The country of Vietnam belonging to the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia is 13th most populous country in the world.The country faced several wars that lasted for long time and then developed as a great country by maintaining diplomatic relations with several most nations. In this post i would like to describe about the World's Natural Heritage site of Vietnam Ha Long Bay ad its attractions to visit.{Readmore}
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About Ha Long Bay
It is termed as one of the great natural wonders of Asia and is loved by many travelers who are great nature lovers. As the place has umpteen number of natural scenes to enjoy and relax.170 km away from Hanoi, Ha long Bay is the World Natural Heritage site, one of the most beautiful places on earth. With its picturesque blend of land and sea, this one of the world's most precious beauty spots. Ha long is covers an area of over 1,500 km, dotted with thousands of rocky islands, it really is a natural sculpture on a gigantic scale.
Numerous large and small islands of countless shapes rise from the sea along the 200km stretch of coast from the estuary of the Bach Dang river to Tra Co beach. Local fishermen have given many of them evocative names according to their shapes:
- Cone-shape Cookie, Banana, Small Fish, Tortoise, Nail, Wading Ox, Wallowing Buffalo, and many more....{Readmore}
Location
Ha Long is a capital city of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam and is nestled on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is a part of the Ha Long Bay. It is located about 160 kilometers from Hanoi and is easily accessible from Hanoi and Hai Phong. Getting to Halong is not difficult as transportation in this Vietnamese city is quite well developed. The picturesque beauty of the place and the tranquil surroundings attract the travelers to this region and let them have a nice time exploring the natural treasures.
Attractive features that makes the palce more attractive and popular are
- Cluster of Limestone Monolithic Islands emerging from water
- Caves
- Bay area
- Dense Vegetation provides a wonderful appearance.
The waters of Vietnam stretches 1500 square kilometers north vietnam coastline of 120 kilometer and 170 kilometer east of Hanoi. According to the Vietnam Language the Ha Loong Bay refers to the "Descending Dragon" and the people of Vietnam are proud of themselves for declaring the Ha Long Bay as teh eight wonder of nature.
Facts
Halong City, formerly the Hon Gai Town, is the cultural, economic and political centre of Quang Ninh Province. It borders Cam Pha to the east, the Yen Hung District to the west, the Hoanh Bo District to the north and Halong Bay to the south with the coastline of 20km.The city is divided into two parts: East Halong and West Halong. The eastern part is an industrial zone where most of the province’s official buildings are also concentrated. The western part, also called Bai Chay, is the animated tourism zone.Halong’s population are most having emigrated from other places to settle here.Also in the city, there are temples, pagodas and historical relics.In addition to the most active branch of tourism, there are other economic activities such as: trade, seaport, coal, marine products and the production of construction materials. Ha Long Vietnam has nearly 2000 islands of which 989 are given names. There are two kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay), and the southwest (belonging to Halong Bay). This densely concentrated zone of stone islands, world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves, forms the central zone of Halong Bay, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bay itself has an area of 43,400 ha, consists of 775 islands, and forms a triangle with the island of Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto) to the west, the lake of Ba Ham (Three Shelter Lake) to the south, and the island of Cong Tay to the east.Viewed from above, Halong Bay resembles a geographic work of art. While exploring the bay, you feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. There is Man's Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing.
Attractions
The Halong Bay with its amazing seascape of limestone pillars in its 1,600 islands and islets provides an awesome view . The clear water of the Bay, with some large islands and small alcoves makes it a heavenly retreat.Halong Bay houses a great diversity of eco-systems. This includes coral reefs, small freshwater lakes, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forest, and sandy beaches. The beauty of the amazing grottos and caves with interesting stone formations and hidden ponds make it a very important destination in Vietnam.
Cat Ba Islands
Cat Ba Islands, Halong is one of the top tourist attractions in Halong. It attracts a large number of visitors to witness the scenic splendor and attractive locale.Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago and is quite a popular attraction that appeals to a large number of tourists. It consists of limestone outcrops adjacent to Halong Bay. It is a welcome oasis for the tourists looking for solace and relaxation. The tourists can relax here and spend hours on end enjoying the scenic views and relaxing amidst the peaceful surroundings.Cat Ba Islands, covers 356 square kilometers, including forested zones, coastal mangroves, freshwater swamps, beaches, caves and waterfalls. With the diverse ecosystems, it forms an amazing seascape. The northeast side of the island was designated as a National Park in 1986 and includes a protected marine zone. Cat Ba Islands houses a population of over 20,000 inhabitants. The stringy trees, thick undergrowth and slippery vines characterize the national park.
Hai Phong
Visiting Hai Phong is one of the exciting experiences, which offers a unique sense of pleasure and excitement. It is one of the places of tourist interests in Halong. It has a unique charm and holds special attraction for the visitors. It is a seaport attraction housing attractive architectural buildings, which were influenced by the early 20th century French colonial style. The seaport is easily accessible from different section of Vietnam and reaching here will be easy.You can reach Hai Phong by crossing on the Cam River Ferry, or you can reach the city overland from Halong Bay. It is easily accessible from Halong or Cat Ba Islands. With plenty of islands along the Halong and Cat Ba archipelago, you can enjoy the fabulous sea views while traveling.
You can go for a short sightseeing trip in Hai Phong and see the splendor and architectural brilliance of the sites present here. There are quite a few remarkable ancient Vietnamese architectural sites in Hai Phong. Do visit the Du Hang Pagoda, considered as the center of Buddhism in Hai Phong. It is a very sacred and architecturally superb temple that was built in the 17th century. After its completion, it was renovated and modified. The amazing woodworks, bronze statues and a bonsai collection right on the front grounds make it a remarkable attraction.
H a Long Bay
Halong is a land of natural beauty and there is a lot to explore and discover. The abundance of scenic wonders and the spectacular locales makes the sightseeing trip in Halong as one of the delightful experiences. No trip to Halong is complete without a visit to Halong Bay. There is an interesting piece of legend attached to it. According to the locals, it is said that a family of dragons was sent to defend the land at a time when the Vietnamese were fighting the Chinese invaders. These dragons had descended upon what is now called as Halong Bay.
Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is one of the amazing places of tourist interest in Halong. You can see thousands of attractive limestone mountains, rising from the ocean, which looks simply wonderful. With more than 1,600 islands and islets and spectacular mountains, Halong Bay forms an incredible seascape of limestone pillars along with more than 1,600 islands and islets. It covers an area of 1,500 square kilometers.The scenic rock formations and the limestone pillars as well as the small islands make Halong Bay one of the most visited and recognized Vietnam tourist attractions.
Caves and Grottos
Another exceptional geological feature of Halong Bay are the number of limestone islands which have caves and grottoes within them. The total number of caves has never been determined and there are almost certainly more which are yet to be discovered. In order to preserve the natural state and integrity of the large number of caves and grottos in the World Heritage Area, only some are open to visitors. The most commonly visited are Thiên Cung (Heavenly Palace) cave, Đầu Gỗ (Wood Tip) grotto, Sửng Sốt (Surprise) cave and Trinh Nữ (Virgin) grotto.The shapes and formations on the sides and rooves of the caves, many now being part of local folklore and legends, bear witness to the different stages of formation over the ages. Some cave features, such as calcified shell-beds, are the direct result of ancient human activity.
The caves and grottos description follows
The grotto is on Driftwood Island. Seen from afar, the entrance to the grotto appears to be blue, and has a shape similar to that of a jellyfish. After 90 steps up the island, the entrance is reached. The ceiling of the grotto is about 25 m. Hundreds of stalactites falling down from the roof of the grotto look like a waterfall.
The grotto is divided into three main parts.
- The exterior is a room with a vault full of natural light. Many forms may be seen in the rock formations of the chamber, depending on the imagination of the visitor of course.
- Crossing the first chamber, one enters the second chamber through a narrow passage. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. It makes us having a fear and be inquisitive.
- The third chamber of the grotto is widely opened. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water. Looking up in the dim light we recognize that surrounded is the image of an ancient citadel and a scuffle of elephants, horses, man with bristly sword and spear. All are making a rush and be petrified suddenly.
The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and, as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance is reached via 90 steps up the island.
This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters of tales. Going out of the Thiên Cung Grotto, we have a sensation of just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum which is made by nature, get out of the imagine, ability and intellect of man.
Facts
A beautiful young lady named Mây (cloud), caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed, and their wedding lasted seven days and seven nights in the very centre of the grotto. In honour of the wedding, small dragons flew about through the stalactites and stalagmites, elephants danced together happily, snakes twined themselves around trees and two stone lions danced with their manes flowing in the wind. A large elephant, smartly dressed, waited for the bride and the groom. The genies of the south and north stars also came to attend the banquet, and the atmosphere was definitely animated and lively. All these scenes have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
Physical Architecture
In the centre are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven.” From the base to the top, many strange images seem to live in the stone: birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto a group of fairies seem to dance and sing in honour of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites make a natural stone curtain. Somewhere there is the sound of a drum beating, but it is actually just the noise made by the wind blowing through stone.
Arriving at the last partition of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here are three small ponds of clear water. Legend has it, that this was where Mây bathed her 100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily into adolescence. One path meanders out of the grotto; it was the way Mây, together with 50 of her children, took to harvest new lands. The 50 remaining children, together with their father, were left to build the native land.
The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is a popular romantic rendezvous site.
Facts
According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the fisherman’s daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today’s Male Grotto).
When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls of the grotto can still be heard.
Legends
Legend has it, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that it was in the service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone. He forced the family to give him the girl as a concubine. She already had a lover who at that time was on the high seas catching fish to prepare for their wedding. The administrator, angered by her refusal, exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. On one frightening night, amidst terrible rain and winds, she turned to stone.
It was also the night that her lover knew of her danger, and he rowed his boat in search of her. On the terrible night, the tempest destroyed his boat and he floated to one of the islands. In a lighting flash he saw his mate in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. He used a stone block to hammer down on the mountain cliffs to announce to her he was nearby. He struck until blood flowed from his hands, and in his final exhaustion, turned to stone (today's Trong Grotto).
Thus with this tale the palce is not only house for fishermen but a symbol of love for true lovers and definitely a romantic place to take oath respect and obey love and relationships.
Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block. Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water goddesses.Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites.
Wonderful Islets
Quan Lan Island belongs to Bai Tu Long Bay,part of an island range on the outside of the gulf of Tonkin. It has an area of 11 sq. km, and features eight populated hamlets. Quan Lan Island stretch toward East – West from the foot of Van Don Range to the Got Mount with many high mountains to the east barring waves and winds, protect the villages. The island is situated on an important navigation route that connects China, Japan, Thailand and Philippines to Vietnam. Along two sides of the island are tens kilometres of sand beaches. This is the endless resource for glass making which the sea gives to man and it is also the extremely interesting tourism.
On the south-west side of Halong City it is Tuan Chau Island, a schist island, very pretty, with a luxuriant forest. It has an area of 220 ha, and to the east and south are two beaches endowed with very white and fine sand. In 1962, Ho Chi Minh visited Halong Bay and made a stop here for vacation. Nowadays, Tuan Chau Island is one of the most attractive destinations in Halong City.Tuan Chau is in an important position at the entrance of the waterway system of Thang Long, Bach Dang and Van Don and this is why it was formerly a military watch station. The Office of Feudal Customs was also installed there. The island also has many archaeological sites pertaining to the ancient Halong culture from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.
One can go to Tuan Chau Island via the 2-km cement road from the mainland. Investments have been poured into the island to turn it into a modern tourist resort. It includes such fascinating extras as the dolphin, sea lion, and seal-performing club, animal circus club, golf court, cultural-sports centre, beach, rural market, ornamental fish lake, villas in Hill 1 and Hill 2, guesthouses, five 80-room villas by the beach. The ensemble of five restaurants and one round house built in the pagoda motif can serve up to 500 guests at the same time.
Situated about 7-8 km south-east of Bai Chay lies the small Titov Island. It displays a beach shaped like a crescent moon, and sand that has been washed to a snowy white by the tide. On 22 November 1962, this tiny island had the honour of receiving a visit from astronaut Ghermann Titov, a hero of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by Ho Chi Minh. To perpetuate the remembrance of their visit, Uncle Hồ named the place Titov Island. It has now become an attractive beach for tourists and has various of tourist services.Thirty-five years afterwards, on 27 June 1997, Titov returned to the island having his name. Deeply moved, he wrote in the souvenir book of the Management Board of Halong Bay: "My deepest thanks to destiny, which has allowed me to come back to this tiny island.” It has become a beach attracting many visitors.
Bai Tho Mountain is 106 m high. It runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.
Ngoc Vong, or Gem Island, is a pretty site sitting between the Nét Islet and Phuong Hoàng (Phoenix) Island, in the Vân Don District. From above, Ngoc Vong looks like a beautiful velvet handkerchief with exquisite white edgings; it seems to float on the water surface. On the east side of the island there is a kilometres-beach with pure white sand. At the centre is a luxuriant benjamin fig tree; it was under this tree that Ho Chí Minh stood and conversed with the population in 1962 during a visit.Formerly, under the feudal dynasties, this island zone contained a great quantity of rare and precious species of mother-of-pearls. At night, fluorescent pearls would light up the whole region. So there are several islands having name “Ngoc” such as Ngoc Vung (dazzling pearl), Minh Châu (Ngoc Châu)
This island consists of three small mountains with the height of 23 m, seen from afar, resemble three peaches (Ba Trái Đào).The island connects to a legend of about the romantic love between a youngest fairy who was very pretty with a young and poor fisherman. Because of feeling in love with him, she stole three peaches from Heaven for him, that if he ate, would give him eternal life, allowing them to live together forever. The King of the Heavens discovered the robbery and turned the peaches into three stone islands. Chastised, the young fairy had to return.Today, Ba Trái Ðào is a famous tourist attraction with three nice fairy beaches, romantic landscape. It is 22 km from south north of Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf.
Sea and Lakes
The lower chambers of some caves and grottos are below sea level. Due to the porous nature of limestone, these chambers are often partially filled to form tidal lakes and pools. Although most of these are shallow, the depths of some have never been determined. The geomorphology of Halong Bay indicates that it is almost certain that there are undiscovered and fully entombed lakes within many of the islands. Dau Be (Goat’s Head island) alone has 6 different tidal lakes.
The sea in Halong Bay is generally less than 10 meters (33 feet) deep and boasts a rich biodiversity of about 1,000 species of marine animals. Over 160 species of coral have been identified. Coral reefs make up 30% of the seabed and in some areas as much as 80% of the seabed is covered in coral reefs. Most coral reefs are at a depth of 4-6 meters.
Bai Chay Beach
Bai Chay is a large, beautiful, artificial beach, closed to the coast of Hạ Long Bay. The 100-meter-wide-sandy beach spans over 500 m. Early in the morning or in late afternoon, thousands of people liven up the atmosphere here.The asphalt road winds its way through the white sandy beach and luxuriant casuarinas. The Hoàng Gia Tourism Company has invested in diverse services for tourists. The Bai Chay tourist site is fast changing into one of the most captivating of this kind in Hạ Long City. It comprises restaurants, water puppet and traditional music theatres, Hoàng Gia Park, water-skiing, and sea motorcycling. The Hoàng Gia Park lines along the Hạ Long road leading from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf to the gate of the Hạ Long Night Market.
Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20oC (68oF).Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.
Attractions and Activities
Undoubtedly Halong Bay’s greatest attraction is its natural scenery. The towering limestone outcrops jutting skywards from the emerald-blue waters. The sheer numbers and size of the islands, islets and karsts within the bay serve to humble even the most jaded traveler.
- Swimming,
- kayaking,
- hiking and of course
- photography are favorite pastimes for visitors to Halong Bay - one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Vietnam.
- Abundant fresh local seafood is another delight.
Floating fishing villages are the most popular human attraction. Entire village populations live, work and die on these ’floating islands’ in Halong Bay. The villagers are mainly fisherfolk and ply the waters around their villages selling their fresh produce to the passing tourist trade.
Cua Van (Van Gia) village is a typical example. The villagers have modern-style houses, some even have tiled rooves, pets and the village even boast a primary school! Villagers from Cua Van can sell the very best of freshly caught local seafood to be prepared onboard.
The palce is really superb with its breath taking natural beauty and awesome caves.Definitely viviting this place will disaapoint none!!!
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