Visiting Halong Bay - Vietnam

By Can Pham

Halong Bay is situated 180km due east of Hanoi, with a drive of 3-4 hours. It is set in the emerald sea of the Gulf of Tonkin. Situated in the north eastern region of Vietnam, Halong Bay comprises Halong City, Cam Pha township and the island district of Van Don, the site of an ancient commercial port.

It is a region with considerable biological diversity with ecosystems of salt water forests, tropical forests and coral reefs. It has also been acknowledged to be an important area of the beginnings of human existence at such archaeological sites as Xich Tho, Dong Mang, Thoi Gieng and Soi Nhu. It borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest and the East Sea to the east, with a coastline of 120km. Many of the islands resemble legendary characters and are given fantastic names such as Dragon Island, Man's Head Island and the Incense Burner, because of their shapes.

The best way to view the islands is by boat and there are many cruisers offering day trips as well as 3 or 4 days full board. Trips by boat can be organised from Hanoi, where most tourists start their visit. The independent traveller can travel by bus from Hanoi to Haiphong City, followed by a journey by boat or bus-boat to Cat Ba. The sea around Halong Bay is warm and ideal for swimming although there are strong currents in places. The region is renowned for its inclement weather with storms during the summer and plenty of rain in the winter. The best time to visit is during the spring.

The largest of the islands is Cat Ba, which is a tourist resort. In the interior of this island the jungle can be explored with organised tours and the National Park is suitable for trekking. Of the many grottoes to visit, perhaps the most memorable are those at Dau Go Grotto on Driftwood Island, the Virgin Grotto on Bo Hon island range and Thien Cung Heavenly Palace Grotto, the most recently discovered of them all. Thien Cung is to be found 4 km from Halong City and is entered via a narrow strip of forest, before the landscape opens out into a grotto measuring 130 metres. At some of the most popular grottoes there is small entrance fee.

Bai Chay is a popular holiday resort with a lovely beach area and makes a great base for discovering the region. There are many hotels here, ranging from small bed and breakfast hotels and backpacker`s hostels to luxury 5 star hotels, as well as restaurants serving local and international cuisine and lively bars. The white sandy beach and stunning backdrop of low lying hills stretch for 2kms and make a relaxing place to stay, with several family run restaurants situated along the beach front. Food, drink and hotels in the area are extremely inexpensive.

Happy Travels!

For Vietnam travel information, visit: http://www.danviettravel.com/vietnam-information/city-guide/?lang=0

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Images By Adam Hurley