In November 2005, while traveling around Vietnam, I was lucky enough to make my second trip to the amazing Halong Bay. And although I been there before , I was still blown away by the sheer beauty and vastness of the area.
I was not a bit surprised to learn that UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site, on the 17th of December, 1994. It is one those places that you will never forget, an amazing collection of islands and islets, numbering around 2,000, ( 989 have names ) scattered throughout an area of more than 1,500 square km. Legend has it that a family of dragons created this beautiful place by spitting jewels and jade.
Halong Bay is situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, in Quang Ninh Province, about a 3 hour drive east of Hanoi. If you ever find yourself in Hanoi, make a point of visiting this wonderful place, you will never regret it. Be sure to check the weather conditions in the bay area before booking a trip. It could be fine in Hanoi, but raining on the coast.
