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Halong Bay - Vietnam
Heavenly Castles on Earth
Halong Bay is the jewel in the crown of Vietnam’s travel destinations.
One hundred and seventy kilometers from Hanoi, in northeastern Vietnam,
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site and undoubtedly one of the
most beautiful places on earth. The bay is a magical blend of land and
sea with thousands of limestone islands and islets in a myriad of shapes
and sizes.
The shapes are as varied as the sizes and many of the islands have been
given names, derived from their shapes, such as Voi Island (Elephant),
Ga Choi Island (Fighting Cock), Qua Chuong Island (Bell) and Mai Nha
Island (Roof); incredibly 989 of the islands have been given names.
Numerous islands contain caves and grottos, some hidden away for
millions of years, but now accessible to explore and marvel at their
immensity and spectacular displays of stalactites and stalagmites.
The bay is bordered on the south and southeast by the Gulf of Tonkin, on
the north by China and on the west and southwest by Cát Bà Island and
encompasses an immense area of 1553 square kilometers.
According to local legend, long ago when the Vietnamese people were
fighting foreign invaders, the Gods sent a family of dragons to help
them defend the land. The dragons spat out jewels and jade, which
transformed into the islands and islets dotting the bay. Their
miraculous handiwork formed a great wall blocking the invaders path.
With the invaders repelled and the people safe again, the family of
dragons became interested in more peaceful endeavors and decided to stay
to enjoy their stunning creation. Hence the name Ha Long (Ha:
descending, Long: dragon). The island where the dragon children attended
to their mother was named Bai Tu Long (Bai: attend to, Tu: children,
Long: dragon) and the place where the dragon children wriggled their
tails as they frolicked in the sea was called Bach Long Vi (Bach: white
– the color of the foam from the wriggling tails, Long: dragon, Vy:
tail).
Whether or not you are a believer of legends you will be lulled into a
sense of peace and contentment by the magical and surrealistic seascape
of Halong Bay.
The tranquil emerald green waters and the captivating vistas of the
seemingly countless jutting limestone mountainous islands will soothe
the soul and stimulate the senses. Few places in the world offer a more
breath-taking glimpse of the awesome creativity of Mother Nature.
The Halong Bay World Heritage Site is universally recognized for the
significance of its exceptional geology and distinctive biodiversity,
and the rich culture of the local people adds to the charm and
enchantment of cruising the bay.
Halong Bay cruises have been a fovourite pastime for the Vietnamese for
centuries. Now it’s your turn. What better way to enjoy this unrivalled
destination than aboard a Prince Cruise.
Vote for Halong Bay to be one of the New7Wonders of Nature. Vote
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