Located in the Gulf of Bac Bô, in the North-East of Vietnam, the Bay of Along is a maritime territory formed of several islands of various eccentric forms, which explains the nickname of the bay: the descent of the dragon.
Covering an area of 1,553 square kilometers and surrounded to the west by the Cat Ba Archipelago, to the east by the China Sea and to the north by Chinese territory, the Halong Bay is divided into two agglomerations, separated by a long lagoon that can be crossed by ferry: Bay Chai and Hon Gai.
The first side is Bay Chai, which is the most visited part by tourists: hotels, restaurants and shops are grouped together and the second side, the Hon Gai, the ideal place for those who want a little more tranquility and privacy. The particularity of this Vietnamese country lies in its agglomerations of islands all surrounded by a magnificent Jade Sea, resulting from a lowering of limestone rocks years ago causing the formation of steep reefs.
Worthy of appearing in the list of the wonders of the world, it is ranked 8th among the World Heritage of Unesco. The reason? Halong Bay currently has two thousand islands of which a thousand are already recognised. The largest of these islands is Cat Ba, one of the most recommended places which has a national park rich in both animal and plant species and occupies half of the island.
One of the best ways to discover Halong Bay is by taking a cruise. Navigating the waters of Halong Bay through these amazing rocks, amid junks and floating villages, gives the visitor the curious impression that he is in a legendary world. You will disembark on an island equipped for swimming before discovering caves famous for their beauty.
But it doesn’t stop here. There are now tours combined with cultural discovery and a seaside holiday, plus a boat trip to Halong Bay. Located along the shore of Halong Bay, Bai Chay Beach is one of the city’s must-see sights and the most visited by tourists coming to Halong.
With fine white sands stretching 500m long and 100m wide, the hills descend gently towards the sea. More and more hotel services have developed water activities.
At the end of the day, the boats gather to spend the night in Halong Bay. Do not hesitate to dive in these turquoise waters before a restorative meal. The advantage is that there is no seasonality in Halong, so it is possible to discover the place at any time of the year!