Mixed

Located in the northeastern region of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is part of the Gulf of Tonkin, encompassing the maritime area of Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and part of the island district of Van Don, Quang Ninh Province. Ha Long Bay is bordered to the southwest by Cat Ba Island, and its northwestern and western sides share a 120 km coastline with the mainland.

Natural beauty

Ha Long Bay covers a total area of 1,553 km². It contains 1,969 islands of varying sizes, 989 of which have been named. Two types of islands have been identified: limestone islands and shale islands. Concentrated mainly in the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay) and southwest (belonging to Ha Long Bay) areas, they are between 250 and 280 million years old.

The great poet Nguyen Trai called Ha Long Bay "a wonder of the earth that soars to the heavens." While exploring the bay, tourists will feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands that change shape depending on the angle and the light. The shapes of several islands bear a curious resemblance to human or animal forms. One island strangely resembles a man staring at the mainland (Hon Dau Nguoi), a dragon swimming in the sea stands on the island of the same name, and a motionless old fisherman haunts Lã Vọng Island (Lã Vọng was a Chinese mandarin who left his post to become a fisherman). Hidden within the islands are spectacular caves: Động Thiên Cung (Cave of the Heavenly Palace), Hang Đầu Gỗ (Cave of Pieces of Wood), Hang Sửng Sốt (Cave of Surprise) and Tam Cung (Cave of the Three Palaces), Hang Trinh Nu (Cave of the Virgin)...

Geological value

The most remarkable events in the geological history of Ha Long Bay over the past 1,000 years include the advance of the sea, the uplift of the bay's landmass, and the intense erosion that formed coral reefs in the pure blue, highly saline water. This process of seawater erosion has deeply etched the rocks, contributing to its fantastic beauty. Today, Ha Long Bay is the result of this long process of geological evolution, influenced by so many factors. It is thanks to all these factors that tourists visiting Ha Long Bay not only have the opportunity to admire one of the true wonders of the world, but also to contemplate a precious geological museum that has been naturally preserved in its natural state for 300 million years.

Value of biological diversity

Ha Long also boasts rich biodiversity with typical tropical ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems. In addition, Ha Long has a highly diverse tropical forest system and is home to many rare wildlife. The bay is also teeming with countless seagrasses, fish, shrimp, and more.

Scientific research shows that Ha Long Bay boasts a rich biodiversity with typical tropical ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, including 232 coral species primarily distributed in the Cong Do and Bo Hung areas. It also supports 81 gastropod species, 130 bivalve species, 55 polycheta species, and 57 crab species. The saltwater flooded forest ecosystem, mainly concentrated in the Tuan Chau and Cua Luc Ba Che areas, has the most diverse collection of saltwater flooded plant species in North Vietnam. This ecosystem also supports a large number of animal species, including migratory birds (200 species), polycheta species (169 species), algae (91 species), and reptiles (10 species). Ha Long Bay also boasts a rainforest ecosystem teeming with various rare and precious creatures: deer, weasels, squirrels, and monkeys, particularly the white-striped and red-tailed varieties. Furthermore, a network of small caves along the coast provides habitats and breeding grounds for numerous animals and plants, including algae, fish, shrimp, abalone, and other marine delicacies.

Ha Long is a place closely linked to Vietnam's history, with famous sites such as Van Don (an ancient trading port), Poem Mountain (featuring carvings of numerous poems by emperors and other famous figures of the past), and the Bach Dang River (the site of two fierce naval battles against foreign invaders). Furthermore, Ha Long has been recognized by scholars as one of the cradles of human existence, boasting the brilliant Ha Long civilization and archaeological sites such as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng.

With its natural beauty meeting the standards of the International Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Ha Long Bay was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 18th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Thailand on December 17, 1994. On December 2, 2000, at its 24th session in Cairns, Australia, Ha Long Bay was recognized for the second time as a World Heritage Site based on its geological and geomorphological values. Currently, Quang Ninh Province has submitted a nomination to UNESCO for the third time for Ha Long Bay to be recognized as a World Heritage Site for its archaeological values and biodiversity.

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(Source: Vietnamtourism.com)