Vietnam, Halong: description and photos

The topic of our article is Halong Bay (Vietnam). Photo of this natural sight will be enough to understand why UNESCO in 1994 included the bay in the list of the world heritage of mankind. And all the tour operators sending their customers to Southeast Asia refrain with a refrain: "If you did not admire Halong, you did not see Vietnam!" Well, we follow the recommendations of the travel agency employees. In this article we will tell you when it is best to visit Halong, how to get there from the popular resorts of Vietnam, where to stay and what else to see in the surrounding area. The origin of the bay is associated with a beautiful legend about the dragon. The monster lived for a long time in the mountains, until it suddenly became furious. All crashing in its path, the dragon plunged into the sea. Now, from the surface of the water, only its teeth-islands stick out. And the name "Halong" translates as "The place where the dragon descended into the sea".

Where is the bay located

The main natural landmark of Vietnam is located in the north-east of the country. The city of the same name belongs to the province of Nuangnin. And Halong Bay (Vietnam) is part of the Tonkin Gulf (the local call it Buckbo) of the South China Sea Pacific Basin. What is so famous about this lagoon? Its area is one and a half thousand square kilometers. And across the bay in a chaotic order scattered over a thousand six hundred islands and simply rocks. Some have such a bizarre form that when you look at them it seems as if you are Alice, who is in the land of fairy tales. If you swim to the islands on a boat, you can see numerous grottoes and caves - with stalactites and stalagmites. There are also deserted beaches, jungle and other beauty. In a word, paradise. And to visit here it is recommended to everyone who has arrived in this country of Southeast Asia.

When is the best time to visit Halong

This landmark of unearthly beauty never lacks a visit. And this is what the residents of the city of the same name are cashing in, which, with the exception of the bay, does not represent anything of interest in the tourist sphere. But do not forget that this region is North Vietnam. Halong in winter is often wrapped in fog and watered with drizzling rain. This off-season lasts from February to early April. And though the sea does not storm, visibility is pretty bad. Yes, and windy, damp and slightly cold weather does not have to admire the beauty. And in the rest of the year the bay appears to the gaze of astonished travelers from all over the world in all its irresistible charm. If you want to combine the contemplation of natural beauty with swimming, of course, it's good to choose the hot summer months. But then there is a high probability of rain. High season in these parts are the periods of April-May and September-October.

Vietnam, Halong Bay: how to arrive

From the capital of the country, the attraction is only a hundred and seventy kilometers away. Therefore, you can easily go here for one day. Long-distance buses run from Hanoi to Halong. They are sent from May Dinh. There is an opportunity to leave and train, as usual, and express train. Another interesting option is to buy a one-day excursion to Halong Bay. You will quickly be taken to a place in comfortable minivans and taken on a tourist boat to the large island of Katba. The tour lasts more than six hours and includes a visit to the iconic attractions of the bay. Independent tourists themselves need to reserve a place in the boat. The ticket will cost one hundred and thirty thousand dong. This price includes the entrance to the national park. On a taxi from Hanoi, the trip will cost fifty dollars.

Day trip to the fairy bay from other resort towns

Many tourists dream to see with their own eyes the wonderful Halong Bay (Vietnam). Getting to it from Hanoi is not very difficult. After all, modern modes of transport can overcome the distance of one hundred and seventy kilometers in a couple of hours. But is it possible to visit the bay in one day, coming from other resorts in Vietnam? If you are resting in the north of the country, in Haiphong or Sapa, then you will not be able to get to the city of Halong. Maybe you do not even need to go to Hanoi for this. But is it possible to visit the bay from the more southern resorts of the country? From the island of Fukuok or Ho Chi Minh City, this is unlikely to work. At least one day. Is Halong Bay (Vietnam) from Nha Trang available for tourists? The local bureau undertakes to organize excursions to the fairy bay for $ 450 per person. But often they return money, because there were not enough people willing to form a group. For a hundred dollars, you can go to Halong on your own. But for this, you first need to get to Hanoi. This is easily done on board the aircraft of the company "Vietnam Airlines", "JetStar" or "VietJet". And from there, by train or bus, you can easily get to the coveted bay.

Hotels in Halong (Vietnam)

This town is called Gateway to Paradise. Doors like doors. For those who aspire to paradise, the gate to it is uninteresting. And all the guidebooks bypass the sights of the city of Halonga with a dead silence. So what can you see in this village, built on an artificial dam that connected two capes? Only Halong Bay! Sandy beaches of the city - bulk, interest for divers, they do not represent. The city is regarded by most travelers as a place for spending the night after admiring the evening bay. Therefore, in Halong there is no shortage of hotels. You can stop in budget hotels away from the sea or in the chic "fives" on the first line. Among the most worthy can be called "Vinpearl Ha Long Resort". If you want to extend your vacation in a fabulous bay, you can book a hotel on one of the major islands of the bay - at your service Katba or Tuan Chau. Unforgettable will be the night aboard a chic liner (for example, "Signatury Royal Cruise") or a traditional junk ("Imperial Classic"), which is moored in a picturesque place.

Types of excursions. Flight over the bay

For travelers arriving in Vietnam, Halong is the "mast number 1". Therefore, the travel agency offers a variety of excursions to this bay. Those who are not sorry to part with 175 dollars, can see Halong Bay from a bird's eye view. In order for the helicopter tour to take place, it is enough to collect six people. To order such a trip it is possible in the company "Northern Airport Flight Service Company". Departures are made every Saturday at eight in the morning from Hanoi Gia Lam. If you are a guest of Sofitel Metropol Hotel, you will be taken to the helipad free of charge. From the top you will see all the islands of Halong bay and make breathtaking photos.

Other excursions

To get to the nearby island of Tuan Chau, you will not need a boat. After all, with the mainland it is connected by a bridge with a length of one kilometer. On the island there is a dolphinarium and several hotels - both expensive and unpretentious guesthouses. An ordinary tour involves a two-hour cruising along the bay on a simple boat with a landing on one of the beaches of Catba. Russian tourists arriving in Vietnam, Halong may be interested in the island of Titov. The famous Soviet cosmonaut visited here in the 70s, and now one of the rocks bears his name. The islands of the bay abound with caves and grottoes, where you can penetrate directly on the boat. Katba is famous for its virgin jungles and mangroves on the banks.

What to bring from Halong

This bay is famous all over Vietnam. Halong is imprinted on advertising posters about the country, replicated on a variety of postcards, magnets, mugs and T-shirts. Therefore, you will be provided with souvenirs. As a reminder of the beautiful legend that tells of the origin of Halong Bay, get a dragon figure. Also on the souvenir market of the city you can buy a beautiful model of traditional junks under scarlet sails. Such cruise along the bay. If you book a boat in advance, you can spend the night on it or fish it.