YOUR TRAVEL GUIDE BLOG TO HA LONG BAY
IN VIETNAM 🇻🇳 SINCE 2008
HCMC INSPIRATION TRAVEL HA LONG BAY LOCAL INSIGHT: HALONG BAY
Ha Long Bay is one of the seven wonders of nature
The first thing you should bear in mind when you travel to Halong Bay is the weather. This is definitely not Ho Chi Minh City and in the cooler months of December, January and February it can get quite cool and feel a lot colder.
It is recommended to book a three-day – a two-night cruise on one of the many junks and river cruisers that ply their trade here. Tours are shorter than you actually think. A two-night tour only gives you one full day in the bay. You will be collected from your Hanoi hotel on the morning of the first day, for the long drive to the quayside. The second day is a full one, then the third day ends at lunchtime in order to drive back. The two night – one day tours, therefore, leave little time to enjoy the scenery and attractions.
One of the lesser-known things about Halong Bay is that it is one of the best places on earth to witness bioluminescent plankton. This amazing natural phenomenon occurs only rarely around the globe. It is astonishing to swim in the dead of the night and see the Plankton lighting up around you. Tell your tour operator in advance that you want to see this.
For something a little different, try getting off the beaten track and doing things your own way. About 20 km from the harbor at Vung Duc Harbour towards the south of the bay, you will find one of the best-kept secrets of Halong. Mat Rong or Dragon’s Eye Island is a completely unspoiled island that virtually none of the tourist boats visit. Hire a fast boat from one of the locals and fit this into your itinerary. You will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful places in the country. The crescent-shaped island is a 30-minute ride away, it has lovely beaches, and a large lake in the middle and you can camp overnight. Just take a hammock.
Pearl farming has been steadily developing in recent years and pearl farms are a popular stop-off for tourists. Remember to take some spare cash if you want to treat yourself or your loved one to something rather special. It pays to know your pearls though. Unless you are an expert you will have no chance of knowing whether that string of pearls is a bargain or if you’re about to get ripped off. Whatever you decide though, it makes for an interesting and informative visit.
Just a bit of a warning. The local people here are fiercely patriotic to and nationalistic about the North. If you want to engage with any of the locals, don’t speak the Southern dialect. You are likely to be met with a cold, if not downright rude, response. If you don’t know how to say cheers or hello in the northern dialect, speak English.
HCMC INSPIRATION TRAVEL HA LONG BAY TOP REASONS FOR VISITING HALONG BAY
Halong Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s tourism crown.
There are many amazing scenic places in the country, and Halong Bay takes the top spot. It is an astonishing place of special historical, cultural, and scientific interest. Covering 600 square miles it contains at least 1,960 islands, ranging from tiny islets to large well-inhabited ones. Five hundred million years in the making, the islands take the form of limestone karsts that jut imperiously out of the Gulf of Tonkin, 100 miles to the east of the country’s capital, Hanoi.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, it achieved further recognition in 2000 when the World Heritage Committee recognized the bay for its outstanding geological and geomorphological value. In 2012 The New 7 Wonders Foundation named it one of The Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Sadly it has to be said that tourism is having a negative effect on the bay. The waters in some of the busiest spots are polluted with diesel spills and rubbish. It is something that needs addressing.
Halong Bay means “The Bay of the Descending Dragon”. Local legend tells of a time early in Vietnam’s development when it was trying to fight off invaders. The gods sent a family of dragons to protect the local people. The dragons spat out jade and other jewels which turned into the islands. The islands attacked the invaders sinking their ships. The dragons decided to live in the bay and descended into the waters.
Halong Bay is one of the most scenically stunning places on earth. Everyone will have their own reasons for visiting Halong Bay, here are just some of the best ones.
Take a Cruise in Halong Bay
The only way to see Halong Bay of course is on the water. There are hundreds of tour boats plying their trade here now. Most of the boats are extremely well equipped, well run and offer sumptuous accommodation and superb dining. It is a lovely way to spend a few days. Sitting on the deck, drinking a cocktail while the boat slips between the amazing rock karsts as the sun goes down is one of life’s truly great experiences.
The Early Morning Mist in Halong Bay
Whilst enjoying your holiday in Halong Bay on your cruise boat, take the opportunity to rise early. The boats often have Thai Chi lessons at 6 a.m., but even if you don’t want to take part, get out of bed and enjoy the spectacular early morning view. More often than not the mornings in Halong Bay are shrouded in mist, so much so that you can be moored just a few feet from giant karst but may not know it. As the mist starts to clear the islands to loom eerily into view.
Cat Ba Island in Halong Bay
Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the whole of the bay. It covers 100 square miles. It is part of the Cat Ba Archipelago, which comprises 366 islands to the southeast of Halong Bay. Half of the island is given over to the Cat Ba National Park, home to an abundance of flora and fauna. Cat Ba is also home to 13,000 residents on land and a further 4,000 living in floating villages just off the coast. Amongst the amazing wildlife here is the Cat Ba Langur. This delightful primate is one of the most endangered species in the world. A colony that used to be 2,700 strong was down to a mere 53 animals by the year 2000. With careful monitoring by various protection, agencies numbers have risen to about 70 animals (as of April 2015), but it remains severely at risk.
The Fabulous Floating Villages of Halong Bay
The floating villages of Halong Bay are a throwback to a time of centuries ago. People have lived lives unchanged for generations here. Children learn to swim before they can walk and in many cases have their own small boats by the age of four. The houseboats that make up the villages are all fastened together to form the community. In addition to dwellings, there are schools, shops, a community center, and a police station.
Monkey Island
Also in the Cat Ba Archipelago just off the main island is Monkey Island, a privately owned island with one of the best beaches in the bay. The resort here caters for all tastes and offers swimming, kayaking, football, volleyball and billiards. Most people though, tend to just hit the gorgeous beach and relax.
The Surprise Cave
Sung Sot or the Surprise Cave is situated on Bo Hon Island. The entrance is 25 metres above the water, but the climb is well worth it. This is a huge cave by any measure, it covers 12,200 square metres and the ceiling, at its highest, is over 30 metres. Enormous stalagmites, stalactites and columns impress. The guides go to great pains to point out the resemblance of every rock to a horse, a lion or an elephant. Some of these are tenuous to say the least but it all adds to the fun. The cave is artificially lit in different colours as is the Vietnamese want, but in this case it works pretty well.
Castaway Island
If late night drinking parties are your thing, this is the place for you. The island has become the one place in Halong Bay that isn’t about tranquility and natural beauty. Booze cruise boats pull in here packed with young backpackers who spend the day rock climbing, tubing and kayaking and the night drinking and annoying anyone who isn’t part of the group. The trips here do not come cheap and the reviews consistently mention rude staff.
Halong Bay Pearl Farms
Pearl farms are developing swiftly here as the local people search for alternative economic opportunities. The Cruise boats in Halong Bay stop off so passengers can see the fascinating work of the technicians who culture the pearls. It makes for an interesting hour or so and then you get the chance to purchase pearls at a discounted rate. The farms themselves are out in the bay with the technical workshops and salesrooms all floating on the water.
Kayaking Through the Lagoons
Virtually all the Halong Bay cruises offer the chance to do some kayaking. This really is fun for all ages. Guides show you the way to go and you get to enter some of the hidden lagoons through small tunnels. It’s great fun amidst amazing scenery. It’s all done at a leisurely pace and is well worth the effort.
Whatever you do in Vietnam you should not pass up on the chance to visit this truly awesome wonder of nature. It is special, of that there is no doubt. From its early development all those millions of years ago to its demise at some point in the future, Halong Bay is undertaking a journey of its own. We are here at precisely the right moment in time to enjoy it at its peak.
HCMC INSPIRATION TRAVEL HA LONG BAY DISCOVER CAT BA ISLAND
Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Halong Bay’s UNESCO World Heritage site.
Cat Ba is large at around 110 square miles. Fifty percent of the island is given over to the Cat Ba National Park; an astonishing natural resource that contains extremely important species of flora and fauna. The island has a large indigenous population split about 75% on land and 25% in floating villages around the coast. It sits in the Southwestern part of Halong Bay, just about due East of Hai Phong from where ferry services operate. Whilst enjoying your holiday in Vietnam, be sure to take in Halong Bay and whilst doing so, check out Cat Ba Island.
The People of halong
Cat Ba Island is one of the few populated islands of Halong Bay. It maintains a population of 13,000 who live in six different communes, they are, namely: Hien Hao, Gia Luan, Tran Chau, Phu Long, Wuan Dam and Viet Hai. A further 4,000 more inhabitants live in floating fishing villages off the coast. The people are mainly of the Kinh ethnic group. The large majority of the population can be found in Cat Ba town, which is at the southern tip of the island. They make a living from fishing and tourism.
The Climate in Halong Bay
The annual average temperature on the island falls between 23ºC and 24ºC. Whilst rainfall is from 1,700 to 1,800 mm per year. The main part of the rainy season is in July and August. Probably the best time to visit the Cat Ba is between late September and November when the air temperature is mild and the sky is clear. At this time the island has pleasant weather for either enjoying the beaches or walking.
The Cat Ba National Park in Halong Bay
The entire center of the island, representing about 50% of the total land area, is given over to the Cat Ba National Park, administered by Hai Phong. It comprises 67 square miles of land and about 35 square miles of inshore sea. It was established in 1986 by the government of Vietnam. It consists of marine ecosystems, terrestrial forests, and mangroves.
The Flora and Fauna in Cat Ba National Park
The park is truly amazing and contains many indigenous mammals such as Langurs (including the Cat Ba Langur – see below), macaques, civets, wild boar, wild deer, and squirrels including The Giant Black Squirrel. A varied bird population has hornbills, various hawks, cuckoos, and many other songbirds. There are over a thousand plant species that have been identified including 118 species of tree, such as the amazing mangroves. They have also identified 160 plants that have medicinal value.
The Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus)
This beautiful golden-headed langur is the world’s second most endangered primate and is the most endangered in Vietnam. From an initial population of around 2,700, human intervention, mainly in the form of poaching, saw their numbers drop to just 53 by the year 2000. Then, Münster Zoo and the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) formed a partnership with various Vietnamese conservation agencies, to create the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project. Thankfully since then, langur poaching has been brought under control. There are now estimated to be about 70 (as of April 2015) individuals in the park. It is a move in the right direction but they still have a long way to go.
There is much to see and do whilst on holiday in Vietnam. a Halong Bay cruise should be one thing not to be missed. Whilst doing so, drop in to Cat Ba Island and see one of the most amazing places in the country.
HCMC INSPIRATION TRAVEL HA LONG BAY EXPERIENCING CUA VAN FLOATING VILLAGE WITH PARADISE CRUISES
Sponsored feature
• Ecological Concerns and Modern Solutions for Halong Bay
• A Visit to Cua Van Floating Village in Halong Bay
• A Glimpse into the World of the Floating Village in Halong Bay
The Legacy of Halong Bay’s Floating Villages
The silent stillness and calm of Halong Bay add to its majesty and mystery. This stunning place of natural beauty, carved out by millions of years of erosion, now stands as a monument to the distant past; a mountain range drowning in the sea. It’s a place that has stood for longer than humans have been around to inhabit it, and as you cruise around this magical destination in Vietnam, you can’t help but wonder what this bay might have looked like thousands of years ago before the first humans ever set sail in its pristine emerald blue waters.
Halong Bay has served as a natural fortress in centuries past, when foreign invaders came by sea to what is now called Vietnam, only to be foiled by these massive limestone walls. A legendary, monolithic figure in Vietnamese legends, the great warrior Tran Hung Dao famously set spiked traps throughout the limestone karsts of Halong Bay, which activated at high tide and punctured and sank the fleet of Chinese invaders under the notoriously brutal Yuan Dynasty led by Kublai Khan. This is considered one of the greatest military feats in Vietnamese history – and one that surely spared and protected the local people from being assimilated into a foreign culture or worse, wiped out completely.
Before Tran Hung Dao, there are myths and legends surrounding the formation of Halong Bay. It is said that long ago, to protect the Vietnamese people from northern invaders, a family of dragons was sent down from the heavens by the gods, descending upon the bay and spitting out jewels and jade, which then formed into a chain of impregnable rock formations. The name “Hạ Long” actually means “descending dragon,” thus linking the name of the bay to this wondrous mystical legend of its origins. Whether by dragon’s magic or the natural forces of erosion over millions of years, the solemn beauty of Halong Bay is marvelous to behold.
Its instrumental role in the defense of a nation has benefited land dwellers in the north of Vietnam, but Halong Bay has also been called home by inhabitants of floating villages for thousands of years. This ancient way of life can still be seen and experienced in Halong Bay to this day. For visitors, a visit to these floating villages is a fascinating education on a rare cultural phenomenon, and a glimpse into the storied past of this culturally rich province of Vietnam.
Ecological Concerns and Modern Solutions for halong bay’s fisherman villages
Though fishing villages used to be a common feature throughout Halong Bay, there are presently only four that remain. This is largely due to government mandates in the last few years that villagers relocate to the mainland, with various payouts and incentives like subsidised education and housing. With the rise of tourism in this region, environmental concerns are at the forefront as local authorities seek to preserve the natural ecosystem for generations of visitors and inhabitants of Halong Bay to come.
Considering what’s best for the environment, many formerly popular tourism spots in Halong have been temporarily or indefinitely banned for visitation from Halong Bay cruises. Changing environmental conditions, as well as the increasing effects of climate change, present new challenges for local authorities as they seek to encourage the thriving tourism industry that brings tremendous economic benefits to the region while preserving and protecting the pristine environment of Halong Bay upon that visitors from all over the world come to marvel at.
Thankfully, allowing a few villages to remain has made it possible for local authorities to strike a balance between ecological and cultural preservation. Paradise Cruises has taken a leading stance on eliminating single-use plastic from all of its cruises in order to protect and preserve the pristine beauty of Halong Bay. This policy is beneficial not only to the environment and the marine life in this region but to the human beings who rely on this healthy ecosystem to earn a living and maintain their unique, offshore way of life.
A Visit to Cua Van Floating Village in Halong bay
Experiencing these floating villages is a must-do for anyone who wants a complete experience of Halong Bay. Paradise Luxury, Elegance, and Peak’s 2-night itineraries all include a visit to the historic Cua Van floating village. What you’ll experience there is a blend of wonder, curiosity, and education about a way of life you might not have ever known existed.
Upon disembarking from your Paradise cruise, you’ll be greeted warmly by a tour guide who will escort you to the Cua Van floating village museum. On the way, you might stop and look at some of the fascinating aquatic wildlife that are kept in underwater “pens” for breeding purposes. These are among the types of fish the villagers catch and breed in order to eat themselves and sell to their customers on the mainland. The Paradise Cruise crew always bring leftovers from lunch to feed the fish, who almost instantly spring to life in a short burst of feeding frenzy. Stand back if you don’t want to get splashed!
Your local guide will then share with you some historical insights on the development of the area, how it operated in years past, and how it’s changed to what it is today. You’ll see all kinds of interesting artifacts–fishing tools, household items, remnants of shrines, and other everyday items used by the villagers, some dating back hundreds of years. As you explore this museum, you can read the plaques to get more insight into the significance of these everyday items, including how and why they were used. There’s also a village map, showing you all the essential facilities in the village. There’s even a primary school for young children to learn and live at home before they move to the mainland for higher education.
Almost immediately, you’ll start to feel a connection to this place, as you begin piecing a picture together in your mind of what day-to-day life must be like in these floating villages.
As you wander back outside, depending on the type of day, you may see a small cargo boat cruising through the water. Once a day, a boat from the mainland delivers vegetables, snacks, and fresh water for the villagers, and transports their seafood back to the mainland to be sold. It’s the daily rhythm of life here in Cua Van. Your tour guide will also mention that the villagers here have no electricity. They subsist only on their communication with the mainland via day cargo ships, as well as generators to light their boats for night fishing (mainly to catch squid).
Can you imagine, living on the water most of your life, with no electricity? No internet? No television? It’s difficult for most people to imagine such an isolated way of life, yet you’ll see that the people in these villages are as friendly and sociable as anyone else you might meet. Their strong sense of camaraderie and community is evident here. You’ll most likely encounter a group of men and women enjoying some fresh seafood and beer, sitting in plastic chairs on the deck after a long day of work, chatting and enjoying each other’s company. It’s a similar picture to what you’d see anywhere else in Vietnam–a communal meal, good friends and family cracking jokes and catching up with each other, and of course a hearty round of Vietnamese cheers (một, hai, ba, DZÔ!)
A Glimpse into the World of the Floating Village
It’s now time to hop into a wooden paddle boat to take a tour of the actual village. This is when a local guide actually takes you out into the village, which is a series of tin-roof homes tied together with rope and kept afloat by large plastic kegs and rubber tires. This slow-paced drift through the village really gives you a chance to get a glimpse at daily life. In one home, an older couple prepares their nets for the evening and night of fishing ahead. In another, a mother tends to her young children. There are even pet dogs jumping nimbly to and fro from platform to platform, looking down at the fish in the harvesting wells with playful curiosity.
You can see shrines, makeshift living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. All the components for a comfortable life are there, in the midst of what most outsiders would consider to be an extreme environment. But for the villagers of Cua Van, this is just another day. Villagers here endure backbreaking labour and essentially work non-stop to make a living, however the selling price for seafood on the mainland is actually quite lucrative, and land dwellers generally consider these floating villagers to be better off.
Beyond the floating buildings, the school, the police station, and the visitors’ welcome center, a stunning massive backdrop of lush, verdant limestone karst formations envelop this small fishing village of only a few hundred residents, acting as protection from the elements, and perhaps protection from invaders long ago. All things considered, the breathtaking views and vivid turquoise waters are surely part of what makes the floating village lifestyle worth waking up to every morning.
HCMC INSPIRATION TRAVEL HA LONG BAY CRUISING OVER A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT IN HA LONG BAY
This article is based on an interview between Patrick Gaveau and Cao Son, CEO of Paradise Group, one of the biggest cruise operators in Ha Long Bay since 2008.
In 2008, the market was not as positive as I expected, said Mr. Cao Son. The destination itself was not well known back then. As I traveled to many countries, in some countries they didn’t know about Ha Long Bay. This was due to a lack of promotion and marketing for the destination. Once people came to Ha Long Bay they would love it but many people in the world did not know where it was. We tried to promote not only our cruise but the destination as well, but there was a need for a concerted effort from the local authority and the Vietnamese government to promote Ha Long Bay.
Many people who come to Vietnam only choose one destination out of many possible destinations, so promoting Ha Long Bay means promoting Vietnam, and vice versa.
Today the number of tourists coming to Ha Long Bay is increasing. Most of them are from China, ASEAN countries and Korea, but I don’t see any significant improvement in other markets. We also seem to have more customers from the high-end market who are willing to pay more.
Most Chinese tourists come and stay in hotels on land, and then take a day cruise. There are many more hotels in Ha Long City and Tuan Chau Island to choose from compared to a decade ago.
Currently, many people still see Ha Long as a cheap destination, and they do not think that there are luxury accommodations or facilities here, even though this is not true. So the average room rate in Ha Long is still low compared to the quality of the hotels and the cruises. Compared to other destinations or other countries, the quality of facilities and services is really good both on water and on land.
Activities Added to Attract Longer Cruises
The length of the stay is increasing for the hotels on land. But for the cruise, we think that most people still take only one night on the cruise, not because there’s nothing to do in Ha Long Bay (there are more activities being promoted now), but because people have a shorter stay in Vietnam in general. Normally people stay three weeks in Vietnam so they can spend two or three nights in Ha Long Bay. But now they shorten their stay to two weeks or only one week in Vietnam, and in Ha Long, they can only stay one night.
There are enough activities in Ha Long to keep people entertained for a few days. If you just want to relax, you can take longer cruise of two or three days, or even longer on a chartered cruise to explore the bay in full, enjoy the beautiful little-known beaches and caves. If the weather allows, you can also spend a day cycling around villages on Cat Ba Island. For people staying on land, especially families with kids, there is the new Sun World Ha Long amusement park launched by Sun Group. You can also explore Ha Long City, its markets and streets to know more about local culture and cuisine.
Ha Long welcomes a lot of Hanoi residents during summer weekends as it is one of the nearest beaches to the capital. By the end of June 2018, the new highway connecting Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ha Long will be finished, and it will take only one-and-a-half hours from Hanoi to Ha Long, instead of three-and-a-half hours at the moment.