Certainly the most famous place in Vietnam, Halong Bay is a natural jewel located in the north of the country, a few hours from the capital Hanoi. The bay is known for its blue waters, almost green, for its thousands of islands and islets, and for hundreds of caves. Some of them lead to inland lakes when the tide goes down. Halong Bay is a paradise for tourists visiting the bay on the famous junks, which are traditional Vietnamese boats. The boats go around the bay, making it possible to admire the rock formations. The bay remains a highly historical place. It has been the scene of several naval battles. In 1288, General TranHurngDap stopped the advance of the Mongols by sinking their fleets in the bay, using unseen piles at high tide. In the 17th century, Halong Bay was a haven for pirates!
Myths and Legends
Halong Bay is also a place of mystery and legends. Ha Long in Vietnamese means “descent of the dragon” and many legends are built around the name. The first tells that the landscape was created by a dragon. He was sent by the emperor to help the Vietnamese defend themselves against the invaders. During the battle, the dragon did not spit fire but pearls that became islands. The second tells that the dragon had become too powerful and this power inspired fear and jealousy. The spirits then decided to ally with the men to destroy the dragon. However, the dragon spat fire and petrified the men who were transformed into rock. This is how the mythical landscape of Halong Bay was created.