Halong Bay is one of seven nature wonders in the world

The first count of the global vote to elect the New7Wonders of Nature has been announced. In alphabetical order, they are: Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Table Mountain.

Announcing the results at the headquarters of the New7Wonders Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, said: “I would like to thank the many champions, citizens, voluntary organisations, public bodies and governments that have helped promote the New7Wonders of Nature campaign over the past four years, starting with over 440 locations from over 220 countries and all the way to the 28 Finalist candidates from whom the New7Wonders of Nature have been chosen.”

Halong Bay: Dau Be Island

Dau Be Island is another of the islands in Halong Bay. Dau Be has some sandy coves, great for sunbathing and swimming. Not far from the beaches there are some diving spots with rich corals. The island is famous for its Japanese run pearl culturing factories.

Dau Be has also a deep grotto with three inland lakes. The cave can only be visited at low tide with a rowing boat.

Halong Bay: Bo Hon Island

Another of the islands famous for its grottoes is Bo Hon Island. French called it the Surprise Island. Seven of the best grottoes in the Halong Bay area are in this island. The best cave in the island probably is Hang Bo Nau (or the Pelican Cave). The cave has a big entryway with stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. It is very typical to shot a picture of the bay from the cave. This grotto is very popular among tourists. Young kids may try to sell you hand made souvenirs or postcards while visiting this site.

Other famous caves in Bo Hon Island are Hang Sung Sot, a big one that can take you up to one hour to explore; and Hang Luon, with its circular pool accessible by boat.

Not far from Bo Hon there is a smaller island with a cave called Hang Trinh Nu. This grotto is famous for its shrine. Locals dedicated this grotto to a local girl. The legend says this girl escaped from a Mandarin that forced her to marry him because her father could not pay a debt. When fishermen found her dead body, they buried her here, and built a small shrine inside the grotto.

Halong Bay: Dau Go Island

One of the islands famous for its grottoes is Dau Go Island. The largest cave in the area is in this island, Hang Dau Go (or the Wooden Stakes Cave). The grotto is popular among tourists since the 19th century, when French called it the Wonders Grotto. Some of its stalagmites are more than 800 inches high (20 meters).

Another famous cave in this island is the Hang Tuyet (Snow Cave), which was discovered more recently. The entryway is steep and slippery. You will need a good flashlight.

Halong Bay: Ship tour

In this picture you can see one of the boats that do the Halong Bay tour. If weatherconditions are good, you can lie on a chair on the deck above. If not, you will have to sit inside.

During the Bay tour, the boat will serve a lunch. Most of the times food is included, and beverages have to be paid apart.

Halong Bay: The best weather to visit

The best time to visit the Halong Bay area is in Spring and Summer. During Fall and Winter the sea is not very clear because of the muddy waters the rain in the region brings to the sea. In Summer, days are clearer and temperatures are high. In winter the area may be visited, but you won't be able to swim.
For the two- and three-days tours there are two options of accommodation. One is sleeping on a boat. The other is sleeping on one of the islands in the bay. Tourism is developing in the area. New hotels are being built in the bigger islands. I recommend sleeping one night on the boat, but if I were you I would not sleep a second night on board. Boats are small, noisy and do rock a lot. If you want a tip, sleep in a hotel the second night.

Halong Bay: Halong Bay Virtual Tour

The world famous Halong Bay is a must see in any travel to Vietnam. The bay and its 3,000 islands will surprise you no matter how many pictures you have seen before.

The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Many travel agencies in Hanoi offer excursions to Halong Bay. Allow, at least, two days to visit the bay. The islands vary in size, some are small -- as the one in the picture --, others are quite big. Some of the islands have grottoes that can be visited.

Halong Bay: Phoenix Cruiser 3 days / 2 nights

Day 1: Hanoi-Halong

7h30 to 8.15AM : The bus and guide pick you up at your hotel for the 3.5 hr drive (165km) to Halong City.

12:00 PM : Board Halong Phoenix Cruiser. Lunch and a welcome drink are served while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape.

You will see Dog Rock and Incense Burner Rocks, as well as Fighting Cock Rock before heading to Sung Sot Cave (Cave of Surprises).

Later, we stop at a floating house owned by fishermen before kayaking to Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay.

Halong Bay: Phoenix Cruiser 2 days / 1 night

Day 1: Hanoi-Halong

7 h30 to 8h30 AM: The bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel, for the 3.5 hr (165km) drive to Halong City.

12:00 PM: Board Halong Phoenix Cruiser. Lunch is served with a welcome drink while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape.

You will see Dog Rock, Incense Burner Rock, as well as Fighting Cock Rock before heading to Sung Sot Cave ( Cave of Surprises).

Later we stop at a floating house owned by fishermen before kayaking to Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay.

Halong Bay: Phoenix Cruiser

Halong Phoenix Cruiser

Built in 2007, but based on an exotic oriental junk, the Halong Phoenix Cruiser offers the best of both worlds: luxurious, traditional styling paired with sophisticated modern facilities and comforts! The boat boasts romantic wooden fixtures, a multitude of windows to make the most of the amazing views, and a spectacular upper deck for your total relaxation.

From the moment you step onboard the Halong Phoenix Cruiser you will feel pampered.

Dining Room

• Halong Bay: Phoenix Cruiser 3 days / 2 nights

Ha Long Bay: Victory Cruise 2 Days / 1 Night

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

8.30: Pick up by private car at your hotel about 8.30. Spend 3 hours sight seeing country Vietnam on the way to Halong city. Arrive at Orchid Pier just before 12.00 noon.

12.30: Welcome aboard the Victory, fruit cocktail is served.

13.00: Lunch is served while cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay.

15.30: After Lunch Cruise to visit to Cua Van floating village.

17.00: Trekking or swimming at Soi Sim island.

18.30: Anchor in secluded lagoon for overnight.

19.30: Diner is served in the dining room.

21.00: After diner relax on deck, drink service available or night time fishing.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Halong Bay: Victory Cruise 3 Days / 2 Nights

Victory Cruise - Halong Bay

Our 42 meter junk boast 21 luxurious cabins with private bath, air conditioning, linen sheets with all the amenities and services you would expect from a four-star hotel.

On board is our full service restaurant for 42 guests, sun deck with comfortable lounge chairs, massage service and an attentive staff to cater to your every need.

Along with the great facilities we have special activities: small boats to explore the caves, sea kayaking, cooking classes, international wine tasting, and we can arrange special events from 2 to 42 people.

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay: Victory Cruise

Victory Cruise - Halong Bay

Our 42 meter junk boast 21 luxurious cabins with private bath, air conditioning, linen sheets with all the amenities and services you would expect from a four-star hotel.

On board is our full service restaurant for 42 guests, sun deck with comfortable lounge chairs, massage service and an attentive staff to cater to your every need.

Along with the great facilities we have special activities: small boats to explore the caves, sea kayaking, cooking classes, international wine tasting, and we can arrange special events from 2 to 42 people.

• Ha Long Bay: Victory Cruise 2 Days / 1 Night

Indochina Sails 2 days / 1 night

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Leave Hanoi by car/van at 8:30am arriving at the jetty around 12:30pm. Welcome on board of Indochina Sails Cruise and set sail through bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth.

12h30: Welcome on board of Indochina and set sail through bay while lunch is serverd. Cruise around the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’teeth. Opportunity to visit beautiful limestone grotto, go swimming or sunbathing. Enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at Indochina sail restaurant. If weather permits a short night cruise could bring you a nice discovery of the sea life by night.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Indochina Sails Cruise 3 days / 2 nights

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Welcome on board of Indochina Sail and set sail through bay while lunch is serverd. Cruise round the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone inslands rise from the waves like Dragons’teeth. Opportunity to visit beautiful limestone grotto, go swimming or sunbathing. Enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at Indochina Sail restaurant. If weather permits a short night cruise could bring you a nice discovery of the sea life by night.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Halong Discovery

Indochina Sails - Halong Bay

New deluxe junk of the fleet - the Indochina Sails - in service since April 2007. After the success of Ginger Cruise and the high demand of the customers, we have launched this sister boat. With well-appointed design and decor, the junk will together with its twin sister bring guests excellent experience cruising the World Heritage site.

HalongTravelGuide.com: Discover the splendors of Halong Bay aboard the Indochina Sails, a wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. Our newest four star Junk will set the standard for services and amenities on the bay.

Tuan Chau Island Of Halong Bay

Ha Long, one of the World Heritages, comprises thousands of big and small islands. Each one has its own characteristic with various caves: Sung Sot Cave,Thien Cung Cave, Trinh Nu Cave. Tuan Chau Island is the only soil island of all. It is not only a place having beautiful natural surroundings: pine trees, lakes, beautiful beach…but also where President Ho Chi Minh chose to be the relax place of other State officials' and his when they came here in 1959.

On the total area of 400 ha, Tuan Chau has the population of 1500. As planned, the total area of Tuan Chau will be widen to 675 ha. It enjoys the advantage of having both road and river transportations. It is about 18 km away from National Highway No.1. This route is an important blood vessel of the robust Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic triangle. It takes about 3 hours from Mong Cai ( 2 hours by boat) and 1 hour from Hai Phong.

Halong Bay - Quang Ninh Province - Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is located in the northeastern part of Vietnam and constitutes part of the western bank of Bac Bo Gulf, including the sea area of Ha Long City and Cam Pha Town and part of Vân Don island district. It abuts Cat Ba Island in the southwest. Toward the west is the shore with a 120 km-long coastline. It is located within 106o58’-107o22’ east longitude and within 20o45’- 20o50’ north latitude. The site is 1553 sq. km with 1969 islands of various sizes, of which 989 have been named.

The legend of HaLong Bay

The legend of Hạ Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Việt people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Việt people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.

HaLong Bay - Introduce

Ha Long Bay (Gulf countries where the dragon landed on) is a small bay on the west coast of Tonkin Gulf in the North South Sea of Vietnam, including the island seas of Ha Long City, Cam Pha Town and part of the Van Don island district.

As the center of a large area there are many similar factors in geology, geomorphology, landscape, climate and culture with Bai Tu Long bay (northeast) and Cat Ba Island (southwest ), Ha Long Bay restricted area of ​​1.553km ² including 1,960 islands, mostly limestone islands, of which the core zone of the Gulf has an area of ​​334km ² to focus 775 clustered dense island . Tectonic history of the Bay limestone spent about 500 million years old geographical circumstances are very different; and karst evolution fully experienced over 20 million years with a combination of factors such as thick limestone floors, hot and humid climate and tectonic processes slowly improving overall. The combination of environment, climate, geology, geomorphology, Ha Long Bay has made to become clustered biodiversity of forest ecosystems, including closed moist tropical evergreen rain and marine and coastal ecosystems coast with little ecosystem. 14th endemic plant species and about 60 endemic species of animals have been discovered thousands of plant and animal populations residing in the Gulf.

HaLong Bay -The World Heritage site - The junks

We sailed and slept aboard one of these junks. Ours was very nice indeed--polished wood, clean, fairly warm (inside), and the staff served good meals. Being the solo-traveller, I got a cabin of my own.

HaLong Bay -The World Heritage site

Ha Long Bay is stunning--or perhaps it would have been in some sunshine! It was downgraded by our cold, shivering group to merely "uniquely beautiful". A huge bay chock-a-block FULL of dramatic limestone islands (karst formations, such as in Guelin, China or Phang Nga Bay, Thailand...but I think it was the best of the lot), which shoot vertically up out of the sea and into the sky. Pretty darned cool