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Ha Long Bay - World Heritage site on the sea . One of Vietnam's favorite travel destinations, Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh impresses visitors with jagged rock islands, soaring limestone cliffs and numerous grottos and caves.

With nearly 2,000 islets sprinkled over 1,553 sq.km, Ha Long Bay is considered one of the natural wonders of Asia. Of which, 775 islets covering 434 sq.km were given UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000.

Legend has it that when the Vietnamese were under attack long ago, a dragon came to their aid, splitting mountains to impede the progress of the enemy.

The striking topography we see today was created by the lash of its tail as the dragon thundered down from the mountains to the sea; consequently, the name - Ha Long means "Bay of the Descending Dragon."

Most of the islets are named depending on the types of animals or shapes they resemble.

The list includes Trong Mai (rooster and hen), Rong (dragon), Con Coc (toad), Rua (tortoise), Dau Trau (buffalo head), Co Ngua (horse neck), Ga Choi (fighting cock), Voi (elephant), Ca Sau (crocodile), Vit (duck), May Den (black cloud) and Binh Tich (teapot).

The area also includes several beautiful grottoes like Dau Go (timber hiding place), Sung Sot (surprise), Tam Cung (three palaces) and Thien Cung (celestial palace), which contain numerous stalactites and stalagmites in the shapes of birds and animals.

Traces of ancient inhabitants have been found at some grottoes there such as Me Cung (labyrinth), Tien Ong (old fairy), Thien Long (celestial dragon) and Trinh Nu (virgin girl) providing a window into Vietnam's past.

History

Ha Long Bay has many links to the history of Vietnam.

It has been proven by scientists that Ha Long was one of the first cradles of human existence in the area at such archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng.

Ha Long Bay was the setting for some famous naval battles. In the 13th century general Tran Hung Dao, a brilliant military strategist under the Tran Dynasty, ran two fierce naval battles fighting against invaders on Bach Dang River there.

The general led forces to sink Mongolian invading ships on the Bach Dang River by placing steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, which the ships ran against at low tide and sank.

The general supposedly had the wooden stakes hidden in Dau Go grotto when preparing for the battle to repel the invaders from the north.

Another site is Bai Tho (poem) Mountain, located 201 meters over the sea level. The mountain was also called Truyen Dang (transmission light) as on its peak once stood a watchtower where the guards lighted fire whenever seeing a strange boat entering the territory.

In the spring in 1468, King Le Thanh Tong called on Ha Long Bay after reviewing troops on the Bach Dang River and the King composed a poem praising the picturesque scenery there.

That poem was engraved on the rock cliff of the mountain, which since then has been called by locals as Bai Tho (poem). Climb the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the bay.

Famous tourist site

When touring the bay and its hidden lagoons on wooden boats, visitors feel as if they are lost in another world full of natural sculptural works emerged from the turquoise water.

With its picturesque landscape, Ha Long Bay is the source of inspiration for many poets and artists.

The picturesque and romantic scenery of Ha Long Bay also appeared in Régis Wargnier's famous film Indochine (1992) with starring famed French actress Catherine Deneuve, actor Vincent Perez, and Vietnamese French actress Linh Dan Pham.

The bay is the single most popular side trip from Hanoi. Travel agencies in the capital arrange overnight trips, including all transportation, a two-day cruise, accommodation in a modest hotel and four good meals.

If you have an extra day, you can add a night in the wildlife sanctuary on nearby Cat Ba Island, which covers 100 square kilometers south of Ha Long Bay.

Cat Ba, recognized as the World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2003, impresses visitors with grandiose limestone mountains, thick tropical forests, pristine caves, and sandy beaches.

Compiled by Thu Thuy

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