Ha Long Bay - new 7 wonders of nature - Blog - Vietravel Asia

Ha Long Bay - new 7 wonders of nature
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Ha Long Bay - new 7 wonders of nature

Words can only do so much justice to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam – you need to see the sinuous curves of the limestone islands dotting the bay for yourself. The early morning mist over the bay, the grottoes bored into the island walls, and the many activities you can pursue either on the bay or on one of the islands adjoining it – all these combine to make Ha Long Bay a highlight of any Vietnam itinerary.


Experiencing Ha Long Bay's “Descending Dragons”


Ha Long Bay's “Descending Dragons”
Ha Long Bay's “Descending Dragons”


Ha Long Bay takes its name from the Vietnamese for “bay of the descending dragons”; the weathered karst limestone islands do give the impression of the back of dragons undulating through the water.


Ha Long’s otherworldly beauty has inspired poets, photographers and cinematographers for ages, but the Ha Long experience isn’t limited to artists – any Vietnam traveler can book a Ha Long Bay cruise to experience the descending dragons for themselves.


UNESCO granted Ha Long Bay Heritage Site status in 1994, and the locale was also recognized in an online poll as one of the "New Seven Natural Wonders of the World" in 2011.


The bay is part of the Tonkin Gulf, a body of water that makes up the South China Sea. In fact the bay is close to the Chinese border; the city of Hanoi is the closest Vietnamese city center, about 100 miles away. Tourists commonly book a Ha Long tour from Hanoi, then take a three-hour drive by bus north to the bay.


How – and When – to Visit Ha Long Bay


Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay


Ha Long Bay's high season occurs between July and August; during these sunny months, visitors come to enjoy the clear view of the islands and the beaches along Cat Ba and Bai Chay. Rain, cold temperatures, and reduced visibility contribute to the lack of visitors in the low season from November to March.


It takes three to four hours to drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and a few tense minutes lining up past the crowds to get into your tourist boat. Tour groups generally pick up travelers at 8am to make it to Ha Long Bay by noontime.  


Exploring Ha Long Bay’s Islands


Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay


Ha Long Bay is characterized by almost 600 square miles of seascape dotted with over 3,000 limestone islands. The islands and islets in Ha Long Bay stand between 160 to 300 feet high. Eons of weathering have sculpted the limestone outcrops into fantastic shapes.


Most of the islands on Ha Long Bay are uninhabited; in fact, many of them are inaccessible to human visitors, due to their sheer limestone cliffs.The larger islands feature caves and beaches that have become tourist attractions in their own right. The biggest island on Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba, features a diverse landscape and has become the unofficial adventure tourism capital of Vietnam.


The waters of Ha Long Bay are not entirely devoid of residents. Local fishermen eke a living from the bay, residing on floating houses where they cultivate clams and fish for the local shrimp and crabs. Tour boats often make a stop at a floating house where visitors can see how the fishermen live (and hopefully buy some of the day's catch).


Ha Long Bay's “Fantastic” Cave Legends


Ha Long Bay's “Fantastic” Cave Legends
Ha Long Bay's “Fantastic” Cave Legends


Dau Go Island has two caves most often visited by tourists to Ha Long Bay: Hang Dau Go, a graffiti-marked triple chambered-cave that counts as one of the largest in the bay, and Thien Cung Cave, known as “Heaven Palace”.


The guides generally go crazy describing the different legends associated with the cave (never mind the fact that Thien Cung was only discovered in the 1990s). Best to set your brain to neutral and nod sagely when the guide describes the supposed legends of a divine marriage that took place in the chamber, the goddess who bathed her children in a fountain, and so on.


Getting into Thien Cung Cave takes some doing – visitors need to disembark from the boat, climb dozens of steps, then enter a narrow passageway into the cave chamber. Colored lights shine brightly in several corners, giving the cave interior a candy-wonderland feel.


Kayaking in Ha Long Bay


Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
Kayaking in Ha Long Bay


To experience Ha Long Bay as nature intended it, grab a kayak and explore its hidden lagoons, secret beaches, and rustic fishing villages.The karst landscape, with its low-ceilinged caves and tucked-away corners, seems almost designed to be explored by kayak. Luon Grotto is a fine example – a tunnel in the side of Bo Hon Island leads into a secluded, tree-lined lagoon bordered by steep limestone walls.


Ho Ba Ham Cave is another popular kayaker’s destination – set in the western face of Dau Be Island, Ho Ba Ham is an inlet that reaches into three lakes; kayakers can enter the grotto only during low tide. Other popular kayaking destinations on Ha Long Bay are Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, Lan Ha Bay, and the “Light” and “Dark” Caves.


Most tour providers in Ha Long Bay will be happy to rent you kayaks and paddles for one-hour sessions. Package tours may include kayaking in the itinerary, but you have to ask to make sure; otherwise you may be charged a steep fee to add kayaking into an itinerary that doesn’t include it.


Source: Internet


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