Hạ Long Bay

Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam

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Hạ Long Bay, located in Quảng Ninh Province in northeastern Vietnam, is a stunning natural seascape covering about 1,553 square kilometers on the Gulf of Tonkin.

It is renowned for its extraordinary thousands of limestone karsts and islets rising dramatically from the water, many with unique shapes, formed over 500 million years and shaped by tropical climate over 20 million years. The bay includes around 2,000 mostly limestone islands and islets, concentrated in a core area of about 334 square kilometers with high island density, creating a breathtaking and diverse marine landscape.

It is home to rich biodiversity with several endemic plant and animal species and features tropical evergreen and coastal ecosystems. The bay's name means "descending dragon," inspired by local legends explaining the formation of its jagged islands. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a major tourist destination famed for its natural beauty, caves, and historical significance, while also embodying cultural significance through its connection to surrounding cities like Hạ Long and Cẩm Phả and nearby bays such as Bai Tu Long Bay.

The climate is tropical with a wet summer and dry winter, and the bay's tides and salinity contribute to its unique environment.