Bai Tho Mountain

Location: Bai Tho (Poem) Mountain lies at the heart of Halong City, Quang Ninh Province.

Characteristics: From a far, the 106-meter-limestone mountain looks like a huge castle with three imposing towers. Its past name Truyen Dang means Light Projecting. This mountain has inspired many poets.

In 1468, during his inspection tour to the eastern region, King Le Thanh Tong stopped here. Inspired by the stunning beauty of Halong, the King wrote a poem and had it carved into the southern side of the mountain, hence its name Bai Tho (Poem). In 1729, Lord Trinh Cuong composed a poem in response to that of King Le Thanh Tong and also had it carved near the former. The mountain features other poems by Nguyen Can and some other poets.

Atop Bai Tho Mountain, you feel surprised at the magnificent landscape of Halong Bay. In the background of immense emerald waters, of rock bobbing, of high sky, of surrounding flowers and trees, you can figure out the tiny images of boats. Bai Tho makes up one of the beauty spots of Halong.

Luon Grotto

Location: Luon Grotto is situated on Bo Hon Island, 14km south of Bai Chay Beach, Quang Ninh Province.

Characteristics: In front of the grotto is Con Rua Islet and the Sky Gate is on the right. Here the cliffs stretch vertically out of the pure blue and smooth water.  

At the water-level, an arched entrance leads to the grotto, just at the base of the island. Passing through the pretty entrance, you come across a tranquil round lake, surrounded by luxuriant trees and high dangerous stone walls. Monkeys run to and fro in groups, benjamin fig trees shade the landscape and many orchids hang their sweet-scented flowers. In the lake, many species abound: shrimp, fish, crab and cuttle-fish.

This is an enclosed group of islands. It connects with the sea via a 4-meter-wide, 100-meter-long, and 3-meter-high mouth. Inside the grotto, the 1-km2 brackish lake is surrounded by mountains. On the cliff one still find traces of fossils of fresh-water snails, which prove that men used to live there and this must have been a deep valley then.

The beauty of the site is the mingling of a number of factors: the mountain's size and form, the colour of the water and the clouds.

Ba Trai Dao Islet

Location: It is 22km from south of Bai Chay Tourist Wharf.

Characteristics: This island consists of three small mountains with the height of 23m, seen from afar, resemble three peaches (Ba Trai Dao).  

The island connects to a legend of about the romantic love between a youngest fairy, who was very pretty with a young and poor fisherman.

Because of feeling in love with him, she stole three peaches from Heaven for him, which if he ate, would give him eternal life, allowing them to live together forever. The King of the Heavens discovered the robbery and turned the peaches into three stone islands. Chastised, the young fairy had to return.

Today, Ba Trai Dao is a famous tourist attraction with three nice fairy beaches, romantic landscape.

It takes 10 hours by cruise from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, tourists will come to Ba Trai Dao Beach. It has that name as Ba Trai Dao Beach (the three peaches), features three small sand beaches embracing small islands. These islands, seen from afar, resemble three peaches. Tourists take bath in this beach only 2-3 hours in a day as in other time the beach is lapped by tides.

Con Coc Islet

Location: Con Coc or Toad Islet lies in Halong Bay, 17km away from the tourist boat wharf.

Characteristics: Con Coc or Toad Islet is one of the most exquisite works nature has presented Halong. Just imagine, an 8-meter-tall toad sitting to wait for rain amidst the vastness of the sea.

Am Islet

Location: On the route to Quan Lan – Ngoc Vung Islands; Am Rock or Kettle Islet is situated in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Characteristics: An island jutting out of the seawaters, the teapot of the Jade Emperor, who accidentally dropped it into Halong so its handle was broken.

Cong Do Island

Location: On the south-east side of Halong Bay, about 25km from Bai Chay Wharf, Cong Do is in Bai Tu Long Bay in the region which recognised as the World Heritage.

Characteristics: It has an area of 23,363m2 and its mountain reaches a peak of 172m.

The island features many lagoons, which are the residence of numerous species of sea-life, such as shrimp, crab, fish, squid and aquatic plants. On the south-west side of the island, there is a wide coral reef displaying a myriad of colours. Coral reef ecosystem is more than 700m long and 300m wide. It is preserved almost undamaged. In the future, there are plans for the development of a zone for scuba-diving. On the south-east side of the island, vestiges of the ancient commercial port of Van Don were discovered. This confirms beliefs that Cong Do Island once held an important position in terms of foreign trade.

Dau Nguoi Islet

Location: The Dau Nguoi Islet in Halong Bay lies near Luon Cave, 13km away from the tourist wharf.

Characteristics: From a far, you can see a 25-meter islet, which reminds us of a huge Egyptian head with a big nose. Its chin lies close to the sea surface. Many people associate it with the image of the Egyptian Sphinx. It’s a masterpiece of nature, has its own poetic beauty as it lies amidst seawaters.