Titov Island

Being one of over three thousand islands forming Halong bay, Titop is, for most of the time, overlooked by husty tourists. 

However, the island has so much to offer. It is undoubtedly considered one of the most beautiful islands in the whole bay.

To help you have a clearer picture of Titov so that you can have an easier time deciding where to visit in Halong, we’d like to provide some information about the island in this post.

Location

TiTov island

Titov island is located at Halong bay, about 8 km from the southeast of Bai Chai port - The main port of Halong. 

The island is also admired for its fengshui position. Facing Surprise cave to the font and Dam Nam island to the right, Titov is believed to hold a special spiritual power that may bring luck to people.

Therefore, the island is  considered the guardian and protector among local residents. Also, as Titov lies right at the center of the bay, it is often referred to as “The heart of Halong”. 

Getting to Titov Island 

The most popular way to get there is by using boat. Usually, tourists get transferred to the island by there travel company’s boat from Bai Chay port.

It may take for about 20 minutes depending on the weather or the sea’s tide level. There is a small port in the island so it’s not hard to land. 

Beside boat, it’s possible to use your kayak. As many cruise ships in the Halong offer kayak trips, you can get in you kayak and then explore islands around the bay including Titov. The experience is spectacular. 

Best time to visit Titov Island

The island is beautiful year around. Therefore, it would be hard to say which season is better.

However, as the region is cold and covered with fog from Winter to Spring ( From November to March), tourists are advised to visit in the other months. 

How the island got its name

As you may guess, the name is definitely not Vietnamese as it sounds very Russian.

Prior to the  late 20 century, the island was known as “Cat Nang”. The name means “Sand Maiden” in Vietnamese.

According to a local tale, a beautiful young girl lost her lover and she was so depressed that killed herself.

Her beautiful body turned into a small sand island and from that island emerged a high, breathtaking limestone mountain. 

On November 22nd, 1962, Vietnam’s founding father Ho Chi Minh along with the famous USSR astronaut Gherman Titov paid a historical visit to the island.

To commemorate that event, the island was renamed “Titov” and the name still exists to this day. 

What to see in Titov island

TiTov Island

Tourists travelling to the island often attracted by its natural beauty. The island is humble in size but you can still find tons of things to see there.

Titov is situated above crystal-like emerald green water. The greenish color of the sea is like reflected to the island as it is covered with bushes of trees, vines and flowers, many of which are only found in the area.  

The island is also granted with a rich system of fauna. There are hundreds of marine and terrestrial animals residing on and near the island including  birds, insects, fish, reptiles and cetaceans. 

Another a striking remark of the island is its limestone mountain . The mountain resembles the desperate maiden waiting for her beloved lover in the tale above.

On top of the mountain, there is an observation deck which offers a panoramic view of the whole bay. Climbing up to the top can be a little bit tiring for some, but it’s worth the effort.

Separated from the rest of the islands and can even be seen from above, the narrow, pristine beach on Titov is something you shouldn’t miss.

The beach is also where you could camp if you want stay overnight as this is the only flat space in the whole island.

What to do

Explore the nature: As mentioned above, the island is rich in its ecosystem with different varieties of marine and terrestrial plants and animals.

Therefore, a expedition to know more about the diversity of living organisms in the islands would be a gesture of respect to Mother Nature for that she has gifted.

Aquatic sports

Kayaking

Titov and its surrounding water is perfect for aquatic sports. You may choose between countless of sports ranging from diving, snorkeling to kayaking.

A kayaking trip around the island is also very convenient as you would be be able to explore many other spots next to Titov such as Surprising cave and Maze cave. 

Hiking

Nothing is more rewarding than a hiking trip to the top of Titov island. From the beach to the top is almost 100m and the track is not quite easy. But it’s magnificent.

As the track meanders around the rocky ridge of the island, an overlook to the landscapes at the distance would be amazing.

Also, when you get to the highest point at the observation deck, an irresistible view would be right at your sight. The view here is arguably the best to observe Halong bay.

Camping

You can organize a small camping on the beach. It’s very suitable for activities that involve big groups like barbecuing or dancing.

However, in order not to do harm to the environment, it is advised to clean up your trash after the camping.