Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is located in northeastern Vietnam, in the Gulf of Tonkin, comprising the regions of Halong City, the town of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. It borders Cat Ba Island to the southwest, the East Sea to the east, and the mainland to the north, forming a coastline of 120 km.

Halong Bay consists of 1,969 islands of various sizes, with 989 of them named. There are two main types of islands, limestone and schist, concentrated in two main zones: southeast (part of Bai Tu Long Bay) and southwest (part of Halong Bay). This densely concentrated area of ​​stone islands, world-renowned for its breathtaking scenery of caves and grottoes, forms the central zone of Halong Bay, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The bay itself covers an area of ​​43,400 hectares, with 775 islands, forming a triangle with Dau Go Island (Driftwood Grotto) to the west, Ba Ham Lake (Three Shelter Lake) to the south, and Cong Tay Island to the east.

Viewed from above, Halong Bay resembles a geographical work of art. When exploring the bay, visitors feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. For example: Man’s Head Island resembles a man looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing. There are also islands like Sail Island, Rooster Pair Island, and Incense Burner Island, all bearing remarkable resemblances to their namesakes. The shapes of the islands change depending on the angle of light and viewing position.

Hidden deep within the islands are stunning caves and grottoes, such as Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), and Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto).

Halong Bay has many historical landmarks linked to Vietnam. For example, there are famous sites such as Van Don (an ancient commercial port), Poem Mountain (with engravings of poems about emperors and other famous historical figures), and Bach Dang River (the location of two fierce naval battles fought against foreign invaders).

Scientists have proven that Halong was one of the first cradles of human existence in the area, with archaeological sites such as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng. It is also an area of highly concentrated biological diversity with various ecosystems including saltwater-flooded forests, coral reefs, and tropical forests housing thousands of species of animals and plants.

With these remarkable values, on December 17, 1994, at the 18th meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (in Thailand), Halong Bay was officially recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site of global significance.