How was Halong Bay formed?
The limestone that is found in Halong Bay began forming during the Carboniferous period, around 340 million years ago. At this point, the Earth was much warmer and wetter than it is today, and due to large swamps carbonate sediment moved into the oceans.
Is Ha Long Bay formed by a volcano?
The bay is sculptured by tectonic movement, not volcanic activity as many have been mistaken. Ha Long Bay today is the result of long-term geological evolution, influenced by many factors.
What does Ha Long Bay mean in Vietnamese?
Ha Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long, IPA: [vînˀ hâːˀ lawŋm] (listen)) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The name Hạ Long means "descending dragon". Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and is a part of Van Don District.
How did Ha Long Bay change over time?
This process of erosion by seawater has deeply engraved the stone, contributing to its fantastic beauty. Present-day Ha Long Bay is the result of this long process of geological evolution that has been influenced by so many factors.
When was Halong Bay formed?
roughly 8,000 years agoMillions of years of erosion have reduced them to their present size. According to researchers and respected geologists, the Halong bay we see now was formed roughly 8,000 years ago dating back to a period in our Earth's history called 'The Middle Holocene Transgression'.
What is the geomorphic process of Halong Bay?
The geomorphology of Ha Long Bay is known as a drowned karst landscape due to the exceptional combination of its limestone karst features which have been subject to repeated regression and transgression of the sea over geological time.
How long did it take for Halong Bay to form?
500 million yearsHalong historical development. Halong bay not only underwent 500 million years of geological development but witnessed a remarkable historical development as well. Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands of years ago.
What is the history of Halong Bay?
In Vietnamese, Ha Long means “descending dragon.” Dragons play a prominent role in Vietnamese culture, and the most popular legend has it that one such creature and her children descended from heaven to defend the Viet people from invaders, spraying fire and emeralds or jade. She and her children then stayed on Earth.
How deep is the water in Halong Bay?
33 feetHalong Bay has an area of 1553 km² and coastline spanning 120 km. The bay is relatively shallow with its deepest depth measuring at 33 feet (10 metres).
Can you swim in Halong Bay?
Halong Bay is said to be one of the best places to swim in Vietnam with numerous beaches. The bay is not only an ideal place for sunbathing with dazzling sunlight, but also a beautiful beach with calm tides, clean, and green water.
Is Ha Long Bay a wonder of the world?
The core area of Ha Long Bay was recognised twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000, with global special values of geology. On November 12, 2011, Ha Long Bay, was announced by New Open World Organisation, as one of seven new natural wonders of the world.
What makes Ha Long Bay Unique?
What Halong Bay Is Famous For? Halong Bay as known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous because its stunning limestone mountains raising up from emerald waters that formed from thousand years ago. You also can have a chance to explore amazing caves as well as the culture of Ha Long.
What is cool about Ha Long Bay?
Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence.
What does Ha Long mean?
Last updated on. December 24, 2018. Halong Bay is a famous destination in Vietnam and all over the world. Halong together means descending dragon in which Ha means descend or land; Long mean dragon. Halong can be pronounced as “Ha Long”.
How has Halong Bay changed over time?
Up to 500 million years ago, the bay was just part of the ocean, but this during the Carboniferous and Permian periods, around 340-250 million years ago. The area of the bay then underwent a change from deep waters to shallow ones as a result of tectonic movement that lifted the whole area.
What is Ha Long Bay used for?
As late as the 19th century the bay was used by Chinese and Vietnamese pirates, but in the 20th century human occupation of the islands in Ha Long Bay was relatively limited. There is a substantial population along the coastline that relies on the bay for shipping and fishing.
How has Halong Bay changed over time?
Up to 500 million years ago, the bay was just part of the ocean, but this during the Carboniferous and Permian periods, around 340-250 million years ago. The area of the bay then underwent a change from deep waters to shallow ones as a result of tectonic movement that lifted the whole area.
What are the Ha Long Bay islands made of?
limestoneHa Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars.
Is Halong Bay a coastline?
Halong Bay borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland, creating a 120 km coastline and today there are many luxury Halong bay cruises in Cat Ba and Van Don port. Halong Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names.
Where is Ha Long Bay located?
Ha Long Bay, Vietnamese Vinh Ha Long (“Where the Dragon Descends to the Sea”), bay on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Tonkin, near the city of Ha Long (Hong Gai), Quang Ninh province, northern Vietnam.
How did Halong Bay form?from goteamjosh.com
The formation of Halong Bay took place millions of years ago in the deep sea with tectonic shifts drastically changing the topography of the area and eventually pushing many of the limestone pillars out of the sea. This, in addition to millions of years of erosion, a warm climate and other factors contributed to the beautiful landscape that we can enjoy today.
When was Halong Bay discovered?from goteamjosh.com
With thousands of towering pillars rising out of the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is home to a wide variety of ancient geology that dates back as far as the Cambrian Period (570,000,000 - 500,000,000 BC).
What is the Halong Bay?from goteamjosh.com
Halong Bay is home to thousands of iconic towering limestone karst islets, impressive caves, beaches, floating villages and impressive bio and geo-diversity that has been crafted by nature over the past twenty million years.
How many people live in Halong Bay?from goteamjosh.com
While there is evidence of prehistoric human settlements in the area, today Halong Bay is home to a community of about 1,600 people spread between four different floating fishing villages where fishing and aquaculture are their main source of income.
What did the dragons do in the sky?from goteamjosh.com
Appearing in the sky, instead of breathing fire and murdering everyone, the dragons began spitting out pieces of jewels and jade, which miraculously transformed into islands and islets in the bay that formed a great wall against the invaders.
How was Ha Long created?from originvietnam.com
The phrase “ Ha Long ” which means “ descending dragon ” is why it’s referred to as so. The geological purpose of it being created by tens of millions of years of mountain formation , encroaching sea and tectonic plate actions is equally awe inspiring.
What was Vietnam's history like?from goteamjosh.com
According to local legends, Vietnam’s early history was quite similar to what has taken place over the past few centuries - Under constant threat of invasion from all sides, the people had to be constantly prepared for battle.
How long has Halong Bay been in development?
Halong historical development. Halong bay not only underwent 500 million years of geological development but witnessed a remarkable historical development as well. Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands of years ago. Halong Bay also marked important events in the history ...
What is Halong Bay?
Halong Bay “is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. Human has inhabited the bay for centuries.
What is the Halong culture?
Halong Culture is one of 4 important prehistoric marine culture in Vietnam including Halong (Quảng Ninh), Hoa Lộc (Thanh Hoá), Bàu Chó (Quảng Bình), Xóm Cồn (Khánh Hoà). There are about 50 Halong Culture relics which have been discovered on islands of Halong Bay. They all have a typical characteristic of making stone tools & pottery.
What was the first commercial port in Vietnam?
In the 12th century, a part of Halong was a busy commercial port which was one of the very first international commercial port of Vietnam. With topographic characteristics of mountains divided by the sea, calm water, the area became perfect for a harbor to exchange goods.
How do people live in Halong Bay?
In the past, there were 7 floating villages with nearly 400 households. They were born on the sea and live there for their whole life. The make a living by catching seafood and exchange them for fresh water and other necessities . Most of the local fisherman on Halong bay are illiterate.
Why are floating houses still in Halong Bay?
The villagers who wish to keep continuing their job on the sea are allowed to come back. Some work on aquaculture farm and others provide service for tourists. Traditional floating houses still remain as a cultural site for visitors.
Where is Soi Nhu located?
Soi Nhu culture (18,000–7000 BC) Located in Halong and Bai Tu Long are archaeological sites such as Mê Cung and Thiên Long. There are remains from mounds of mountain shellfish (Cyclophorus), spring shellfish (Melania), some freshwater mollusk and some rudimentary labor tools. The main way of life of Soi Nhụ’s inhabitants included catching fish ...
Quick Facts of Halong Bay to Remember
Population: Around 1600 inhabitants living in the floating fishing villages like Cua Van, Vong Vieng, Ba Hang, and Cong Tau.
Geological Formation and Value of Halong Bay
It’s revealed that the geological formation of Halong Bay has the history of over 500 million years. The changes took place between the growing and sinking of the mountain, the marine degradation, and the encroaching sea. In the past, Halong used to be described as below:
The Legend of Halong Bay
The legend behind the name of Halong Bay does inspire and mesmerize the tourists all over the world. Literally, “Halong” means “The Descending Dragon.” Here is the legend of the fairyland for your thoughtful reference.
Great Potentials for Halong Bay Tourism
Halong Bay is obviously marvelous, unique, and valuable. Numerous beautiful words have been used to describe the legendary Bay day after day. So, without a doubt, this destination is the biggest gem that Vietnam has in order to introduce Vietnamese Tourism to the worldwide contexts.
How to get to Halong Bay?
From these transit points, visitors can get to Halong Bay by coach, shuttle bus or private car in about 2.5 hours. The price varies based on different service providers and types of vehicle, with coach as the cheapest option ($5 – $10) and private car is most costly ($65 – $100). All of these transportation can be booked through a local travel agent with a packed guide and details. Also for coach tickets, you can buy directly at coach stations or via online platforms such as vexere.com or easybooking.com, input your information to request for available results. Coach is a very competitive means of transport, but if you’re a foreigner having first time in Vietnam, prepare yourself a bit of local language or stick with Google Translate as the coach staff might not speak English, unfortunately.
When is Halong Bay in season?
Halong Bay is in the nicest weather in September – November, and March – May. This period witnessed a low chance of rain and pleasant temperature, however, it is also the peak season when the bay is utterly crowded and the cost would be higher.
What is the largest cave in Halong Bay?
Sung Sot Cave is the largest and most beautiful cave in this heritage’s center. The cave gathers a tremendous system of stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes, presenting the superlative creation of mother nature. The trail to Sung Sot Cave is through a forest canopy with rocky steps, making an ultimate excitement when climbing to the top. This place welcomes thousands of visitors every day as a must-visit on your Halong Bay bucket list.
What is the difference between Halong Bay and Titop Island?
The difference is that Halong Bay has more well-known destinations namely Surprise Cave, Titop Island, and is usually more crowded, particularly on weekends. It is, therefore, up to your needs and preference to choose a suitable itinerary.
What is the weather like in Halong Bay?
Halong Bay’s climate during the late spring features slightly dazzling sunshine and gentle breeze, with an average temperature of 25°C. This is also the season of flowers blossoms and spring festivals that provides not only a refreshing atmosphere of surrounding nature but also excitement of exploring local cultures.
What is the climate like in Halong?
Similar to other Northern cities of Vietnam, Halong shares the tropical climate with high temperature from late June until September with occasional storms and typhoons, and strong monsoon during the winter.
What is the Cua Van fishing village?
For many years, Cua Van fishing village has been both a residence of local fishermen and a tourist’s favorite destination. Coming to Cua Van fishing village, you can not only enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of unique floating houses, but also learn more about the culture and daily life of fishermen and women through different activities such as rowing boats, drop fishing, or visiting fish farms in the middle of the sea.
Summary
History
Located within Hạ Long and Bái Tử Long are archaeological sites such as Mê Cung and Thiên Long. There are remains from mounds of mountain shellfish (Cyclophorus), spring shellfish (Melania, also called Thiana), some fresh water mollusc and some rudimentary labour tools. The main way of life of Soi Nhụ's inhabitants included catching fish and shellfish, collecting fruits and digging fo…
Etymology
The name Hạ Long (chữ Hán: 下龍) means "descending dragon".
Before the 19th century, the name Hạ Long Bay had not been recorded in the old books of the country. It has been called An Bang, Lục Thủy, Vân Đồn ... In the late 19th century, the name Hạ Long Bay appeared on the Maritime Map of France. The French-language Hai Phong News reported "Dragon appears on Hạ Long Bay".
Overview
The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1,600 limestone monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Hạ Long area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three larg…
Geology and geomorphology
In 2000, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee inscribed Hạ Long Bay in the World Heritage List according to its outstanding examples representing major stages of the Earth's history and its original limestone karstic geomorphologic features. Hạ Long Bay and its adjacent areas consist of a part of the Sino-Vietnamese composite terrane having its development history from pre-Cambr…
Ecology
Hạ Long Bay is host to two ecosystems: a tropical, moist, evergreen rainforest ecosystem; and a marine and coastal ecosystem. The bay is home to seven endemic species: Livistona halongensis, Impatiens halongensis, Chirita halongensis, Chirita hiepii, Chirita modesta, Paraboea halongensis and Alpinia calcicola. Bioluminescent plankton can also be found.
The many islands that dot the bay are home to a great many other species, including (but likely n…
Awards and designations
In 1962, the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism designated Hạ Long Bay a 'Renowned National Landscape Monument'.
Hạ Long Bay was first listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, in recognition of its outstanding, universal aesthetic value. In 2000, the World Heritage Committee additionally recognised Hạ Long Bay for its outstanding geological and geomorphological value, and its Worl…
Popular culture
In writings about Hạ Long Bay, the following Vietnamese writers wrote:
• Nguyễn Trãi: "This wonder is ground raising up into the middle of the high sky".
• Xuân Diệu: "Here is the unfinished works of the Beings...Here is the stones which the Giant played and threw away".