Ha Long Bay Junk Boat CruiseTi Top Island: The Climb, the Beach and Which Cruises Stop There
Ti Top Island is a 3.7-hectare islet in Ha Long Bay with a crescent of white sand and a stairway to a viewpoint about 100 to 110 metres above the water. It sits 7 to 8 km southeast of Bai Chay port and 12 km from Tuan Chau. Boats land between 7:20 and 16:00, and most cruises give you 45 minutes to an hour on the island. This guide covers the name, the climb, the beach, swimming and which of the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises on this site stop here. There is no separate entrance fee for Ti Top when you arrive on a cruise package. The island sits on the official VHL2 day route, a route ticket costs VND 250,000 per person, and several listings fold that into their price. Read on for the step-count arguments, the crowd windows and the honest numbers.
The view from the top of Ti Top Island over a hazy Ha Long Bay. Photo: Mig Gilbert from Brighton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer Ti Top Island in brief
Ti Top Island is a 3.7-hectare island in Ha Long Bay, 7 to 8 km southeast of Bai Chay port, with a viewpoint about 100 to 110 metres up and a small white-sand beach. Boats may land between 7:20 and 16:00. There is no separate entrance fee when you come on a cruise package.
Key takeaways
- The stairway to the top counts somewhere between about 400 and 450 steps depending on the source, and the climb takes 10 to 20 minutes. See the climb and the beach.
- The Day Cruise with Kayaking stops at Ti Top for a swim or the climb at $39 per person.
- The Luxury Day Cruise with Buffet reaches Ti Top at $41 per person with a buffet or set-menu lunch on board.
- Compare every option in the comparison table of Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises.
Ti Top Island and Its Name
The island carries the name of a Soviet cosmonaut who visited with Ho Chi Minh, and it was officially named on 22 January 1962.
The Name and the Cosmonaut
Ti Top Island is named after Gherman Titov, the Soviet cosmonaut who visited Ha Long Bay with Ho Chi Minh, and the island was named on 22 January 1962. Titov flew Vostok 2 in August 1961, completing 17 orbits in over 25 hours at age 26. A monument to Titov was erected on the island in 2015.
The island had other names before 1962, and the sources disagree. Wikipedia lists Hong Thap Tu or Nghia Dia (Cemetery) island. Local Vietnam calls it Cat Nang (Cemetery Island) and says the name came from a French cargo wreck in 1905. Either way, the older name referred to a burial site, and the 1962 renaming replaced it.
The Island in Figures
Ti Top covers 3.7 hectares, It sits 7 to 8 km southeast of Bai Chay port and about 12 km from Tuan Chau pier. The island sits on the official VHL2 route, which runs Soi Sim beach, Ti Top Island, Sung Sot Cave and a string of caves including Luon, Trinh Nu and Ho Dong Tien.
The beach is a small, maintained crescent of white sand. Lonely Planet listed Ti Top among the world's top 100 beaches in 2024. Above the beach, a stairway climbs the island's peak for a viewpoint with 360-degree views over the bay. The island is reachable only by licensed boat.
Sources: Sun Paradise Land, Wikipedia, VOV
The Climb and the Beach
One island, two ways to spend your 45 minutes to an hour: a steep stairway to a 360-degree viewpoint, or a swim off a small white-sand beach.
How Many Steps and How High
The step count depends on who you read, and no single figure is official. IDC Travel and Sun Paradise Land say about 400. Bekatravel counts 420, one travel guide says 427, and Sun Paradise Land elsewhere mentions about 450. Local Vietnam gives 400 to 450 steps to a viewpoint around 100 metres up. Vietnamspot puts the summit at about 110 metres high, and a figure of about 450 steps and 110 metres also circulates. The honest range is roughly 400 to 450 steps and 100 to 110 metres of height.
Climb times vary too. IDC Travel says 10 to 15 minutes at a relaxed pace, Vietnamtourism says 15 to 20 minutes, and Local Vietnam says it usually takes longer than the 10 minutes guides claim. Plan for 15 to 20 minutes up, more if the steps are crowded.
The Viewpoint and Crowds
The viewpoint at the top is a small platform with 360-degree views over the bay, and its size limits how many people fit at once. Peak crowds run from 10:30 to 14:30. If your boat offers an early landing, take it. Sun Paradise Land suggests photographing the island at 7 to 9 in the morning or after 15:00.
Allow time for the descent. With 45 minutes to 1 hour on the island, the climb up, the photos and the walk down fill most of the stop, leaving little or no beach time. Decide before you land which one you are doing.
The Beach and Swimming
The beach is a small maintained crescent of white sand at the foot of the climb. Sun Paradise Land says the swimming area has facilities and lifeguards, and the island has a rescue team on site. Freshwater showers, changing rooms, toilets, drink stalls and souvenir stalls round out the facilities, which are otherwise basic.
The swimming season on Ha Long Bay runs roughly April to October, with water between 23 and 30 degrees C. The warmest water falls between June and September at 28 to 30 degrees C. Boat landings at Ti Top run from 7:20 to 16:00, so swimming happens inside that window.
Sources: IDC Travel, Local Vietnam, Vietnamspot
Titop Island Halong Bay Vietnam
Shows the beach and the climb to the viewpoint on Ti Top Island. Third-party video by BestPrice Travel | Halong Bay Cruise Expert. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Cruises That Stop at Ti Top
The day cruises below list Ti Top Island as a stop. The figures below are the US dollar card prices per person, taken from the listings. The bay ticket on the VHL2 route costs VND 250,000 per person and is either included or charged separately as noted.
Day Cruises Compared
Each row shows the card price and how that listing handles the bay fee. The Day Cruise with Surprise Cave lists a $23 base and charges the Ha Long Bay entrance fee of $12.74 per person on top, paid in advance, for $35.74 all in.
| Cruise | Price | Also stops at |
|---|---|---|
| Day Cruise with Kayaking | $39 per person, Ha Long Bay entrance fees included | Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave by kayak or raft |
| Luxury Day Cruise with Buffet | $41 per person, Ha Long Bay entrance fee included | Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave |
| Deluxe Day Cruise from Hanoi | $40 per person, all Ha Long Bay entrance fees included | Surprise Cave and Luon Cave, with kayaking paid on site |
| Day Cruise with Surprise Cave | $23 per person plus a $12.74 entrance fee, so $35.74 all in | Surprise Cave and a lagoon for kayaking |
Getting There Without a Cruise Package
Ti Top sits on the official VHL2 day route alongside Sung Sot Cave. If you are weighing the cave itself, read the separate Sung Sot Cave guide. The VHL2 route ticket costs VND 250,000 per person, and no source on this page shows a separate ticket booth at Ti Top for cruise passengers.
The view from the Ti Top Island lookout over the karsts and boats of Ha Long Bay. Photo: Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When to Land and What Is on the Island
Ti Top is small, so timing changes the visit more than anything else.
Crowds, Light and Facilities
IDC Travel puts the peak crowds at 10:30 to 14:30, and the small summit platform limits how many people fit at once. Sun Paradise Land suggests photographs between 7 and 9 in the morning or after 15:00. Most cruises allow 45 minutes to 1 hour on the island, which is enough for the climb or a swim but rarely both at an easy pace.
The island is reached only by licensed boat. Facilities are basic: changing rooms, showers, toilets and drink stalls, and Sun Paradise Land says the swimming area has lifeguards. Lonely Planet listed Ti Top among the world's top 100 beaches in 2024.
Sources: IDC Travel, Local Vietnam, VOV
Ti Top Island Questions
How high is the Ti Top Island viewpoint?
The summit sits about 110 metres above sea level, with other sources putting the viewpoint around 100 metres. You reach it by roughly 400 to 450 steps, and sources put the climb at 10 to 20 minutes. The Day Cruise with Kayaking builds the stop into a one-day itinerary at $39 per person.
How many steps is the Ti Top Island climb?
There is no single agreed count. Sources give nearly 400, 420, 427 or about 450 steps. The safest planning figure is 400 to 450 steps. Most cruises give you 45 minutes to an hour on the island, which covers the climb but leaves little beach time. The Luxury Day Cruise with Buffet is one listing that includes Ti Top and the entrance fee at $41.
Can you swim at Ti Top Island?
Yes. Ti Top has a small crescent of white sand, and Sun Paradise Land says the swimming area has facilities and lifeguards. Freshwater showers, changing rooms and toilets are on site. The swimming season runs roughly April to October with water at 23 to 30 degrees C. The Deluxe Day Cruise from Hanoi includes the island stop with all entrance fees at $40 per person.
When can boats land at Ti Top Island?
Boat landings run from 7:20 to 16:00. Day boats on Ha Long Bay operate from 5:00 to 20:00 in the summer season. Crowds peak between 10:30 and 14:30, and the small summit platform limits how many people fit at the top. See the full day cruises from Hanoi comparison for departure patterns.
Is there an entrance fee for Ti Top Island?
No separate fee applies when you arrive on a cruise package. The island sits on the VHL2 route, and the route ticket costs VND 250,000 per person. The Day Cruise with Surprise Cave works differently. It charges its $23 base price plus a $12.74 entrance fee paid in advance, for $35.74 all in.
Can I go island hopping in Vietnam?
In Ha Long Bay you hop islands by licensed boat rather than independently, and Ti Top Island is one of the standard stops alongside Sung Sot Cave and Soi Sim beach. Boats must be licensed to land, so island hopping happens through a day cruise or an overnight itinerary. The comparison table on the homepage lists the routes and prices side by side.