Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba National Park is centred on Cat Ba Island - Hai Phong city. The Cat Ba archipelago itself comprises 366 islets and islands. Together they cover an area of 20,000 hectares of limestone islands. 

Most of the islets dotting Cat Ba National Park is covered with vegetation, although there are sheer limestone cliffs where hardly anything grew. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon to sea tenacious shrubs clinging to those otherwise barren cliffs, and on occasion, we even saw mountain goats and monkeys on the cliffs. The feeling of kayaking through the labyrinthine maze of islands, where the only sound was that of your oar on the water, was simply magnificent.

Its terrain is varied mainly with limestone ranges with marvelous grottoes and white sandy beaches. The average height is of 150 m and the Cao Vong mountain, 322 m is the highest above the sea level.

This is the reserve of the large area of tropical virgin forests in Vietnam with various fauna and flora systems. According to initial statistics, there are some 745 species, 495 branches and 149 families of which 350 species belong to Chinese herbal ones. There exists various rare wood  trees under protection such as Cho Doi, Trai Ly, Va Nuoc, Co Bac Son…

Cat Ba National Park is home to different types of rare faunas, including 20 mammal family, 69 bird family, 20 reptiles and amphibians, 11 frogs and tree – frogs. Vooc or white – head monkeys, the specially rare species which can only be seen in Cat Ba Island these days. They live on the sheer rocks along the island’s coast. There also exist mountain goats, deers, wild boars and various kinds of beautiful birds such as kingfishers, hornbills and hawks etc… It is most interesting to visit the Park through a trail starting from the Park center to Viet Hai Commune, a mountainous residential area and then come back by boats…

There is at least one floating village in the national park. They earn a living through shrimp and fish farming, and from the occasional tourist boat that drop by. 

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

'Halong Bay, or Vinh Ha Long, is a tourist destination in the Gulf of Tonkin in northern Vietnam. It was recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1994. I visited it with my wife (then girlfriend) and a small group. We toured the bay in a traditional junk and spent the night on board. Located 170 km east of Hanoi, Halong Bay took me over three hours to reach. 

The weather in Hanoi was balmy with light rain, so we were pleasantly surprised that upon reaching Halong Bay, we were treated with glorious sunshine. It was one of the sunniest days I have had on the whole trip, and it allowed me to take many great photographs of this scenic bay' - a sharing from tourist.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Halong Bay was inscribed as one of Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994.

Translated into English, Vinh Ha Long means Bay of the Descending Dragon. The origin of this name is linked to one of the many skirmishes the Vietnamese had with their mighty neighbour up north, China.

According to legend, during one of the invasions mounted by the Chinese on Vietnam, the Vietnamese called upon the gods for assistance. The gods sent a troop of dragons to help defend the land. The dragons descended in Vietnam at Halong Bay. Out of their mouths came - not fire - but jewels, and these jewels transformed into the many isles and islets dotting the bay. These tiny islands became a natural shield against sea invasion, and three times in Vietnamese history, the labyrinthine passages through the islands prevented the Chinese from landing. Even the Mongols were thwarted in their 13th century attempt to conquer Vietnam - the Vietnamese led by General Tran Hung Dao planted steel-tipped wooden stakes into the sea bed. When the Mongol fleet passed through them, the stakes punctured their ships, sinking them.

Halong Bay covers an area of 1500 square kilometres. Within this area is close to two thousand limestone islands (someone counted and claimed there're 1969 islands) that jut out in spectacular fashion from the sea. 

Some of the islands in Halong Bay have rather fancy names such as Fighting Cock Island, a pair of limestone outcrops that look more like a two chicks about to, not fight, but kiss. There are so many islands, but the ones which can be named such as: Yen Ngua Islet, Ba Trai Dao Islet, Con Coc Islet, Cong Do Island, Soi Sim Islet. Ti Top Island is a stop where you can climb up to the view point right up at the top.

The islands of Halong Bay are pockmarked with caves and grottoes. The largest of these is Sung Sot Cave. The scenery from the mouth of the cave is simply postcard perfect. The other significant caves in Halong Bay include Ba Ham Cave, Bo Nau Cave, Dau Go Cave, Kim Quy Cave, Luon Cave, Me Cung Cave, Tam Cung Cave, Thien Cung Cave and Trinh Nu Cave.

Halong Bay: Dragons, Junks and Pearls

Any place this hauntingly beautiful warrants a good legend. Here’s how legend explains Halong Bay: A dragon descended from the sky and spat pearls into the water to protect Vietnam from foreign ships. The pearls transformed into islands; the ships turned away. Dragon wins.

“Pearl” is right, when it comes to these island rarities. Sixteen hundred of them dot Halong Bay, Vietnam, and most are uninhabited and untouched. They’re made of limestone, shaped by the sea into lovely pillars — some standing 160 to 330 feet tall with vertical cliff walls and caves systems within. Some of the pillars even look like things they’re not. Two pillars are named “Cock Fight Islands” — because they look like two chickens faced off against one another. And the Dog Rock looks like, well, a dog.

In one area of the bay, folks have built a village on the water; their homes float on rafts, and they make a living fishing the waters. Children row (instead of walk) to school, according to UNESCO.

This place is wonderful and you should go there. It’s a four-hour drive from Hanoi, and you can tour the bay on a junk ship (which is way prettier than its name implies), according to Frommer’s. Or, kayak the smooth waters, and then rock climb one of these pearls …

(by Amanda Arnold)

BO NAU GROTTO

Some 2-3 km southeast of Trống Mái Islet lies Bồ Nâu Grotto or Pelican Grotto. This vaulted grotto covers 200 m2. The floor of the grotto is wide and flat, but not deep, and its wall features lots of stalactites and stalagmites.

At the entrance are three stones, looking like three fairies with their heads close to one another. Two men appear to be playing chess, with the third serving as a referee.

Bồ Nâu Grotto is one of the beauty grottoes in HaLong Bay. The name Bồ Nâu or Bồ Nông is associated with the fact that pelicans often take shelter here. If Ðầu Gỗ Grotto lies completely inside the island, Bồ Nâu opens its mouth at the side of the island. Stalactites fall down from the roof of the grotto in different clusters. Meanwhile stalagmites grow up in different shapes and layers. Is this that the life out there is so noisy that the three fairies have to choose this tranquil place to play chess? Turning southward, Bồ Nâu Grotto enjoys cool wind. Standing there, one can hear the murmur of the sea all year round.

(to be continued)

THIEN CUNG GROTTO

It is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters of tales.

Going out of the Thiên Cung Grotto, we have a sensation of just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum which is made by nature, get out of the imagine, ability and intellect of man.

This grotto is recently discovered, one of the most beautiful grottoes in Hạ Long Bay.

Legend has it, that beautiful young lady named Mây (cloud), caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed, and their wedding lasted seven days and seven nights in the very centre of the grotto.

In honour of the wedding, small dragons flew about through the stalactites and stalagmites, elephants danced together happily, snakes twined themselves around trees and two stone lions danced with their manes flowing in the wind. A large elephant, smartly dressed, waited for the bride and the groom. The genies of the south and north stars also came to attend the banquet, and the atmosphere was definitely animated and lively. All these scenes have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.

In the centre are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven.” From the base to the top, many strange images seem to live in the stone: birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto a group of fairies seem to dance and sing in honour of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites make a natural stone curtain. Somewhere there is the sound of a drum beating, but it is actually just the noise made by the wind blowing through stone.

Arriving at the last partition of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here are three small ponds of clear water. Legend has it, that this was where Mây bathed her 100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily into adolescence. One path meanders out of the grotto; it was the way Mây, together with 50 of her children, took to harvest new lands. The 50 remaining children, together with their father, were left to build the native land. Left behind by the mother was the natural stream described above.

(to be continued)

HALONG BAY GROTTOES (series)

BA HAM LAKE

 

Situated on the south-west side of Hạ Long Bay, Ba Hầm Lake is found on Ðầu Bê Island (Calf Head Island) in Lan Hạ Bay. This island is part of the range of islands at the farthest end of Hạ Long Bay, bordering the immense zone Long Châu Sea. Ba Hầm Lake is situated in the middle of a narrow, rectangular area, with the all four sides enclosed by vertical cliffs.

The lake is a system comprising three wide and round pits, linked together by a narrow and meandering tunnel. Stalactites hang from the ceiling in a myriad of strange, colored forms. The silence is disturbed only by the sounds of the boat’s oars. On the island are many species of plants such as orchids, benjamin figs, banyans and cycads, which blossom throughout the year. It is also the home of yellow-haired monkeys, birds, flying squirrels and bats. Under the deep blue surface of the water are the animated lives of shrimp and fish.

Although 25 km from the shore, it has long been considered an ideal tourism zone. The entrance is a open semi-circular hole in the flat stone wall on the north-west side of the island, 4 to 5 m above the sea.

Starting from the entrance, tourists enter the first tunnel, which boasts a forest of stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes and various colours. They fall down the water surface like the roots of banyan or ficus trees. The deeper one pushes into the tunnel, the darker it becomes. The river is deep yet so clear that one can see shoals of fish swimming. Some 100 m from the entrance one finds a shaft of light coming from the roof of the tunnel, which reveals different kinds of orchids clinging to the cliff, cycads growing here and there, trúc duôi gà (a kind of reed with cock’s tail-liked yellow leaves) flourishing in clumps. In the southeast cliff of the second tunnel there grows an old carambola tree, which bears fruits all year round. Tourists can find groups of monkeys, flying squirrels, or silver-headed parrots gathering in its branches. Lying one cliff away from the second one, the third tunnel is home to various species of bats and butterflies.

Amidst the tranquil atmosphere, you feel like boating in an abyssal well walled by mountains. Ba Hầm Lake is one of the beauty spots of Hạ Long Bay 

(to be continue)

KAYAKING IN HALONG BAY

Kayaking is one of the most interesting activities in Halong Bay. Hereunder a sharing experience about it:

'Kayaking Halong Bay in Vietnam wasn’t what I bargained for. When I think of kayaking I think of sunshine and warm temperatures. Our group had just the opposite – for the full three days. Do you remember the major snow storm that hit China a few years ago? That same mass of cold air blew over Vietnam so any thoughts of shorts and T-shirts were quickly put aside. Instead we stocked up on scarves and coats on the way to our put in and prayed for sunshine.

Halong Bay, home to roughly 1600 islands, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. It’s known for its spectacular and otherworldly limestone peaks and karst topography – which means lots of caves. Caves have been used in the past by revolutionaries, pirates and bandits. We had the chance to explore some of them on foot and by kayak. Imagine paddling through the total darkness of some of the big caves with not a speck of light to guide you. Disorienting but calm and peaceful.

You know you're in Vietnam - view from the deck of our boat

Our boat at anchor in Halong Bay

The kayaking experience itself wasn’t quite what I expected. Basically we’d go out for an hour or two in the morning, come back for lunch – delicious by the way, and paddle again in the afternoon somewhere new. It was never difficult. We’d explore caves, glide silently by huge limestone peaks, discover lagoons accessible only by kayak, pay our respects at shrines and best of all check out large floating villages. Kids would be running up and down floating boardwalks with nary a life preserver in sight. I wonder how often they fall in!! Dogs barked at us and the women would give us a smile. Men seemed to be away – probably fishing.

Getting in and out of the kayaks was the trickiest part

Easy kayaking in Halong Bay

Kayaking through caves in the limestone formations

Kayak by a floating village

Under normal circumstances – with warmer temperatures – one could expect to lie on one of the loungers on top of the boat, relax and take in the view, when you weren’t kayaking. It was bloody cold up there on this trip, so other than a quick look around, people spent the rest of the time in our little rooms – which were adequate but cramped – under the covers with the heater going. Fortunately most were still working on getting on the time zone so the extra sleep was appreciated. Otherwise, I probably would have gone a little crazy in the confined space.

Dining - excellent but a chilly experience

The busy harbour - where parking a boat is an art

If you make it as far as Vietnam, do make the effort to go to Halong Bay. A trip out for a few days will give you a much better sense of the spot than a short boat tour of only a few hours. Before you go, I highly recommend renting and watching the movie Indochine – just as an appetizer for the beautiful sights you’ll see'

That was an experience of Leigh McAdam, who joined Halong bay in the winter with a standard boat.  There are hundred of boats in Halong bay and offer difference quality and services. At this moment, we can classify to 4 types: Luxury, Deluxe, Superior and Private. If you wish to visit Halong bay and try kayaking, just choose one of the most suitable one. You can have some information for your reference at: http://www.halongluxuryjunk.com/

History of the name “ Halong”

 



















“Ha Long” is literally translated as "Bay of Descending Dragons." Prior to the 19th century, this name was not recorded in any document or archive. When mentioning the present-day Quang Ninh Sea or Ha Long Bay, old historical books often referred to them by the names of An Bang, Luc Thuy or Van Don.
Not until the late 19th century did the name of Halong Bay appear on a French Marine Map. “The Hai Phong News”, a French newspaper of the time, had an article, “Dragon appears on Ha Long Bay”, reporting the following story: In 1898 a sub-lieutenant named Lagredin, captaining the ‘Avalanse’ reported seeing a huge sea snake on Ha Long Bay. This was also witnessed by many of the crews. Thus emerged the European image of the Asian dragon. Whether this appearance of a strange animal looking like a dragon resulted the name of Ha Long Bay is not known (Reference “Quang Ninh: Art and Culture” published in 2002).

There is also a local legend, which has been handed down, relating to the name Ha Long Bay, which tells the following tale:
“Long ago, in the first founding days, the Viet people were attacked by foreign aggressors. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her band of Child Dragons to help the Viet people fight the invaders. While the enemy vessels were launching massive attacks against the mainland, the dragons descended in flocks from the sky. They spat out innumerable pearls which changed into jade stone islands the moment they touched the water. These islands linked together to form firm citadels that checked the enemy’s advance and smashed their vessels to pieces.

After the invaders were driven out, Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, right at the place where the battle occurred. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed was Ha Long, and where the Child Dragons came down was Bai Tu Long. The place where their tails violently wagged was called Long Vi, the present-day Tra Co Peninsula with its soft sandy beach stretching many kilometers.”

HALONG BAY OVERVIEW

 

Majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious: words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Halong Bay. Imagine 3000 or more incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and you have a vision of breathtaking beauty. Halong Bay is pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of nature.

In 1994 it was designated a World Heri­tage site. Visitors can’t help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailnd, but in reality Halong Bay is more spectacular. These tiny islands are dotted with beaches and grottoes created by wind and waves, and have sparsely forested slopes ringing with birdsong.

Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay, visitors to Halong come to explore the caves – some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists – and to hike in Cat Ba National Park. There are few real beaches in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha Bay (off the coast of Cat Ba Island) has more than 100 sandy strips. Halong City is the gateway to Halong Bay but not the ideal introduction to this incredible World Heritage site. Developers have not been kind to the city and most visitors sensibly opt for tours that include sleeping on a boat in the bay. In short, Halong Bay is the attraction; Halong City is not.

As the number-one tourist attraction in the northeast, Halong Bay draws a steady stream of visitors year-round. From February to April the weather in this region is often cool and drizzly. The ensuing fog can make visibility low, but this adds an ethereal air to the place and the temperature rarely falls below 10°C. During the summer months tropical storms are frequent, and tourist boats may have to alter their itineraries, depending on the weather.

Halong Bay is the stuff of myths and naturally the Vietnamese have concocted one. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’. Legend has it that the islands of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys and crevasses. When it finally plunged into the sea, the area filled with water, leaving only the pinnacles visible.