An Introduction to Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim is a rare earthen island situated in the southeast of central Ha Long Bay, approximately 11 to 12 km from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf and 11.5 to 12 km from Tuan Chau International Passenger Port. Located just 700 meters from Titov Island along Sightseeing Route No. 2, visitors can easily reach it by boat from either port in about 90 minutes while soaking in breathtaking panoramic views of the bay. Spanning roughly 6.6 to 8.7 hectares, the island features two prominent peaks rising over 100 meters, dipping gracefully in the middle like a saddle. Two-thirds of its surface is blanketed in nutrient-rich feralitic soil and weathered reddish debris. According to researchers, the island was formed hundreds of millions of years ago and subsequently encircled by the sea, nurturing a rich ecosystem complete with pristine forests, endemic species such as the yellow orchid and Ha Long aspidistra, and most notably, the sim (myrtle) trees.
Location of Soi Sim Island
The island derives its distinctive name from the abundance of wild myrtle (sim) flowers that thrive here. When summer arrives—typically from May to August—travelers who visit the island are greeted by vibrant purple myrtle blossoms carpeting the hillsides, creating an exceptionally romantic landscape. Local lore has it that during the ripening season, fishermen cruising Ha Long Bay would often ascend the island to harvest the sweet berries, eventually inspiring the island’s enduring name.
Panoramic view of Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim was opened to tourism in the late 2000s, becoming an essential stop along Route 2 of Ha Long Bay cruise tours. Alongside Titov Island, these are the only two destinations in Ha Long Bay officially licensed for swimming beaches. Traditionally, visitors following this route choose between visiting either Titov or Soi Sim. Nevertheless, compared to other renowned islands in Ha Long Bay, Soi Sim retains a refreshing sense of discovery. This is largely because, following 2018, the Ha Long Bay Management Board temporarily suspended tourism operations on the island.
Unforgettable Experiences at Soi Sim
Soi Sim Island is envisioned as a captivating destination offering an array of leisure, recreational, and exploratory activities. Below are the quintessential experiences you should look forward to upon visiting this remarkable island:
1. Swimming in Crystalline Waters
Soi Sim Island is embraced by charming, intimate beaches featuring powdery white sand stretching approximately 200 meters in a graceful crescent shape. The water here is mesmerizingly clear and jade-tinted, so pristine that schools of tiny fish can be effortlessly seen darting beneath the surface.
A corner of the island’s beach
2. Exploring the Pristine Forest Ecosystem
Covering an area of roughly 8.7 hectares, Soi Sim features twin peaks standing around 100 meters high, dipping into a saddle in the middle with gentle slopes cascading toward the southwest. The island boasts a unique geological structure, with two-thirds of its terrain covered in feralitic and weathered soils. Abundant in oxisol, the fertile earth supports a wonderfully diverse botanical and zoological tapestry. The island’s primeval forest shelters over 78 plant species and 32 animal species, including numerous rare and valuable endemic flora characteristic of the Ha Long Bay ecosystem, such as the mountain dracaena, cotton tree, and yellow lady’s slipper orchid. According to scientific researchers, Soi Sim’s rich concentration of endemic species stems from its ancient origins hundreds of years ago before being encircled by the sea.
3. Trekking the Island Walkways
While visitors previously traveled to Soi Sim primarily to enjoy the swimming beach on the western shore, current excursions now commence from the eastern pier. Guests are welcomed by an encircling wooden boardwalk and over 400 stone steps winding up to the summit. Strolling along this pathway—flanked by rugged limestone cliffs dotted with exotic foliage on one side and the gentle murmur of azure waves on the other—delivers an exceptionally tranquil sensory experience that every traveler will cherish.
Walking path around Soi Sim Island
Directions and Travel Guide to Soi Sim Island from Hanoi
Typically, to visit Soi Sim Island, travelers purchase tickets for Route 2 within a Ha Long Bay Cruise Tour, which encompasses iconic landmarks such as Soi Sim, Titov, Sung Sot Cave, Bo Nau Cave, Luon Cave, Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Dong Tien Lake, and Me Cung Cave. The standard admission fee is VND 290,000, comprising VND 250,000 for sightseeing entrance and VND 40,000 for port infrastructure fees, exclusive of cruise charter rates and additional onboard services.
Though Soi Sim is featured as the initial stop on the itinerary, cruise ships are currently restricted from docking to allow passengers ashore for sightseeing and swimming, per the directives of the Ha Long Bay Management Board. Consequently, the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association has petitioned provincial authorities to instruct the Management Board to temporarily omit Soi Sim from printed tickets until the destination officially resumes welcoming guests.
Soi Sim Island on the Route 2 Bay Tour Itinerary
Addressing these concerns, the Ha Long Bay Management Board explained: “It is true that Soi Sim remains printed on the tickets, but the province has currently entrusted a construction company with ongoing infrastructure development, prompting a temporary closure to visitors for safety reasons. Observers passing by can spot the unfinished Ha Long flora and fauna conservation facility atop the hill, halting construction on both the beach and mountain facilities. We are urging the investor to expedite progress, especially as Titov beach is currently experiencing overcrowding.”
Master Planning and Project Hurdles on Soi Sim Island
Endowed with a rich ecosystem and nestled within the core of the heritage site, Soi Sim Island has received heightened focus for tourism development in recent years. Consequently, the Ha Long Bay Management Board formulated a master plan to transform the island into an eco-tourism sanctuary, generating both economic dividends and conservation value for the island specifically and Ha Long Bay as a whole.
To execute the construction and development of Soi Sim, the investment project for building the Ha Long Bay flora and fauna conservation area on the island was awarded to Ha Long Bay Services Joint Stock Company in 2012, with a total investment exceeding VND 28.5 billion.
By 2016, the project was transferred by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province to Soi Sim One Member Co., Ltd. for implementation. According to the original schedule, the project was slated for completion and operation by the end of March 2017. However, implementation was stalled due to various procedural bottlenecks.
Project investors noted that investment and construction activities were suspended starting in 2019. By that time, capital poured into the project had surpassed VND 100 billion, driven by design modifications to enhance environmental friendliness and regulatory compliance, alongside upgrading the exhibition house into a museum and incurring additional expenditures. The investor affirmed that development will resume once all legal procedures fully satisfy regulatory mandates.
Inspection Conclusion No. 29, issued on November 6, 2020, by the Inspectorate of Quang Ninh Province regarding compliance with policies and laws in executing the Ha Long Bay flora and fauna conservation project on Soi Sim Island during the 2015–2019 period by Soi Sim One Member Co., Ltd., highlighted several critical issues.
Specifically, the project lacked official land allocation and forest allocation decisions as stipulated in Article 16 of the 2017 Forestry Law. Consequently, the Ha Long Bay Management Board lacked the legal basis to execute a forest environment lease contract on the island with Soi Sim One Member Co., Ltd.
Furthermore, pursuant to Article 58 of the 2001 Law on Cultural Heritage, financial resources dedicated to safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage values do not provide for utilizing non-budgetary investment capital to execute such projects. Yet, this project had indeed incorporated non-budgetary funding.
Consequently, the project remains non-operational to this day. In reality, however, the primary phases of the project were already completed by 2018, including Piers No. 1 and 2, the Soi Sim swimming beach, the administrative and reception building, restroom and service facilities, the headquarters for the Flora and Fauna Conservation Center, and the island’s walking trails…
The above is comprehensive information regarding Soi Sim Island. We hope this article provides valuable insights for your travels. If you wish to charter a luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay to explore this heritage landmark, please contact us for bespoke assistance.
