Vietnam’s most evident attraction is Ha Long Bay, adjoining to the Gulf of Tonkin, and at the moment attracting almost two million visitors every year. Despite its standing as one in all Vietnam’s busiest tourist centre, its huge scale, unique geomorphology and indisputable splendors makes a go to virtually essential.

With Gia Linh Travel, you escape the worst of the crowds. We use solely high quality boats, and suggest an evening on the bay to permit time for the less visited islands and grottoes, leaving those which were equipped with lights, walkways, refreshment stalls and souvenir retailers to the tourists. The exceptions are Dao Go, a large cavern worth visiting for its grandeur, and Sung Sot, for its remark ready stalactites and stalagmites. 

Though the name Ha Long Bay is usually used to describe the whole area, it refers only to a section of an unlimited archipelago of thousands of limestone pinnacles

Stretching practically a hundred kilometres from Hai Phong to the east.  

This remarkable seascape owes its existence to a complex course of abrasion referred to as ‘karst’. A massive layer of high quality limestone was slowly dissolved by a heat wet climate that prevailed over South East Asia through untold tens of millions of years. Water trickled by way of crevices enlarged cracks within the limestone creating caves and caverns, and brought on weaker strata to break down leaving the distinctive towers seen today. Comparatively recently, seismic exercise inundated the low-mendacity land, creating Ha Long Bay.  

The just about perpendicular peaks conceal the remains of many caves and grottos, their entrances exposed when part of the tower wall collapsed, but now hid by subsequent rock falls and dense vegetation. 

Some caves had been already identified, and others have been discovered just lately, but knowledgeable opinion is that they represent solely a fraction of these nonetheless hidden from view. Three large caves within the heart of the area protected as World Heritage have been made accessible to visitors. Many smaller caves may be visited, however often require a scramble throughout rocks and thru unlit passages. 

In the southwest nook of Ha Long Bay is Cat Ba, a large ‘karst’ limestone island full of small mountains covered in verdant forest. Part of the island is a

National Park, wealthy in natural world including one of the endangepurple species of monkey in the world. Cat Ba additionally boasts two small, but nice, sandy beaches. 

To the east is Bai Tu Lengthy Bay. Although not quite matching the range of geological attributes of its illustrious neighbor, it's equally engaging and benefits from being less visited. Bai Tu Long, and particularly Quan LAN island, has by far the best seashores in northern Vietnam. Most are extra or less empty, but tourism amenities are limited. 

The Bay is also a treasure home of endemic, and sometimes endangepurple, species of flora, mollusks and small invertebrates. Our company title and emblem is derived from one such plant, the yellow slipper orchid, or ‘hai ve nu’ in Vietnamese.