Covering an area of over 43,000 hectares, Halong Bay in northeast Vietnam is known for its impressive seascape formed by thousands of limestone islands and islets. These towering pillars rise from the seabed like a defensive wall and locals believe that they are the vestige of a legendary battle.
From Phang Nga Bay in Thailand to Guilin in China, the limestone karsts are by no means limited to Vietnam. Yet nowhere else are they found on such a spectacular scale as in Halong Bay. In total, there are some 1,600 weathered pinnacles and islets punctuating the emerald-colored bay.
They create an otherworldy scenery that has inspired poets and artists for centuries. In 1994, UNESCO also recognized the site’s outstanding value and declared it a World Heritage Site. Ever since throngs of visitors have flocked to Halong Bay to admire its magnificent seascape.
The Etymology of Halong Bay
Boasting an ethereal beauty, Halong Bay is one of the most popular sites in Vietnam. Its name is recognized globally, and millions of people came here to behold this natural wonder. However, not every visitor knows the meaning of that name. In the old Vietnamese language, “Ha Long” means “descending dragon” and it originates from a legend in this ancient land. The legend says that during the old time when the country was newly formed, the Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her children descending on earth to protect the ancient Vietnamese from the northern invaders.
When the enemy’s fleet moved into the Gulf of Tonkin, the dragons suddenly appeared. Some attacked with divine fire, while others dropped giant emeralds on the battlefield, creating an invincible barrier that left the enemy’s battleships sinking. After thousands of years, the wall of emeralds turned into islands and islets, and the site where the Mother Dragon descended was named “Ha Long”. Other dragons landed on a bay further east, which was later called “Bai Tu Long”.
The Islands
Halong Bay is characterized by thousands of rocky and earthen islands, typically in the form of jagged limestone pillars rising from the sea. They stand between 50 to 90 meters high and are mostly unspoiled by human activities. The islands are topped with lush vegetation, providing habitats for various kinds of birds, reptiles, and mammals. Some large islands even feature sandy beaches where visitors can dip in the bay’s cool water.
Eons of wind and waves have sculpted the rocky island into a variety of shapes. There are Dog Islet, Fighting Cocks Islet, and Incense Burner Islet, to name a few. The weathering also created grottoes and karst caves. Some of them are so marvelous and have become tourist attractions in their own right, such as Heavenly Palace Cave and Awesome Cave. These caves are formed as a result of the repeated regression and transgression of the sea on the limestone, creating hollows, and arches, as well as countless stalactites and stalagmites.
Tips for visiting Halong Bay
- Halong Bay is large and it might take a few days if you want to explore the area thoroughly. Very often, people take the 2-days-1-night junk boat tour which includes 1 night on the ship, full-course meals, as well as transportation from Hanoi. But even then, you can only see a part of the bay.
- To admire the full scale of Halong Bay, it’s recommended to take a seaplane tour. So far, only Hai Au Aviation offers this sightseeing tour. The tour costs 2,000,000 VND (approx. 85$) and takes about 25 minutes. The departing/landing point is just a short walking distance from the piers.
- If you have no interest in spending the night on a boat, you can opt for a 4-hour or 6-hours day tour, which will bring you to several popular attractions of Halong Bay, including the Heavenly Palace Cave, the Awesome Cave, as well as some unique-looking islets. All boats depart from the Tuan Chau Harbour.
- There is a wide range of tour operators in Halong Bay, from luxury ship tours that cost 500$ per room per night to day tours that cost merely 30$ per person. Though extreme does exist, all boats have to meet certain safety requirements.
- All visitors must purchase entry tickets for Halong Bay (40,000 VND, about 2$). And there are also separate admission tickets for attractions in the bay, such as caves and fishing villages (from 30,000 to 50,000VND).
- Another way to capture the panoramic view of Halong Bay is by hiking to the observation deck on Titov island. Please note that the hike is fairly steep, with about hundreds of uneven steps.
Gorgeous views and the caves look insane! xx
Thank you, Nano! I was surprised as well. I visited Ha Long some twenty years ago, but I don’t remember that I saw such beautiful things. Maybe I was too young, and the caves was too dark and scary 🙂
I love listening to olden day legends as this Len. Thanks for sharing the story of the mother dragon 🙂
Glad you like it! 😀
👍🏼😊
Nice to hear the legend about Ha Long Bay. It does look very beautiful and peaceful.
It would be more beautiful when the sky were clear! Or at sunrise 🙂 Although there are more tourists, the bay is less chaotic than in the past. I can still remember that my boat was constantly chased by hawkers, who want to sell seafood, and stuff from China 🙂 It was very annoying!
Vietnam’s north is a part of the country I have yet to visit. Depending on how many days I have when I do go one day, I hope I’ll be able to see Ha Long Bay myself, apart from an obligatory trip to Hanoi. From the stories and articles I’ve read and heard, the country’s capital sounds like a very interesting place to explore. Back to Ha Long Bay, when you were there how busy was it? I know it has become one of the most popular places in Vietnam now.
I must admit that it was less crowded (and less chaotic) than I expected 🙂 Yes, there was a lot of people, especially at the ticket booth. But we were able to get our admission tickets and book the ship in less than 20 minutes. Probably because we chose the morning tour. The busiest time would be at noon, when the tour buses from Hanoi arrive.
Each ship has a maximum capacity (40 seats I think), and it departs whenever it’s filled. So you don’t have to worry about being tucked on an overloaded ship. Most of the ships (if not, all ships) have an open deck, where you can climb up and make photos of the bay.
Another great post, Len! You know, I suddenly remembered the 007 movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Ha Long Bay featured prominently in that movie!
Oh really? I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info. The latest movie (that I know) featuring Ha Long Bay is Kong: Skull Island. Ninh Binh was also featured in that movie.
Hi, Len – thanks for updating and republishing this entry on Halong Bay. I must have missed it the first time around. Your account of the legend made me smile, especially at the bit about the Mother Dragon and her children protecting ancient Vietnam from the northern invaders. So much of Vietnamese history seems to be about fiercely safeguarding the country’s independence. I’ve heard the weather in Halong can be very fickle; people tell me it is often cloudy, rainy, or misty, so it’s great to see your photos of the seascape bathed in sunshine and with blue skies! The caves are very impressive too. I hope I can visit with Bama one day. 🙂
I think the legend of Halong Bay is partially based on the first Battle of Bach Dang which marks the independence of Vietnam from China. But instead of dragons, there were sharpened stakes that sank the entire enemy fleet.
The weather in Halong is indeed unpredictable. I could only see the blue sky on my third visit. April is a good time to cruise the bay 😛
So wonderful! Gorgeous images, and I enjoyed the story of the name. Your post brought back some good memories.
Alison
Always nice to read your posts! Take care whereever 🙂 Ulli