Halong Bay People
In general, people in Halong Bay are enthusiastic, hospitable, friendly, civilized and polite. They always have the awareness of preserving and popularizing the gift the Mother Nature gives to their home country.
Tourists all over the world are always welcome to Halong Bay by smile and respectful attitudes. In addition, 15 ethnic groups living in the area creates linguistic and cultural diversity in Halong Bay.
Legend of Halong Bay
Legends tell Vietnam was invaded by foreign invaders. Ngoc Hoang (King of Heaven) sent Mother Dragon and her baby Dragons to help the Vietnamese fight against the enemy. Enemy’s boats just reaching to the shore were immediately burned by the fire from the Dragons. They also built the huge stones wall to block the attack of invaders.
After the war, seeing the peaceful landscape with hard-working people, Mother Dragon, and her baby Dragon did not return to heaven but stayed in Vietnam to protect the Vietnamese forever. The place Mother Dragon landed is Halong Bay and the one her children landed is Bai Tu Long Bay and the tails of the Dragons become Bach Long Vi Island (White Dragon) nowadays.
Nature of Halong Bay
Halong Bay covers an area of about 1,500 km² including nearly 2000 large and small islands, most of which are limestone islands together with countless towers, limestone islands, mysterious caves, and smooth sand stretching along the turquoise waters. The history of the limestone karst in Halong Bay has been around 500 million years with different geologic circumstances; and full karst evolution over the past 20 million years with a combination of thick limestone, hot and humid climate, and a slow progression of tectonics.
Besides, the melting pot of environment, geology, and geomorphology have made Halong Bay a convergence of biodiversity including ecosystems of tropical rainforests, coast, and sea. 17 endemic plants and about 60 endemic animals have been discovered among thousands of floras and faunas in Halong Bay.
Halong Bay Culture
People lived in Halong about 20,000 years ago with a lot of civilizations together with remarkable ups and downs throughout history. Their cultural characteristics create a mysterious and impressive Halong Bay. Fishing activities happened a long time ago together with handicrafts such as ceramics and jewelry producing as well as spinning and weaving. Their development led to the foundation of traditional fishing villages and vibrant markets. After a day of working, the locals often gathered on boats and sang together folk music. Nowadays, you can enjoy this traditional art through the excellent performances of outstanding artisans.
Halong Bay is recognized by UNESCO as the World Heritage Site for its unique nature and long-established culture which can be seen in islands, caves, and daily activities of the locals.