round trip minimum.

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What to Eat & Drink

Ha Long Bay’s food culture is built around the sea — grilled squid, steamed clams with lemongrass, and whole steamed fish with ginger arrive at every waterside restaurant, usually priced by weight and absurdly fresh. On the mainland in Ha Long City, the night market near Bai Chay Bridge is the place to eat like a local.

• Grilled Squid (mực nướng) — Charcoal-grilled whole on a stick; every pier and market stall; 30,000–60,000 VND ($1.50–2.50)
• Bún bò Huế — Spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup; local lunch canteens; 40,000–60,000 VND ($2–3)
• Chả mực (squid cake) — Ha Long’s signature street snack, deep-fried and chewy; found at Bai Chay market; 20,000–30,000 VND
• Steamed clams with lemongrass — Order by the kilo at waterfront restaurants; 80,000–150,000 VND/kg ($3.50–6.50)
• Bia Hơi (draft beer) — Fresh Vietnamese draught beer, brewed daily; Ha Long City street corners; 5,000–10,000 VND a glass
• Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls) — Breakfast staple with pork and mushroom, served with nuoc cham; local cafés; 30,000–50,000 VND

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Shopping

Ha Long City’s Bai Chay tourist strip offers lacquerware, pearl jewellery (Ha Long pearls are the real deal — look for reputable shops with certification), hand-embroidered silk, and dried seafood to take home. The floating market vendors near the bay piers sell the same items at higher prices — charming to browse, but don’t buy there.

Skip mass-produced “Vietnamese handicraft” items (usually made elsewhere) and the cheap pearl pieces with no provenance. Focus on freshwater pearl earrings and pendants from Ha Long Pearl shops on the Bai Chay strip ($10–60 USD for genuine pieces), loose dried squid and shrimp for cooking gifts, and quality lacquerware from established dealers.

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How to Plan Your Day

• 4 hours ashore: Tender ashore → walk Long Khanh Island beach → kayak or small

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🎟️ Things to Book in Advance

These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.

This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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📍 Getting to Long Khanh Island Vietnam

Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.