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Halong Bay Travel Guide
Heavenly Castles on Earth
Majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious: words alone cannot do
justice to the natural wonder that is Halong Bay. Imagine 3000 or more
incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin
and you have a vision of breathtaking beauty. Halong Bay is pure art, a
priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of
nature.
In 1994 it was designated a World Heritage site. Visitors can’t help
but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to
Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailand, but in reality Halong
Bay is more spectacular. These tiny islands are dotted with beaches and
grottoes created by wind and waves, and have sparsely forested slopes
ringing with birdsong.
Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay,
visitors to Halong come to explore the caves – some of which are
beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists – and to hike in Cat
Ba National Park. There are few real beaches in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha
Bay (off the coast of Cat Ba Island) has more than 100 sandy strips.
Halong City is the gateway to Halong Bay but not the ideal introduction
to this incredible World Heritage site. Developers have not been kind to
the city and most visitors sensibly opt for tours that include sleeping
on a boat in the bay. In short, Halong Bay is the attraction; Halong
City is not.
As the number-one tourist attraction in the northeast, Halong Bay draws
a steady stream of visitors year-round. From February to April the
weather in this region is often cool and drizzly. The ensuing fog can
make visibility low, but this adds an ethereal air to the place and the
temperature rarely falls below 10°C. During the summer months tropical
storms are frequent, and tourist boats may have to alter their
itineraries, depending on the weather.
Halong Bay is the stuff of myths and naturally the Vietnamese have
concocted one. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the
sea’. Legend has it that the islands of Halong Bay were created by a
great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the
coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys and crevasses. When it
finally plunged into the sea, the area filled with water, leaving only
the pinnacles visible.
Dragons aside, the biggest threat to the bay may be from
souvenir-hunting tourists. Rare corals and seashells are rapidly being
stripped from the sea floor, and stalactites and stalagmites are being
broken off from the caves. These items get turned into key rings,
paperweights and ashtrays, which are on sale in the local souvenir
shops. Obviously the fewer people buy, the less the local people will
take to sell, so don’t encourage the trade.
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