A tropical wet climate, a limestone base and 500 million years, has resulted in the immense beauty of Halong Bay in northern Vietnam. The area is scattered with around 1600 rocky islets, with evergreen jungles atop and stalactites below.
Limestone karsts are scattered throughout the bay, rising precipitously from the waters, some harbouring caves in their hollow interiors, others featuring their own lakes, and many providing home to a variety of wildlife. Its beauty and geological significance has been recognised afar. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, and was declared one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World in 2012 ( a list with concerns around its voting system but I don’t doubt Halong’s right to be there).
It does not require an inquisitive Hercule Poirot twitching his whiskers to detect that the horizon is spanned with almost as many tourist boats as islets. The crumbling effects of sea water erosion have been key to the mini-mountainous panoramas here, but perched on the immaculate deck of my boat gazing down at the litter bobbing alongside, I fear that we may be adding to the wear and tear. Local government and businesses are working to impose waste regulations and to encourage eco-friendly tourism. Let’s hope they are successful.
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 12 October 2017
Posted as part of Thursday Special
I was been there too. I love it. I made a awesome clip about Halong Bay too. Happy because you enjoyed it.
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Wonderful colours 🙂
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Wonderful images, Debs! I must confess to being more than a tad envious!
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So incredibly beautiful. So you were in Vietnam again, despite the humid heat. I love the photos so much.
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Actually it was my first time in Vietnam but I was there for just over 3 weeks. I did a week in central coastal area and then joined a photo tour in Hanoi and we explored the north. The humidity was tough as was a typhoon that got in my way, but it was still worth doing!
And I’m determined to return to see the south and link with Cambodia
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🙂
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Fantastic photos Debbie. Sunrise is my favourite 🙂
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I was so glad I drag myself on deck early that morning
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So am I
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