Ha Long

Is Ha Long Bay safe?

On land, yes. Ha Long, the city on the shore of the bay, has the same low level of violent crime as the rest of Vietnam, and Bai Chay's seafront is calm in the evening. The risk that matters is on the water. Tour boats crowd the bay, and sudden summer thunderstorms and typhoons have sunk several of them, most recently in July 2025.

We score Ha Long 67 out of 100, level with Hanoi, where most visitors start, and below Da Nang (70). Crime, nights out and traffic score the same as in Hanoi; the city gains on air quality and loses on the weather at sea.

What happened in July 2025

On the afternoon of 19 July 2025, the day-tour boat Vinh Xanh 58 was out among the islands with 46 Vietnamese tourists and 3 crew when a violent thunderstorm hit and turned it over. Only 10 of the 49 people aboard survived. Officials said 80 to 90% of the victims recovered were wearing life jackets.

Two details matter for anyone booking a trip. First, the forecast that morning gave only light winds, and the thunderstorm warning was issued around 13:30, after the boat had sailed; the port stopped departures once the warning came. Second, officials said the boat had passed its safety inspection with a stability factor of 2.3, against a required minimum of 1. The provincial government blamed the thunderstorm, but the official cause is for the Quang Ninh police investigation to settle.

It was not the first deadly sinking. In February 2011 an overnight boat sank before dawn, in about 10 minutes, and 12 people died; the province suspended overnight tours for a time. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary now asks travellers to think carefully about safety standards before an overnight trip, because overcrowding and poor standards have caused accidents and some boats have sunk quickly and without warning.

How to choose a safe cruise

• Book an established operator and be wary of very cheap trips sold by touts; the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary links past accidents to overcrowding.
• Before you sail, check there is a life jacket for everyone, including children's sizes, and ask for a safety briefing. The FCDO advises both.
• Look at the forecast yourself. If thunderstorms are likely, take a morning trip or move the day.
• On overnight boats, find your life jacket and the nearest exit before you go to sleep.
• Since October 2024 provincial rules require overnight boats to be at their anchorage by 18:30 in winter and 19:00 in summer, so an overnight boat should not still be cruising after dark.

Typhoons and storms

Ha Long faces the Gulf of Tonkin and its typhoons. Typhoon Yagi, which VietNamNet called the strongest storm in the East Sea in 30 years, made landfall in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong on 7 September 2024. Three people died in Quang Ninh on the first day, barges sank at their moorings, roofs came off in Ha Long and power failed across the province. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says the typhoon season normally runs from May to November. When a storm warning is issued the port stops departures; follow the authorities, and do not try to talk a captain into sailing.

On land: theft, traffic and nights out

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says bag snatching by thieves on motorbikes is common in Vietnam's tourist areas, and that petty theft rises around Christmas and Tet. In Ha Long the bigger nuisance is price: seafood restaurants and kayak or cave add-ons quote high, so agree the price first. Gallup's 2025 report found 88% of people in Vietnam feel safe walking alone at night. The FCDO's national warnings apply: groping of women walking alone, drink spiking, assaults linked to unlicensed taxis, and methanol in drinks bought in licensed bars.

Most visitors come by road from Hanoi. Vietnam's National Traffic Safety Committee counted 10,491 traffic deaths in 2025, and the FCDO says night buses crash more often because drivers are tired, so travel by day with a reputable bus or transfer company.

Air and health

We found no annual air figure for Ha Long. The sea air is usually cleaner than in Hanoi, but coal mining in Quang Ninh adds dust nearby. Tap water is not drinkable and dengue is present. Medical help is far away once you are out among the islands, so bring your own medicines and make sure your insurance covers transfer to a hospital in Hanoi.

How we scored it

Natural hazards (45) is Ha Long's weakest factor, for the July 2025 capsizing and Typhoon Yagi, followed by traffic safety (47). Violent crime (86) and night safety (82) are the strongest, on the same national data as Hanoi. Health and environment (58) sits between Hanoi (42) and Da Nang (68).