Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam is synonymous with natural beauty. A simple uttering of the famous name will instantly conjure up images of striking limestone monoliths, floating fishing villages and traditional junk boats cruising amongst the Karst landscape.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, and selected as one of the New7Wonders of the natural world in 2011, Halong Bay is one of the most inspiring and captivating places in all of Southeast Asia. Comprised of over 1600 islands and islets the archipelago in the Gulf of Tonkin attracts visitors from all over the globe who want to explore Vietnam’s ethereal magnificence.
In 2013 more than 7.5 million tourists visited Quang Ninh, the province that Halong Bay is a part of. People flock to see a sight that is ranks alongside with Angkor Wat as one of the best in Southeast Asia. While tourism is booming, however, around 1000 fishing families who call the bay rarely see much of the income generated from large companies. Life goes on as much the same as it has for thousands of years, for those living in the floating villages scattered amongst the monoliths.
There are many ways to explore Halong Bay, such as day trips from the capital city, Hanoi, or overnight junk boat tours. You can base yourself on the large Cat Ba island and use that as a jumping off point to the other coves and islets throughout the area. There are many caveat emptors from those who have chosen to go on cheap tours with budget companies. The saying, “You get what you pay for” perhaps rings true here. We went on the famous Castaways Island tour through Vietnam Backpacker Hostels and loved every second of it – an experience we highly recommend.
Whichever way you choose to visit this place however will never alter the emotions felt as you watch the sun set over one of 1600 islands, throwing hues of red, purple and orange glistening across the calm seas. An image that will forever remain as timeless as the karsts themselves.
[box type=”info” size=”large” style=”rounded” border=”full”]Have you ever visited Halong Bay? Tell us your thoughts on this amazing destination! [/box]
About the Author - Alesha and Jarryd
Hey! We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. As one of the world's leading travel journalists, our content and adventures have been featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, The Guardian, and plenty other publications. Follow our journey in real time on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
4 thoughts on “Halong Bay – Images From A Wonder Of The World”
Just stunning. I have heard of the area for years and will go there with our daughters in 2015. Thanks for the extra inspiration Lesh and Jazza. Castaways does not sound like they aim at the family market perhaps, if you have any tips for being there with kids, please let me know! Hooroo!
No worries at all, Jane. Castaways is definitely not a family-orientated tour. I would suggest booking one of the more upmarket tours out of Hanoi or Cat Ba. Make sure you read the Trip Advisor reviews for each company too, as it really is “you get what you pay for” with Halong Bay tours. There are plenty of companies that will be perfect for the kids. You’ll absolutely love the place.
Amazing Lesh and Jazza!! Beautiful pics (as always)!! This has made me even a lot more excited and really can’t wait to get there myself!
Can’t wait to see your pictures from the place! It’s so captivating, it really is hard to get a bad shot. Happy travels, Hester 😀
Just stunning. I have heard of the area for years and will go there with our daughters in 2015. Thanks for the extra inspiration Lesh and Jazza. Castaways does not sound like they aim at the family market perhaps, if you have any tips for being there with kids, please let me know! Hooroo!
No worries at all, Jane. Castaways is definitely not a family-orientated tour. I would suggest booking one of the more upmarket tours out of Hanoi or Cat Ba. Make sure you read the Trip Advisor reviews for each company too, as it really is “you get what you pay for” with Halong Bay tours. There are plenty of companies that will be perfect for the kids. You’ll absolutely love the place.
Amazing Lesh and Jazza!! Beautiful pics (as always)!! This has made me even a lot more excited and really can’t wait to get there myself!
Can’t wait to see your pictures from the place! It’s so captivating, it really is hard to get a bad shot. Happy travels, Hester 😀