Thien Canh Son Cave is a vast cavern consisting of three main chambers. The access path to the cave is hidden under forest canopy and crosses by a cliff face. Formations inside the cave come in a wide variety of shapes, and present images said to resemble a lotus, a baby elephant, seals and flowers. Inside this dream chamber, stalactites look like scores of gnomes, apparently conducting a meeting, and the walls sparkle like the night sky when exposed to bright light. Elsewhere on the same island you can find Thien Canh Son Beach, a remote strip of sand where you can swim or kayak to your heart's content amidst the bay's natural splendour.

Bobbing at a quiet location over 20 km from the mainland in the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, Vung Vieng floating village is an ideal place for exploring the local lifestyle of sailing and fishing. Scenes of the fishing boats with nets hung out to dry and the laughter of local families give Vung Vieng an idyllic and traditional character. As a result, tourism visits here have grown dramatically. To provide flexibility, you may either tour the village on a rowing boat with a local person, or rent a kayak and make your own way through the community.

Located far from the mainland, Cong Dam area used to be home to a floating village, which was a small settlement of around 120 people which has largely retained its traditional culture. Nowaday, travelers can make a kayaking tour of the area to enjoy scenery. The environment is quite clean and this is a good location for kayaking, or you can join the local fishermen and try your luck. The area around the village holds several lagoons and sea caves, as well as some nice beaches, such as Tra Gioi, Cay Bang and Cat Oan.

Cap La used to be one of numerous small floating fishing villages located in and around Halong Bay, before all residents moved to the land, it was home to some 200 residents who largely live off of fishing. Travelers are able to explore the village by rowing boat or kayak, and greet the residents. Traditionally, local children here only studied until around age 12, and then began fishing for a living. Without access to the power grid, generators provide the only source of power, and necessities like clean water and petrol are expensive. With the growth of tourism, local people have some opportunity for work outside of their traditional vocation.