Halong Bay, Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay is famous for its scenic rock formations and features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The best way to see Ha Long Bay is aboard a junk boat.

The many limestone karsts are topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Hạ Long area. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th century French graffiti). There are two bigger islands, Tuần Châu and Cat Ba, that have permanent inhabitants.

Things to See & Do

* Thien Cung Grotto
* Hang Dau Go Cave
* Sung Sot Cave
* Sea Lion Islet
* Cave visits, kayaking, swimming, island stopovers

General information

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - đồng (₫) (VND)
Language - Vietnamese
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Population - 1,600 approx
Land Area - 1,553 km2
Time - GMT plus seven hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 84

Port Location - The port at Halong Bay is Cai Lan port in Hon Gai Province.

Travel Links - Ha Long Bay is accessible from Hanoi by bus and train. Every day runs a train depart from Yen Vien Railway Station (Gia Lam District, Hanoi) for Halong at 4.50am and arrive at 11.40am.

There are also helicopter flights available from Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi.