(Vietnam). A photo of this natural attraction will be enough to understand why UNESCO in 1994 included the bay in the World Heritage List of mankind. And all the tour operators who send their clients to Southeast Asia repeat with a refrain: “If you haven’t admired Ha Long, you haven’t seen Vietnam!” Well, let's follow the recommendations of the travel agency workers. In this article, we will tell you when is the best time to visit Ha Long, how to get there from popular places to stay and what else to see in the area. The origin of the bay is connected with the beautiful legend of the dragon. The monster lived in the mountains for a long time, until it suddenly became furious. Destroying everything in its path, the dragon plunged into the sea. Now only its teeth-islands stick out of the surface of the water. And the name "Halong" is translated as "The place where the dragon sank into the sea."
Where is the bay
The main natural one is located in the northeast of the country. The city of the same name belongs to the province of Nuang Ninh. And Halong Bay (Vietnam) is part of the Gulf of Tonkin (the locals call it Bakbo) of the South China Sea of the Pacific Basin. Why is this lagoon so famous? Its area is one and a half thousand square kilometers. And over the entire bay, more than one thousand six hundred islands and simply rocks are scattered in a chaotic manner. Some have such a bizarre shape that when you look at them, it seems as if you are Alice, who has fallen into the land of fairy tales. If you swim up to the islets on a boat, then numerous grottoes and caves become visible - with stalactites and stalagmites. There are also deserted beaches, jungles and other beauties. In a word, paradise. And it is recommended to visit here for everyone who came to this country of Southeast Asia. 
When is the best time to visit Halong
This attraction of unearthly beauty never lacks guests. And residents of the city of the same name profit from this, which, with the exception of the bay, does not represent anything interesting in terms of tourism. But still do not forget that this region is North Vietnam. Ha Long in winter is often shrouded in fog and drizzled with drizzle. This off-season lasts from February to early April. And although the sea is not stormy, visibility is quite poor. Yes, and windy, damp and a little cold weather does not have to admire the beauties. And in the rest of the year, the bay appears to the gaze of astonished travelers from all over the world in all its irresistible charm. If you want to combine the contemplation of natural beauties with swimming, of course, it is good to choose the hot summer months for this. But then there is a high chance of rain. The high season in these parts are April-May and September-October. 
Vietnam, Halong Bay: how to get there
The landmark is only one hundred and seventy kilometers away from the capital of the country. Therefore, you can easily go here for one day. Intercity buses run from Hanoi to Halong City. They depart from Mai Dinh. It is possible to leave by train, both regular and high-speed express trains. Another interesting option is to buy a day trip to Halong Bay. You will be quickly delivered to the place in comfortable minivans and taken on a tourist boat to the large island of Cat Ba. The tour lasts over six hours and includes visits to the bay's iconic sights. Independent tourists need to reserve a place on the boat themselves. The ticket will cost one hundred and thirty thousand dong. This price includes entrance to the national park. A taxi from Hanoi will cost fifty US dollars. 
Day trip to the fabulous bay from other resort towns
Many tourists dream of seeing the marvelous Ha Long Bay (Vietnam) with their own eyes. Getting to it from Hanoi is not very difficult. After all, modern modes of transport will help to overcome the distance of one hundred and seventy kilometers in a couple of hours. But is it possible to visit the bay in one day, coming from other resorts in Vietnam? If you are relaxing in the north of the country, in Haiphong or Sapa, then getting to the city of Halong is also not difficult. Maybe you don't even need to go to Hanoi for this. But is it possible to visit the bay from the more southern resorts of the country? From or the city of Ho Chi Minh City, this is unlikely to succeed. At least one day. Is Ha Long Bay (Vietnam) accessible to tourists from Nha Trang? The local bureaus undertake to organize excursions to the fabulous bay for 450 US dollars per person. But often they return the money, because there were not enough people willing to form a group. For a hundred dollars, it is quite possible to go to Halong on your own. But for this, you first need to get to Hanoi. This is easy to do on board a Vietnam Airlines, JetStar or VietJet aircraft. And from there, by train or bus, you can easily get to the coveted bay. 
Halong (Vietnam) Hotels
This town is called the Gateway to Paradise. Doors are like doors. For those who aspire to paradise, the gates to it are uninteresting. Yes, and all guidebooks bypass the sights of the city of Halong with deathly silence. So what can you see in this settlement, built on an artificial dam that connected the two capes? Only Halong Bay! The sandy beaches of the city are bulk, they are of no interest to divers. The city is regarded by most travelers as a place to spend the night after admiring the evening bay. Therefore, there is no shortage of hotels in Halong. You can stay in budget hotels far from the sea or in chic "fives" on the first line. Among the most worthy are the Winpearl Ha Long Resort. If you want to extend your vacation in a fabulous bay, then you can book a hotel on one of the large islands of the bay - Cat Ba or Tuan Chau are at your service. An unforgettable night will be on board a luxury liner (for example, the Signature Royal Cruise) or a traditional junk (Imperial Classic), which is moored in a picturesque place. 
