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Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site off the Northeast coast of Việt Nam. Consisting of thousands of oddly shaped islets of limestone karst, with some containing sizable caves, over an area of 600 mi² (1553 km²), Hạ Long, which means Descending Dragon, has been called one of the wonders of the world.
We only took a one-day tour to Hạ Long Bay: a 4-hour bus ride from Hà Nội to Tuần Châu island where we boarded a boat for a 4-hour cruise, then back to the capital. Given the circumstances, it was good enough, but Hạ Long Bay definitely requires a much longer visit. It has become more developed in recent years, and now boasts plush, a la Club Med facilities on remote islands while more bridges and docks are being built to accommodate the increasing road and maritime traffic. There is even a seaplane for those interested in getting a bird’s eye view of the bay.
The bus trip had a half-way rest stop in the province of Hải Dương at a giant store filled with gift merchandise. There was also a shop where workers, some disabled, were busy creating pieces of embroidery art.
Below are two of their creations.
The weather was not cooperating that day, with thick clouds and an occasional drizzle. Yet the following shots will still give you an idea of what can be seen in Hạ Long Bay.
bayphotosbydonna said:
Gorgeous landscapes and cave! I especially love the bright colors of the people and boats on the water, something we don’t see here on our waters. And the embroidery samples, wow, amazing artwork!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you for commenting, Donna!
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Amy said:
Beautiful site, which reminded me the Li River we visited in 2014 . 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Amy. There are some similarities between the two.
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Eliza Waters said:
I love the iconic karst formations. A beautiful area!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Eliza! Ha Long Bay literally has thousands of islands big and small. I am told we had barely scratched the surface.
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chuyen said:
During my trip to Viet Nam 12 years ago, Ha Long Bay is the best. In early morning, from Ha Long hotel balcony, you can see the amazing view of the bay…just wonderful.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you for commenting. If there is a next time, we would stay at Ha Long overnight to experience what you did.
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quietsolopursuits said:
Once again, Wow! The embroidery art was very well done, and that was just the beginning.
The rock formations incredible, I’d love to see them in person, not that your photos aren’t good, they’re excellent.
The caves look magical, I can see why they were named as they were.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Jerry! You should go there one of these days.
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Tiny said:
The caves were amazing! Great photos all around.
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neihtn2012 said:
They are amazing indeed, Tiny, even though many of my shots did not come out well because of the lighting and the crowd.
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katelon said:
Beautiful scenery. Love your photos. That is the scenery I’m used to seeing of Vietnam. That’s a long day of travel for you, hope you had a great time.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Katelon! The day was very long indeed, but we all enjoyed it.
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