Overview

Halong Bay, a mythical and cannot-miss site in some top Vietnam tours, is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and stretches across Ha Long and Cam Pha cities in Quang Ninh province as well as a part of Van Don Island. The bay covers an area of 1,553 square kilometers and acts as a central part of a zone including Bai Tu Long Bay and Cat Ba Island.

This emerald bay is the home to 1,969 islands, of which only 989 have been named. The formation of these islands could be dated back to 250 or 280 million years ago. They contain many limestone karst and unique caves which consist of numerous stalactites and stalagmites.

The whole landscape made of water and caves offers a breathtaking sight. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bay has become a must-go attraction to international tourists.

In Vietnamese, Ha Long means “descending dragon”. It is said in our local legends that our country was invaded by foreign enemies. To help Vietnamese people fight the invaders, the God sent a family of dragons to this land. Upon their arrival, they split out thousands of pearls that turned into islands and islets all over the bay. The enemies’ ships entering the bay at that moment could not go inside to the mainland. After the victory, local people named different places in the bay after the dragon family: Ha Long, the place where the mother dragon descended; Bai Tu Long, where the little dragon descended; Long Vi, the tail of the dragon.

HIGHLIGHTS: