Hạ Long brings together a wide range of ways to explore: historic monuments, a beach for swimming and strolling, and theme parks with water and amusement rides. The places below offer specific points of interest, from the history of Bài Thơ Mountain to the attractions in Bãi Cháy.
History at Bài Thơ Mountain
Bài Thơ Mountain is in the center of Hạ Long. Together with Long Tiên Pagoda and Đức Ông Trần Quốc Nghiễn Temple, it forms part of a group of historic, cultural and scenic monuments that was designated a national site in 1992. The temple itself, in the Hồng Gai urban area, has also been designated a national historic and scenic monument since 1992. Its collection includes two stone steles and five ancient statues from the 13th century.
A specific story about the mountain is connected to an inscription: in 1468, Emperor Lê Thánh Tông had a poem carved into the southern face of its rock wall. Since then, the mountain has been known as Bài Thơ. Those interested in historic sites will find both the mountain’s significance and a traditional explanation of its name here.
Bãi Cháy: Beach and Theme Parks
Two of Sun World Ha Long’s major theme parks are located in Bãi Cháy. Dragon Park features the Lightning Dragon roller coaster, with a track up to 1.1 kilometers long; it is described as Asia’s longest high-speed roller coaster. Typhoon Water Park offers twelve water attractions, including a lazy river, a wave pool and several spiral slides. Individual attractions may change, so it is worth checking the latest information before visiting.
Sun World Ha Long also includes Sun Hill and the Queen Cable Car, which connects the areas. The cable car crosses the water and offers panoramic views of Cửa Lục Bay. It connects Bãi Cháy across the bay to Ba Đèo Hill; check its availability before your trip. At Bãi Cháy Beach, you can swim or stroll along the shore. This means you can treat beach time and the parks as different priorities for your stay, without combining them into a fixed order of visits.
Museum, Library and Culture on the Water
The Quảng Ninh Museum and Library are in the center of Hạ Long, on the shore of Hạ Long Bay. The program launched on May 30, 2026, included artistic light installations, special nighttime photo spots, and art and music performances on weekends. It also featured film screenings for children and visitors, a reading area with more than 2,200 books, and spaces for experiences, food, drinks and local OCOP products. Program details may change; check the latest information when planning a visit.
The floating Cửa Vạn Cultural Center offers a different cultural experience. It displays collected artifacts and images from the fishing village of Cửa Vạn across six themed areas: nature and people, livelihoods, material life, life on the water, spirituality and intellectual life. The center also offers insights into the daily life, cultural characteristics and customs of a fishing community living on Hạ Long Bay. Previous themed exhibitions have focused on the daily lives of fishermen in Cửa Vạn and the traditional, simple fishing equipment used by Hạ Long’s fishermen.
Getting Around and Activities Nearby
Route 01 connects central Hạ Long with the Bãi Cháy tourist area. If you plan to use this connection, check the schedule and fares before your trip. Tuan Chau International Passenger Port has a travel information center and an integrated online ticket booking system. These facilities may also change, so check their current status in advance if needed.
Nearby in Hạ Long, children can sow, plant and harvest vegetables at Tuan Chau Farm. This is another type of activity, distinct from the historic sites, beach and parks. When planning, the key is to decide which of these activities you actually want to visit.
Find the Right Hotel for Your Priorities
Route 01 connects the center with Bãi Cháy; check the Queen Cable Car’s availability.
Discover more destinations: Tp. Móng Cái, Thành phố Cẩm Phả, tp. Cẩm Phả
Return to the regional travel overview: Quảng Ninh.
