Ha long means descent of the dragon in Vietnamese. Legend has it that Vietnam was attacked by a powerful enemy. The country was then saved by a powerful dragon, hence the shape of the country. The dragon cut through the mountain with its tail before diving into the water.
Halong Bay is a very pleasant place to visit. You can discover the famous rocky peaks by embarking on a boat cruise. But if you by chance decide to skip Halong Bay or missed it, there are places that are similar to Halong Ba. Take a look at these places in Ninh Binh:
Tam Cốc is famous for being the most beautiful, that’s why it is the most visited! It’s also called “Halong Bay on Land”. To avoid the crowd and the many street vendors, do the excursion at the end of the day, after 16:30, when the groups are gone.
Trang An, less popular with foreign tourists, is a replica of Tam Coc. Well known to Vietnamese tourists, this natural site has been developed. The landscape is perhaps a bit less poetic than that of Tam Coc, but the sites are just as incredible, and above all you will not risk being annoyed by street vendors.
At Vân Long you will discover a wilder landscape and even more charming. Known as the largest swampy area in the Red River Delta, its nature reserve is home to many animal species, including birds and endangered monkeys. However, you will not have any monuments to visit.