Places to See Before You Die…Hạ Long Bay in Vietnam

Travel is one of the best ways to broaden your mind and create some amazing memories so we’ve decided to highlight some of the most memorable trips that you can take and give you all the information that you need to get there! This week, we’ve chosen the glorious and tranquil, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hạ Long Bay in Vietnam. If that isn’t enough to convince you to book your ticket, here’s a few more reasons. _____________________________ 1) The stunning Hạ Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh province of Vietnam and is famous for its tall islands of limestone and rich tropical vegetation. The famous bay has an area of around 1,553 km² and includes between 1,960–2,000 islets, going through approximately 500 million years of formation through various conditions and environments. 2) Among the most famous islands are Cat Ba, Ban Sen, Quan Lạn and Van Don with some of the islands hosting their own lakes, beaches, grottos and grottos. Many remain untouched due to theur sheer scale and steep edge. Cat Ba is probably the most popular and is home of the endangered cat: Ba langur. The island also holds a national park and numerous caves that are open to tourists. 3) Hạ Long Bay was inscribed to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1994 with the World Heritage Committee recognising it for its outstanding geological and geomorphological value in 2000. In 2012, New 7 Wonders Foundation officially named it as one of New Seven Natural Wonders of the world. 4) There are many package tours to the bay from Hanoi but they vary considerably from being very basic to comfortable and downright luxurious - depending on what you add on. Be wary though, investigate all options before you invest in a package trip. Ask lots of questions and shop around. Most importantly talk to other travellers in the area. 5) The islands themselves and the bay can be accessed from various ports:

• Haiphong, a historic port city at the mouth of the Red River
• Halong City, which spans part of the northern archipelago.
• Cai Rong, a small port that serves the north-easterly part of the region.

6) The easiest way to get to Hạ Long Bay is to fly into Hanoi and travel there by bus or by private taxi and you can be dropped off right to the habour. A Mini Bus from Gia Lam/My Dinh to Bai Chay (Hạ Long) can cost about 100,000 - 120,000 dong (around €4.50), and can take about 4 - 5 hours. Be prepared to negociate!