Possessing spectacular natural landscapes with standout geographical and geological features, Ha Long Bay has for a long time been highly acclaimed as a top must-see destination in Vietnam. There are a very few places elsewhere like Ha Long Bay where visitors can gain various valuable experiences at one time.
The bay's tranquil beauty encompasses 1,500 square kilometers dotted with well over 1,969 limestone islands and islets. The bay is especially home to numerous grottos, especially spectacular ones in the central area as Dau Go, Bo Nau, Trinh Nu, Sung Sot, and Thien Cung caves.
Besides magnificent landscapes, beautiful caves and grottos, and well known beaches, Ha Long also owns rich historical and cultural values. It has been the cradle of the ancient Vietnamese with three prehistoric cultures of Soi Nu, Cai Beo and Ha Long, which dated back between 18,000-35,000 years.
With its special values, Ha Long Bay was twice declared UNESCO's world natural heritage site in 1994 and 2000 for the standout aesthetic, geographical and geological values it owned. In 2011, Ha Long Bay once again affirmed its attractiveness when it was voted by New7Wonders as one of the seven new wonders of the world.
Those titles brought Ha Long to a new height.
Many domestic and foreign tourists wish that they would once visit Ha Long Bay to view the stunning beauty of the heritage and the natural wonder of the world. At present, the one-night tour on the bay is a draw to a large number of tourists and the number of visitors seeking experiences on the bay is on the constant rise. In 2017, Ha Long Bay welcomed nearly 4 million visitors, including 2.7 million foreigners, a 26% surge from 2016. Statistics tell that all foreign visitors visited Ha Long Bay when they were in Quang Ninh.
To make Ha Long Bay - the heritage and wonder of the world always shine and deserve what nature gave it, Quang Ninh has, apart from protecting, preserving and restoring the site, has been improving the quality of services, renewing tourism products, and changing the mindset about running tourism. The effort aims to take the heritage and wonder of the world to the next level. Ha Long Bay will always be an attractive destination and the top choice of domestic visitors as well as foreigners visiting Vietnam.
Article by Thu Nguyen
