Bai Tu Long Bay is a bay and national park that sits directly northeast of Halong Bay, and while it may be Halong’s lesser-known neighbor, it is without a doubt, equal in beauty! The Bay encompasses Bai Tu Long National Park and like Halong Bay, is an area protected by the local government on both land and sea.
IN A NUTSHELL
Bai Tu Long Bay is located in the northeastern Halong bay and encompasses a total area of 158 km2.
It incorporates a population of about 320,000 inhabitants, residing mostly on Van Don district, Quan Lan island and Ngoc Vung Island.
Overview
In accordance with Halong legend, Halong Bay is the final home and resting place of a fierce mother dragon who was sent to help the early Vietnamese defend their country from foreign invaders. Bai Tu Long Bay is said to be the area where her children descended and remained. ‘Bai Tu Long’ translated into English, means ‘Bowing down and showing respect to the dragon’s children’.
Bai Tu Long is made up of hundreds of islands and islets, some of which are well-known tourist locations, and others that are completely unknown to foreign visitors. This particular bay is home to a variety of ecosystems – visitors can find mangroves, schist islands, coral reefs, and tropical forests.
Visitors to Bai Tu Long will notice that the landscape is identical to that of Halong Bay, and that it is more of an extension of Halong rather than a neighbour. Just like Halong Bay, throughout Bai Tu Long there are giant limestone karsts jutting out of the tranquil green waters. However, in Bai Tu Long the karsts seem slightly taller, the concentration of them feels somewhat denser and the number of tourists are fewer. All of this adds to the wonderful feeling of being somewhere almost undiscovered, allowing visitors to truly contemplate their surroundings in peace.
Titop Island sits at the heart of Halong Bay, just 8 kilometers to the southeast of Bai Chay Harbor. Although it is relatively small (a total area of 3.7 hectares), it’s regarded as one of the most picturesque islands in the bay and is a crowd favorite among Halong tourists.
Isolated from the mainland, the Cong Dam area is a destination not a lot of tourists get to visit. The area is unspoiled, clean and remains relatively undeveloped. Because of its natural and unspoiled splendor the area is often referred to as a ‘geological outdoor museum’. The Cong Dam area has stood the test of time and has been preserved in its present form for almost 340 million years.
Coming to Vung Vieng fishing village, not only will you be made an impression by the majestic scenery, but you will also immediately be attracted by the friendliness and hospitality of the locals here.
The stunning and glorious caves are the most outstanding feature of Halong Bay. With thousands of islands and hundreds of limestone caves, Halong Bay is like a natural museum where tourists can learn more about geology and biology.
