Location
Ha Long is the capital city and first-class provincial city of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Being a coastal city, it has unique potentials of tourism and seaport because its land lies along the shore of Ha Long Bay of 50 km. Ha Long has strategic location of economic development and security of the region and the country.
• Area: 271,95 km² (105.00/sq mi)
• Population: 227,000 (2013)
• Density: 830/km² (2,200/sq mi)
Overview
Located at about 178 km East of Hanoi, Ha Long city is divided into two parts: East Ha Long and West Ha Long. The Eastern part, Hon Gai, where most of the official buildings and industries are concentrated, is connected with Bai Chay by Bai Chay bridge which is considered to be more of a tourism attraction in the Western part. The city’s economy has recently switched from coal mining to tourism, due to the large number of visitors drawn by the Ha Long Islets every year.
History
The name "Ha Long" means "descending dragon". The city was created in 1993, when the old capital, Hon Gai, was merged with Bai Chay – the main tourist area.
Ha Long Bay was recognized the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Heartland of today's Ha Long City, formerly just a fishing village, called the Oyster Coast. By the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty, it was renamed to Mau Le. The East wards of the present city earlier belonged to Hoanh Bo District.
In 1883, the French occupied the bay area, they carried out coal mining in the mines on the Gulf Coast. As on many islands there was lots of hemps, so French called "Ile des brouilles" or a name translated from Hon Gai to Hon Gay, later renamed Hon Gai. According to the researchers, Hon Gai was called "deviation" from the place of the French Red Sea at that time.
After the August Revolution in 1945, this township became the capital town of the huge Hong Gai mine area. Late in 1946, the French conquered of Hon Gai. After Geneva Conference (1954), Hong Gai town was the capital of the Hong Quang special district. On October 30, 1963, the government combined Hai Ninh province and Hong Quang special district to create Quang Ninh Province, chose Hong Gai as the capital of Quang Ninh and expanded town to the East and West. Hong Gai town center provided coal for all industrial zones of Northern Vietnam. It also was the gateway to connect with China so it was the focus of the U.S. raiding fierce in war. Bai Chay Ferry (decommissioned in 2007, this was replaced by the Bai Chay Bridge), the most important transportation hub which American bombs destroyed many times, was awarded Hero of the People's Armed Forces 3 times.
Culture and Society
In the South of the city, there is Bai Tho (‘Poem’) Mountain which was widely used by some famous poets. The limestone peak is rich in bio-diversity and offers attractive views of the bay. Moreover, there are also many interesting places such as Cua Van Fishing Village, Hoang Gia Park, Ha Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quang Ninh Museum, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House and Children's Cultural House.
Ha Long city has an active Roman Catholic church in its Eastern part, Hon Gai. On the hill near the main post office, it holds the services on Sunday evenings and on Christian holidays.
When to go to Ha Long
Source: Internet
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