Dinh Huong Islet In Halong Bay

With thousands of islands and islets, Halong Bay is like a geopark of the sea. The impacts of natural phenomena such as rain, wind as well as the erosion of sea water have contributed to the formation of various unique landforms, some of which even become an iconic image of Halong Bay. Dinh Huong Islet is one of the symbols like this. If you get a chance to visit Halong Bay, you should not ignore this exclusive site.

I. Highlights of Dinh Huong Islet

Dinh Huong Islet is about 2.5 kilometers from Tuan Chau Tourist Wharf, and it is one of the destinations included in the tour No.01 and No.05 in Halong Bay. Dinh Huong is located in the southeast of Dau Go Cave, which is near Cho Da and Con Meo islets. This islet is in the shape of a huge urn, a cult object that can be found in all temples and pagodas all over Vietnam. Due to its specific shape, this islet is called “Dinh Huong”, which means an urn.

Worshiping religious Gods and ancestors is a traditional trait in the concept and culture of Vietnamese. An urn is an indispensable item of this custom, so Dinh Huong Islet is considered as a sacred symbol in Halong Bay. Many tourists suppose that this islet looks like a front protecting Halong Bay. Besides, Dinh Huong Islet is also a symbol of safety and good luck for all tourists visiting Halong Bay.

You may find that Dinh Huong Islet looks quite familiar but you do not know where you have seen it. In fact, the image of Dinh Huong Islet appears in the note of 200,000 VND. Of all the famous sceneries of Vietnam, Dinh Huong Islet is chosen to print on the note because of its symbolic significance.

From afar, Dinh Huong Islet is outstanding in the area of Halong Bay with the shape like a huge urn with four legs when the tide goes down. When the tide goes up, the four legs of the urn are submerged completely under the sea water. When the tide is out, you can see the whole Dinh Huong Islet with all its beauty. The salty water of the sea has eroded the foot of Dinh Huong Islet for millions of years to form the shape of this islet that you can see nowadays. This islet is like an ancient ink-wash painting with the harmonious combination of mountains, wild plants and water.

Whenever seeing the image of Dinh Huong Islet in any posters or magazines, tourists will immediately think about the world heritage in Halong. Whenever mentioning Halong Bay, one of the worth-visiting places that tourists should not ignore is Dinh Huong Islet.

II. How to Get to Dinh Huong Islet?

To get to Dinh Huong Islet, you can choose to go on the available tour in Halong Bay, which are the tour No.01 and No.05. These cruises depart from Tuan Chau and Bai Chay tourist wharf everyday, so it is quite easy for you to choose a suitable ship to visit Halong Bay.

Both the tours No.01 and No.05 take you to visit some other famous attractions in Halong Bay such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Cho Da Islet, Ba Hang Fishing Village and Trong Mai Islet. These tours will finish within a day, so they are the best choices for those who cannot manage more time for their vacation. It will take you about 6 hour in total to finish the tour visiting Dinh Huong Islet as well as other famous sites of Halong Bay, and the price for a ticket is 290,000 VND.

Besides, in Halong Bay, if you travel in a large group of more than 20 people, you can hire a private ship to visit Halong Bay. This way allows you to arrange your own itinerary and manage your time better. If you want to visit Dinh Huong Islet, don’t forget to tell the ship owner before departing, and they will take you to wherever you want.

III. Nearby Attractions to Dinh Huong Islet

1. Thien Cung Cave

In the list of the most striking caves in Halong Bay, Thien Cung Cave should be listed on the top. The name “Thien Cung” evokes the image of a splendid palace in heaven, and like its name, Thien Cung Cave is such a marvellous place in the middle of Halong Bay. This cave includes a majestic system of stalagmites and stalactites, all of which are lively and splendid like in interesting stories. Entering Thien Cung Cave, tourists cannot help but be astonished by the sparkling appearance of this site.

2. Dau Go Cave

The next stop in the same tour with Dinh Huong Islet is Dau Go Cave, which is located right next to Thien Cung Cave. While Thien Cung Cave is supposed as an opera house of the ocean with its modern beauty, Dau Go Cave bears a more pristine appearance but no less attractive. This cave has three parts which are all decorated by the appealing stalagmites and stalactites. After passing the exit of Dau Go Cave, tourists will reach an unspoilt garden with charming natural scenery, which is like a present from the Creator to Halong Bay.  

IV. Extra Tips

There are some tips that you should note down to have a trip safe and sound:

• The tourism season in Halong Bay occurs in early summer and late autumn, when the weather condition is suitable for almost all outdoor activities.
• During the tourism season, Halong Bay is extremely crowded, so some services need to be booked in advance. Besides, the price can be high at those times.
• If you want to avoid the tourism season and travel on a budget, you are suggested to visit Halong Bay on some nice days of July and August. In fact, this is the stormy season but there are still some fine days for you to enjoy the atmosphere of Halong Bay.
• Dinh Huong Islet is not a major destination of some cruises in Halong Bay, so if you want to admire the beauty of this islet, you had better have a deal with the ship owner.
• Remember to protect the environment around Dinh Huong Islet in particular and Halong Bay in general in order to maintain the habitats of many species there.

As a symbolic destination of Halong Bay, Dinh Huong Islet can interest many tourists when they set foot on this world natural heritage. For millions of years, this islet still stood firm between the water and sky and became one of the most famous iconic islets in Halong Bay. If you have an opportunity to visit Halong Bay, don’t miss a tour to contemplate this unique islet.