Bai Tu Long Bay - new symbol of Quang Ninh tourism

Welcoming the summer tourist season this year, along with many new and diverse and attractive tourism products, visitors to Quang Ninh cannot miss the wonderful experiences on the journey to Bai Tu Long Bay - a beautiful island sea area, possessing a system of large and small rocky islands and land islands,   pristine beaches, precious nature reserves and unique cultural and historical values.

New and attractive destination

Bai Tu Long is famous for its system of majestic islands, caves, and beautiful and pristine beaches. Bai Tu Long National Park, located in the Bai Tu Long Bay complex, was recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park by the ASEAN Biodiversity Center in 2017. In particular, the landscape value of Bai Tu Long Bay is suitable for year-round tourism development with many attractive types of tourism, such as: sightseeing, swimming, boating, parasailing, recreational fishing, and various types of ecotourism...

Bai Tu Long is different from Ha Long Bay because it has a system of inhabited islands where visitors can experience the lives of the people; some islands have beautiful beaches, many developed coral reefs, and the ability to build nature reserves and ecological parks to serve tourism and resort development.

The amazing nature with overlapping small islands of Bai Tu Long Bay seen from above. Photo: Khanh Giang

On July 19, 2024, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province issued Decision No. 2119/QD-UBND on announcing sightseeing and tourism itineraries on Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Of which, 8 sightseeing and tourism itineraries on Ha Long Bay, 10 itineraries on Bai Tu Long Bay and 3 itineraries connecting Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay were announced.

At the end of March, Quang Ninh officially opened sightseeing and tourism tours to Bai Tu Long Bay, including: Ao Tien Port - Tay Hoi Island - Lucky Cat Islet (Lazy Cat Islet) - Ban Sen Island - Nha Tro Cave; Ao Tien Port - Phat Co Cave - Pearl Farm (Black Stone Islet) - Lao Vong Sluice - Du Islet (Du Islet) - Minh Chau Island;   Ao Tien Port - Hon Xep Park itinerary; Ao Tien Port - Lao Vong fishing village - Tra Ngo big island - Thien Nga island; Ao Tien Port - Cai De area - Mang Ha overnight anchorage; Ao Tien Port - Tra Than lagoon (Tra Ngo big island) - Cai Lim beach - Mang Ha overnight anchorage - Cai De area.

Lao Vong fishing village on Bai Tu Long Bay.

Each journey offers different experiences, from enjoying the majestic natural landscape to learning about the cultural life of local fishermen. Tourists not only visit and relax at famous places such as Quan Lan and Minh Chau islands, but also learn and explore new attractive destinations, such as: Phat Co Island where Phat Co Cave is located - the second largest cave in Bai Tu Long Bay, visitors can experience kayaking, explore the floating farm growing carrageenan on the sea surface or relax at the pristine, beautiful beach on the island.

Or the pearl farm in the Black Rock area is also an interesting stop for tourists to learn about the pearl farming process because the pearls here are not only beautiful in color and large in size but are also considered to be premium pearls, with the best quality in the world. The boat passes through Hon Qua, Cong Lao Vong, Hon Dua, tourists can sit on the boat to sightsee, take souvenir photos...

Cai De Cave in Bai Tu Long National Park. Photo: Ngoc Mai

Taking Bai Tu Long tourism to the next level

Along with possessing beautiful natural landscapes, Bai Tu Long Bay is converging all the opportunities to develop tourism with a very favorable location, located about 100km from Mong Cai International Border Gate and adjacent to the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay; has a convenient transportation system by road, sea and air, and is also the gateway to connect with Co To, the island routes of Da Dung (Dam Ha), Cai Chien (Hai Ha), Vinh Trung, Vinh Thuc, Tra Co (Mong Cai) ... The accommodation system with large resort complexes has been formed in Van Don such as: Wyndham Sonasea Van Don, Angsana Quan Lan; coming soon is a complex of more than 1,000 rooms of Ao Tien tourist area.

The pristine Minh Chau beach is about 2km long and is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Gulf of Tonkin. Photo: Tuan Hung

Right after the announcement ceremony of the opening of Bai Tu Long Bay tourism itineraries, at Ao Tien International Passenger Port, there are tourist boats serving tourists visiting Bai Tu Long Bay every day. Notably, Quang Ninh province has not yet collected fees for visiting the routes on Bai Tu Long Bay, tourists only have to pay for boat tickets and port service fees. On the occasion of the upcoming April 30 - May 1 holiday, new tourist boats will be added to meet the peak demand for sightseeing and relaxation of tourists.

With the goal of expanding tourism space, turning Bai Tu Long Bay into a new and attractive destination for tourists, the province's sectors, units and enterprises are making efforts to prepare all conditions, creating a foundation for sustainable development of Bai Tu Long Bay tourism. Accordingly, the province will also supplement the necessary conditions to ensure the safety of inland waterway routes in Bai Tu Long Bay; arrange an overnight anchorage point in Bai Tu Long Bay; supplement planning to develop a system of ports and anchorages in Bai Tu Long Bay. At the same time, develop an investment plan, upgrade ports and anchorages in Bai Tu Long Bay; supplement types of means of tourism service suitable for connecting Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay to the plan to develop the fleet in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. It is expected that in 2025, the overnight anchorages will be completed to develop overnight ships in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Grand Pioneers luxury cruise of Viet Thuan Transport Company Limited with "Heritage Connection Journey" operates on Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay.

Along with that, localities, units and businesses also urgently participate in developing new tourism products in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay (including coastal areas and neighboring areas) to form a chain of connected tourism products.

Specifically: Cam Pha City actively surveys tours, routes, invests in anchoring points on Bai Tu Long Bay, expands experiences of marine farming areas associated with tourism development. Bai Tu Long National Park Management Board also develops tourism products associated with nature conservation. Ngoc Rong Cave Company Limited and Vung Duc Tourism Company Limited propose to organize art performances combined with cuisine at Vung Duc Cave (Cam Pha); operate a sightseeing boat route to Bai Tu Long Bay from Cam Pha and connect Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long. Vietnam Sightseeing Joint Stock Company is researching and developing double-decker bus services, coffee buses from Bai Chay - Hon Gai to Vung Duc (Cam Pha). Viet Thuan Company Limited completes tourism products connecting Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay. Mai Quyen Company Limited and CEO Van Don Company are researching and developing sightseeing and accommodation boats....

Bai Tu Long Bay is facing a golden opportunity to break through and become an attractive tourist destination, a new tourism symbol of Quang Ninh. We believe that with systematic planning, synchronous investment and unique tourism products, it will create a solid foundation for the sustainable development of Bai Tu Long Bay tourism, contributing to affirming the position of Quang Ninh on the world tourism map.

Nguyen Dung

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/vinh-bai-tu-long-bieu-tuong-moi-cua-du-lich-quang-ninh-3351542.html