Halong Bay is one of the top travel destinations in Vietnam. With its unique wildlife, beautiful terrain and stunning caves, it is attracting more and more visitors each year. Here are some interesting facts about Halong Bay that make it such a popular tourist site.
History
Halong Bay formed over millions of years. The rise and fall of the sea water created unusual caves and grottoes that are filled with amazing limestone features. The process which created Halong Bay has given scientists an interesting perspective on the region’s development over time, and they have found clues that have helped them to better understand the prehistoric evolution of the area’s inhabitants. For example, Me Cung Grotto has fossilized layers of shells, which lead scientists to believe that the cave was inhabited 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. They also found a fossilized animal skeleton in the same cave.
Islands, Caves and Formations
Halong Bay is made of up of nearly 2,000 islands and islets of various shapes and sizes. While tourists are able to explore the beaches and mountains of many islands, many more are left untouched due to their steep sides and extreme heights. Thousands of karst formations lie around the bay, including those that look like a tortoise, a girl, roosters and soldiers.
Legends
There are many legends associated with Halong Bay, including how it came to be. Residents say that dragons were sent to protect the Vietnamese from invaders. In order to build a wall to defend the country, the dragons spit out jewels that turned into mountains and rocks. The enemies’ boats ran into the rocky mountains and were sunk. Rather than return to the heavens from which they came, the dragons remained in the peaceful bay.
Other legends explain the appearance of several formations. From ill-fated lovers to warrior animals, many of Halong Bay’s most memorable residents are immortalized in stone, and visitors are welcome to tour the caves and grottoes which contain the stunning natural art.
Wildlife
Not only is Halong Bay stunning to look at, but it is also home to many plants and creatures. Several coral reefs lie beneath the water, which is where many fish reside. There are over 100 types of fish that live in the bay, as well as squid, oysters, cuttlefish and octopi. Many animals also live on the islands of Halong Bay, including deer, monkeys, squirrels and mink. There are also several lakes on the islands, which contain even more fish.
There are several reasons why Halong Bay is an interesting site. Its unique formations, fanciful legends and beautiful wildlife make it a popular destination for tourists from around the world. They are also why Halong Bay has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and why it has been identified as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature by the New 7 Wonders Foundation.