Explore the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site - Ha Long Bay

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Explore the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site – Ha Long Bay

Date: 2025.06.11

*_{The beauty of Ha Long Bay featured in the video clip “Vietnam: Go To Love! – Live Fully in Vietnam” (Source: Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism)}*

Ha Long Bay – An Impressive World Natural Wonder

Ha Long Bay, located in Quang Ninh, northeastern Vietnam, is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. With an area of over 1,550 km² and 1,969 large and small islands, this place attracts millions of domestic and international tourists thanks to its magnificent and unique beauty.

The Unique Beauty of Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is distinguished by thousands of limestone islands rising majestically from emerald waters. The islands are covered with tropical vegetation, combined with a magical cave system, creating a pristine and mysterious landscape. More than just a tourist destination, Ha Long Bay is also a “living geological museum” marking the history of Earth’s formation.

4 Outstanding Values That Make Ha Long Bay Famous

1. Geological – geomorphological value

2. Aesthetic value

3. Cultural and historical value

4. Biodiversity value

Important Milestones of Ha Long Bay

📌 Domestic:

・1962: Recognized as a national scenic spot
・2009: Became a special national monument
・2017: Voted as Vietnam’s top tourist destination
・2018: Listed among Vietnam’s top destinations

🌍 International:

・1994: First recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its aesthetic value
・2000: Recognized by UNESCO for the second time for its geological – geomorphological value
・September 16, 2023: Together with Cat Ba Archipelago, became Vietnam’s first inter-provincial World Natural Heritage Site
・2012: Honored by New Open World as one of the 7 New Natural Wonders
・2021: Received the “Asia’s Leading Attractive Destination” award from World Travel Awards

Ranked 7th among 200 global wonders

・January 2024: Top 3 “Best Destinations in the World 2024” – TripAdvisor
・May 2024: Top 55 most beautiful destinations in the world – Travel+Leisure
・Ha Long Bay in the Eyes of the World
・Ha Long Bay is continuously honored by prestigious magazines and organizations:

Top 25 leading attractions in the world

・Top 50 most beautiful natural wonders on the planet
・Top 4 best places to watch sunrise and sunset in the world
・Top 10 most beautiful destinations in Asia
・Top 51 most desirable destinations globally

Destination for International Blockbuster Films

With its magnificent and mystical scenery, Ha Long Bay has become the backdrop for many famous international films such as:
🎬 Indochine
🎬 Kong: Skull Island
🎬 The Creator

*_{The poetic beauty of Ha Long Bay (Source: Ha Long Bay Management Board)}*

Suggested Routes to Explore Ha Long Bay – Unmissable Experiences

Traveling to Ha Long Bay is not simply about admiring the sea and sky but also a journey to discover the mysterious cave system, legendary limestone islands, and unique cultural-historical imprints. Below are the most popular Ha Long Bay tour routes chosen by tourists.

1. Tour of Famous Caves in the Bay

Discover the spectacular beauty of famous caves:
・Thien Cung Cave – a natural masterpiece with shimmering stalactites
・Dau Go Cave – a place marking the historic battle against the Yuan army
・Ba Hang Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Ho Dong Tien Cave, Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Me Cung Cave – each cave carrying its own mysterious story

2. Journey Through the Most Beautiful Islands of Ha Long Bay

Enjoy the clear blue water and white sand beaches at:
・Soi Sim Island
・Ti Top Island – the only island in Ha Long Bay named by President Ho Chi Minh to commemorate his visit with Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov in 1962
・Cho Da Island, Dinh Huong Island, Trong Mai Island (Gamecocks) – living symbols of Ha Long

3. Cultural – Historical – Community Tour

Experience local culture and explore fishing villages on the bay:
・Cua Van Floating Cultural Center – learn about fishermen’s lives
・Tien Ong Cave, Ang Du, Ba Ham Lake, Ba Men Temple – places associated with folk culture and beliefs

4. Ecological – Pristine Nature Route

Suitable for tourists who love exploring wild nature:
・Co Cave, Thay Cave, Cap La Cave
・Tung – Ang Cong Do ecological area, Hon Xep Park
・Vung Vieng area – a poetic floating fishing village in the bay

Experience Attractive Tourism Services in Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO recognized World Natural Heritage Site – is not only famous for its magnificent scenery but also an ideal destination for diverse and unique tourism experiences. Below is a list of tourism services in Ha Long Bay that you should not miss:

🌊 Experiences Worth Trying in Ha Long Bay

🕳️ Visit the magnificent cave system: such as Thien Cung Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Trinh Nu Cave…
🏖️ Swim at pristine beaches like Ti Top Island, Soi Sim Island
🛶 Kayaking to explore the bay – an activity loved by international tourists
🚢 Overnight stay on luxury cruises – enjoy the sunrise and sunset views over the bay
🚁 View Ha Long Bay from above by helicopter or seaplane – a unique experience only available here
🎶 Enjoy local cuisine combined with music and night cruises to see Ha Long city shimmering with lights
🐟 Learn about fishing village culture and archaeology – discover the distinctive features in the life of bay residents
🌿 Explore the diverse biological ecosystem – home to thousands of rare animal and plant species

Iconic Landmarks in Ha Long City

Besides natural beauty, Ha Long city also stands out with many iconic architectural works, contributing to the modern and dynamic appearance of this heritage land.

🏛️ Top 9 Iconic Landmarks in Ha Long:

1. Bai Chay Bridge – a prominent cable-stayed bridge spanning Cua Luc Bay

2. Quang Ninh Planning, Exhibition and Fair Center – a unique architectural highlight along the coast

3. Quang Ninh Museum and Library – a modern “black box” preserving the cultural essence of the mining region

4. Cai Dam Roundabout – an iconic traffic point in the Bai Chay tourist center

5. Quang Ninh Youth and Children’s Cultural Palace – a venue for educational and artistic activities for the younger generation

6. Queen Cable Car & Sun World Ha Long Complex – the leading entertainment complex in Northern Vietnam

7. Ha Long Flower Park – a green relaxation space in the heart of the city

8. Ha Long International Passenger Port – gateway for cruises and international visitors to the Heritage site

9. Tran Quoc Nghien Street – a beautiful coastal road ideal for experience tourism and photo check-ins

*_{Bai Chay Bridge (Source: Ha Long Bay Management Board)}*

*_{Tourist boats busy taking visitors to Ha Long Bay from Tuan Chau International Passenger Port (Source: Ha Long Bay Management Board)}*

*_{Cruise ships taking guests on the “Heritage Journey” connecting Ha Long Bay-Bai Tu Long Bay (Source: Ha Long Bay Management Board)}*

*_{Cu Ky noodle soup (Source: VN Express Newspaper)}*

What Makes Ha Long Bay Attractive? What to Eat – How to Get There – Where to Stay – What to Buy?

Known as a World Natural Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay not only attracts visitors with its magnificent beauty but is also an ideal destination for those who love cuisine, relaxation, cultural exploration, and specialty shopping. Let’s discover everything visitors cannot miss when coming to Ha Long Bay right below!

🍜 Must-Try Dishes When Traveling to Ha Long Bay

Ha Long cuisine is famous for its freshness and rich sea flavors. Don’t miss these dishes:
・Mantis shrimp noodle soup – rich in sweet flavor from mantis shrimp
・Cu Ky noodle soup – unique, rare, with firm sweet meat
・Eggs and blood pudding steamed with mugwort – a nutritious Northern dish
・Squid cake rice paper rolls – the “signature” dish of Ha Long cuisine
・Horseshoe crab dishes – such as horseshoe crab salad, horseshoe crab stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, grilled horseshoe crab eggs…
・Fresh seafood – can be enjoyed at: Cai Dam Market, Vuon Dao Food Area, Doan Pier area, Floating rafts on the bay, Gieng Don Street food, Phu Lam Restaurant near Cienco 5 fishing village…

✈️ How to Get to Ha Long Bay

Depending on your starting point, you can reach Ha Long by many convenient means:
🚗 Private car or coach from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh…
🛬 By plane: Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh province), about 50km from Ha Long City, connects with many major cities domestically and internationally.

🏨 Accommodation in Ha Long Bay – Many Options Suitable for All Budgets

The accommodation system in Ha Long is very diverse, meeting needs from affordable to luxury:
Hotels & guesthouses:
・FLC Grand Hotel (Van Nghe Hill)
・Wyndham Legend Halong, Novotel, Saigon Ha Long
・Muong Thanh system, Royal Lotus…

Resorts:
・Vinpearl Resort and Spa
・Premier Village Ha Long Bay Resort…

Homestays:
The Bay, Halong Ginger, Orestay, Deja Vu House…

Cruises:
Luxury experience with overnight cruises on the bay

🎁 What to Buy as Souvenirs When Visiting Ha Long Bay?

Ha Long specialties are not only delicious but also very suitable as gifts:
・Dried seafood: sun-dried squid, dried fish, dried shrimp
・Hand-pounded squid cake – famous throughout the country
・Handicrafts from shells, coal – unique and meaningful

📍Suggested shopping locations:

・Ha Long Night Market
・Cai Dam Market
・Reputable, traditional seafood stores around the tourist area

✨ No reason to hesitate! Schedule your journey to explore Ha Long Bay now – a natural wonder recognized by UNESCO, where nature – cuisine – culture – relaxation all converge.