We’ve all seen the photos of Halong Bay, Vietnam’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site: giant limestone karsts rising from gleaming jade waters filled with traditional wooden junk boats carrying tourists toward sunset cocktails or cave-dining experiences.
But Halong Bay is also often crowded, with cruise traffic and pollution dulling some of its sheen. (Good news: The local government’s “Plastic-Free Halong Bay” initiative is slowly improving that last point).
So, when I heard that InterContinental Halong Bay Resort had touched down as the first international luxury resort on the bay, I was curious. How would it compare to InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, one of my favorite stays to date? More importantly, could it offer a genuinely high-end alternative to the typical quick cruise stop?
Fortunately, the resort delivered — and not just for me, a solo traveler. At check-in, two little boys excitedly pulled their dad outside to watch massive koi fish in one of the resort’s many water features. A quick visual sweep revealed several young families, well-heeled couples and knots of young Vietnamese women decked out in their finest, posing for pictures against the floor-to-ceiling lobby backdrop of Halong Bay. Later, at the beachfront Del Mar Lounge, I noticed several families at the main pool while, down in the sand, parents coaxed toddlers to dip their toes into the bathwater-warm surf.
Here is a full rundown of what clients can expect at InterContinental Halong Bay.
Spacious Rooms With Bay Views
I stayed in a comfortable One King Premium Halong Bay View Room. All Classic and Club-level rooms have a central freestanding tub (in addition to the shower), furnished balconies and beach views.
Clients will find the Club InterContinental Lounge on the sixth floor. Available to guests in premium rooms, the Club Lounge serves breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails (children under 12 are not allowed in the Club Lounge after 5 p.m.). Notably, the lounge also has its own indoor pool, perfect for swimming laps in peace or simply relaxing when the main pool is busy.
All Classic and Club-level rooms have views of the bay.
Credit: 2026 InterContinental Halong Bay ResortFor multigenerational trips, there are three types of three-bedroom villas: beachfront with a private pool, garden-view with a private pool or those with direct access from the terrace to a 426-foot pool for villa guests only. The largest room, a new offering that can accommodate up to 14, is the six-bedroom Halong Bay Estate. At 6,082 square feet, with a private pool and floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s practically a palace.
A Variety of Dining Options
The resort has six restaurants, including beachfront Del Mar, which serves Mediterranean-inspired fare; signature Japanese restaurant Roku Dining Room (clients should visit the 10th-floor bar for sunset cocktails or a curated sake list); and soon-to-open Cantonese restaurant Yulong Mansion, which will feature an open kitchen and tableside Peking duck-carving.
While the all-day dining venue Marina Kitchen can get crowded at breakfast, I was impressed by the incredible array of buffet islands and cooking stations. Lobby-adjacent Vue offers afternoon tea, and La Baguette is a French-Vietnamese bistro.
Spa and Wellbeing
Hidden Lagoon Spa is one of the property’s standout features, offering treatments ranging from quartz sand-bed heat therapy to Vietnamese bamboo-stick massage. Aptly named, the spa is sheltered by a manmade waterfall, a serene koi pond and lush landscaping at the center of the property. My deep-tissue massage was among the best I’ve had at a luxury resort. My English-speaking therapist (a Halong Bay native) was quietly confident, methodically working out knots in my back in a way that was, remarkably, not painful.
The resort also has a genuinely beautiful, glass-walled 24-hour fitness center, with Technogym equipment and views of Halong Bay. Between the scenery and the natural light, the gym actually made me want to work out while on vacation.
Guests can immerse themselves in tranquility at Hidden Lagoon Spa.
Credit: 2026 InterContinental Halong Bay ResortFamily-Friendly Features
In addition to the main beachfront pool, there resort offers a family pool with waterslides and a shaded mini aquapark in front of La Baguette. Terrace seating extends poolside, so that clients with kids can enjoy lunch or afternoon drinks in view of the little ones.
The Play Trekkers kids' club is a dedicated space for children from 4 to 12 years old.
Credit: 2026 InterContinental Halong Bay ResortThe Planet Trekkers kids’ club, which welcomes children from 4 to 12 years old, is also next to the family pool. The high-ceilinged, supervised space features a children’s book library and a daily schedule of activities, including paper-tearing art and playdough workshops. Core programming, such as children’s yoga or swimming classes, changes quarterly.
Located closer to the main resort pool and reception, the Game Room has a cinema, computer gaming stations, air hockey and analog games such as Jenga. Because it’s not supervised, the Game Room is open for teens or kids accompanied by their parents.
Among the few resorts on Halong Bay, the InterContinental sets the bar high. It’s a lush, elegant property with comfortable rooms, warm service, great dining options and a beautiful spa — all with front-row views to the distinct limestone formations that characterize this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
