Discovery of an Island Close to Ha Long Bay that Few Know About: Less Than 1km from Shore, Only a 10-Minute Boat Ride
Lying right next to the natural wonder Ha Long Bay, many tourists are unaware of the name or even the existence of this near-shore island.
When discussing famous seaside tourist spots in Vietnam, especially in the northern region, Ha Long Bay cannot be overlooked. As a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is praised for its extraordinarily rare landscape. Ha Long’s terrain is mainly a collection of islands and mountains interspersed with marine depressions. Among these, many islands either belong to the bay or lie close by, offering breathtaking views and attracting visitors with their unique beauty.
One such island is surprisingly close to the mainland, with a sea distance of less than 1km. Visitors only need about a 10-minute boat or canoe ride to reach it. This island is called Hòn Rều, or Đảo Rều (Rều Island).
The location of Rều Island on the map, showing its proximity to the mainland, only about 500-600m away (Photo: Google Map)
Visiting Rều Island, tourists must immerse themselves in the clear, cool water. They can also lie on the fine white sand, relax, and breathe in the fresh air.
To cater to visitors, the island currently offers various services and beach activities such as SUP paddling and jet skiing. For a more complete experience, tourists should not miss the delicious local specialties and seafood. These include Hạ Long’s hand-pounded squid cake, Hạ Long’s sea cucumbers, Hạ Long’s horseshoe crabs, and a variety of fresh seafood like snails, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters caught daily.
Enjoying the beach is an essential experience on Rều Island (Photo: Collection)
The best time of year to visit Rều Island is during the summer. Visitors will need to go through two stages. First, they can travel by car, motorbike, or bus, depending on their preferences and conditions, to reach Ha Long, Quang Ninh. The journey takes about over 2 hours. Next, they take a boat or canoe for about 10 minutes to get to the island.
For those who want to save time, especially groups with children or elderly members, they can book directly through halongbookingtours.com for an all-inclusive service to ensure the most convenient and easiest trip.
Sea cucumbers and mantis shrimp are two must-try specialties in Ha Long. Among them, sea cucumbers are considered a "precious gift" from the heavenly bay (Illustrative photo)
Not to mention the hand-pounded squid cake...
Or a variety of other seafood dishes served on Rều Island (Illustrative photo)
Currently, seaside tourism in general, and Ha Long tourism specifically, are entering the peak season. It is best for visitors to plan and book services for their trip early to ensure convenience and satisfaction.