Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim Island
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
37 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
21
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Vikas Singh
Ghaziabad, India4,140 contributions
Nov 2013 • Family
Soi Sim is an earthen island 400 m away from Ti Top Island, and 9-10 km from the Tuan Chau Tourist Port. It is one of the few soil-based islands among the bay’s countless limestone karsts. In the past, the major plant growing on the island was Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (called “sim” in Vietnamese). Therefore, the island was named after that plant, “Soi Sim”. Soi Sim is rich in natural beauty and wildlife. Two stunning beaches offer visitors ideal waters for boating and swimming; while inland, ancient trees are home to a diverse bird population including Black Kites, herons, egrets, terns and gulls. For those who prefer hill or mountain to sea, there is a beautiful Sim hill to explore. From the top of the hills you will have great views of the spectacular scenery of Halong bay, specially at sunset . The island was open for tourists only ten years back and so in a way is the newest attraction added to the World heritage site of Halong Bay
Written July 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donald_B1946
Hanoi, Vietnam3 contributions
Sep 2015 • Couples
This was my first time visit Halong Bay, my wife & I took a 2 days & 1 night trip with an overnight boat named Jasmine, and we visit the Soi Sim Island in the morning on our second day and swimming in the beach, the water was quite clean & warm in the autumn, the panoramic view also nice, shoul be visit if you cruising Halong Bay!
Written October 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soon Theam K
Perth, Australia51 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
As part of the cruise itinerary, we were dropped off on Soi Sim for an hour to either swim or hike, we chose the hiking option. Just note that this isn't for any unfit people as you are looking at scaling easily 300 steps to reach the summit.
At the top of the summit is a small area which one can see a large expanse of the bay, only issue being that the area was really tiny and could at most hold 5-6 people, made for plenty of jostling about as everyone wanted to take a picture of the picturesque view. The summit probably needed a bit of a prune as well, as most of the branches and leaves obscured the view.
Please note that during the ascent there is a secondary path that branches right, this leads down the hill in another direction away from the main beach to a small jetty that was still being built when we were there. If you choose to go down this path, you have to climb up the same way as you went down to return to the beach as there is no other path to the main beach. If you have done the hike to the summit before, this will probably be rather strenous.
The swimming area is quite limited as marked by buoys, the water is very clear as the tour guides noted that the floating villages have been moved away from the tourist areas to minimise pollution.
At the top of the summit is a small area which one can see a large expanse of the bay, only issue being that the area was really tiny and could at most hold 5-6 people, made for plenty of jostling about as everyone wanted to take a picture of the picturesque view. The summit probably needed a bit of a prune as well, as most of the branches and leaves obscured the view.
Please note that during the ascent there is a secondary path that branches right, this leads down the hill in another direction away from the main beach to a small jetty that was still being built when we were there. If you choose to go down this path, you have to climb up the same way as you went down to return to the beach as there is no other path to the main beach. If you have done the hike to the summit before, this will probably be rather strenous.
The swimming area is quite limited as marked by buoys, the water is very clear as the tour guides noted that the floating villages have been moved away from the tourist areas to minimise pollution.
Written November 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeffrey57
windsor92 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
This is the second of three attractions in Ha Long Bai. The pearl / oyster factory - a commercial shop -, the surprising Caves and this island. It has a small beach for swimming and 300 steps up to the top and nowhere. The steps have been built, but there is nothing at the top. They just end. Tourists have stamped down some of the jungle to get a view out from the top through the trees. The view is limited, and the space very small and steep. It holds about 10 people out of the thousands climbing up, so there is a scrummage at the top.
Usually you do thismat around 5 p.m. To catch the sunset from the top, but as I say, the space is small, and the view resticted, by the amount of vegetatipn the tourists have broken off. They cannot reach out very far to remove braches from trees as it is so steep.
Usually you do thismat around 5 p.m. To catch the sunset from the top, but as I say, the space is small, and the view resticted, by the amount of vegetatipn the tourists have broken off. They cannot reach out very far to remove braches from trees as it is so steep.
Written December 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
upendra987
Kathmandu, Nepal150 contributions
Jan 2018
wonderful cruise tour in Amazing nature. feels like you are in lonely planet must visited place when you are in Halong.
Written February 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chiallasiatravel
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam206 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
the beach is very quiet, we enjoy swimming there. Water is clear and the beach is nice to kayak surround.
Written August 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosanna U
Toronto, Canada37 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
Nice little beach with beach volleyball. The climb up the stairs is a little hard but well worth the climb for the view.
Written December 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Compasswild
Mississauga, Canada221 contributions
A little steep to get to the top, but the view is unbelievable. Saw some monkeys on the way. Great stop on our day trip!
Written May 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelunherath
colombo53 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Well there is a beach and one could swim here what most did was climbed the mountain and then have a chilled swim in it beautiful view. Lovely
Written May 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dell E.
Noosa, Australia598 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
It was not quite the weather for swimming, but if it had of been it would have been lovely. Getting up to the top of the mountain was obtained by very steep stairs, so not quite a hike as we know it.
Their was a government charge to visit but our guide took care of all that, their were also a couple of trinket shops for any purchases you might wish to make.
Their was a government charge to visit but our guide took care of all that, their were also a couple of trinket shops for any purchases you might wish to make.
Written March 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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