Friday, February 22, 2019

Utterly Magnificent Ha Long Bay



After traveling many times around the world there are few places that take my breath away and send a nice warm chill down my spine.  Ha Long Bay is one of the marvels that continues to do so.  It’s no wonder that countless movies have filmed in this idyllic location.  This is nature at its finest.  Mysterious.  Dreamy.  Miraculous.

                                           Deserted beaches & coves abound

Formed 500 million years ago, this magical bay has nearly two thousand dramatic small limestone islands in varying shapes and sizes.  Many are jaggedly topped with a verdant rainbow of tropical trees cascading down to deserted tiny beaches and sun-kissed coves.  Formed by millenniums of a tropical wet climate eroding the limestone mainland, these mystic islands have broken away  from the continental land mass and have taken with them Vietnam’s flora, fauna, and magnificence. Several of the islands are hollow with enormous caves that have yet-to-be discovered by tourists. 

 Some floating villages have their own school & clinic

Ha Long Bay is northern Vietnam’s most popular tourism site.   People from all over the country (and for that matter, from all over Asia) come here…many for honeymoons.  In spite of its mind-boggling number of visitors, Ha Long can offer a tranquil and romantic experience away from crowds.  For example, within 20 minutes of leaving the mainland on a private boat an enormous assortment of private inlets with secluded shores await anyone who wants to escape.  Of the thousands of islands, only 40 are inhabited.  That means endless enchanting opportunities for privacy-seekers in dream-like settings.


                          All of Ha Long is now protected by UNESCO World Heritage


Ha Long means “dragon” in Vietnamese.  Dragons are considered protectors in the Vietnamese culture.   According to folk-lore, when Vietnam was just starting to develop as a country it had to fight against multiple invaders.  To assist in the fight, the gods sent a family of dragons as protectors.  Today, Ha Long Bay and all of its islands are protected by another entity.   UNESCO, the United Nation’s World Heritage preservation arm, safeguards the entire area.   Stringent rules have been enacted to protect everything and ensure that it remains pristine for future generations.


                               WineKnows has leased a private yacht for its 2020 tour

WineKnows has leased a private yacht and will be spending two nights on Ha Long Bay as part of our tour to Vietnam in February 2020.  We have a few seats remaining.   Come enjoy the exotic beauty of this very special spot with us. http://www.wineknowstravel.com/itinerary-vietnam/




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