Dau Be Island: The Precious Jade of Halong Bay

The world heritage Halong Bay includes thousands of islands, many of which have important values in terms of history, geology and biology. With all those values, the core area of Halong Bay is strictly protected, so the environment and scenery there can remain intact. As one of the most highlighted islands in the preservation area of Halong Bay, Dau Be Island is a great selection for tourists to enjoy a wonderful vacation in Vietnam.

Contents

I. Highlights of Dau Be Island

Dau Be Island is about 28 kilometers away from Bai Chay Wharf, which is located in the southwest of Halong Bay. This island is on the border between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, so it is favored by nature with a diverse ecosystem.

The total area of Dau Be Island is more than 22,000 square kilometers, and the height of the highest peak on Dau Be Island is 139 meters. Dau Be Island was discovered in the early 19th century, and nowadays, it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Halong Bay.

The name “Dau Be” comes from this island’s particular shape: from afar, this island looks like the head of a calf rising up on the water surface. Due to the impacts of natural phenomena such as rains, winds and erosion, the terrain on Dau Be Island became a funnel-shape one, and a system of lakes were formed on this island. Of all the lakes there, Ba Ham Lake is the most well-known and attractive one, which contributes to the pristine appearance of Dau Be Island.

The limestone cliffs of Dau Be Island are the habitats of various flora and fauna species, many of which are on the verge of extinction that are listed on the Red List. The animals living on Dau Be Island include golden-hair monkey, flying squirrels, bats and some kinds of birds. Mixing with the grey color of limestones is the green color of grass and bushes and yellow and violet colors of orchids. All these things draw a lively picture of majestic nature on Dau Be Island.

Without the effects of humans, the natural scenery on Dau Be Island can remain unspoilt with a mysterious and pristine appearance. Days after days, life still grows on the arid soil of Dau Be Island, and this destination still attracts the attention of many visitors. It is not easy for tourists to discover Dau Be Island since you will have to wait for the tide to go out then use a kayak to get into the interior.

Dau Be Island is like a shy princess hiding her gorgeous look behind the rough cliffs of mountains. Only by getting inside can you feel the whole beauty of Dau Be Island. Passing the tunnel, you can see various stalactites on the cave ceiling, which is sparkling in the dark cave. The atmosphere of the lakes on Dau Be Island is extremely quiet, and it is so quiet that you can hear the songs of the birds and the sounds of the water under your boat.

II. What to See and Do on Dau Be Island?

1. Kayaking

If you want to get inside Dau Be Island, the only way for you is to go on a kayak or dinghy because the large cruise ship cannot pass the narrow tunnels. You might hire a kayak to sail by yourself in many other destinations of Halong Bay, but kayaking in Dau Be Island is an absolutely different experience. The small kayak weaves under the magnificent ceilings of the tunnel caves and takes you to an amazing world of lakes and mountains. The imposing mountains quitely send their gleams to the mirror surface, which draws an excellent ink-wash painting that you often see in some ancient poems.

However, you cannot sail a kayak into the interior of Dau Be Island all the time. When the tide goes up, the tunnels of Ba Ham Lake will be under the sea water, so you are not able to get through. If you want to get inside, you have to wait until the tide completely goes out. Besides, since the area of Dau Be Island is a part of the core area of Halong Bay, the tourism services are not allowed to open. Therefore, you can find nowhere on Dau Be Island to hire a kayak or dinghy, and you need to deal with your tour manager in advance.

2. Sightseeing

There are plentiful destinations in Halong Bay where you can have sightseeing experience, so what makes enjoying the natural scenery on Dau Be Island different? Going through the dark and winding tunnels of Dau Be Island, you will reach an airtight area, where the sky, water and mountains meet each other in harmony. The silent mountains enclose the whole lakes to protect them from the bustling outside world, the gentle waves crash on the foot of limestone mountains like a mother hugging her child, and the blue sky with some clouds looks as deep and mysterious as a fairy tale. All the scenery will console your soul and heal all your emotional scars.

As an offshore area, there is no one living on Dau Be Island, so this island has all the characteristics of an isolated landscape as you imagine: unspoilt nature, fresh air, serene atmosphere and unpolluted environment. Entering Ba Ham Lake on Dau Be Island, you cannot help but be astonished at the immense space with the cool breath of the ocean. Don’t forget to open your camera, take some good-looking photos and post on social networking sites to show your friends about this wonderful journey to Dau Be Island.

3. Visiting nearby destinations

As a nextstop of many cruises in Halong Bay, Dau Be Island is often included in the itinerary of many tourists. In addition to this tourist attraction, you can also visit a variety of magnificent places in Halong Bay such as Cua Van Fishing Village, Ba Men Temple, Tien Ong Cave and Ang Du. This journey does not only help you to share your weal and woe with nature, but also gives you a good chance to learn more about the life and customs of the fishermen living in the core area of Halong Bay.

While a visit to Dau Be Island is an opportunity for you to feel the pure nature, the journey to Cua Van Fishing Village, Tien Ong Cave and Ba Men Temple will help you to know more about the history of Halong Bay, the daily activities of the local residents as well as the spiritual life of the fisherman community living there for hundreds of years. The area of Dau Be and Ang Du islands is also suitable for tourists to stay overnight in Halong Bay. When the night falls, you can admire a different Halong sea with a mysterious appearance that cannot be found in any coastal areas of Vietnam. Staying overnight in Dau Be Island is the most wonderful experience you can have when visiting Halong Bay.

III. How to Get to Dau Be Island?

Dau Be Island is about 28 kilometers to the southwest of Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. To reach this spot, you have to go on the tour No.03 in Ha Long Bay, which departs from Bai Chay or Tuan Chau wharfs. It will take you about 2.5 hours travelling on a cruise ship to get to Dau Be Island. The cruise ship only takes you to the outside area of this island. To go inside, you need to use a kayak or dinghy to pass the tunnel cave, which is the entrance of Dau Be Island.

Actually, the itinerary of the cruise ship No.03 often lasts two days, so this cruise is only suitable for you if you have time for a 2-day trip to Dau Be Island. In case you want to have a trip within a day, it would be better if you hire a private boat to visit Dau Be Island as well as other destinations you want. The price for hiring a private ship ranges from 4 to 5 million VND a day, and you need to travel in a group with at least 20 people.

IV. Best Time to Visit Dau Be Island

The best time to visit Dau Be Island is from March to June and September to November. The weather in Halong Bay in general during these times is quite favorable for all the outdoor activities. If you want to go sightseeing, those times are the most suitable.

However, the time of summer and late autumn is also the tourism season in Halong Bay, so it is extremely crowded and the service price can increase. If you want to travel on a budget, July and August would be better for you. Although July and August are storm season in Halong Bay, there are still some nice days with favorable weather conditions for you to start your journey.

Whenever you visit Dau Be Island, don’t forget to see the weather forecast to make the best preparation for your trip.

V. Extra Tips

You should make a plan for your trip and book some services in advance before visiting Dau Be Island in case the hotel and cruise ship can be overloaded.
The tourism services are not available in the area of Dau Be Island, so you should prepare your own food and drink before the trip.
Swimming in the lakes on Dau Be Island might be quite dangerous, so you are not allowed to swim in some areas there.
You have to follow the safety instructions of the tour guide all the time to protect yourself.

A trip to Dau Be Island of Halong Bay will help you to recharge your battery after a hard working time. Dau Be Island is a precious sapphire, the gift from the Creator to Halong Bay. The gorgeous natural scenery along with the peaceful atmosphere there will give you a wonderful holiday, blow all your worriedness and exhaustion in your life. What are you waiting for? Pick up your baggage and start your journey to Dau Be Island right now!