Ti Top Island – Hovering over a small moon

Recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Natural World, Halong Bay is the pride of Vietnam, with its thousands of islands rising out of the turquoise waters. Titop Island is one of the most popular islands for tourists, and has become a ‘must visit’ destination for travelers seeking to explore the wild beauty of the region. Titop Island contains a unique and fascinating landscape that can be compared to hovering over a small moon.

Located in the center of the Heritage Area, about 14 km east of Bai Chay Wharf, Ti Top Island has a crescent-shaped sandy beach, and the sand is washed by the tide each season to create incredible colors and shapes.

It is known to the locals as Red Cross Island or Cemetery Island. In 1905, a French cargo ship entered Halong Bay and crashed into the reef. The wreck washed up on Con Coc Islet (Toad Islet). The crew didn’t survive and were buried on the island. Since that day, local fishermen dare not visit the island to catch seafood, so it has become mostly uninhabited.

On November 22nd, 1962, President Ho Chi Minh and Ghermann Titov – a former astronaut of the Soviet Union visited the island. To perpetuate the remembrance of their visit, Uncle Ho named the place Ti Top Island. And now Vietnam, with its open-door policy in tourism, has heavily promoted Ti Top Island as a destination.

Unlike many other tourist destinations in Halong Bay, Ti Top Island not only has beautiful natural scenery, Titop Beach is unique in form and shape. Visitors can trek to the top of the mountain to see the whole island below, and from above, Ti Top beach is shaped like a crescent moon. The beach area is small, quiet and very clean. The water is so clear that you can see small schools of fish swimming among the colorful coral reefs – perfect for snorkeling.

Ti Top Beach is blessed with four seasons each year (quite uncommon in Vietnam). You can participate in sea sports such as swimming, volleyball, parachuting, surfing and sailing around the islands dotting the bay, or simply relax on the beach and work on your tan.

Halong Bay and, in particular, Northern Vietnam, is affected by storms from mid-June to August. So, if you want to go to the Ti To Island, It is best to avoid it around this time to ensure you have the best experience and see it good weather conditions