Ha Long Bay
In the Gulf of Tonkin bizarre rock formations of limestone rise from the emerald water, each crowned with tropical forest. The karst landscape ranges from towering pillars to paradisiacal islands, an extraordinarily beautiful and unreal environment. It is no wonder that UNESCO has designated Ha Long Bay as a World Heritage Site. In 2012 it was even named one of the seven natural wonders.
Only a small part of the nearly 2,000 islands is inhabited; most of them are not or hardly affected. Monkeys, iguanas and the rich bird life have free reign and the colourful vegetation gets all the space. Between the islands are floating villages, where the locals live from the fish and molluscs living in the shallow waters.
The best way to explore the bay is by damsel boat. During a two or three-day cruise there is plenty of time for long anchor breaks to relax on white sandy beaches and while paddling to discover the many deserted islets, clogged caves and small bays and you can spend the night on an uninhabited island.
