Phnom Penh

HA LONG BAY

Twice recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage for its geology values, HaLong bay is a wonder of nature and geologic history.

From archeological remnants, scientists estimated that the history of Ha Long bay dates back at least 500 million years. Its geologic history has many phases: the deep sea phase - or the Odovic - Silua period (about 500-410 million years ago), the shallow sea phase - or the Cacbon - Pecmi period (about 340-250 million years ago), and the coastal phase - late Paleogen early Neogen period (about 26-20 million years ago).

About 195 million years ago, when Europe was still dry and hot, Ha Long was already a wet, moist area with a rich fauna and flora system - with forests filled with cycad and fern forests.

Currently, Ha Long bay is an area with diverse formations: nearly 2000 islands, 60 limestone caves, and various fishing villages.

There are various sites in HaLong Bay that are worth exploring when you visit this world wonder.

FIGHTING COCK ISLET

Fighting Cock Islet is one of the symbols of Ha Long bay. This is an islet that is printed on tickets to the bay. Those separate rocks must be one, then separated along the course of the bay’s geologic formation. The romantic shape turns it into one of symbol of love, and its petite shape sets itself apart from bigger islands and islets of the site.

SURPRISING CAVE

In 1901, a French scientist visited this cave for the first time and named it "Grotte de la surprise", or “Surprising Cave”. It is one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in HaLong bay.

The cave is 10.000 m2 with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. The path leading into and out of the cave is paved with rocks, stretching over 500m. The cave’s ceiling is smoothened over time with movements of water, altogether adding into its feels of beauty and grandness, especially when the light system is turned on.

TI TOP ISLAND

Ti Top island is an island with a strange name in Ha Long bay. On 22/11/1962, Ho Chi Minh, along with Soviet astronaut Gherman Titop visited this island. To commemorate this event as a mark in the two countries’ friendship, Ho Chi Minh named the island Ti Top Island. When you come here, you can still see the statue of the astronaut as well as a stele telling the story of this event.

The islam is 3.7ha, with a beautiful white sandy crescent-shaped beach, and a mountain where you can climb to the top and see the panoramic view of the bay.

LAN HA BAY

Located in the south of Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha bay is a lovely bay stretching over an area of 7000 ha, with 400 islands and islets dotting all over the place. The name of the bay - Lan Ha - correlates with the turquoise color of the water.

Lan Ha has a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches (about 139), many are ideal for swimming, kayaking around, caving on them, or even staying overnight.

The bay is also home to many fishermen and people living in floating villages. The biggest one is Cai Beo floating village, a village on the edge of the town, home to 200 households who make a living by farming fish, catching squid, or getting on long-day boats to the far sea.

CAT BA NATIONAL PARK

Cat Ba National Park was recognized by the state in 1986, and is a site filled with beauty and biodiversity, of which, about two third of the park belongs in the island and forest, and the rest belongs in the bay.

The park is divided into three main areas: strictly protected area with a total area of ​​5,164.67 ha, ecological restoration area with a total area of ​​12,094.35 ha, and administrative service area with a total area of ​​103.94 ha.

Its biodiversity is striking. There are about 3000 types of plants and animals here, of which 83 types are endemic. Out of them, Cat Ba langur is an especially lovely one. In the whole world, there are only nearly 100 langurs left, and they are on Cat Ba island. Conservationists, both local and international, have been collaborating to make sure that the langurs prosper and are safe.