Ha Long Bay among Asia’s most stunning seaside spots: Travel+Leisure

“UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, with more than 2,000 limestone islands, is a tourism mecca in Asia, and deservedly so,” said the magazine.

The best way to explore the world heritage bay is a two-night cruise through thousands of small vegetation-covered islands and towering limestone cliffs.

An overnight cruise service is available with prices ranging from $116-$228 per person, which enables visitors to admire the beauty of the bay when the sun rises and sets every day.

“Once afloat you can watch both sunrise and sunset from the deck—its ascent over the Gulf of Tonkin and denouement behind the slew of islands, bays and iconic limestone outcrops,” Travel+Leisure said. “Then wait a while longer because it’s the blue hour, that twilight time between dusk and darkness, when the locals believe Ha Long Bay is at its most beautiful.”

The ideal time to visit Ha Long Bay is between March and April and September to November, as there is little rain.

Each cruise has its own itinerary, but most take visitors to popular tourist attractions such as Ga Choi and Dinh Huong Islets, Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung and Me Cung Caves, Titop Island and Viet Hai fishing village.

Other destinations included in the report are Kuakata Beach in Bangladesh, Romblon Island in the Philippines and Kenting beach in Taiwan.