One of Vietnam’s favorite travel destinations is Halong Bay on the far north coast (Quang Ninh Province actually). The soaring limestone cliffs, juxtaposed islands of every shape and size, and numerous grottos and caves are most impressive.

With nearly 2,000 islands and rocky outcrops sprinkled over 1,553 square kilometers, Halong Bay is one of the natural wonders of the world. The World Heritage-listed section covers 434 square kilometers containing 775 islands.

Legend has it that when the Vietnamese were under attack long ago, a dragon came to their aid, splitting mountains to impede the progress of the enemy. The striking topography we see today was created by the lash of its tail as the dragon thundered down from the mountains to the sea; consequently, the name Halong means “Bay of the Descending Dragon.”

Most of the small outcrops are named depending on the animals or shapes they resemble. They include Trong Mai (rooster and hen), Rong
(dragon), Con Coc(toad), Rua(tortoise), Dau Trau(buffalo head), Co Ngua (horse neck), Ga Choi (fighting cock), Voi (elephant), Ca Sau(crocodile), Vit (duck), May Den (black cloud) and Binh Tich (teapot).

The area also contains several beautiful caves with numerous stalactites and stalagmites like Dau Go (wooden head), Sung Sot (surprise), Tam Cung (three palaces) and Thien Cung (celestial palace).

Of particular note is that traces of ancient human habitation have been found in Me Cung (labyrinth), Tien Ong (old fairy), Thien Long (celestial dragon) and Trinh Nu (virgin girl).

Halong Bay is considered the most splendid picture that Nature has bestowed on the Vietnamese people. When touring the bay on wooden boats, visitors feel as if they are lost in another world, one full of natural sculptures emerging from the turquoise water. With its picturesque landscape, Halong Bay is a source of inspiration for many poets and artists.

Package tours are available from HCMC via travel agencies in Hanoi and the town of Halong (getting to the bay involves a long bus trip from Hanoi). Once there you can book a seat on one of the 200 or so cruise boats that dock in Halong or use one of the three classier vessels operated by the Saigon-Halong Hotel.

These boat cruises last for four or eight hours, but to get any real idea of Halong Bay you need to spend two or three days on the water, and even then you’ll only see a small part of what it has to offer. And if you have an extra day, you can add a night in the wildlife sanctuary on nearby Cat Ba Island.

Here are some travel firms that operate tours to Halong Bay:

Saigontourist Travel Service, 49 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 829 8914
Fiditourist, 129 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 914 1414
Cholontourist, 134 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5, HCMC. Tel: (08) 835 7100
Saigontourist Hanoi, 55B Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoan Kiem District. Tel: (04) 825 0923