BEAUTY OF HA LONG BAY

Ha Long City is about 170km , roughly about three hours drive from Hanoi. To see and enjoy the Ha Long scenery, you will need to board a  junk boat and cruise out to the sea.
The bay is hauntingly beautiful, and has it's share of colorful stories and myths associated with it.
It is a United Nations World Heritage listed site, and one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. 
The bay consists of thousands of rocky islands popping up out of the bay. Many of the islands have very large limestone caverns, and we toured a couple of them.
On the two days we were there ( 5/6 April 2011) the weather wasn't quite as cooperative as one would hope, but it was still a great trip as we were able to proceed accordingly to our tour itinerary.

While waiting for our tickets and transport at the jetty.

Ferry boat that took us to the main Junk boat a bit further in the open sea.

The 'hotel' boat that we stayed for the night. Three deck, consisting of  rooms, dining hall and an open roof deck where you could enjoy the scenery....sun, moon,breeze or rain

"Kissing bears'.... a sight and angle where two islands are seen as bears kissing. They are actually miles apart. 

Ah... breath taking..so calm and peaceful

moving inside a cave

View along the cruise.  Floating village

 Outside of the dining area where we could enjoy the cool breeze and the ever breath taking scenery

The middle deck holds the dining room.

Just like any other hotel room,  clean bedsheets, towels and toiletries were provided.

 It's all the way up and into the cave

 A sight to behold...

Rock formations that leave you to your imagination

 

Sight of Cat Ba island from our ferry boat

** Ha Long means "Dragon Descending", and there are a couple of variations on the legend about the creation of the bay. The most common is that a celestial dragon and her offspring were ordered by the Jade Emperor to halt an invasion from the sea. She spewed out bits of jade that turned into wondrous island and karst formations, thereby scuppering the enemy ships. Other variations have the islands as pearls, and the dragon creating the bay by swishing her tail, thus tearing up parts of the mainland that were filled by the sea. In either case, the dragon is said to have liked the creation so much that she settled among them and lives there to this day.
The bay has been the site of several historical sea battles. It is said the caves here was used to store a bunch of bamboo spears that General Tran Hung Dao planted in Song Bach Dang to stop Kubalai Kahn's invasion after Mongolia swallowed up the rest of China.****