Halong Bay is the main symbol of Vietnam. What is worth seeing in Halong? Where is Halong Bay

Halong Bay is probably the most famous place in Vietnam. We have already had a chance to travel along this bay from the side of the Cat Ba island, I wrote about this trip. We were so impressed by this wonderful place that we decided to spend a couple of days before leaving for Thailand, not far from these rocks. Halong city is much more geared towards tourists than Cat Ba Island, as you can see in everything - the larger and more impressive hotels that rise along the coast. More cafes and restaurants. There is a water park and a park promenade. There are many more different yachts, boats and liners for traveling in Halong Bay. But in winter, since it is not the season, many establishments were closed. We can only rejoice that at this time there are fewer tourists on the streets. As in Cat Be, you can meet some tourists several times in the same establishments.

Our primary goal this time is to visit Titova Island, or as it is called in Vietnam Ti-Top (Ti-Top). This island has an observation deck from which you can simply amazing beauty view of the bay and rocks, you can search in search engines what a beautiful "picture" opens from the island of Ti-Top. And what was our disappointment when, at the local port, we learned that at this time of the year there are no excursions to this island, due to the fact that the route is very long, and there are few people in winter. It seemed to us very strange, since this island is not very far from the coast, and the weather was wonderful, but nevertheless we were repeated that you can get to it only by private boats, which are very expensive. Of course we were very upset. Perhaps it was worth going to the pier, chatting with the Vietnamese, are there any options to go on an organized excursion to Ti-Top Island, maybe chat with people, maybe someone was also looking for other options for excursions. But we didn’t do it. Apparently in the off-season, the Vietnamese are encouraged to buy more expensive tickets for private boats. Or it was worth looking for more port options. Possibly from the other side of Halong city - Hong Gai and Hong Hai had more excursion options and one could find a way to travel to this island. We took the excursion that was available, and went on a 4-hour journey along Halong Bay, with a visit to a cave on one of the nearest islands.

This time we were lucky with the weather, it was much warmer than on the Cat Ba island, and the sky was clear. The rocks were beautifully illuminated by the sun, it was very beautiful.

And here is a stop on an island with a cave. A visit to the cave itself is paid, not included in the cost of the excursion. The cost is 50,000 dong. For me, it would be better if we rolled past different rocks. Nevertheless, we looked into this cave together with a group of tourists.

In fact, there is nothing interesting and memorable in this cave. You need to be a big lover of caves, I guess. We walked along this cave very quickly and returned to our boat. The main thing is to remember the number of the ship, or the Vietnamese, otherwise you can end up on a strange ship. This is what the parking of ships on this island looks like.

View from the island to the city.

Another stop at the floating village. There are a lot of floating villages on the Cat Ba side.

And again the rocks, a wonderful sight!

A couple of tourists who traveled with us on this ship.

It seemed to us that our trip flew by very quickly! I wanted to swim much longer among the rocks and admire the view of the beauty around us. If we had more time, we would definitely find options for excursions to Ti-Top Island. I think this is the island that you should definitely visit while in Halong City. There are also options for excursions when you can swim along the bay for several days and spend the night right on the ship in cabins. This is a very good option for those who like to travel. Perhaps on our next visit to Vietnam, we would plan such an excursion.

After walking along the bay, we had a bite to eat at a nearby cafe and decided to go to the embankment.

I don't even know if people swim here in summer or not. In my opinion, so many different ships, boats and liners do not contribute to the cleanliness of the coast. In the south of Vietnam, the beaches are more suitable for swimming.

We did not regret that after Sapa we arrived here. We had a plane ticket from Hanoi to Bangkok and could either stay for a few days in Sapa or spend that time in Hanoi. We are glad we chose Halong. Probably the best goodbye to Vietnam you can spend in this place!

Halong is a resort town near Haiphong, which is located on an artificial dam connecting the two peninsulas. Everything is in the best traditions - beautiful hotels, luxury residential buildings, shops, cafes, spa, clubs and a bar, all this is in Halong. But above all, tourists go to Halong because of its luxurious nature - comfortable sandy beaches and very warm water! If you happen to be in Halong, take a day to see the local attractions. There are not very many of them here, but it's worth it.

Halong Bay(Bai Tu Long Bay)

Halong Bay, on which the town is located, is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea. The bay is rich in islands - there are more than three thousand of them here, and all of them are amazingly beautiful! Everything, of course, is difficult to go around, but if you rent a boat and ride past some of them, then the impressions will definitely go beyond the roof. By the way, the name of the bay itself translates as "the place where the dragon descended into the sea." While sailing on a boat along this bay, you can see the houses of local residents who live in "houseboats" on pontoons (in the sense that they do not move around the entire bay, are fixed on the shore) - it all seems incredible! Locals say that sometimes, going down to the ground, the inhabitants of such houses are slightly dizzy, as during seasickness... Find out how to sail to the island off Tuan Chau, the most civilized part of the land in the area.

Grotto of Stone Pillars (Hang Dau Go) (Hang Dau Go cave)

There are many caves and grottoes on the islands of the bay, which attract with their beauty and mystery. This grotto on Driftwood Island is the most popular among tourists, probably because it is considered the most beautiful. From a distance, the entrance to the cave under 25 meters looks like some kind of bluish jellyfish. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, and the walls are dotted with natural bas-reliefs. The second compartment can be accessed only if you go through a narrow "corridor", which was formed as a result of the erosion of the stone. Here you can also see stalactites, though slightly smaller and more graceful than in the first compartment. But the third compartment is the most spacious. Stone build-ups and stalactites have created completely bizarre pictures that many compare to scenes of hostilities. However, everyone sees in these grottoes only what his own fantasy dictates to him. The place, of course, is very beautiful and impressive!

Grotto Sung Sot (Grotto of surprises) (Sung Sot Cave)

Here is another luxurious grotto in Halong Bay. A stone staircase leads to the grotto (the cave is located 25 meters above sea level). The cave is equipped with arrows and lanterns so that tourists do not get lost and get confused. This grotto consists of two sections. The first one is to some extent similar to a hall in a theater, but the ceiling is dotted with strangely shaped stalactites. To get to the second "hall", you will need to slip through a narrow passage. The second compartment is very spacious and can accommodate up to a thousand people at a time. The interesting part is the rock, which many compare to a horse. Such an unusual natural phenomenon simply could not go unnoticed: the locals tell a legend according to which, after defeating the enemies, Thanh Dong (Dong the Saint) drove away evil spirits and demons before ascending to Heaven. On the ground, he left only his sword and horse - especially to frighten the demons after his death. Here is such a beautiful legend! An even more interesting part of the grotto is the "royal garden" with a pond with clear water and a miniature mountain landscape inside the cave. A completely unexpected oasis among the stones!

Cave "Paradise"

This cave was found and explored relatively recently, only in 2005. This is the longest cave in Vietnam, because it stretches as much as 30 kilometers! This cave is located in the center of a mountain limestone in the forests national park Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The grotto will impress with stalactites of four meters long, which, according to scientists, are several thousand years old. There are underground streams and a stone arch. In general, the age of the cave is approximately 400 million years. Can you imagine? The cave is wide enough - from 30 to 150 meters, and the height of the cave is up to 80 meters, and the temperature inside is always around 20 degrees. Tourists have the right to visit the cave since 2010. Of course, this cave is not located in Halong, and not even nearby, to be honest, but the place is definitely worth a visit!

Observation deck of Titov Island

Interestingly, one of the islands in Halong Bay is named after the Soviet cosmonaut, German Titov. This islet is located about 10 km from Halong, the island is very small, just tiny, but there are special excursions from the “big coast”, so you can come to Titov Island for a couple of hours. And everything to climb to the observation deck on the top of the mountain on the island, and from there you can enjoy stunning views. The ascent is equipped with steps, however, only the most enduring can climb there, because there are 430 steps. But views, views!

Ceramics Factory

One of the favorite tourist excursions. The production of ceramics on the islands of the Gulf has been engaged in for a very long time, for more than 200 years the bulk of porcelain products have been made here in all of Vietnam - from decorative souvenir figurines to cutlery. At the factory, you can watch how ceramic gizmos are produced, as well as buy something. From Halong to the factory, about an hour's drive north.

The address: Yen Tho Comm, Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh

The Bai Tho Mountain

And one more attraction for the brave. The mountain is 106 meters above sea level. The mountain has become an inspiration for many local poets and writers. From a distance, she looks like medieval castle with towers, and many compare the tower with flames. Even ancient name mountains sounds like Truyen Dang, which means "Radiating light". A modern name the mountain received in 1468. The Vietnamese emperor Le Thanh Ton traveled around his possessions and was so impressed by this mountain that he could not resist, as they say, and composed a verse. And this verse was so imbued with the beauty of these places that he even composed poetry. Their text was carved in stone on the southern slope of the mountain. A couple of centuries later, another emperor composed a poem, and this work also ended up on the side of the mountain. Well, a few more poets left their mark on the mountain. Therefore, the new name of the mountain somehow came to everyone's mind at once - Mount Poem or Bai Tu. At the foot of the mountain, you can witness an interesting ritual: local poets come here looking for inspiration and launch red balloons with tied scrolls with eternal lines of the world's best poets. That is, in the near future after this, the mountain should endow the poet with brilliant thoughts. You can also climb the mountain - everything is equipped for this, although not easy, and only the most trained can withstand it. But on the other hand, beautiful views of the surroundings open up from the mountain - just look, you will sit on the slope and create an immortal poem!

The address: 78 Hàng Nồi

One of the most popular places in Vietnam - Halong Bay... What this place is famous for, which ones are worth visiting and how to spend an unforgettable vacation here, read this article.

Southeast Asia is becoming more and more interesting for tourists. - not an exception. One of the pearls of the country is Halong Bay and the city of the same name on its coast, tours where they are very popular.

Exciting excursions for vacationers and travelers in 350 cities of the world: Tripster.ru is a service of unusual excursions from local residents and guides who can tell interesting and exciting about the most interesting things in their cities.

Halong Bay

The pearl of the Quang Ninh province and perhaps one of the most significant places not only for Vietnam, but for the entire South Asian region.

Here are some facts about this place:

• the bay is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites;
• scenes of the film "Tomorrow Never Dies", "Kong: Skull Island", "Indochina" and others were filmed here;
• there are small floating settlements in the middle of the bay;
• there are about 3,000 beautiful islands in Halong Bay;
• Sun World Ha Long has cable car- the longest reversible road in the world.

Visit Halong Bay - this is a mandatory item for any tourist program ... A lot of money is invested here and it can be argued that this is the most dynamically developing tourist region in Vietnam.

When is the best time to visit?

For those who want an inexpensive and comfortable beach holiday, it is better to come to - or to -. The temperature is set at a comfortable level of 29-32 ° С... If the purpose of your visit is excursions, you can come from to. Winter in Vietnam is warm, during the day the temperature ranges from 22-25 ° С. For long walks in protected areas - what you need.

Reference! The worst months for visiting Halong can be the second decade and March. At this time, in the north of the country there is often a light, drizzling rain.

Tourists are transported from Hanoi to Halong by minibuses, included in the price of the tour. One-day costs from 30 to 200 $, it all depends on the class of the vessel and the program. Two to three day tours cost from 125 to 400 $.

You can also book excursions to Halong. One-day - 40-150$ longer from 100 to 350 $... The price includes transfer and support of a Russian-speaking guide.

Boat trips

You can only see the beauty of Halong Bay from the sea.

You can choose a tour for every taste and budget, for example:

• One day sea excursion... Express option for those who do not have time. As a rule, it lasts about 4 hours and includes a walk between the rocks, a visit to floating villages. The cost is from $ 20 to $ 60, depending on the class and type of vessel.
• Romantic tour or 2-day walk. By booking a yacht or boat with a cabin, you can fully enjoy the spectacle of a magnificent sunset and an equally beautiful sunrise. Such an excursion costs about $ 100, food is almost always included in the price.
• Multi-day excursions... The best option is to buy a tour for 3-4 days and slowly explore all the sights of Halong. The program usually includes an overnight stay at a hotel on one of the islands, a visit to the caves, hiking over the rocks. You will have to pay from $ 125 per person, plus payment for a hotel room.

For lovers of an individual approach, there is an opportunity to rent a boat and explore the bay along your own route. This, of course, is more expensive, but all the attention of the guide will be riveted on you.

Important! Any tour must be purchased at the pier ticket office or from travel companies... Street "tour guides" who supposedly organize trips simply resell the same tours with a surcharge.

Caves

Since the Halong islands are karst, often voids are formed in their rocks - caves and grottoes.

The most popular places among tourists:

• cave "Paradise";
• grotto Me Kung;
• Thien Kung Cave;
• Chong cave.

All of them have beautiful lighting, specially equipped observation platforms, steps and hanging bridges.

Islands

You can find very wild places where the tropical jungle reigns, and quite comfortable islands with hotels, parks and full spectrum entertainment (internet cafes, clubs, restaurants).

The largest and most visited islands are:

• Catba;
• Kuan Lan;
• Dow Be;
• Titov (yes, this is such an unusual name among Vietnamese names, which the island received in honor of the cosmonaut German Titov).

Note! Most of the tour operators organizing excursions around the bay offer an overnight stay on Catba Island. It is the largest, the infrastructure is well developed, there are many interesting places.

Flight over the bay

To those whom boat trips you will not be surprised, the local tour operator Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company offers to look at the bay from above. A flight over the waters of the South China Sea will allow 45 minutes explore the panorama of the bay. You can rent a helicopter as alone (and pay for this pleasure over 1000 $), and by the company, but no more than 6 people.

Beaches

Halong Bay is popular with hobbyists. There are beaches on almost every large islands , all of them are quite clean and equipped with everything you need for a pleasant stay. On the same Catba island, there are several scenic spots for swimming, and in the city of Halong itself there is a good Bai Chay beach.

Entertainment

It is clear that the flow of tourists contributes to the development of infrastructure and Halong Bay is no exception. Local authorities do their best to promote and encourage the construction of new hotels, cafes, etc.

Largely due to this, the unremarkable city of the same name has become a fully developed tourist center, where you can find anything you want: from local exotic cuisine to tennis courts and shopping centers.

Night life

The favorite entertainment of tourists in the evenings is to sit down with a glass on the terrace of one of the many bars or restaurants and admire the sunset, and after that - the stars reflecting in the sea. You can play billiards, dance at a nightclub, or sing with friends at the karaoke bar.

Judging by the reviews of tourists, you can spend a good time in such establishments:

• Flightless Bird cafe-bar;
• Blue Note bar;
• Noble House, on the ground floor of which there is a restaurant, on the second there is a bar;
• Ngoc Linh Restaurant.

Since the main center of attraction for all tourists is still the bay, quite a few bars and cafes have become…. floating. Water cafes and bars have a variety of shapes and sizes, are decorated with lanterns and illumination and, it must be admitted, they look enchanting in the middle of the night bay.

Shopping

Find an outlet or large outlet in Halong shopping center is unlikely to succeed. For this you need to go to other cities in Vietnam, and even better - to Thailand. Here you can buy only souvenirs and local seafood. But this is a lot, especially considering that food prices are very low, and the range is amazing.

The souvenirs that the locals offer are not Chinese plastic crafts, but real works of art made of stone, wood and metal... One more business card places are shops and pearl factories, in some of them you can get acquainted with the intricacies of production, in others - buy ready-made jewelry.

Attention! To avoid buying fake pearls, you need to rub the pearls together. If they slide easily, there is no resistance - it's plastic. In addition, any scratches and scuffs after such a check also directly indicate a fake.

Where to eat?

As elsewhere in Asia, it is quite specific, and that's putting it mildly. Someone for this exotic and travels to distant countries, someone all these delights across the throat.

In Ha Long, the following establishments are popular with tourists:

• Restaurant "1958". Beautiful decoration, the freshest seafood and great cuisine. Vietnamese and Asian dishes are served, there is a menu for vegetarians.
• Restaurant "Wander Station". Excellent service and the best price-quality ratio. The best coffee is also made here.
• Pizzeria "Rock House Pizza". Need a break from rice and fish? Pizza, hamburger and, of course, French fries are served here.
• Chick Bread Restaurant. Another place for tourists. Sandwiches, pizza, chicken nuggets and wings, cheese sticks. What you need to sit with friends over a glass of beer.

It is also worth visiting the floating restaurants, which offer fresh seafood dishes. Fish and other marine life splashing in the cages, the visitor can only choose: what to eat today. The staff prepares and prepares food in the presence of the guest.

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To enjoy the beauty of this wonderful place, it is better to stop either in the city itself or in one of the hotels on the shore of the bay. There is another option, yes - floating hotels. For instance, cruise ship Orchid Ha Long. The hotel is five stars, which is not uncommon for Halong.

Prices correspond: a double suite on the lower deck costs around 20-25 thousand rubles, and for a room on the upper deck you will have to pay from 30 to 45 thousand rubles.

The budget traveler will also find affordable accommodation, for example, in a two-star hotel. Quynh Yen in Ha Long the room is worth everything 600-1000 rubles. At the same time, the quality of service and living conditions are at a high level.

Halong Bay is of course an amazing place. More and more tourists are discovering Asia and visiting this bay is a must on the program. Reasonable prices, friendly people, low crime rates and stunning nature.

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Halong Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea, is a pride and deservedly included in the list of objects World heritage UNESCO. According to tourists, this is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, which you should definitely see at least once in your life. The bay impresses with its size, replete with numerous islands, of which there are about 3 hundred, as well as rocks, cliffs and caves. Translated from the local language, "Halong" means - "where the dragon descended into the sea." According to legend, many years ago, a fire-breathing animal descended from heaven to earth in the region of Quang Ninh province and hid under it through caves, making tunnels for itself with powerful claws. Then the water filled the area, leaving only small areas of land.

Halong Bay is so famous and popular that it enjoys the attention of tourists all year round, but it is generally believed that from February to April there is bad weather, expressed in winds and constantly drizzling light rain, which does not contribute to comfort, and also makes the photo not so bright and saturated, as in other seasons. Like other similar places, over the long years of its existence, Halong Bay has overgrown with numerous legends and tales. The most interesting of them are always told by guides to tourists during a sea voyage along the bay. The main advantage of such an excursion is the exploration of the local caves and grottoes, many of which have their own name and rich history.

More than 1,500 people who live in floating houses and form four fishing villages, whose main business is fishing, give a fair share of the flavor of Halong Bay. Fishing boats can be seen everywhere here, as they serve as the main tool in any household. Halong abounds and wild beaches where you can sunbathe and swim. For this purpose, Lan Ha Bay on the Catba Island with clear water and flat sandy surface is perfect. The underwater world, rich in exotic inhabitants, is extremely saturated here. During the excursion, guides, as a rule, specially allocate time for tourists so that they can have a good time, having a rest from contemplating the surrounding beauties.

An independent trip here with a journey along Halong Bay seems to be a very expensive undertaking, so most tourists, in terms of economy, prefer to use the services of travel agencies. Wealthy adventurers spare no expense for a helicopter tour, which is several times more expensive than a sea tour, but endlessly exciting. However, regardless of the method and route choice, a trip along the bay can deliver a lot of positive emotions and leave about

Halong Bay (Vietnam) is one of the beautiful places region, national park, which is on the UNESCO list. About 3000 islets with beaches and grottoes are scattered over an area of ​​about one and a half thousand square meters. kilometers. Halong Bay has magnificent landscapes that simply captivate everyone who comes here, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Where is Halong Bay?

The word "halong" is said to translate as "the place where the dragon sank into the sea." Probably because the dolomite and limestone rocks sticking out of the water resemble the vertebrae of the giant neck of an ancient lizard. According to legend, the local Serpent Gorynych first created the island of Halong, and then made the landscape on the coast with its tail. Finally, he sank into the water, and only fragments of land remained on the surface.

Halong Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea. You can get here by minibus or car from the capital of Vietnam - Hanoi (the most convenient starting point for departure). It is about 150-170 kilometers from the city. The road will take 3-4 hours.

It is better to come to the bay from December to May, when the days are dry and warm. True, it is cool in the bay in winter, about 20 degrees Celsius during the day. From August to October it is also good, but there are typhoons, and the temperature stays around 30 degrees. Although Halong Bay is charming at any time of the year. Even in the pouring rain, you will take a lot of great photos and bring only the best emotions with you.

Settlement on the water

One and a half thousand Vietnamese live here, the main income of which is tourists. Someone rides visitors on stunning sailing ships, someone sells exotic fruits, someone - fish. There are fishing villages, which also boil with their own life. It’s hard to believe, but people in Halong Bay buy water (as we have - plots of land), build a raft in its place, and so live with families. By the way, floating villages are always "built" near a spacious cave, where you could hide if a typhoon suddenly flies.

Halong - both city and bay

On one of the islands is the city of Halong. There is a huge pier, where many majestic ships built in the traditions of Vietnam find their refuge. The city is located about 165 km from Hanoi. It is divided into two parts: the eastern part, where the factories and offices are located, and the western tourist part. The two parts of Halong are connected by a bridge.

Halong city

How tourist centre Vietnam Halong newbie. Previously, it was known (besides the bay) only for coal mining. But it is not the city that attracts tourists, but the bay itself. Ships are surrounded by picturesque rocks on all sides. Moreover, when you sail on a ship, depending on the perspective, the islands change their color. Nearby islets are green, farther away are dark gray, and on the misty horizon are silvery. There is a feeling that there is an alien landscape around.

Now they are actively offering excursions around this bay of Vietnam with visits to grottoes, small fishing villages and neighboring islands. One of the mountains has a magnificent observation deck from where you can take wonderful photos of Halong Bay. On average, the tour lasts 4-5 hours (which will fly by unnoticed) and costs from $ 25 per person.

Things to do in Halong Bay

Halong Bay - inviting for its unspoiled nature, a wonderful place in Vietnam. Here people live on sea waves, huddle on small pieces of land, in the company of only underwater creatures and wild monkeys. The latter persistently beg for delicacies from tourists. Here you will surely find something to do.

Sea cruise

Although Halong Bay, as it is called in English, is protected by UNESCO, visitors are still carried around the islands. True, the Vietnamese are quite law-abiding people, so they try to adhere to the rules so as not to harm nature. However, this does not prevent especially cunning sailors from inviting tourists to their outdated ships, luring low prices... So don't settle for suspiciously good deals, some ships are simply not safe.

Halong cruises are for every wallet and, accordingly, service. Usually, skiing along the bay includes food: from rice and potatoes and lecho to a wide variety of delicious dishes. The programs on cruises along the bay are rich, so in the cabin you will only have time to sleep. From early in the morning (as a rule, from 6 o'clock) the day begins. Vacationers are offered scalding and aromatic Vietnamese coffee with rolls and fruits. For those who wish - Tai Chi exercises. And, of course, sightseeing.

Local cocas love to give master classes. Usually, for example, they offer simple but delicious Vietnamese dishes like spring rolls or nem pancakes.

Stalactite cave

The picturesque views between the cliffs and cliffs of the bay can be admired even from the cabins. Boats dock on several islands of Halong Bay prepared for the arrival of visitors. The guides are taken to the observation decks, and then to the caves. The grottoes, by the way, are wonderful. There are stalactites and stalagmites everywhere, an amazing relief of the stone and, of course, lighting. Somewhere just a yellow light burns, somewhere colored lamps ... Somewhere a timid ray of the sun breaks through from the surface. All together creates the impression of unreality.

The entertainment on a Halong Bay cruise will certainly include fishing. Moreover, they can offer fishing or squid fishing even at night. At night, the water in the bay is even more beautiful - in some places it glows, and the bay seems truly mysterious.

At the pearl factory

Halong Bay (Vietnam) is also where pearls are grown. During the cruise, you may be asked to visit Pearl House, a pearl factory. Here your ideas of how brave divers risking their lives will collapse and hold their breath and prowl along the bottom in search of precious seashells. Here, the production of organic jewelry is on stream.

The factory will tell you about all stages of production. No one waits for years until a layer of nacre naturally grows in a shell. Blanks are thrust into the shells - beads from pressed shells. Then the mollusk is released on free bread for about several months, and only then the finished pearl is taken out of it. After such treatment, some mollusks die. In general, the life of these sea creatures cannot be called easy - they work hard like the damned.

Tourists at Luon Cave

Luon Cave is a lagoon on the territory of Halong Bay (although strange: in English cave is a cave). It turns out that the lagoon is in the bay. Luon Cave is surrounded on all sides by rocks, and getting there is not easy. If you are sailing on a yacht on a cruise, then in order to swim into the lagoon, the ship is anchored. Passengers are loaded onto boats or kayaks and sail to the pier. From there - to bamboo boats, because motorboats are not allowed into the depths of the lagoon.

Places where tourists are brought in in large numbers are always teeming with enterprising vendors. And even this lagoon, remote from the cities of Vietnam and large routes, was not ignored by traders. Locals deftly maneuver between the boats on which foreign guests sit, and briskly offer their uncomplicated goods: snacks, drinks, fruits, souvenirs.

"Floating shops"

Interestingly, in return for tax breaks and the ability to trade in seafood, the Vietnamese from floating villages have to take care of the garbage left by tourists. By the way, when sailing on a ship, be prepared that local merchants can take you on board. They swim in a boat, cling to the hook and climb through the windows with their belongings.

Kayaking

For those who are ready not just to sit statically on the boat, but to take an oar in their hands, there is another entertainment - kayaking. Here you will have to make some efforts, but the impressions will be even more vivid than when viewing all the delights of the bay from the ship. The most amazing thing is that no one limits you here. You see a pretty grotto - please swim under it, you want to land on the shore of the bay and take a walk for your pleasure - if you please.

Every Halong rock that looms menacingly over your head can be touched with your hand. If you get hungry, then on the way you will probably meet the traders mentioned above, they will gladly sell you something to eat.

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Beach holiday in Halong

There are no natural beaches in Halong Bay. Most of them are artificially created, so if you want it on wild beach, you will have to search in the vicinity of the bay. The most convenient way to do these searches is by kayak. By the way, each island is special. Somewhere you can dive with a mask and fins and look at bright fish. Somewhere at night, sea fish are perfectly caught. Halong Bay in Vietnam (photos confirm this) is amazingly diverse and beautiful.

Cat Ba island beach

1. 1. 1. Cat Ba (is a national park of Vietnam) is known for mangroves, coral reefs, and for beach vacation better to go here too. The infrastructure of the islands falls short of the popular beaches of Vietnam. But the inconvenience is compensated by the virgin nature and crystal water. Here, as well as on many beaches, they offer to relax in the campsite.
      2. Bai Chay is an island in a bay with a fairly developed infrastructure, although the beach is not natural here either. On it you can have a bite to eat in pleasant restaurants, stroll through a lovely park, or attend a performance in one of the musical theaters. You can go water skiing or jet skiing on the beach.

Tuan Chau Island Hotel

1. 1. 1. Tuan Chau Island is famous for its dolphinarium. In addition to have a great rest on the beach (length coastline is three kilometers) and entertainment in the bay, here you can do aquatic species sports. Climbers also come here. Those who prefer to just lie in the shade or settle in tent city there is also a place on the shore.

"Pearl Island"

1. 1. 1. Ngoc Wung, " pearl island", big enough. On the south coast of Ngoc Wung you will find best beach... There you can grab a bite to eat at one of several decent eateries. The specialties on the island, as elsewhere in Halong, are fish dishes. The basis for them is a fish caught here by Vietnamese fishermen, which ends up on the cook's table immediately after the catch. An old fig tree grows on the east side of Ngoc Wung and can be seen right in the middle of the beach. It was under him that Ho Chi Minh stood in 1962 and talked with the local population.

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The place in Vietnam, where tourists from all over the world prefer to vacation every year (about a million a year) has already acquired a mass of legends, history and interesting facts... Here are some of them.

1. 1. • In Halong Bay, Vietnam, they filmed Avatar, the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, and the recent film Kong: Skull Island.
      • From the nineteenth century until relatively recently, coal was mined in Halong Bay, as a result of mining, coal dust and other waste remained lying on the shores. All this is still harmful to nature.
      • The special shape of the rocks sticking out of the water is due to their limestone origin. Heavy rains dissolve the limestone. Geologists call this "tower karst".

Hang Dau Go Cave

1. 1. • Hang Dau Go Cave is a "cave of wooden pegs" as high as 25 meters. Above, a stone waterfall of stalactites froze. But this place is famous not for them, and not for the magnificent natural paintings on the walls of the cave. During the Mongol-Vietnamese war, local residents planed stakes and kept them in this cave during the day, and at night they carried them out and stuck them into the seabed to harm enemy ships.
      • The Drum Cave in Halong has an understandable name. Due to the unusual landscape, in strong winds, you can hear a sound like a drum roll.
      • There are not only houses on the water, but there are also floating restaurants, schools, playgrounds, markets and even vegetable gardens. Some of the locals even have pets, which also swim after their owners.

Titov Island

1. 1. • Russians will be interested to know that there is a cape called Titov. He received his name in honor of the cosmonaut from the USSR. Here there is a pier, a beach and a gorgeous observation deck. It takes about ten minutes to get to the site - you need to climb three hundred steps.
      • At the end of 2011, a worldwide vote for the 7th wonder of the world ended. Guess which bay won the vote?

This is the Halong Bay (Vietnam). Even if you have already been there, you will always want to return to this wonderful world, to forget about your daily worries. Board the boat, sit with a cup of green tea on the upper deck and just contemplate. It looks like meditation. Introduce the lurking dragons that have taken refuge in the bay. And you can do nothing, Halong Bay will do everything for you. It will erase anxiety and sorrow, amaze with intricate landscapes ... And then a wolfish appetite will wake up, and you will eat everything that is served. In the evening, you can wrap yourself in a blanket and sweetly fall asleep in the cabin, under the lull of quiet waves.

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