Ha Long
The Descending Dragon
Portrait
Ha Long bay holds around 1,600 limestone islands and islets, the drowned remains of a karst plateau, and the name means descending dragon — the legend has a dragon spitting jewels into the sea to stop invaders. Overnight cruises are the standard way to see it; the quieter Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays next door carry a fraction of the boats.
If you like this city