Ha Long Bay is an area of extraordinary natural beauty, situated in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh Province, close to the Chinese border. Thousands of islands and islets are scattered in the region, surrounded by pristine, crystal-clear waters. Whilst comparisons are sometimes made with Guilin in China, or Krabi in Thailand, in reality, Ha Long Bay is far more impressive. Suitably, UNESCO recognised the area as a World Heritage Site in 1994.
Interesting facts about Ha Long Bay
- Scientists provide an alternate explanation to the Dragon legend, suggesting that 500 million years of strong erosive forces have moulded the rocks into a variety of fascinating shapes.
- Examples include Voi islet, which closely resembles an elephant, and Ga Choi islet, which looks similar to a pair of fighting cockerels.
- Ha Long Bay was first enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
- Halong, in Vietnamese, means ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’.
- Research indicates that humans have inhabited the area for tens of thousands of years.
- Nguyen Tai described Ha Long Bay in a poem written 500 years ago, calling it a ‘rock wonder in the sky’.
How to get to Ha Long Bay
Due to its popularity, Ha Long Bay is easily accessible from almost anywhere in Vietnam. Many tourists choose to arrive on a large international cruise ship, docking in the nearby Cai Lan International Port, which is approximately 10 minutes from Ha Long Bay. Others choose to fly into Hanoi (112mi/180km) or Hai Phong (50mi/80km) airports. Upon landing, a hire car can be arranged, or numerous public transport options are available. For instance, you can take a public bus service from Hanoi to Ha Long City, which will take approximately 3-4 hours.
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