The Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994
The tourist stronghold Ha Long City was only founded in 1994 and practically consists of two places: the summer resort Bai Chay and the port city of H? Ng Gai. They are located on both sides of a narrow fjord that has only been crossed by a bridge since 2006. The tourist infrastructure is almost entirely in Bai Chay. The place can even score points with its guests with its own bus station. The promenade is around three kilometers long. A few years ago there were only a few small cafes here, today Bai Chay offers its guests everything they expect from a modern summer resort: shops with souvenirs, parks for amusement, discos and bars. The promenade was lengthened and widened for tourists, beaches were raised and palm trees were planted.
Boat tours are a must on a vacation in Ha Long City
The local boat tours are particularly popular. The port is only around two kilometers west of the center of the town. Quang Ninh Tourist and Ha Hong Tourist, companies owned by the state of Vietnam, offer charter boats. Of course, you can also book boat tours with private companies. The prices vary depending on the season and the skill in negotiating with the boat owners. More than 600 boats are waiting for tourists in the harbor. Many hotels now start their boats in the neighboring ports of Tuan Chau or Hon Gai. It’s much more relaxed there than in Ha Long City. A special highlight are the so-called floating hotels, where tourists can take a cruise through Ha Long Bay. Prices vary between $ 80 and $ 120 per person per night. But there are also decidedly luxury junks where the price is open to the top.
Over 3,000 limestone islands shape the image of Ha Long Bay
The spectacular Ha Long Bay is Vietnam’s tourist magnet. The more than 3,000 limestone islands with their sugar loafs, mountain cones and karstified rock needles were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. This magnificent natural spectacle is a must on every study trip through Vietnam. With a little imagination you can see fairies, dragons, dinosaurs or mammoths in the bizarre rock formations. The limestone islands are the remnants of enormous banks of shell limestone that were formed around 300 million years ago. Many of the seemingly surreal rocks are criss-crossed by huge grottos. Circular lakes can be found in the interior of some islands.
The underwater world of Ha Long Bay is an ideal diving spot
The most visited island in the region is Hang Sung Sot. On the island, visitors can expect a magnificent landscape of caves the size of a gigantic church. This natural wonder was created by water droplets over millions of years. The paths through the grotto labyrinth are well developed and safe to walk on. The grotto landscape is illuminated by a magical light for the tourists. Most of the islands in Ha Long Bay are rugged, barren, and rough. But still many animals have found their home here. These include eagles, parrots, cranes, herons and other sea birds. Wild goats and monkeys also live there. There is an even greater biodiversity in the world beneath the surface of the Ha Long Bay.
The “floating villages” are a popular destination
Over 1,000 species of fish, cuttlefish, shrimp and crabs live in this fantastic underwater world. There are also more than 160 species of coral here. The fact that trips to this region are becoming more and more popular is easy to understand from the natural treasures that exist. A popular excursion destination for tourists are the so-called “floating villages”, where several thousand fishing families pursue their traditional occupation. The “floating villages” are made of bamboo and wood. Nets and cages float beneath them in the water, which fishermen use to catch lobsters, crabs and fish. Some of them even breed pearl mussels. There is no ideal weather for a trip through Ha Long Bay, as it is a magnificent sight in any weather due to its bizarre beauty.
The weather in Ha Long Bay is very varied
Most tourists come to Ha Long Bay from May to September. Then temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius prevail here, which can be exceeded on some days. However, this time of year is also the one in which the rain is sometimes particularly heavy and sometimes typhoons make the region unsafe. In the following two months, October and November, the weather settles down. The sun then shines very often. Rain hardly falls until January. From December, however, the weather can change. Then a damp and cloudy mist covers the land. The temperatures can then sometimes drop to 10 degrees Celsius. In the months of February and March, the temperatures then rise again to 20 degrees Celsius and more. However, the beautiful weather at this time of year is clouded by the occasional rainfall. The weather in Ha Long Bay is very varied, depending on the season.
