Can you hear the call of the wild? If that’s the case, then why don’t you book a trip to Soi Sim! Soi Sim island is a relatively new addition to the collection of islands in Halong Bay. However, with its pristine beaches, diverse plants and animals, Soi Sim is captivating more and more tourists. As a matter of fact, we think it is beautiful enough to feature among our top 20 tourist attractions in the Halong Bay area! Check out the list and let us know if you agree with our choices in the comments section.
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In this post, we will give you a deeper look at Soi Sim island as well as some advice for your trip. If you want to enjoy some extraordinary beauty in privacy, you should definitely give this island a try!
A Quick Glance at Soi Sim Island
An untouched island is what we would like to call this place. Soi Sim is a small island located in the southwest of Halong Bay, about 10km from Tuan Chau pier and 700 meters from Ti Top Island.
The name Soi Sim came up in a really unique and strange way. In the past, the major plant on the island was tomentose rose myrtle (called “sim” in Vietnamese). Because sim fruit tastes really sweet, it has been much sought by locals. And since then, the island was named Soi Sim (meaning literally “look for sim”). If you come here in summer, expect to see hillsides filled with purple sim flowers. And it is hard not to pick up some of those juicy fruits!
Soi Sim Island covers an area of 8.7 hectares with two hills at a height of 100m. The island has a special geological structure where two-thirds of the area is covered by feralit soil and red weathered soil. Thanks to the richness of oxisol, the flora here is fertile. Hence, the island’s vegetation is pretty luxuriant and diverse in species. According to many tourists, the dense and green flora is one of the most attractive features bringing them to this newly exploited island. Quiet space, airy atmosphere, pristine beaches, and clean sandbanks are the other attractions you should consider.
Top Things to Try in Soi Sim
Soi Sim Island is a perfect destination if you are a big fan of water activities such as kayaking and swimming. There is also a water motorcycle renting service on the island if you are up for some thrills. Besides, you can also go trekking, sightseeing and relaxing in the wilderness.
Most tourists coming here are really impressed with the beaches (see more beaches in Halong Bay here). The water here is so clean and clear-cut emerald water that you can see shoals of small fish swimming around. The island has two beautiful beaches which are popular with tourists coming to Halong Bay. And don’t forget that you can also explore Soi Sim Island by climbing to a viewing station to get a panoramic view of Halong Bay.
You can also expect that more activities will be available on the island soon! Recently, with a rich ecosystem and being in the heart of the heritage area, Soi Sim Island has received more attention as regards developing tourism. Halong Bay Management Board set up a plan to turn the island to an eco-tourism site. This will bring both economic interest and value of preservation to the island in particular, and to Ha Long in general.
But Wait, How to Reach There?
If you are from Hanoi:
By bike: Follow the route Hanoi – Sai Dong T-junction – Bac Ninh (route 18) – Pha Lai Chi Linh – Dong Trieu – Uong Bi – Halong
By bus: Buses starts from 5 am to 6 pm and departs every 20 minutes. It takes a bus 3.5 to 4 hours to reach Bai Chay station. The ticket varies from 100.000 – 180.000VND. You can also choose a Limousine for better and faster service at about 220.000VND.
If you are from Ho Chi Minh City
By bus: You can consider the services among Kumho, An Bình, Hoàng Phú, etc. The price is about 900.000VND and it takes 40 hours to arrive.
By airplane: Book your flight to Cat Bi Airport and catch a bus from there to go to Halong.
How to get to Soi Sim island once you arrive in Halong
Soi Sim island is listed in Route 2: Pier -> Soi Sim island, Ti Top island, Sung Sot island, Me Cung cave, Bo Nau grotto, Luon grotto. The price is 150.000VND/person with the travel time of 20 minutes.
But if you want to spend more time to explore the island, book a private tour Halong bay 2 Days 1 Night or 3 Days 2 Nights. Only these types of tours will stop by the island for hours so you can indulge yourself in its wilderness.
Timing Is Everything
We highly recommend you visiting the island from May to October to get the best view of magnificent Halong from the top of Soi Sim island. But during June and July, typhoons might happen and stop you from visiting the island. Hence, you should go to Soi Sim a bit earlier (March – May) or a bit later (August – October). Another thing to keep in mind, if you want to enjoy the extraordinary beauty in privacy, you should avoid weekends. Although the island is newly exploited, it still might get a bit crowded with local tourists at weekends.