Fighting Cock Islet was formed through thousands of years of weathering of limestone, seawater and wind. True to its name, this place has the shape of a pair of Rooster and Hen chickens standing opposite each other. Moreover, it is also considered a symbol of Ha Long Bay and is often used in Vietnam travel guides in general. Let’s explore this famous island with Origin Vietnam.
1. Where is Fighting Cock Islet?
Fighting Cock Islet (Hon Ga Choi, Hon Trong Mai) is located near Dinh Huong Islet and Cho Da Islet. Located in the southwest of Ha Long Bay, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. About 5 km southwest of Bai Chay port and about 3 km northeast of Tuan Chau wharf.
2. How is Fighting Cock Islet unique?
The special feature of this island lies in its unique shape, shaped like a chicken with a rooster and a hen. The height of this pair of islands is about 10 meters, with a tapered shape that creates a feeling of precariousness.
These two rocks have stood firm over time, without being eroded or washed away. This is a symbol of the faithful love between two people, despite all difficulties and challenges.
Moreover, the image of Fighting Cock Islet is taken as a tourism symbol of Ha Long Bay. This once again affirms the unique features that not every place has. If you travel here, don’t forget to visit, sightsee and witness it with your own eyes.
3. Legend of Trong Mai unique
Fighting Cock Islet is two towering rocks standing in the middle of a vast sea. This place not only has a charming beauty that touches people’s hearts. Moreover, it also contains a story about a couple.
In the early days of Vietnam, the Jade Emperor sent a flock of Dragons to help the people fight off foreign invaders. However, they did not return to Heaven even though the country had returned to peace. Therefore, he sent a pair of chickens down to earth to call them.
However, the Jade Emperor unfortunately sent the wrong pair of chickens, a male and a female. When they came down to earth, seeing the beautiful mountains and rivers, the pair of chickens forgot their assigned mission. And then, they turned to stone without realizing it, standing proudly in the middle of the sea and sky of Ha Long.
4. When is the best time to visit Fighting Cock Islet?
According to the experience of traveling to Fighting Cock Islet of previous tourists. The ideal time to travel here is from April to June every year. During this time, the air is cool and pleasant, the weather is sunny but there is little rain. It is suitable for a cruise to see Fighting Cock Islet as well as the scenery of the whole HaLong Bay.
5. How to get to Fighting Cock Islet?
Fighting Cock Islet is located in the HaLong Bay tourist cluster, so to get here, the first step is to move to the port of the HaLong Bay tourist area in Quang Ninh.
There are two main ports here, one is Tuan Chau international passenger port, about 12 km from HaLong city. The other is the international passenger port located in the center of Ha Long city.
5.1 Traveling to HaLong city
5.1.1. By public transport
Plane
- Located near the headland of the country, so for tourists from far away such as the South and Central regions of Vietnam. The plane is the most popular and convenient means of transport. You will have to land at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi or Cat Bi airport in Hai Phong.
- Then choose an airport shuttle service or bus, or taxi to get to the port in Quang Ninh.
Bus or limousine
- You can also take a bus from bus stations in Hanoi such as Giap Bat, My Dinh, Gia Lam to travel to Ha Long city. The distance is only about 160 km and the traffic infrastructure is quite good. Therefore, the travel time only takes about 2-2.5 hours.
- In addition, limousines are a great choice with high-class service. The car will pick you up and drop you off at any point you request although the ticket price is a bit higher.
5.1.2 By motorbike, private car
Traveling to HaLong city by motorbike or private car from Hanoi and some northern provinces of Vietnam, you can choose 1 of the following 2 routes:
- Route 1: Hanoi – Bac Ninh, follow National Highway 18 and then continue to Pha Lai – Chi Linh – Dong Trieu – Uong Bi – Ha Long
- Route 2: Noi Bai Airport – Bac Ninh, continue along National Highway 18A to Pha Lai – Sao Do – Dong Trieu – Uong Bi – Ha Long.
The time to travel by motorbike from Hanoi to Ha Long is about 4 – 5 hours and a private car is about 2-3 hours. But the long distance will be tiring and dangerous. However, for those who love adventure travel and exploration, this will be a great experience. However, if traveling by motorbike, keep a suitable speed, wear a helmet with glasses, and a long-sleeved shirt for a safer journey.
5.2 From Ha Long City to Fighting Cock Islet
To visit Fighting Cock Islet, you can choose means of transport such as: Sightseeing boat, luxury cruise tour overnight on the Bay. Or choosing a plane to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay.
5.2.1 Sightseeing boat
Sightseeing boats are the most popular means of transport for tourists to visit Ha Long Bay as well as Fighting Cock Islet. The boat routes carry tourists from the scenic spots to the scenic spots according to each route with a pre-existing schedule.
There are many types of boats for tourists to choose from, from budget to luxury. You can rent a private boat or rent a group boat according to each route. Remember to pay attention and check the schedule of the boat route and whether it passes by Fighting Cock Islet or not?
5.2.2 Luxury cruise overnight on the Halong Bay
This is a more advanced service and is for customers with a more comfortable budget. Luxury cruises overnight on the Halong Bay must meet strict standards to best serve the needs of tourists. Such as: beautiful and safe cruise ships, depending on the service, there are ships with 1-40 bedrooms.
Each cruise ship will have its own services such as bedrooms, restaurants, spas, bars, etc. Depending on each provider, there will be different additional services. In addition, when choosing a luxury cruise ship to sleep overnight on the Bay, you will often have services such as swimming, kayaking, visiting fishing villages, squid fishing, etc. If you rent a private ship, you can choose your favorite destinations.
5.2.3 Seaplane
In addition to sitting on a boat drifting on the island, visitors can also take a seaplane with a new perspective to see Fighting Cock Islet.
The flight will pass through places such as Tuan Chau Island, Ba Hang, Ba But, Titop Island, Dinh Huong Island, Hang Dinh Island, Thien Cung Cave, etc., then return to the parking lot. Flight time is about 25 minutes with a price of about 2,000,000 VND/person/way. People can learn and contact tours in advance to arrange a more convenient travel time.
6. Discovering the beauty of Fighting Cock Islet
Fighting Cock Islet attracts people with its unique shape and beauty. When the tide is at its lowest, this pair of islands is clearly visible with a height of about 10 meters.
In particular, the shape of each “chicken” on the island has a different height and shape. Both islands have green plants growing on their backs, creating life for the island instead of just a barren rock. When viewed from afar, the precarious and unconventional appearance of Fighting Cock Islet is a great attraction for tourists.
In addition, the uniqueness of this place is also shown through the affectionate image of two chickens facing each other. Moreover, when the boat passes gently, Fighting Cock Islet suddenly turns into the image of a giant fish struggling in the middle of the sea. This creates a strong impression when you look from afar, as Fighting Cock Islet changes between two beautiful shapes.
7. Referring to the tour routes that pass through Fighting Cock Islet
7.1 Route 1:
- Starting from Port at Van Canh Park: Thien Cung, Dau Go Cave, Hon Cho Da, Hang Ba Hang, Dinh Huong Islet, Fighting Cock Islet.
7.2 Route 5:
- Starting from Gia Luan Port in Cat Ba Town – Hai Phong: Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go, Hon Cho Da, Hang Ba Hang, Dinh Huong Islet, Fighting Cock Islet.
8. Enjoying HaLong specialties when traveling to Fighting Cock Islet
When traveling here, you will enjoy the specialties of this beautiful land.
8.1 Stir-fried snails with soy sauce
Without betel leaves or cooking oil, Ha Long people stir-fry snails with coriander, dried coconut, and lemon leaves. The snail dipping sauce does not need to be elaborately prepared but is taken from the chili sauce used to stir-fry snails before. The snails are washed, put in a pot, seasoned and brought to a boil. When it has steamed and smells fragrant, take it off the stove. The stir-fried snails with soy sauce are crispy, rich, and spicy, making visitors exclaim with delight.
8.2 Ha Long sea worms
Sand worms are extremely valuable marine worms, 1kg of dried sea worms costs up to 4 – 5 million VND. When coming to Quang Ninh, do not forget to enjoy specialties made from sea worms such as: crispy island sea worms, grilled sea worms, stir-fried sea worms with kohlrabi, fried sea worms coated with flour, etc.
8.3 Grilled oysters
Grilled oysters with scallion oil are a rustic dish in Quang Ninh that many tourists love. The plump oysters are peeled on one side of the shell, added scallion oil and grilled on hot coals. When you hear the sizzling sound, add a few small broken peanuts and you have a great snack.
8.4 Yen Tu bamboo shoots
If you travel to Quang Ninh on the occasion of Yen Tu festival. You will enjoy the specialty bamboo shoots with a characteristic fragrant and nutty flavor. Bamboo shoots can be processed into many different dishes. Such as soup, grilled, salted with fresh chili or stir-fried with goat meat.
8.5 Sea horseshoe crab
Sam sea buckthorn is not only a delicious dish but also a nutritious and healthy dish. Sea sam in Quang Ninh tourist area is very large, firm meat and has a variety of preparations. Such as stir-fried Sam with lemongrass and chili, Sam salad, Sam crab cartilage, stir-fried Sam with vermicelli, crispy fried Sam eggs,…
9. Some other famous destinations near Fighting Cock Islet
When visiting Fighting Cock Islet, people can visit the famous destinations nearby to complete their journey to HaLong Bay.
9.1 Titop Island
One of the most famous and beautiful islands in Ha Long Bay, only about 7-8 km from Bai Chay in the Southeast direction. The island leans against Cua Luc Bay, in the distance in front is Bo Hon Island, Sung Sot Cave, and on the right is Dam Nam Islet. The island is not too big but its location is quite favorable, so it attracts many visitors.
When coming here, in addition to swimming, you can also follow the small road to the top of the island. From the top, you can look down on a corner of Ha Long with its magnificent beauty.
9.2 Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in HaLong Bay. It possesses large stalactites with strange shapes, creating a magical but extremely lively atmosphere. The name of the cave also partly describes its magnificence, entering the cave, visitors will be “amazed” and immersed in its captivating beauty.
9.3 Luon Cave
Located on Bo Hon Island, about 14-15 km from Bai Chay. The structure of Luon Cave is somewhat special, the cave entrance is quite wide with a bow-shaped shape. As its name suggests, to get inside, you have to go under the mountain top.
To get into the cave, people can go by kayak, or can go by boat with a boatman. Inside is a calm, emerald-green lake surrounded by high cliffs. The clouds, sky, mountains and water all blend together to create a poetic scene like a valley.
10. Some important notes when traveling to Fighting Cock Islet
To make the trip to Fighting Cock Islet the most complete, you can note a few necessary points as follows:
- Clothes: Depending on the weather and preferences to choose clothes suitable. However, when going to the beach, you should choose light and airy clothes. And don’t forget to bring a swimsuit if you intend to swim.
- Refer to the boat price: You should refer to the boat price to avoid being solicited with high prices. In addition, if you are worried about this issue, you can choose to book tickets according to the Ha Long tour of Origin Vietnam so that you don’t have to rush during the travel process as well as the ticket price.
- Accommodation: Everyone should determine the travel itinerary to choose a suitable hotel. You can choose a hotel in the center of Ha Long city to conveniently explore many places in Quang Ninh. Or you can also choose a luxury cruise tour to sleep overnight on the Bay.
Fighting Cock Islet is a place that possesses natural beauty and the magic of nature. With the image of a pair of loving chickens and the unique changes when the boat passes by. Hon Trong and Hon Mai are interesting symbols in Ha Long Bay that you should visit when you come here. Not only beautiful in shape, this place also contains colorful stories and legends, creating an important part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage.
Contact Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator. To have a special Halong Bay tours schedule to explore the islands and majestic caves here. Surely, you will have interesting activities and unforgettable experiences.
