Considering the long periods of struggle the country had to withstand, Vietnam is almost instantly associated with war and conflict. However, in this tropical country, there’s a rare and unique paradise that has flourished over the last few centuries and continues to be one of the most fascinating and intriguing tourist spots on the planet.

A world in itself, Ha Long Bay is located in the Quang Ninh province. Spectacular rock formations, islets and stunning ecosystems that bring together a rare marine habitat and the tropical environment to give us a magical journey that leads us into a world of its own, the Ha Long Bay is a must when visiting Vietnam.

The legend has it that the spectacular and almost living islands were formed after a family of dragons was sent from the heavens to defend the country. They spewed jewels and jade, which ended up being the islands.

Of course, there is a very sound geographic theory as well for the formation of these rocks. The bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands with each and everyone of them resembling some spectacular form to the imaginative mind.

There are also many caves in the area with Hang Dau Go (Wooden stakes Cave) the largest of them all. The spooky and stunning caverns and intricate caves offer a rare and once in a lifetime glimpse into the depths that are adored by a series of stalactites and stalagmites along with some nineteenth century French graffiti.

The marine life in the Ha Long Bay is also pretty exciting with 200 species of fish and 450 species of mollusks around, along with tiny pockets of tropical forests on each island.

For food lovers, the Ha Long Bay is an absolute heaven as the 10 floating villages that reside here all rely on fishing for their livelihood, meaning you would be served some of the best marine cuisine in the world.

There are more than 989 amazing islands and islets to see and that will surely leave you pretty busy over a week or two, but make sure you don’t miss out on the Kissing Rocks, Voi Islet, Ga Choi Islet and Mai Nha Islet.

Tourism has had a negative impact on this delicate ecosystem while it has boosted the area’s economy. So if you happen to visit this tropical paradise, be sure you cause as little damage as possible to the fragile ecosystem, while you enjoy its natural wonders.

Images by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Popularity: 2% [?]