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THE
NORTH
I THE
CENTRAL
I
THE
SOUTH |
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 Situated
in
the
North-East
region
of
Vietnam,
Halong
Bay
is a
bay
in
the
Gulf
of
Tonkin
comprised
of
regions
of
Halong
City,
the
township
of
Cam
Pha,
and
a
part
of
the
island
district
of
Van
Don.
Halong
Bay
borders
Cat
Ba
Island
in
the
southwest,
the
East
Sea
in
the
east,
and
the
mainland,
creating
a
120
km
coastline. |
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Halong
Bay
is
made
up
of
1,969
islands
of
various
sizes,
989
of
which
have
been
given
names.
There
are
two
kinds
of
islands,
limestone
and
schist,
which
are
concentrated
in
two
main
zones:
the
southeast
(belonging
to
Bai
Tu
Long
Bay),
and
the
southwest
(belonging
to
Halong
Bay).
This
densely
concentrated
zone
of
stone
islands,
world
famous
for
its
spectacular
scenery
of
grottoes
and
caves,
forms
the
central
zone
of
Halong
Bay,
which
has
been
named
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site. |
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The
bay
itself
has
an
area
of
43,400
ha,
consists
of
775
islands,
and
forms
a
triangle
with
the
island
of
Dau
Go
(Driftwood
Grotto)
to
the
west,
the
lake
of
Ba
Ham
(Three
Shelter
Lake)
to
the
south,
and
the
island
of
Cong
Tay
to
the
east.
Viewed
from
above,
Halong
Bay
resembles
a
geographic
work
of
art.
While
exploring
the
bay,
you
feel
lost
in a
legendary
world
of
stone
islands.
There
is
Man's
Head
Island,
which
resembles
a
man
standing
and
looking
towards
the
mainland.
Dragon
Island
looks
like
a
dragon
hovering
above
the
turquoise
water.
La
Vong
Island
resembles
an
old
man
fishing.
There
are
also
the
islands
of
the
Sail,
the
Pair
of
Roosters,
and
the
Incense
Burner,
which
all
astonishingly
resemble
their
namesakes.
The
forms
of
the
islands
change
depending
on
the
angle
of
the
light
and
from
where
the
islands
are
viewed.
At
the
core
of
the
islands,
there
are
wonderful
caves
and
grottoes,
such
as
Thien
Cung
(Heavenly
Residence
Grotto),
Dau
Go
(Driftwood
Grotto),
Sung
Sot
(Surprise
Grotto),
and
Tam
Cung
(Three
Palace
Grotto). |
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Halong
Bay
has
many
links
to
the
history
of
Vietnam.
For
example,
there
are
such
famous
geographical
sites
as
Van
Don
(site
of
an
ancient
commercial
port),
Poem
Mountain
(with
engravings
of
many
poems
about
emperors
and
other
famous
historical
figures),
and
Bach
Dang
River
(the
location
of
two
fierce
naval
battles
fought
against
foreign
aggressors). |
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It
has
been
proven
by
scientists
that
Halong
was
one
of
the
first
cradles
of
human
existence
in
the
area
at
such
archeological
sites
as
Dong
Mang,
Xich
Tho,
Soi
Nhu,
and
Thoi
Gieng.
It
is
also
a
region
of
highly-concentrated
biological
diversity
with
many
ecosystems
of
salt
water-flooded
forests,
coral
reefs,
and
tropical
forests
featuring
thousands
of
species
of
animal
and
plant
life. |
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Grottoes |
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Dau
Go
(Driftwood)
Grotto |
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Dau
Go
Grotto
is
found
on
Driftwood
Island,
formerly
known
as
Canh
Doc
Island.
The
name
Driftwood
Grotto
comes
from
the
popular
story
of
the
resistance
war
against
the
Nguyen
Mong
aggressors.
In a
decisive
battle,
Tran
Hung
Dao
was
given
an
order
to
prepare
many
ironwood
stakes
to
be
planted
on
the
riverbed
of
the
Bach
Dang
River.
The
remaining
wooden
pieces
were
found
in
the
grotto
and,
as a
result,
the
grotto
was
given
its
present
name.
The
entrance
is
reached
via
90
steps
up
the
island.
The
grotto
is
divided
into
three
main
parts.
In
the
first
chamber,
many
forms
can
be
seen
in
the
rock,
depending
on
the
imagination
of
the
observer.
In
the
middle
of
the
chamber,
on
the
top
of
the
pillar,
there
appears
to
be a
monk
draped
in a
long,
dark
cloak,
with
his
right
hand
clasping
a
cane.
Moving
into
the
second
chamber,
visitors
pass
through
a
narrow
"door",
naturally
formed
through
erosion.
The
light
here
is
mysterious,
and
new
images
appear
in
the
stone.
At
the
end
of
the
grotto
is a
well
of
clear
water
surrounded
by
four
ancient
walls.
In
this
grotto,
there
remains
an
engraved
stone
stele
singing
the
praises
of
Halong
Bay
ordered
by
Emperor
Khai
Dinh
when
he
came
to
visit
the
grotto
in
1917.
Dau
Go
is
40
minutes
from
Bai
Chay.
Admission
is
15,000
VND
per
person,
5,000
VND
for
children
under
15,
and
children
under
6
are
free. |
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Trinh
Nu
(Virgin)
Grotto-Trong
(Male)
Grotto |
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The
Virgin
Grotto
is
situated
in
the
island
range
of
Bo
Hon,
in
the
system
comprised
of
the
Surprise
Grotto,
Dong
Tien
Lake,
and
Luon
Grotto.
The
grotto
is
15
km
south
of
Bai
Chay
Beach.
For
some
fishermen,
the
Virgin
Grotto
is
home,
while
for
young
lovers
it
is a
popular
romantic
rendezvous
site. |
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According
to
legend,
there
once
was
a
beautiful
fisherman's
daughter,
whose
family
was
so
poor
that
they
were
in
service
of
the
rich
administrator
of
the
fishing
zone,
who
forced
the
family
to
give
him
their
daughter
as a
concubine.
However,
the
fisherman’s
daughter
already
had
a
lover
and
refused
to
marry
the
administrator.
The
administrator
got
angry
and
exiled
her
to a
wild
island
where
she
suffered
from
hunger
and
exhaustion.
One
frightful
night
she
turned
to
stone.
On
this
same
night,
her
lover,
knowing
of
her
danger,
rowed
his
boat
in
search
of
her.
However,
a
tempest
destroyed
his
boat,
and
he
floated
to a
nearby
island.
In a
flash
of
lightening,
he
saw
his
lover
in
the
distance,
but
his
calls
were
driven
away
by
the
wind.
In
his
final
exhaustion,
he
also
turned
to
stone
(today’s
Male
Grotto). |
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When
visiting
the
Virgin
Grotto,
you
can
still
see
the
petrified
girl
with
her
long
hair
hanging
down
and
eyes
looking
towards
the
mainland.
Opposite
the
Virgin
Grotto,
the
Male
Grotto
is
still
home
to
the
lover
whose
his
face
is
turned
towards
his
mate.
At
times,
his
passionate
calls
and
blows
against
the
walls
of
the
grotto
can
still
be
heard. |
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Thien
Cung
(Heavenly
Palace)
Grotto |
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This
recently
discovered
grotto
is
one
of
the
most
beautiful
in
Halong
Bay.
Thien
Cung
is
situated
on
the
southwest
side
of
the
bay,
4 km
from
the
wharf
outside
of
Halong
City.
It
is
located
in a
small
range
of
islands
that
resemble
a
throne
embracing
two
superb
grottoes
at
its
core.
The
way
to
Thien
Cung
is
perilous,
covered
on
both
sides
by
thick
forest.
After
entering
a
narrow
gate,
the
magnificent,
130
m
long
grotto
opens
up.
According
to
legend,
a
beautiful
young
lady
named
May
(cloud)
caught
the
eye
of
the
Dragon
Prince
and
he
fell
in
love
with
her.
They
were
betrothed
and
got
married
in
the
very
center
of
the
grotto.
All
of
the
scenes
of
their
wedding,
which
lasted
for
seven
days
and
seven
nights,
have
been
seemingly
fossilized
in
the
grotto. |
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In
the
center,
there
are
four
large
pillars
supporting
the
"roof
of
heaven".
From
the
base
to
the
top,
many
strange
images
seem
to
exist
in
the
stone,
including
birds,
fish,
flowers
and
even
scenes
of
human
life.
On
the
north
wall
of
the
grotto,
a
group
of
fairies
seems
to
be
singing
and
dancing
in
honor
of
the
wedding.
Under
the
immeasurably
high
roof,
stalactites
form
a
natural
stone
curtain.
There
is
also
the
sound
of a
beating
drum
made
by
the
wind
blowing
through
the
stone. |
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In
the
last
chamber
of
the
grotto,
a
natural
gushing
stream
of
water
babbles
throughout
the
year.
Here
there
are
three
small
ponds
of
clear
water.
One
path
meanders
out
of
the
grotto. |
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Quang
Hanh
Grotto |
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Located
9 km
west
of
Cam
Pha,
Quang
Hanh
Grotto
is
the
longest
grotto
in
Halong
Bay.
It
is
1,300
m
long,
and
stretches
throughout
the
stone
mountain
of
Quang
Hanh.
The
French
named
it
"Le
Tunnel,"
or
Tunnel
Grotto. |
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Quang
Hanh
Grotto
is
accessible
by
either
boat
or
car,
but
the
entrance
only
appears
when
the
tide
is
out.
Ba
Co
Shrine
(shrine
of
three
girls)
is
in
the
grotto
beside
a
smooth
stone
block.
Legend
tells
that
three
girls,
who
were
once
journeying
on
the
sea,
came
to
the
grotto
to
take
shelter
from
the
rain.
They
were
so
engrossed
with
the
beauty
of
the
grotto,
that
they
did
not
notice
the
rising
tide.
They
drowned,
only
to
become
water
goddesses. |
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Quang
Hanh
Grotto
is
extremely
beautiful.
A
small
boat
will
take
you
through
the
stone
passageway
by
flashlight,
casting
magical
colors
on
the
hanging
stalactites. |
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Islands |
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Bai
Tho
Mountain
(Poem
Mountain) |
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Bai
Tho
Mountain
is
106
m
high.
It
runs
along
the
coast,
half
on
land
and
half
in
the
sea.
Sailing
in
the
bay,
one
or
two
hundred
meters
from
the
mountain,
one
can
see
a
poem
carved
on a
flat
stone
cliff.
In
1468,
Emperor
Le
Thanh
Tong,
who
was
also
a
poet,
made
an
inspection
tour
of
the
North-East
region.
He
stopped
at
the
foot
of
the
mountain,
and
inspired
by
the
magnificent
beauty
of
his
surroundings,
he
wrote
a
poem.
Later,
he
had
the
poem
engraved
on
the
wall
of
the
mountain.
It
is
very
interesting
to
climb
the
mountain
and
enjoy
the
panoramic
view
of
the
bay. |
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Tuan
Chau
Islet
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Situated
3 km
west
of
Dao
Go
Islet,
Tuan
Chau
Islet
has
an
area
of
300
ha.
On
the
islet,
there
is a
very
simple
bamboo
house
built
by
the
inhabitants
of
Quang
Ninh
for
Uncle
Ho
to
rest
after
visiting
Halong
Bay.
The
house
is
now
carefully
preserved
by
the
locals. |
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Beaches |
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Bai
Chay
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Bai
Chay
is a
resort
located
along
the
coast
of
Halong
Bay.
This
is a
windward
ocean
resort
which
has
a
year
round
average
temperature
of
20oC
(68oF).
Bai
Chay
is a
low
gently
sloping
range
of
hills
that
runs
along
the
sea
for
more
than
2
km.
Blended
in
among
the
pine
trees
are
large
hotels
and
small
villas
with
distinguished
architectural
styles.
Traveling
down
the
asphalt
road
along
the
coast,
visitors
see
long
white
stretches
of
sand
and
green
rows
of
Casuarina
trees,
tucked
under
which
are
small
family-run
restaurants.
After
swimming
at
the
beach,
tourists
can
enjoy
cold
drinks
and
cool
off
in
the
breeze
that
sweeps
in
from
the
sea. |
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