Ha Long Bay

The descent of the dragon

Country

Vietnam

Regions

Baie Halong

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À vivre

Legend has it that a dragon descended from the sky to tame the sea currents, carving out the landscape with its tail and leaving only the highest peaks emerging above the water. “Hạ Long” means “descending dragon”.

This famous bay, a favourite backdrop for Chinese prints, once served as a hideout for pirates in the South China Sea and a base during the Vietnam War, and has witnessed centuries of trade aboard junks and fishing boats.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this vast aquatic garden holds around 2,000 limestone islets (also called “sugarloaves”), making it the largest marine karst in the world. Of every shape and size, rising from the sea and stretching across hundreds of kilometres, they form a landscape with a strange, ever-changing atmosphere.

The site holds many caves worth exploring. Among the most famous are Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sốt), Tunnel Cave (Luồn), and Dấu Gỗ Cave (“Wooden Stakes Cave”), a network of several caverns where weapons dating back to the 13th century were discovered. This rugged stretch of water, dotted with jagged rock formations, caves, cavities and tunnels, is without question one of Vietnam’s essential sights.

Seasons

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Journey ideas

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Ha Long Bay

The descent of the dragon

To design your tailor-made journey , consultez-nous

À vivre

Seasons

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