Halong bay in Chinese-Vietnamese
language means "the bay where the dragon landed". Some legends said
that the early Vietnam was invaded by foreign invaders, the Emperor sent a
flock of dragons to help the Vietnamese. The enemy boat from the sea rushed to
the shore, dragons immediately spewed out a myriad of jewels and turned into
thousands of rock islands on sea surface, become the solid wall blocked the advance
of enemy ships. The crew of the invaders are fast-paced, suddenly blocked to
crash into the rocks and collide with each other. After dissolving the enemy
and seeing the peaceful earth, mother dragon and baby dragons decided not to
return heaven but stay in this place. According to this legend, he location
where mother dragon landed was called Halong and the place where the flock of
son dragons descended is Bai Tu Long bay and their tails created the Tra Co
peninsula today. Since then, Vietnamese people gave Halong bay
islands legendary names.
Ha Long Bay is located in the
northeastern part of Viet Nam and constitutes part of the western bank of Bac
Bo Gulf, including the sea area of Ha Long City, Cam Pha City and part of Van
Don Island District, Quang Ninh Province.
UNESCO recognized it as the World
Natural Heritage two times. Ha Long Bay encompasses 1,969 islands of various
sizes which are concentrated in two main zones: the south-east (belonging to
Bai Tu Long Bay) and the south-west (belonging to Ha Long Bay). The bay has
been first recognized as World Natural Heritage since 1994 by UNESCO for the
natural beauty, and for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic
values since 2000.
Ha Long Bay covers a total area of
1,553km², including 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been
given names. There are two kinds, limestone and schist. The average geological
age of the islands is between 250 and 280 million years old.
Best time to visit Halong Bay
May to September
This chunk of the year is usually
known as the low season for all of Vietnam, especially in Halong Bay. But take
note that this time is also the high season for local tourists (usually from
June to August due to summer break). For a lot of people, this is the best time
to visit Halong Bay because of the hot sunny weather and super calm waters.
Fool you not, this period also has the most rainfall of the year. So make sure
you double check with your tour operator or cruise company before you book
anything in advance.
October to April
The most popular
period of the year for western tourists and visitors, October to April for
some people can be the best time to go to Halong Bay as the weather is not
that hot, the waters are still calm as during summers, and the skies can still
be blue (depending on which month you go with). The most disappointing factor
during this period is the incredible number of tourists from all over the globe
that flock Halong Bay usually all at the same time (especially during Christmas
to New Year’s seasons).
Things to do in Halong Bay
Covering such a wide area for tourism
and economic purposes, Halong Bay is a place where you’ll run out of things to
do. From outdoor and active activities to a more relaxed and food-focused
itinerary, there’s something to do for all kinds of travelers.
Cruising
The number one activity and must-do
in Halong Bay, a visit in the world wonder is never complete without doing even
a short ride on a junk cruise across the limestone formations and emerald
waters.
Kayaking
Perfect for those who
like to explore on their own and for those who have more active lifestyles,
kayaking through Halong Bay is one of the best ways to experience the area.
Sunbathing
Only appropriate and doable in
specific times of the year, sunbathing in Halong Bay is most of the time
overlooked by many visitors. But as far as we’re concerned, this is one of the
things you should definitely do in Halong Bay. And the best thing about it is
it’s for free!
Trekking
Trekking is very much doable in any
part of Halong Bay, whether you’re staying in Tuan Chau Island near the fishing
villages, Cat Ba Island, or by Hon Gai District, there are places where you
could trek or hike.
Cycling
Same as for trekking, cycling can be
done in almost every major part of Halong Bay and Halong City, including Cat Ba
Island and the city center.
Rock Climbing
With limited options and only
provided by one company in Cat Ba Island for now, rock climbing is advisable
for the sporty types of travelers, ranging from beginner level to expert level.
For a more adventurous option, visitors can also try Deep Water Soloing,
provided as well by the same company.
Tai Chi
One of the most
common early morning activities who do the overnight cruises in Halong Bay, Tai
Chi is a great alternative to a morning workout as gyms are unavailable
onboard.
Nature Watching
With so much fauna and flora
available for exploration and discovery, nature watching in Halong Bay is more
of a pastime activity rather than a vocational activity.
Spa & Wellness
Usually available in luxury cruises,
spa and wellness services are readily available for those who want to maximize
their relaxation time in Halong Bay, most ideal while cruising over the calm
waters of the bay.
Squid Fishing
The cruise activity that everyone
looks forward to, squid fishing is the only thing you could do once nighttime
falls on the cruise, and it brings people together and has a good laugh at the
same time.
Shopping
As a destination expert, we wouldn't
really advise doing some shopping in Halong Bay as everything in the area can
be also be found throughout the country. There are some items you can only buy
in the cruises though such as the Cat Ba Langur stuffed toys by The Au Co
Luxury Cruise and some local products that you can only get in the province
such as Squid Cakes or Cha Muc in Vietnamese.
Eating & Drinking
Last but definitely
not the least, eating and drinking in Halong Bay, both on land and on water is
a big culture in the province of Quang Ninh. So make sure you save your taste
buds and your stomachs for the gastronomical experience of a lifetime.
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