Halong Bay has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage twice for its values in terms of landscape and geology. It is considered one of the world's wonders.
While we in Minnesota tout out 10,000 lakes, Halong Bay has some 3,000 islands and inlets. I suppose it is similar to our Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern MN in that it is uninhabited by people.
While we in Minnesota tout out 10,000 lakes, Halong Bay has some 3,000 islands and inlets. I suppose it is similar to our Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern MN in that it is uninhabited by people.
The history of the place tells a story by locals:
The legend of Ha Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Viet people fight against their enemy. Just as the invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging from the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.
After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn’t return to Heaven but stayed on earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is nowadays Ha Long Bay and where Child Dragons descended is now Bái Te Long. The dragons’ tails waving the water created Long Vĩ (present Trà Ce peninsula) and formed a fine sand beach over ten kilometers long.”
Linh's family has told us we will be visiting this place! Wow!!!!
Hi Rachel! Best of fun on your trip to Vietnam! I'm glad you'll be blogging so that I can follow your trip. Take pictures of the food! -- Michele
ReplyDeleteThanks Michele! We just finished trying the stinky fruit so often talked about in Asian countries. I cannot remember what it is called. We are trying whatever they put in front of us. Dog for lunch--gotta go. Thanks for following our blog and all your help before our trip!!
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