Ha Long Bay is located in Northern Vietnam and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Aside from being popular with tourists, it is also a culturally recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bay is well known for its scenic karst topography, which is a subject of many popular photos of Vietnam.
The term “Ha Long Bay” literally translates to “Bay of Descending Dragons”. However, it was not until in the 19th century when this name was officially designated. It was known in ancient times as simply Luc Thuy or An Bang. This natural heritage site was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam list in 1994; there were extensions to the property that were added in 2000.
About Ha Long Bay :
Ha long bay sunset view 
Sunset at Ha long bay 
Cruise
Ha Long Bay is made up of a dense cluster of more than 1,600 monolithic limestone islands. Each of these limestone islands is topped with thick vegetation that rises from the ocean. Some of these monolithic islands are hollow though; there are enormous caves within that can be explored (while others remain unexplored). The largest grotto within Ha Long Bay is the Hang Dau Go, also known as the Wooden Stakes cave. At the end of the 19th century, French tourists visited the cave and named it Grottes des Merveilles. It is made up of three large chambers with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites.
Within the Ha Long Bay are two bigger islands: Cat Ba and Tuan Chau. These islands have permanent human inhabitants and tourist facilities (such as beaches and hotels). You can also find several other gorgeous beaches in many smaller islands within the bay.
Currently, there are four fishing villages within Ha Long Bay. All of these villages combine to have around 1,600 people living in them. The communities are made up of floating houses that get their sustenance through fishing and marine aquaculture.
Aside from the monolithic islands, caves beaches, lakes are important features of Ha Long Bay too. There are plenty of them inside the limestone islands.
How To Get Here :
The best way to get to Ha Long Bay is to book a cruise tour. There are several tour companies in Vietnam that provide a cruise on the Ha Long Bay for one day or several days – you can choose your desired package. Either way, this tour will include transfers to and from the bay. It is also a good way to immerse into the way the locals live in the floating communities.
If you are traveling to Ha Long Bay on your own, you can go to Halong City or Bai Chay. You must then go to Bai Chay Tourist Wharf to book a boat trip that will take you to Ha Long Bay.
What To Know :
Before you visit Ha Long Bay, these tips can come in handy:
- The best time to visit Ha Long Bay is from October to December. This is when the temperature is not too high or too low.
- If you want to avoid the peak season, do not travel from late May to early August.
- If you go from May to September, expect a lot of tropical storms. This means that tourist boats are not allowed to cruise the bay when there are storms.
- When you visit in January to March, that is when the temperature is at its lowest. There is also a lot of fog that could make the visibility level low.
