Tung Sau Pearl Farm, Halong Bay: 2026 Guide, How Pearls Are Made & Cruise Stops

Tung Sau Pearl Farm 2026: How Halong Bay Pearls Are Grown and Whether Your Cruise Stops

Tung Sau Pearl Farm is a saltwater pearl farm run by Ha Long Pearl JSC in the sheltered Tung Sau cove near Bo Hon Island, on Halong Bay route VHL2. A 30–45 minute visit shows the oyster rafts, the seeding of a nucleus inside an oyster, harvesting and a showroom, with guided tours in several languages. Fewer cruises stop here than a decade ago, so check your itinerary.

Good to know (checked October 2026): Tung Sau cove is named on the official VHL2 route and the farm continues to receive visitors, but many classic-route cruises now use the time for kayaking at Luon Cave instead. There is no official ticket price published by the Management Board; when a cruise includes the farm, the visit is part of the package.

Tung Sau Pearl Farm at a Glance

Location	Tung Sau cove, Bo Hon Island area, Halong Bay
Route	VHL2, near Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave
Operator	Ha Long Pearl JSC, which also farms near Vung Vieng (over 50 ha in total)
What you see	Oyster rafts, nucleus seeding, harvesting, a small pearl exhibition and showroom
Recognition	5-star OCOP (Vietnam’s One Commune One Product programme) for its pearls, 2020
Visit time	30–45 minutes
Ticket	No separate official ticket; usually arranged by your cruise
Shopping	Pearl jewellery for sale; no obligation to buy
Find it	Google Maps

Is Tung Sau Pearl Farm worth it? It is a pleasant, educational stop, especially for families and anyone curious about how pearls are made. It is not a highlight on its own, so we would not choose a cruise just for it.

Tung Sau Pearl Farm's 30-hectare floating oyster cages arranged in orderly rows against Halong Bay's limestone karsts -- the most famous pearl farm in Vietnam — Floating oyster rafts at Tung Sau Pearl Farm, Halong Bay

What Makes Tung Sau Pearl Farm Interesting

A working sea farm

Oysters hang in nets and cages under floating rafts in the calm cove, a reminder that Halong Bay is a workplace as well as a landscape.

See the seeding process

Technicians show how a small nucleus and a piece of mantle tissue are inserted into a living oyster, which then coats the nucleus in layers of nacre over many months.

A piece of bay history

Tung Sau cove was also the first home of the Cua Van Floating Culture Centre before it moved to Cua Van.

Background: Pearl Farming in Halong Bay

Pearl culture in Halong Bay grew from Vietnamese–Japanese cooperation. Accounts differ on the farm’s ownership history: some sources say Ha Long Pearl bought it from a Japanese company in the mid-1990s, while a feature in Cong Thuong magazine says the current owners took over a Vietnam–Japan joint venture in 2007. Before the pandemic the company produced about 200 kg of raw pearls a year; output has since recovered more slowly, with operations restarting fully in August 2023. About 60% of visitors are European, and tours are offered in six languages.

In 2013 Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism advised against expanding pearl farming in densely visited scenic parts of the bay, one reason the farms have stayed small. The cove is listed on the official VHL2 route.

Skilled technician performing live oyster grafting at Tung Sau Pearl Farm -- inserting a nucleus into a Pinctada oyster to begin pearl formation, Halong Bay Vietnam — An oyster grafting demonstration at Tung Sau Pearl Farm

What You See at Tung Sau Pearl Farm

1. The oyster rafts

Guides explain how oysters are cleaned and checked during the growing period and why water quality matters.

2. The seeding demonstration

A short live demonstration, often the part children remember most.

3. Opening an oyster

On some visits a guest opens an oyster to find the pearl inside.

Visitor opening a live oyster at Tung Sau Pearl Farm to find the pearl inside -- one of Halong Bay's most memorable hands-on cultural experiences — A visitor opening an oyster at Tung Sau Pearl Farm

4. The exhibition and showroom

Displays explain pearl types such as Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls, followed by a jewellery showroom. Ask where each pearl was grown and request a certificate before buying.

Practical Information

Item	Details (checked October 2026)
Hours	Daytime, arranged with cruise operators
Fee	No official ticket price; included when a cruise includes the stop (travel sites have quoted about 30,000 VND for independent boats, unverified)
Rules	Follow staff on the rafts; no swimming near the cages
Accessibility	Floating platforms; steady footing needed

How to Visit Tung Sau Pearl Farm

Option	How it works	Notes
Overnight cruise (classic route)	Some itineraries include it near Sung Sot	Confirm before booking
Day cruise	Occasionally	Check itinerary
Private boat	Ask us	Subject to the farm’s agreement

Best Time to Visit

Months	Conditions
October–November	Calm and clear
March–May	Mild
June–September	Hot; storm cancellations possible

See the best time to visit Halong Bay.

Tung Sau vs the Vung Vieng Pearl Rafts

	Tung Sau	Vung Vieng
Location	Central Halong Bay, VHL2	Eastern Halong Bay, VHL4
Combine with	Sung Sot, Luon, Ti Top	Fishing village, Thien Canh Son Cave
Feel	Short educational stop	Part of a village visit