Halong Bay
Located 170 km east of Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is recognized as one of the world most stunning natural treasures, with its spectacular seascape of limestone pillars, has been listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
With over 3,000 islets covering an area of 150 km² and its emerald water and numerous limestone caves, Halong Bay is truly a mystical site.
In Halong Bay, there are around 1969 limestone rising from the sea. On top of each island has a massive amount of trees. There are several large caves located within the island. The biggest cave in the Bay area is a wooden cave, formerly known as the Grotte des Island. The largest islands in the Bay area Gad bah Island and Tuan Chau Island. There are people living permanently in these islands. On these islands, there are many beaches and hotels serving the tourists. Some small island is the Habitat of several animal species, such as chickens, antelope, wild monkeys and species of lizards. These islands are named from the shape such as Koh Chang, Koh Kaichon, Koh Langka etc.
The Halong Bay archipelago is made up of 1,969 islands, both settled and uninhabited. These can be accessed from various ports, though in the special case of Cat Ba you can also arrive either by car, motorbike or bus (via Haiphong) or combined bus/boat (from Hanoi via Halong City).
This unique UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular place for tourists and it is good to know that large parts of Halong Bay are officially protected from development. The islands vary greatly in size and shape as well as structure. Visitors might want to allow a few days to explore this magical bay as its attractions are extremely numerous.
You can visit Ha Long Bay all year round but bad weather affects the visibility and can even spoil your trip. The best time to visit Halong Bay is from March to June. June to September is low season so you can get better deals but pay attention to storm forecasts. October and November is high season again and it is still sunny. December is cool, cloudy but dry while January and February are cold, foggy and drizzly. The showers will hide the splendor of the bay.
A day cruise will show you a glimpse of Halong Bay, yet if you want to get the most out of your trip, allow at least two days. You will be able to see the most stunning moments on Halong Bay or it’s greatest wonder: the sunset, sunrise and a starry or moonlit night.
