With its stunning sloping shoreline, pristine white sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters, Titop Island in Quang Ninh is an unmissable stop on any trip to Ha Long Bay. It’s also known as a “paradise” for travel enthusiasts.
1. Where is Titop Island located in Quang Ninh?
Titop is considered one of the most beautiful islands in Ha Long Bay. Located in Ha Long Bay, about 7-8 km southeast of Bai Chay and about 12 km southeast of Tuan Chau International Passenger Port, the island is nestled against Cua Luc Bay. In front are Bo Hon Island and Hang Sung So, and to the right is Dam Nam Island. From above, Titop has a sloping shoreline and a long, sandy beach. The beach is crescent-shaped, embracing the foot of the island. This is also an ideal stop for tourists on their Ha Long Bay tour.
2. History of Titop Island in Ha Long Bay
Many tourists visiting here have the same question: why is the island called Titop, and who named it? Previously, Titop Island in Quang Ninh was known as Cemetery Island or Red Cross Island. The origin of this name is said to be linked to an event in 1905. According to this event, a French cargo ship, while entering Ha Long Bay, struck a reef in Con Coc Bay due to a lack of navigation. The bodies of the sailors were brought back and buried on this island. To commemorate the unfortunate, the locals named the island Titop. In the map of Ha Long Bay drawn by the French colonialists, Titop was called Cat Nang. On November 22, 1962, President Ho Chi Minh and Soviet cosmonaut German Titop visited the island. To commemorate this event, President Ho Chi Minh named the island Titop.
3. The Latest Ways to Get to Titop Island, Quang Ninh
Currently, tourists have many options for visiting Titop Island in Quang Ninh. Among them, the three simplest and most popular methods are: renting a boat, taking a cruise tour, and traveling by seaplane.
3.1. Renting a boat to Titop Island
A tour to Titop Island is one of the stops on the Ha Long Bay sightseeing route number 2. To go to Titop Island, you only need to buy a ticket and rent a boat to visit the bay. Tourists should also note that the Bay Management Board does not sell separate boat tickets to Titop Island; this includes the entire sightseeing trip in the bay.
A ticket for the entire boat trip ranges from 500,000 to 700,000 VND/hour/boat. If you are a solo traveler, you have to join a shared boat at a price of 150,000 to 250,000 VND/person (excluding entrance fees and meals). Besides Titop Bay, tourists can also visit and explore other famous tourist attractions such as: Dog Stone Island, Incense Burner Island, Drum and Rooster Island, Surprise Cave, Luon Caveโฆ
3.2. Taking a cruise tour to Titop Island
During an overnight cruise tour in the bay, you will also get to visit and admire Titop Island in Quang Ninh. However, the price for this type of travel is relatively high, ranging from several million to tens of millions of VND depending on the cruise ship and the length of stay. You can refer to 2-day 1-night, 3-day 2-night, or 4-day 3-night itineraries on large cruise ships such as: Star Light, Emeraude, Paradise Luxury, Au Co, Bhaya Classic, Syrena, Calypso, Paloma, VโSpirit, Aclassโฆ
3.3. Hiring a Seaplane to Titop Island
Recently, seaplane tours to Titop Island in Quang Ninh have attracted a lot of attention from tourists. With this type of tourism, you will start from Tuan Chau Island, flying at an altitude of about 300m to admire the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from above. The seaplane will stop at Titop Island so that tourists can rest and explore the beautiful natural scenery.
Each trip costs approximately 1.5 โ 2.5 million VND/person/trip. This is a very unique mode of transportation that is loved and chosen by many tourists, especially young people.
4. Tips for having fun on Titop Island in Ha Long
Thanks to its expansive scenery and pristine beauty, visiting Titop Island in Quang Ninh allows tourists to enjoy nature. Along with that, there are many other attractive recreational activities:
4.1. Swimming at Crescent Moon Beach
Titop boasts a stunning beach, also known as Crescent Moon Beach. Viewed from above, the beach resembles a crescent moon embracing the foot of the island. Compared to surrounding beaches, Titop isn’t very large, but it’s exceptionally spacious, quiet, and incredibly clean. The ebb and flow of the tides wash away the dirt, leaving the sand pristine white, and the sea water crystal clear year-round. During your exploration of Titop Island in Quang Ninh, swimming is a must-do activity. It’s also a popular spot to escape the heat in the summer.
4.2. Kayaking
Kayaking is an essential activity when visiting Titop. You’ll get to control a tiny kayak, navigating through the rocky caves to discover the beauty of nature. The most important thing when kayaking is to maintain balance and paddle steadily to avoid capsizing.
4.3. Towing a float
Towing a float is not a new game, but it still attracts a large number of tourists. You will tie a float to a canoe or motorbike and be towed across the water at a speed of 50-80 km/hour. Towing a float is very suitable for groups of young people or team-building programs of companies and businesses.
4.4. Paragliding
This activity challenges courage and skill while requiring participants to be in good health. You’ll be soaring through the wind, enjoying the beauty of Ha Long Bay from above. A very exhilarating feeling!
4.5. Panoramic View of Ha Long Bay from the Top of Titop Mountain
To reach the top of Titop Mountain, you have to climb 400 rugged steps. In return, the natural scenery here will not disappoint you. From here, visitors can take in the panoramic view of nature surrounded by vast rivers and water. This is a beautiful yet majestic picture of Ha Long Bay with its numerous islands.
5. Some Notes When Visiting the Island
Titop is a must-visit destination on your Ha Long Bay trip. To make your trip even more enjoyable, please note the following information:
โข It’s best to visit in the summer: In summer, Titop Island in Quang Ninh has white sand and golden sunshine, making it ideal for relaxing and exploring. In contrast, the winter weather on the island is very cold, and the scenery is deserted and desolate.
โข Bring food and Ha Long specialties to the island: Titop is a natural island, largely untouched by tourism. There are very few food and accommodation services on the island. Therefore, when visiting Titop, you should bring your own food to stave off hunger. Or, preparing some seafood for a barbecue on the beach is also a good suggestion for those traveling with family or a group of friends.
โข Pay attention to the staircase when climbing to the observation deck at the top of the mountain: The path to the top of Titop is relatively difficult with 400 steps. To ensure safety, you should pay attention to the path and hold onto the handrails while climbing up or down.
โข Bring some necessary items: The weather on the island is very sunny, so you should bring sunscreen to avoid sunburn. In addition, essential items to pack when visiting Titop Island include: swimwear, photo props, power bank, etc.
โข Book hotels or cruises in advance: During peak tourist season, Ha Long Bay welcomes a large number of domestic and international tourists. To avoid the situation of rooms and boat tickets being sold out, you should book hotels and cruises in advance.
โข Combine exploration: Besides Titop Island, the paradise of Ha Long Bay also has many other beautiful islands such as: Soi Sim Island, Bai Tu Long Bay, Ngoc Vung Island, Co To Island, Quan Lan Island, Dragon Eye Islandโฆ tourists can freely explore and experience them.
