Halong Bay Vacations, Vietnam

Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam and is the top tourist destination in the Northern part of the country.

A United Nations World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is characterized by thousands of beautiful limestone mountains rising out of the water. Apart from the fact that this is an amazing natural wonder, Halong Bay also plays a main role in the legend of the origins of the Vietnamese.

Halong Bay is about 100 kilometers south east of Hanoi and is about a 3-hour ride from the capital. Most trips which costs from $20 USD – $200 USD can be easily arranged in the many travel agencies in Hanoi ’s Old Quarter. Trips to Halong Bay can last from 1 to 3 days which are spent exploring the many islands on a traditional junk boat. If you prefer, you can also just be on the boat by day and then stay in a hotel in Halong city at night. Be aware though that this city does not really offer much night life.

At nearby Cat Ba National Park you can see monkeys explore caves and swim over coral reefs. The park also includes part of Cat Ba Island and adjacent waters. At nearby Yen Tu Mountain there is a Buddhist temple in a lovely setting.

The bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Wooden stakes Cave is the largest grotto in the Halong area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th century French graffiti). There are two bigger islands, Tuan Chau and Cat Ba, that have permanent inhabitants. Both of them have tourist facilities, including hotels and beaches. There is a number of wonderful beaches on the smaller islands.

Source: world66.com

Things To Do and See in Halong Bay

Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay
Attraction type: Island; National park

Dau Go Cave (Cave of Wonders), Halong Bay
Attraction type: Cavern/cave

Sung Sot Cave, Halong Bay
Attraction type: Cavern/cave