This UNESCO World Heritage site is in the Gulf of Tonkin. The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1,600 limestone monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. The karst landscapes have gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments.
In Vietnamese, Ha Long means “descending dragon.” A legend is that the gods sent a family of dragons to protect the Vietnamese against invaders. The dragons spat out jewels and jade which turned into the islands and islets dotting the bay, linking together to form a great wall against the invaders.
The population of Hạ Long Bay is about 1,540, mainly in Cửa Vạn, Ba Hang and Cặp Dè fishing villages. Residents mostly live on boats and rafts buoyed by tires and plastic jugs to facilitate the fishing, cultivating and breeding of aquatic and marine species. Fish require feeding every other day for up to three years.
The landscapes do indeed represent paradise, but you’ll never entertain the illusion that you are enjoying a paradise alone. With more than 6 million visitors per year, it is Vietnam’s most popular tourist destination. During the high season, there can be more than 300 boats in the water. At popular spots, boats chug along in close proximity to one another.
