Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi

Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi

Hoan Kiem Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored Sword", also known as Hồ Gươm - Sword Lake) is a lake in the historical center of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.

Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi Capital

The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. Tortoise Tower (Thap Rua) in the center of the lake According to the legend, emperor Le Loi handed a magic sword called Heaven's Will which brought him victory in his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) in the lake and hence gave it its present name (the lake was formerly known as "Luc Thuy" meaning "Green Water"). The Tortoise Tower (Thap Rua) standing on a small island near the center of lake is linked to the legend.

Large soft-shell turtles, either of the species Rafetus swinhoei or a separate species named Rafetus leloii in honor of the emperor, have been sighted in the lake. The species is critically endangered and the number of individuals in the lake is unclear.

The Huc Bridge Near the northern shore of the lake lies Jade Island on which the Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) stands. The temple was erected in the 18th century. It honors the 13-century military leader Tran Hung Dao who distinguished himself in the fight against the Yuan Dynasty, Van Xuong, a scholar, and Nguyen Van Sieu, a Confucian master and famous writer in charge of repairs made to the temple in 1864. Jade Island is connected to the shore by the wooden red-painted Huc Bridge (The Huc, meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge).

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Hanh Grotto in Halong Bay

Hanh Grotto in Halong Bay

Hanh Grotto is one of the longest grottoes in Ha long Bay, lying 9km west of Cam Pha Town. Hanh Grotto seems suitable for adventures. The mouth of the grotto is very low with 1,300m long.

Hanh Grotto of Halong Bay

The entrance of the grotto is at the foot of the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. That's why the French named it "Le Tunnel" or Tunnel Grotto.

One should visit the grotto at low tide and has to go by small boat to pass through, as this is the time the mouth of the grotto appears, and then must know the time when the tide rises up to get out of the grotto. In front of the present-day mouth stands Ba Co (Three Girls) shrine to dedicated three girls who according to the legend often went to the sea together. One day, they caught a pouring rain and took shelter in a grotto. They found the scenery so captivating that they forgot the time of rising tide. Locked up in the grotto, they passed away and became Water God.

Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. The small boat will take you through the stone passageway by lamp-light, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites. To get there, tourists can hire canoes in Doan Wharf (Hon Gai, Ha long City) or take a coach to Cam Pha Town. At the Cam Pha Wharf, one can also hire boats or canoes to go to the grotto. The time for visiting the grotto is from 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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Me Cung Grotto (Bewitching) in Halong Bay

Me Cung Grotto in Halong Bay

Two kilometers south-west of Titov Beach is the Me Cung Grotto or Bewitching Grotto. It formed on Lom Bo Island, and seen from afar, the entrance is like the roof of a house denting the island's side.

Me Cung Grotto in Halong Bay

After a narrow crack only allowing one person through at a time, many partitions appear. These chambers are somewhat small and narrow, but very refined, and with many stalagmites and stalactites bearing beautiful forms.Pushing into the grotto, tourists feel like walking in a palace of a Persian King. Hearing the murmur from out of nowhere, you think that Scheherazade is telling the stories of the Thousand and One Nights for her king.

Threading your way through narrow passages, you find a dim light from afar, which signals the exit of the grotto. On getting out of the grotto, climb up several rugged stone stairs and look down, you see a large round lake surrounded by the mountain. Its waters are blue all year round. The lake is home to many kinds of fish, shrimps, octopuses, algae, see weed, and coral. Lying adjacent to the lake there is an area of old trees popularly known as an alluring "royal garden".

On the island, there are many ancient trees casting long reflections on the water of the bay. They are home to many species of birds and animals (monkeys, chamois and variant). The Me Cung Grotto has been recognized by archaeologists as one of the vestiges of the pre Ha long new Stone Age culture that existed between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.

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Titop Beach in Halong Bay

Titop Beach in Halong Bay

Some 14km east of Bai Chay is Titop Beach, which takes the shape of acres cent encamp passing the island. Small though it might be, it wins kudos for its quiet and airy atmosphere, its clean and clear waters, as well as its alluring landscape.

Titop Beach of Halong Bay

In 1962, President Ho Chi Minh and the Russian astronaut Germane Titop came to this beach.

Hence its name Titov. At present, there has a bar in the island, which also provides swimming costumes, floats, and lukewarm shower. Fresh water was carried to the island from inland. The Titop Beach has become a popular tourist destination.

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Bai Chay in Halong Bay

Bai Chay in Halong Bay

Bai Chay is a large, beautiful, artificial beach, closed to the coast of Halong Bay The 100m-wide-sandy beach spans over 500m. The asphalt road winds its way through the white sandy beach and luxuriant casuarinas.

Bai Chay Beach in Halong Bay

The Bai Chay Tourist Site is fast changing into one of the most captivating of this kind in Halong City. It comprises restaurants, water puppet and traditional music theatres, Hoang Gia Park, water-skiing, and sea motorcycling. The Hoang Gia Park lines along the Halong Road leading from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf to the gate of the Halong Night Market.

According to one legend, when the fleet carrying food for the Yuan Mongolian Invaders led by Truong Van Ho came there, the Vietnamese troops and locals under the leadership of Tran Khanh Du set fire to it. The whole fleet was engulfed in fire. Meanwhile, the northeast wind blew hard and further added fuel to it. Fire was so fierce it burned down the forest in the western side of Cua Luc. Hence the name Bai Chay.

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Quan Lan Beach in Halong Bay

Quan Lan Beach in Halong Bay

This beach lies at Quan Lan Island in Bai Tu Long Bay, between Minh Chau and Quan Lan communes of Van Don District, 55km away from Halong City. Its pristine beauty features unspoiled environment.

Quan Lan Beach of Halong Bay

The deep blue beach has strong waves and white sand, which spans over several kilometers. Tens of meters away from the beach stand the very green wild pines, which further add to its original charm.

The Viet My Company is investing in a system of guesthouses taking the shape of stilted houses, which hide themselves under the lush foliage of casuarinas. A brick-paved road leads tourists from the artery to Quan Lan Beach. Its pristine beauty and pure environment have made it a Mecca for tourists.

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Cat Ba Island near by Halong Bay

Cat Ba Island of Halong Bay

Cat Ba Island is situated in Cat Hai District, Haiphong City. Cat Ba Island is a tourist spot, attractive for its natural beauty and wonders endowed by nature.

Cat Ba Island - Hai Phong Province

Taking a ride on a car or train for two hours from Hanoi to Haiphong, then on a high-speed vessel for another hour, visitors will arrive at Cat Ba Island, the biggest island (100km�) out of the 366 islands on the Lan Ha Bay.

Right from the moment visitors set foot on Cat Ba gangway, looking afar to contemplate the enchanting scenery of immense sky and magnificent mountains and breathing the fresh air from the sea, visitors will feel comfortable and their tiredness after a long trip will disappear. Surely, visitors want to go on with their journey at once.

If Visitors should hire a Minsk motorbike, out of 400 motorbikes and cars here, to ride to any place visitors want to visit. First of all, visitors should rent a room in a hotel, because the hotels on this island are often overcrowded due to the ever-increasing number of visitors to Cat Ba Island, although more hotels and hostels are being built. It is very pleasant to stay in a hotel, whose back leans against the mountain and its face looks towards the sea, and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery around.

Visiting the large beaches of Cat Co and Cat Dua, which are separated by a small range of mountain, visitors can swim in the blue and warm water, so clear that visitors can see the golden sand beneath.

visitors do not want to swim at this crowded place, visitors can hire a motor boat to sail to the small islets, where there are calm and clean beaches, such as the Cat Trai Gai, Duong Gianh and Hien Hao. The mountain adjacent to Cat Co Beach has a tunnel and fascinating caves and grottoes, such as Hang Luon, Khe Sau, Trung Trang, Gia Luan and Kim Cuong. Visiting these caves and grottoes you will get the feeling of the explorers, discovering the wonders and mysteries endowed by nature.

Coming out of the caves and grottoes visitors should spend a little time to contemplate the sunset over Lan Ha Bay. On the golden background of the horizon and the dark blue of the sea, the heaving islets become multiform, the white sea-gulls hover and sea-eagles make circles in the sky, all beautifying the immense and fascinating space, and enchanting the visitors.

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Thien Cung Grotto in Halong Bay

Thien Cung Grotto in Halong

This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Ha Long Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Ha Long City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core.

 

Thien Cung Grotto of  Halong Bay

The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up. According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto.

All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto. In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the “roof of heaven”. From the base to the top, many strange images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum made by the wind blowing through the stone. In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto. 

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Bai Chay Beach of Halong Bay

Bai Chay Beach in Halong

Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Ha Long Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 200C (680F).

Bai Chay Beach in Halong

 

Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarinas trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.

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