Recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage and placed in the list of seven wonders of the world, Halong Bay is known for its beautiful beaches and beautiful scenery as well as historic relics. It is an essential destination for foreign tourists.

Sparkling jade of the sea

Located in the North East of Hai Phong, Halong Bay is part of the Gulf of Tonkin. It covers an area of 1553km2 and is dotted with thousands of limestone and karst. It has 1969 islands and islets of which 989 are named and 980 are unnamed. From the air, Halong Bay offers a very picturesque landscape, beyond any imagination. Like a giant picture of bustling port, a work of the Creator who insensitively transformed thousands of islands into beautiful sculptures, paintings with all attractive forms both very familiar and strange to human. They are said to be attached to the sparkling jade blue silk scarf of a beautiful girl. A boat trip will take visitors into a magical world between sky and sea, to testify to this silent and eternal love that made inseparable mountains and waters since the dawn of time.  

Wonder land in Paradise

Hidden inside these rocks, beautiful caves such as Thien Cung cave (Heavenly Palace), Dau Go (Wooden Head), Sung Sot (Surprise), Trinh Nu (Virgin), etc. This is the castle of Creator on Earth. Long ago, the great national poet Nguyen Trai nicknamed Halong “Wonder Land on Paradise”. Millions of visitors from around the world are mystified by the extraordinary beauty of Ha Long Bay and everyone agrees on the fact that no words can describe the beauty of Halong Bay.

The glorious history and rich biodiversity

Halong Bay is also tied to the glorious history of Vietnamese people, including their heroism with famous sites such as Van Don Island which was an ancient trading port in the 12^th century, Bai Tho Mountain, where a poem of King Le Thanh Tong inspired by the beauty of the bay was engraved on the southern cliffs in 1468, or Bach Dang River which is the testimony of two naval battles of Vietnamese ancestors against invaders. Moreover, Halong Bay is one of the cradles of post-Neolithic Vietnamese culture with famous archaeological sites such as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, Thoi Gieng, etc.

Halong Bay is also home to a biodiversity with ecosystems typical of mangroves, coral reefs or tropical forest that are home to thousands of species of animals and plants such as shrimp, fish, squid, etc. There are some particularly rare species found only in this paradise.

Legend of the Dragon

For centuries, legendary stories associated with the birth name Bay of Ha Long have been passed from generation to generation. Legend has it that: “Once upon a time, during the foundation of their new country, the Viets were attacked by invaders, God sent the Mother Dragon and her children to help the Viet people fight against the enemy. The enemy boats got ready to board the maritime side just when the troop of dragons landed. The dragons immediately ejected countless pearls that were processed quickly by a myriad of high islands, linked as solid walls. The crew of the enemy rushing towards the land was suddenly blocked and crashed into the rocks, crashed each other and broke into pieces. After the victory, Mother Dragon and her children did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, where the battle took place. The place where the Mother Dragon landed is called Ha Long (the descent of the Dragon), the one where children were staying was named Bai Tu Long (the descent of Dragon children). The white tail of Dragons Bach Long Vi (today is the Tra Co Peninsula).”

The legend also says that the Dragon comes back to stay in Halong Bay twice a year, at the summer solstice and the summer equinox, to domesticate sea currents.

Peaceful fishing villages

Sheltered by impressive rocky peaks are still many fishing villages like Vong Vieng, Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Dam, and Hoa Cuong. In recent years, these villages have become attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourists with their peaceful, soft and beautiful landscapes. These areas seem to preserve their unspoiled and wild beauty. What attracts the most curiosity of tourists is the cultural center of the sea, the first model for fishing communities built in Vietnam to conserve, preserve cultural values through traditional activities of villages and also trade among themselves and visitors. What appeals to visitors is that they truly integrate into the daily life of the indigenous population. Here they can visit a fishing family, attend a class for children with sea or participate directly in the fishing activities of the inhabitants, etc. Furthermore, tourists also have the opportunity to see the tools that fishermen use to make a living, to buy small souvenirs made of shells. The unique beauty of the villages and their activity will satisfy the most demanding tourists.