Halong is a small bay at the western coast section of Bac Bo Gulf, in the northeastern sea region of VietNam. It includes the sea areas and islands of Halong city, Cam Pha town and a part of Van Don island district. Its name have changed over historical periods. The present name of Halong Bay ( Landing Dragon Bay ) appeared in bibliographies and in some French maritime maps only from the late 19th century. Bai Tu Long Bay lies adjacent to the northest part of Halong Bay. Cat Ba islands are next to the southwest part of Halong Bay.

The area of Halong Bay is about 1,500 km2 , including about 2,000 small and large islands, most of which are made of limestone. The core area of the bay covers 334 km2 where 775 islands are clustered. The tectonic movement in the bay, in which limestone was formed, occurred about 500 million years ago under different geographical circumstances. The full tectonic evolution of the karst terrain of Halong Bay took over 20 million years. In this evolution thick limestone was decomposed under hot and humid climate and the terrain was slowly raised. Halong Bay is the center of a larger area with similar elements of geology, geomorphology, landscape, climate and culture.

Halong today

Halong Bay today is a world-famous destination, the symbol of Vietnam tourism. In the first quarter of 2017, the number of visitors to Halong Bay reached 928,900 people (Quang Ninh Newspaper).
Halong belongs to Quang Ninh province, bordered on the south and southeast by the Gulf of Tonkin, on the north by China, and on the west and southwest by Cat Ba Island. The total area is approximately 1,553 km2  with nearly 2,000 islets.

Halong Bay has gained lots of awards and recognition for its outstanding values.

  • In 1962 the ministry of National sports, culture of and tourism Vietnam designated Halong Bay as Renowned National Landscape Monument.
  • In 2011, World Monument Funds included Halong Bay in its list of 2012 Worlds Monument Watch.
  • In 1994, UNESCO recognized Halong Bay as World Heritage Site as it “contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance” (UNESCO)
  • In 2012, the second time Halong bay was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its geological and geomorphological value. 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.