Soi Sim Island, Halong Bay: 2026 Status, Beach, Viewpoint & How to Visit

By Jimmy, Halong Bay cruise specialist · Updated 9 October 2026

Soi Sim Island 2026: Halong Bay’s Myrtle-Covered Beach Island and Whether You Can Land

Soi Sim Island is a small, forested island of about 8 hectares in the core zone of Halong Bay, a few hundred metres from Ti Top Island and about 12 km from Tuan Chau, known for purple rose myrtle (sim) flowers from May to August, a white sand beach named in the Corona Beach 100 for 2026, and a hilltop viewpoint. Landing has been suspended since June 2026, so most visitors see Soi Sim Island from the deck of a cruise on Halong Bay Route 2 and swim at nearby Ti Top Island instead.

Status (checked October 2026): The Ha Long Bay–Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board suspended visits to Soi Sim beach in June 2026 while land, forest and permit procedures are completed. A reopening was targeted for summer 2026, but we have not seen an official reopening notice. Boats on Route 2 can pass the island, but passengers cannot go ashore. Message us before you book and we will confirm the latest situation.

Soi Sim Island at a Glance

Location	Core zone of Halong Bay, Quang Ninh, on tourist route No. 2 (VHL2)
Distance	About 12 km from Tuan Chau; a few hundred metres from Ti Top Island
Size	About 8 hectares (official figures range from 7.8 to 8.7 ha)
Known for	Rose myrtle (sim) flowers, a white sand beach, natural forest and a hilltop viewpoint
Recognition	The only Vietnamese beach in the Corona Beach 100 guide for 2026
Current status	Landing suspended since June 2026; view from the boat
How to see it	A day or overnight cruise on the classic Halong Bay route (Route 2)
Ticket	Covered by the Halong Bay Route 2 sightseeing ticket, included in our cruise prices
Best time	May to August for sim flowers; April to October for calm, warm water
Nearby	Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Ti Top Island
Find it	Google Maps

Is Soi Sim Island worth it? Yes, as a view: it is one of the greenest, least-developed islands on the classic route. Do not plan your trip around landing there until a reopening is announced; plan around Ti Top Island, which has a beach and a viewpoint open to visitors.

Soi Sim Island in Halong Bay with rose myrtle on its hills — Soi Sim Island, a small forested island on Halong Bay Route 2 near Ti Top Island

What Makes Soi Sim Island Special

A rare natural forest in the heart of Halong Bay

Most islands on the busy Route 2 are bare limestone. Soi Sim Island is covered in natural forest and myrtle scrub and lies within special-use forest land, which is why its development has been tightly controlled.

A world-listed beach

In June 2026 the US-based Corona Beach 100 guide named Soi Sim beach among 100 outstanding beaches worldwide, the only one in Vietnam, citing its unspoiled setting and biodiversity.

Purple hills in summer

From about May to August the rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, called sim in Vietnamese) flowers in pink and purple, giving the island its colour and its name.

The Story Behind the Name

Sim is the Vietnamese name for rose myrtle, which grows wild on the island’s hills. Local fishermen picked its dark berries, and the commonly told story is that they came at night with lights to soi (search for) the fruit, giving the name Soi Sim. The berries ripen after the flowers, in late summer.

Purple rose myrtle (sim) flowers covering the hills of Soi Sim Island, Halong Bay — Rose myrtle (sim) in bloom on Soi Sim Island, usually May to August

Things to See on Soi Sim Island

1. The white sand beach

A curved beach of fine white sand faces calm, clear water. Repairs in 2026 included sand top-ups and cleaning ahead of a planned reopening for swimming.

2. The hilltop viewpoint

A stepped trail of roughly 400 steps, with wooden walkways that were being upgraded in 2026, climbs through the myrtle to a viewpoint over the islands of Halong Bay. Allow 20–30 minutes up when it reopens.

3. Rose myrtle and natural forest

The island is part of a planned flora and fauna conservation project. Its construction was paused in 2026 while procedures are completed, so treat any “museum” or “pavilion” you read about online as planned, not open.

4. The view from the boat

While landing is suspended, the best way to see Soi Sim Island is from the sundeck as your cruise sails between Ti Top Island and the caves of Route 2.

White sand beach and clear water at Soi Sim Island, Halong Bay — The white sand beach of Soi Sim Island, listed in the Corona Beach 100 for 2026

Is Soi Sim Island Open in 2026?

Not for landing at the time of writing. The Halong Bay Management Board announced a temporary suspension in June 2026 while the island’s land, forest and permit procedures are completed. The infrastructure, safety and rescue systems were being checked so swimming can be organised safely once it reopens.

Date	Update
Before 2026	Visitors could not land for several years while the conservation project was reviewed
June 2026	Named in the Corona Beach 100; suspension of visits announced
July 2026	Reopening targeted for August; legal procedures still pending
October 2026	No official reopening notice seen; boats pass but do not land

If Soi Sim Island reopens, cruises on Route 2 may add a swim stop. Until then, every cruise we sell on this route stops at Ti Top Island for the beach and viewpoint.

How to Get to Soi Sim Island

Soi Sim Island can only be reached by boat on Halong Bay Route 2, which also covers Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave and Ti Top Island.

Option	How it works	Time from Hanoi
Halong Bay day cruise	Route 2 boats leave Tuan Chau or Ha Long International Cruise Port, pass Soi Sim and stop at Ti Top and the caves	About 2.5–3 h each way by road, 4–6 h on the water
Overnight cruise (classic route)	Ships visiting Sung Sot and Ti Top usually sail past Soi Sim on Day 1 or Day 2	About 2.5–3 h by road
Public tourist boat	Buy the Route 2 ticket at the port and join a sightseeing boat	About 2.5–3 h by road

Cruises in Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay do not pass Soi Sim Island. Not sure which suits you? Read day cruise vs overnight cruise.

Best Time to Visit Soi Sim Island

Months	Weather	What you see
March–April	Mild, sometimes misty	Green hills, few boats
May–August	Hot, sunny, storm risk	Purple sim flowers; best for photos
September–November	Warm, clear, calmer	Berries ripen; good visibility
December–February	Cool, grey	Quiet bay; swimming too cold

Cruises can be cancelled when the port authority closes the bay in storms, mostly from July to September. See our guide to the best time to visit Halong Bay.

Panoramic view over Halong Bay islands from the Soi Sim Island viewpoint — Halong Bay panorama from the hilltop viewpoint on Soi Sim Island

Soi Sim Island vs Ti Top Island

	Soi Sim Island	Ti Top Island
Landing	Suspended since June 2026	Open to visitors
Beach	White sand, world-listed	Crescent beach, often busy
Viewpoint	About 400 steps (when open)	About 400 steps to a hilltop pavilion
Nature	Forest and rose myrtle	Mostly rock and scrub
Crowds	Very few boats stop	Busy from late morning

Our view: Ti Top Island is the practical choice today. Soi Sim Island is the one to watch: when it reopens, it will be the quieter beach on the classic route. Compare the bays in Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.

How Soi Sim Island Fits a Halong Bay Cruise

Board at Tuan Chau or Ha Long International Cruise Port around midday
Sail out on Route 2 and look out for Soi Sim Island’s green hills near Ti Top
Climb Ti Top Island for the view and swim at its beach
Explore Sung Sot Cave and kayak or take a bamboo boat at Luon Cave

Ships on this route include Catherine Cruise, Grand Pioneers Cruise I, Alisa Premier Cruise, Athena Luxury Cruise and Halong Phoenix Cruises.

Local Expert Tips for Soi Sim Island

These tips come from more than a decade of arranging Halong Bay trips for international travellers; the status above follows the Halong Bay Management Board’s public announcements.

Bring a zoom lens or binoculars; you will see Soi Sim Island from the boat
Ask the crew which side of the sundeck passes closest to the island on your route
Pack swimwear for Ti Top Island from May to October
Do not book a tour that promises landing on Soi Sim unless the reopening has been officially announced

Plan Your Visit

Want to see Soi Sim Island, Ti Top Island and Sung Sot Cave in one trip? Compare our day cruises and luxury overnight cruises, or message us on WhatsApp +84 886 261 368 and we will check Soi Sim’s status for your date. Booking with Halong Tour Expert includes our Best Price Guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions about Soi Sim Island

1. Where is Soi Sim Island?

Soi Sim Island is in the core zone of Halong Bay, Quang Ninh, on tourist route No. 2, about 12 km from Tuan Chau and a few hundred metres from Ti Top Island.

2. Is Soi Sim Island open to tourists in 2026?

Not for landing. Visits were suspended in June 2026 and no official reopening had been announced at our last check in October 2026. Ask us on our contact page for the latest status.

3. Why is Soi Sim beach closed?

Its land, forest and permit procedures are still being completed, and the board is checking safety and rescue systems before swimming is allowed. Read more about Halong Bay.

4. When will Soi Sim Island reopen?

No date has been confirmed. A summer 2026 reopening was targeted but passed. We update this page when the Halong Bay Management Board announces it; you can also check our Halong Bay FAQs.

5. Can you swim at Soi Sim beach?

Not while landing is suspended. The nearest beach open for swimming on the same route is Ti Top Island.

6. Can I still see Soi Sim Island on a cruise?

Yes. Cruises on Halong Bay Route 2 pass close to it; see our Halong Bay day cruises.

7. Which Halong Bay route includes Soi Sim Island?

Route 2 (VHL2), with Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave and Ti Top Island.

8. Is there an entrance fee for Soi Sim Island?

There is no separate fee; it is part of the Halong Bay Route 2 sightseeing ticket, which is included in our cruise prices.

9. Soi Sim or Ti Top: which is better?

Ti Top Island is open, with a beach and viewpoint. Soi Sim is quieter and greener but closed for landing. See our Ti Top Island guide.

10. When do the sim flowers bloom on Soi Sim Island?

Usually from May to August, when the hills turn pink and purple. Plan with our best time to visit Halong Bay guide.

11. Why is it called Soi Sim Island?

Sim is the Vietnamese name for rose myrtle. Fishermen are said to have searched (soi) the hills for its berries. More stories in our Halong Bay travel guides.

12. How many steps are there to the Soi Sim viewpoint?

Roughly 400 steps along a trail and wooden walkways, about 20–30 minutes up. It is closed with the rest of the island; Ti Top Island has a similar climb.