(VOVworld) – Ha Long Bay, Vietnam’s "Descending Dragon", is located in the Tonkin Gulf in Quang Ninh province, about 180 km from Hanoi. Its exceptional scenic and geological values ​​have earned the site a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List twice - in 1994 and again in 2000. This is an honor that only a few places in the world have shared.

One day is not enough to explore Ha Long Bay which covers ​​1,553 square kilometers and includes nearly 2,000 islands and limestone islets emerging from the sea in a breathtaking spectacle. Poet Thi Sanh, who spent lot of time exploring the Bay and who developed the dossier for Ha Long Bay’s first UNESCO recognition, says that a cruise on the Bay gives visitors the feeling of being lost in a petrified legendary world. The shapes of the islands curiously resemble various human or animal forms. Dau Nguoi (Human Head) Island resembles a man looking towards the mainland, La Vong Island Vong looks like an old fisherman, Trong Mai islet looks like a cock and hen. With thousands of rocks resembling amazing sculptures, Ha Long Bay is a masterpiece of nature. Hoang Thuy Anh is a tourist from Ho Chi Minh city:“Viewed from above, Ha Long Bay is very charming. But, on on cruise, seeing up close, the Bay is magnificent. My children really liked the Bay, especially when they saw an eagle flying from the mountain. We had the feeling of being immersed in nature”.

Ha Long Bay is characterized by a bewildering array of caves and grottoes, each of them with its own beauty. Thien Cung or “Heaven Palace”, Dau Go or “Wooden Head” and Sung Sot or “Surprise” are the most famous caves in Ha Long Bay. You can admire various forms of stalactites and stalagmites that are highlighted by the play of light. Do Quoc Hung is a tourist from Hanoi: “It is very cool inside the cave. I like the name of the cave- Sung Sot or surprise. Everyone is surprised at the beauty of the cave. The stalactites and stalagmites are natural but they appear to have been created by humans to resemble lions, elephants and many other things”.

Many prefer to admire the beautiful bay at sunset when it offers a fabulous show. Spending a night on the bay is simply magical. The Bay becomes spooky with reflections of light on the surface of the water. The setting and the sound of the waves give visitors an impressive experience.

With its exceptional beauty and geological significance, Ha Long Bay has twice been inscribed in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Quang Ninh province is submitting a dossier to win UNESCO recognition a third time due to its archeological values and biodiversity.