Ha Long Bay in Vietnamese means "descending dragon bay".
The boat slips through the green silk of the sea like a dragonfly through the sky. Only the sound of the puttering tourist boats littering the sea, disrupt the silence. There is something profound and sacred about Ha Long Bay. Monolithic limestone karsts rise from the vast stillness of the ocean floor and loom guardian-like above the lime water. For this is a place that feels like a sanctuary or haven.
Indeed, in Vietnamese legend it is.
According to our tour guide, Ha Long Bay means 'descending dragon bay' in Vietnamese. Long ago, the dragons were sent by the Gods to help the much assailed upon Vietnamese people (Vietnam has been invaded and occupied at different times in their history by the Chinese, French, Dutch, Japanese, Americans, and so on).
The dragons spit jewels into the ocean, which became islands whose magic served to block the invaders. After the battle was won, the dragons brought their babies to the safe, calm waters of the bay to grow up. In turn the dragons descendents protected the Vietnamese people.
According to legend these limestone karsts were created from jewels spit from the dragon's mouths. Now tourists kayak and row the site.
Legends aside, UNESCO recognises the specialness of Ha Long Bay by granting world heritage listing in 1994. In 2012 it was added to the prestigious list of New Seven Wonders of the World.
Ha Long Bay is part of a much wider expanse of similar geology and geography that includes Bái Tử Long bay (northeast), and Cát Bà islands (southwest). Ha Long Bay itself covers a zone of about 1,553 km2, and contains over 3,000 limestone karsts (rock towers formed by the dissolution of soluble bedrock over millions of years). It is one of the worlds most dramatic and beautiful examples of karst formation.
Amazing limestone karst formations rising from the sea, give Ha Long Bay its unique beauty and stunning visual effects.
Ha Long Bay is home to thousands of small islands and many caves (some karsts are hollow) and small inland lakes within islands. It is located within the Quang Ninh province of North Vietnam. Set in the cooler and more mountainous North, the tropical and wet Ha Long Bay maintains a moderate temperature of between 15-25 degrees celcius. It has two seasons: a hot and moist summer, and dry and cold winter.
Amazingly, about 1,600 people live in floating fishing villages within Ha Long Bay. These consist of small, colourful, floating houses linked to create tiny ocean villages.
The floating fishing villages of Ha Long Bay provide one of the key sights to see in the area.
Ha Long Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations within Vietnam and one of the prime spots to visit on the popular South to North or North to South route. It is approximately 200km from Hanoi, the official capital city of Vietnam and second largest city.
Ha Long Bay is one of the most beautiful natural features to visit within Vietnam. It also serves as a poignant symbol of the tough, smart and wily Vietnamese people, their history and wit for survival and their captivating poetic spirit.
A local Vietnamese woman offers her wares from a floating market boat. Transactions by boat are the common means to shop amongst the floating villagers.
