Ha Long Bay has nearly 2,000 islands, not only with spectacular scenery and unique geology, but also one of the cradles of the ancient Vietnamese with rare cultural values.
Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh Province) is a very famous destination for domestic and international tourists. The bay has been twice registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its aesthetic values (in 1994) and geomorphology (in 2000). However, guests who don’t have much time to stay may miss out on a variety of experiences here.
The beauty of Ha Long Bay consists of several rocky islands scattered on the sea surface, the color of the water changes with the color of the clouds. The bay covers an area of 1,553 square kilometers with 1,969 islands, 980 of which are named.
The early morning sun covers the layer of rocky islands, creating a spectacular scenery of Ha Long. The tectonic limestone process about 300 million years ago has formed a bay with a unique topography, with 200-meter-high cliff islands and islands connected like a wall, but suddenly the way opened as the boat parted the approaching waves.
In autumn and winter, the white mist on the sea makes the bay as beautiful as an ink painting, unlike the endless green color in the summer sun. The easiest way to admire this beauty is to take a cruise to visit the bay, a journey of 4-8 hours a day with several itineraries.
For a closer look, tourists often choose to leave the big boat, take a bamboo boat rowed by the locals to visit the caves, participate in the experience of mangrove planting, the special flora populations on the bay to explore…
The magical beauty of the caves hidden in the mountain is also the reason why Ha Long Bay becomes so attractive: Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Me Cung Cave…
Through the canopy, the steps along the cliffs to the caves, visitors seem to step into another world, where giant cave arches are covered with beautiful and magnificent stalagmites, sculpted to create beautiful images of strange enemies according to each person’s imagination.
Luon Cave is the most unique destination not to be missed. The cave is like a tunnel through the base of the mountain with stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave. Cruising through Luon Cave to enter the inland lake is a worthwhile experience.
Foreign tourists especially enjoy kayaking in Luon Cave and watching the golden monkeys play on the steep, wild and peaceful cliffs with their own eyes.
Ha Long also boasts fine white sand beaches at the foot of rocky islands, where visitors can stop to rest, swim and participate in beach games. The most beautiful of these is Ti Top – the island named by President Ho Chi Minh when he and Russian cosmonaut Gherman Titov came here in 1962.
Spending the night at the bay is an equally attractive tourist product. On luxury yachts, visitors can admire the scenery of Ha Long from sunrise, sunset to the fanciful night sky, enjoy fresh seafood or participate in night fishing for squid…
Culture lovers will see a very different Ha Long at the attractions of ancient fishing villages such as Cua Van, Vung Vieng, etc. Not only are there archaeological sites about the life of the ancient Vietnamese from 18 to 3.5 thousand years ago, but visitors also experience the unique sea culture of Ha Long fishermen, the love songs, the sea song, hand-brain nets, fishing…
In 2019, Ha Long Bay welcomed more than 4 million visitors. Despite a sharp decline in the time of the Covid-19 epidemic, tourists are now alive again. In the summer of 2022, the bay will attract an average of 20,000 visitors per day. The local tourism industry is still calculating optimal solutions to preserve heritage, limit negative impacts on the environment and develop sustainable tourism.
@ cafefu
