Soi Sim Island

1. About Soi Sim Island — Key Facts at a Glance

2. Location: Where Is Soi Sim Island?

Soi Sim Island is located in the western section of Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam — approximately 10–12 kilometers from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf in Halong City. One of its most immediately useful reference points is its proximity to Ti Top Island: Soi Sim sits just 700 meters away from Ti Top, making the two islands natural companions on the same cruise itinerary stop. Many visitors see both islands in a single anchorage, swimming at Ti Top’s beach and then kayaking the short distance across to Soi Sim.

The island is part of Halong Bay’s Sightseeing Route 2 — the same route that includes Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Ti Top Island, and Cua Van Fishing Village. However, not all cruise operators include Soi Sim in their itinerary — particularly day cruise operators with tight schedules. Mid-range and luxury overnight cruises are more likely to include Soi Sim, and the island is particularly popular with operators who want to offer guests a quieter, more exclusive beach experience away from the busier Ti Top beach.

3. The Name: A Story of Fishermen & Myrtle Berries

The name “Soi Sim” is one of the most evocative place names in all of Halong Bay — and one of the few that traces directly to a specific human activity rather than a visual resemblance or a legend.

In the past, the island was densely covered with Rhodomyrtus tomentosa — a flowering shrub known as the rose myrtle or tomentose myrtle, called simply sim in Vietnamese. The plant produces small, sweet purple berries that ripen in summer, which local fishermen prized as a snack during long nights on the water. During nights waiting to cast their nets, these fishermen would carry oil lamps to the island to search for ripe sim berries by lamplight. Soi in Vietnamese means “to search” or “to look for.” Over time, the island became known simply as the place you went to look for sim: Soi Sim.

This name has endured because the plant that inspired it still covers the island today — and still produces its berries every summer, drawing not fishermen with oil lamps but cruise passengers with smartphones, all equally enchanted by the purple-blanketed hillsides that appear between May and August.

4. The Purple Myrtle Season — Soi Sim’s Most Spectacular Sight

If there is one reason to time a Halong Bay cruise specifically around a visit to Soi Sim Island, it is the purple myrtle bloom season — one of the most visually dramatic natural events in the entire bay.

From late April through August each year, the hillsides of Soi Sim transform into a sweeping canvas of vivid purple. The rose myrtle shrubs that cover much of the island’s terrain come into full bloom simultaneously, painting the slopes from the water’s edge to the twin peaks in a color that stands in striking contrast to the grey limestone of the surrounding karsts and the emerald green of the bay’s water. The effect is most intense from late April to early May — when the bloom is at its freshest and most concentrated — but the flowering extends through summer, with new blooms replacing those that fade.

Photographers and couples consistently describe the purple myrtle season at Soi Sim as one of the most romantic and photogenic moments available anywhere in Halong Bay. The view from the island’s viewpoint during bloom season — purple hillsides descending to a white sand beach meeting emerald water, framed by limestone karsts in every direction — is unique in the region and has helped establish Soi Sim as an increasingly sought-after stop on luxury cruise itineraries.

5. The Beach: White Sand & Crystal Waters

Soi Sim Island is home to one of the most pristine beaches accessible on a Halong Bay cruise — a crescent of fine white sand with crystal-clear emerald water so transparent that visitors can watch schools of small fish swimming beneath the surface from the shoreline.

The beach benefits from the island’s relative seclusion: because Soi Sim is included on fewer cruise itineraries than Ti Top Island just 700 meters away, the water here is often noticeably calmer and the beach noticeably emptier — even on busy cruise days when Ti Top’s beach is crowded with day-trippers. The gentle slope of the beach into shallow water makes Soi Sim an excellent swimming spot for visitors of all ages, including families with young children.

Activities available at the beach include swimming, sunbathing on deck chairs, kayaking around the island’s perimeter, and snorkeling in the clear water around the rocks and small formations at the island’s edges. Some operators have installed basic beach facilities (deck chairs, a small refreshment area) on the beach, keeping infrastructure deliberately minimal to preserve the island’s wild character.

6. The Hike: 400 Steps to a Panoramic Viewpoint

One of the defining experiences on Soi Sim Island is the climb to its panoramic viewpoint — a well-maintained stone staircase of approximately 400 steps winding through the myrtle forest up to the island’s summit. The hike takes approximately 15–25 minutes at a moderate pace, ascending through increasingly dense vegetation as the steps gain height above the beach.

The reward at the top is a sweeping 360-degree panoramic view of Halong Bay — one of the finest natural viewpoints in the entire bay, comparable in scale and drama to Ti Top Island’s famous vista, but experienced with far fewer visitors present at any given time. From the summit, the bay stretches in every direction: karst islands rising from emerald water in every direction, cruise ships moving through the channels below, Ti Top’s distinctive crescent beach visible in the near distance.

The hike is suitable for most visitors of reasonable fitness. The steps are maintained and equipped with handrails at steeper sections, and the vegetation provides shade for much of the ascent. The view is accessible to visitors who would not consider themselves hikers. The climb is not recommended for visitors with serious mobility limitations, as the 400 steps involve some steep sections near the summit.

7. Biodiversity & the Flora–Fauna Conservation Area

Soi Sim Island is classified by the Halong Bay Management Board as a biodiversity hotspot within the UNESCO World Heritage core zone. The island’s relative isolation from commercial development has allowed its ecosystem to remain largely intact, hosting a documented 78+ plant species and 32+ animal species — many of them endemic to Halong Bay’s particular limestone karst ecosystem.

Among the island’s most notable endemic species are the mountain cypress, cottonwood, yellow-flowered lady’s slipper orchid, cotton plant, and mountain palm — rare plants that have been documented by researchers as existing in forms specific to the Halong Bay limestone environment. The island has consequently been designated as a natural “gene bank” for Halong Bay’s endemic flora.

The 9-Petal Flower Conservation Pavilion

The Halong Bay Management Board has established a flora and fauna conservation area on Soi Sim Island, featuring a distinctive central exhibition hall and viewing platforms designed to resemble a 9-petal flower from above. The structure is built to strict nature-protection specifications, minimizing impact on the surrounding ecosystem while providing visitors with an educational introduction to the island’s biodiversity, the significance of its endemic species, and the ongoing conservation efforts within Halong Bay’s World Heritage zone. A visit to the exhibition hall adds a meaningful educational dimension to what would otherwise be a purely recreational beach and hiking stop.

8. How to Visit Soi Sim Island in 2026

Soi Sim Island is accessible only by boat as part of a Halong Bay cruise itinerary. The island is included on Route 2, which covers the central and southern sections of Halong Bay.

Important note: Not every Halong Bay cruise that visits Route 2 includes Soi Sim Island specifically. Because the island is 700 meters from Ti Top Island, some operators visit only Ti Top for beach time and bypass Soi Sim. Always confirm your cruise itinerary explicitly includes Soi Sim Island before booking if this is a priority for your visit.

Departure & Journey

• From Hanoi: ~2.5–3 hours by road to Tuan Chau International Port (Ha Long City)
• Boat journey from Tuan Chau: Approximately 30–45 minutes to the Soi Sim / Ti Top area of Halong Bay
• No separate entrance fee: Included in Halong Bay Route 2 sightseeing ticket (290,000 VND/person day cruise, or bundled in overnight cruise packages)

→ Browse Halong Bay cruises that include Soi Sim Island →

9. Best Time to Visit Soi Sim Island

For purple flowers: Late April to May is the peak myrtle bloom — if this is your priority, plan a cruise specifically around these months.

Avoid weekends where possible: even on a less-visited island like Soi Sim, weekend departures from Halong City bring noticeably more domestic visitors to the beach and viewpoint.

10. Practical Tips Before You Go

• Confirm the island is on your cruise itinerary. Not all Route 2 cruises stop at Soi Sim — always check explicitly before booking if Soi Sim is a priority.
• Wear sturdy shoes for the hike. The 400 steps are maintained but can be damp and slippery, particularly after rain or in humid weather. Open sandals are not suitable.
• Bring a swimsuit and towel. The beach is excellent for swimming — don’t get caught without gear if your cruise schedule allows beach time.
• Apply reef-safe sunscreen — important for protecting the island’s clear-water marine ecosystem.
• Budget your time: Allow 15–25 minutes for the viewpoint hike (one way), 20–30 minutes at the top, and at least 30–45 minutes for the beach. A full Soi Sim stop ideally takes 1.5–2 hours.
• For the myrtle bloom: Visit in the morning when light is best for photography, and before peak cruise traffic from 10 AM onward.
• Leave no trace. Soi Sim is one of Halong Bay’s last relatively pristine islands — the Halong Bay Management Board has made conservation here an explicit priority. Do not pick flowers, remove plants or shells, or leave any waste on the island.

11. Soi Sim Island — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we get asked most often by travelers planning to visit Soi Sim Island in Halong Bay.

Last updated: June 2026 | Information verified against multiple Halong Bay tourism sources including Halong Hub, Viator, Margaret Cruises, and Hanoi Explore Travel. Peak height figures (100m vs 200m) vary between sources and are presented as approximate. Myrtle bloom timing varies by year and climate conditions.