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HA LONG BAY

July 30, 2016 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is acclaimed by many to be one of the most spectacular waterways on Earth.  A labyrinth of titanic stone pillars that jut from the water’s surface, Ha Long Bay is a great natural harbor that is home to floating fishing villages and a culture that dates back thousands of years.  The bay is now a favorite stop for cruise ships traversing the orient and Vietnam’s number one attraction.  Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This waterway at the mouth of the Bach Dang River was first discovered and settled over seven thousand years ago.  The bay was an important point economically and strategically throughout much of antiquity.  In 1288 the Vietnamese sank a Mongol fleet here, thereby stopping an all out invasion of Indochina.  American forces mined the bay during the Vietnam War.  The Bay was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Ha Long Bay is one of the world’s most unique places.  It is packed with over 1,000 islands, almost all of which are immense limestone rocks emerging straight up from the surface of the bay.  Each is crowned with thick rainforest vegetation, and many have been partially hollowed out (some quite extensively) to form a series of stunning caves.  Four floating fishing villages make their permanent home on the bay.

Ha Long Bay has been popular with travelers seeking the exotic since the days of French Colonial rule.  Since Vietnamese relations with the west have normalized after the end of the war, tourists have swarmed here from all over the world.  Fishing boats, sightseeing boats and cruise ships all ply its labyrinthine waters.  The intrepid can take day trips out to the more popular islands and visit the areas beautiful caves and grottoes.  Web: www.halongbay.info (official website).

Filed Under: Bays/Fjords Tagged With: Southeast Asia

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About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

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Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

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Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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