The destination in Vietnam - Da Lat

Dalat and Lam Dong Overview

Being the capital city of Lam Dong Province,Dalat has its own poetic and romantic charm at 1,500 meters above sea level and 18ºC everage temperature. Many of most famous and beautiful lakes and waterfalls in Vietnam can be found here together with hills, pine-tree forests, vegetable gardens and flowers. Dalat has more than 300 French villas scattered on the hills giving it the beauty you can find nowhere.

Unfortunately, Dalat's central feature, the Xuan Huong lake, has been completely drained by the authorities for maintenance. From early 2010 until mid to late 2011, the jewel in the crown of Dalat is now just an empty dust bowl, with trucks full of dirt running through the roads of the city taking the fertile soil out to the countryside.

Located in the Central Highlands region, Lam Dong is a mountainous province, and 70% of its area is covered in forest.

North: Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces

South-East: Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces

West: Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai provinces

The North of Lam Dong is high mountains, the Lang Biang plateau, with summits of altitudes between 1,300m – above 2,000m such as Bidoup (2,287m), Lang Biang (2,167m). The East and the West are mountains with modest altitudes (500m – 1,000m). The South is the transition from the Di Linh – Bao Loc plateau to the semi-flat country.

A panorama image of Đà Lạt city centre seen from Xuan Huong Lake

Architecture

The architecture of Đà Lạt is dominated by the style of the French colonial period. Đà Lạt Railway Station , built in 1938, was designed in the Art Deco architectural style by French architects Moncet and Reveron, although it incorporates the high, pointed roofs characteristic of the Cao Nguyen communal buildings of Vietnam's Central Highlands.The three roofs, said to represent the three peaks of Đà Lạt's iconic Lang Biang mountain, are also reminiscent of Normandy's Trouville-Deauville Station .The station's unique design—with its roofs, arching ceiling, and coloured glass windows—earned it recognition as a national historical monument in 2001. The Dominion of Mary ( French : Domaine de Marie ) Church and Convent , home to Roman Catholic nuns of the Mission of Charity, were built in 1938 with a similar pointed-roof style.

Of particular note is the unconventional architecture of the Hằng Nga guesthouse , popularly known as the “Crazy House”.Described as a “fairy tale house”, its overall design resembles a giant banyan tree, incorporating sculptured design elements representing natural forms such as animals, mushrooms, spider webs and caves.Its architecture, consisting of complex, organic, non-rectilinear shapes, has been described as expressionist .Its creator, Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga (also known as Hằng Nga), who holds a PhD in architecture from Moscow State University , has acknowledged the inspiration of Catalan Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí in the building's design.Visitors have variously drawn parallels between the guesthouse and the works of artists such as Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney . Since its opening in 1990, the building has gained recognition for its unique architecture, having been highlighted in numerous guidebooks and listed as one of the world's ten most “bizarre” buildings in the Chinese People's Daily

Hang Nga guesthouse

There are many the great point that you can not come to visit the Dalat 


Golden Valley


Golden Valley Springs is famous tourist destination with flower gardens and pine forests.Suoi Vang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Da Lat, providing water for the city over the spillway water supply company Dalat.

Golden Valley in morning fog

Da Lat should ever dream dreams and poetry through the cold highlands night, morning fog and strip pine forests around the cities. Attractions Temples and meditation Library

Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery 

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is the largest in Vietnam, inaugurated in 1994, is one of the largest Buddhist building after 1975. Wat is located next to Tuyen Lam lake on a large land area 25 ha. Truc Lam is currently connected to the city center of Da Lat (Robin Hill) with the cable system, transporting visitors back to Zen fromTuyen Lam.From 2005, the government of Lam Dong to build a major tourist area, attracting approximately about 30 investors. 

Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery 

Tuyền Lâm Lake

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is also called Wat Chai Ve because the airport is 49 m long dragon made of 12,000 bottle, porcelain. Wat is a unique architectural mosaic connoisseurs of Dalat. Pagoda is located at Camp Mat, a town center 10 km to the east. 
Linh Son Pagoda 

Linh Son Pagoda was built from 1938 to 1940 due to the contribution of Buddhists, especially Mr. Vo Dinh and Nguyen Van Tien Dung, who received most of the bidding architecture period. 

Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda
Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda was built starting in 1958, the center of Da Lat is about 5 km, is located on a Hill. The main temple has three power 4 m high Buddha visiting from Hong Kong, behind the temple, on the Hill Thich Ca Buddha statue is 20 meters high Radio Chua also called Chua Tau, the system Hue Nghiem Buddhist sects in China. 

Linh Phong Pagoda

Linh Phong Pagoda is located in Hoang Hoa Tham, built in 1944. In temples, there should nun temple also known as unused Women. 


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Indonesia - Padang Bai

Padang Bai sits in the heart of East Bali in the regency of Karangasem, surrounded by hills and on the edge of a small but very busy bay. The main purpose of the town is to service the Bali/Lombok ferries, which arrive and depart throughout the day and night. Consequently, a constant stream of traffic transports people and goods to and from the town.

Away from the port lies a small beach which is home to countless fishing boats. From these boats arrive the meals that many restaurants along the beachfront serve each night. Many fish dishes cost around 40,000 rupiah, somewhat more than other meals, but it is well worth the minimal extra to try some of the freshest fish you may well ever eat. Styles vary, but generally involve the grilling of tuna, barracuda, mahi-mahi or snapper.

Aside from the seafood, Padang Bai offers some stunning diving and snorkelling opportunities. Much of the diving is arranged through dive shops along the beachfront whereas snorkelling can be undertaken by simply walking to Blue Lagoon beach and renting the necessary gear from the beach vendor. Another beach to the west of town offers an even better beach experience and is virtually deserted aside from a few vendors who will make sure you don’t go hungry or thirsty.

Padnag Bai is located about two thirds of the way from Sanur to Candi Dasa down the end of a spur that runs off the main coastal road. There's plenty of accommodation, but most choose to stay in Candi Dasa.


Orientation
Internet facilities are available at a variety of shops and hotels around town. The going rate is 200 rupiah per minute and speeds vary dramatically dependent on the time of day, weather and a range of other factors that one cannot foresee — be sure to check the router is actually plugged in — it helps. 

An ATM is located just outside of the ferry terminal entrance and the post office is just to the west.

Indonesia - Ubud

Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali, lures visitors from all around the world to its enchanting dances, art galleries, ceremonial procession, luxurious spas and divine restaurants. The pace of life in Ubud, set on the dramatic Ayung River, is a sharp contrast to the chaos in the south of the island. Many people spend their days here being pampered in spas, taking yoga classes, relaxing in the town's fantastic cafes and taking the occasional stroll through the surrounding ricefields.

Ubud is a destination where it is possible to chance upon local people participating in ceremonies right on the main road and more frequently in many of the back streets surrounding the town itself. These ceremonies are the real deal and not put on for tourists, although local people are usually comfortable for tourist to look on.



For those not lucky enough chance on an authentic ceremony, it is possible to attend one of the many dance performances that take place nightly in Ubud and the surrounding villages. While these performances are put on especially for tourists, the performers are first rate and it is a great insight into how these performances take place in villages around the island. Shadow puppet shows are also performed at Oka Kartini on Jalan Raya Ubud to small audiences three times per week at 20:00.

Ubud boasts a superb eating scene and many of the best restaurants in Bali are located here. Most are attached to luxury hotels, but others such as Mozaic strike out on their own with stunning success. Further down the ladder of culinary refinement are such popular establishments are Ibu Oka's and Naughty Nuri's where eating with your fingers in less posh surrounds is all part of the experience.

Accommodation in Ubud ranges from simple backpacker digs in family compounds to some of the best luxury hotels in Asia. The diversity of options can be overwhelming and it's often best to set a budget and then look for a hotel that meets it.

Depending on traffic, Ubud is roughly an hour by car from Sanur or Seminyak and a little longer from Kuta near the airport.

Orientation
Central Ubud is usually defined as the area around the market on Jalan Raya Ubud and the road running perpendicular to it called Money Forest Road. Monkey Forest Road of course runs all the way to the Monkey Forest in the south and then loops back around to merge into Jalan Hanoman, which then runs all the way back to Jalan Raya Ubud. Many people don't venture outside of this loop such is the density of activities to be found within it, but there are delights to be found a short walk away on some of the smaller streets and some of them even lead to seemingly endless ricefields that are the stuff of National Geographic photos.

Internet cafes are located throughout town and free WiFi is provided in many of the better cafes. Convenience stores and ATMs are dotted throughout town with a particular concentration on Jalan Raya Ubud near Starbucks. The Ubud Cliniclocated 1km west of the Ubud market on Jalan Raya Ubud is available to assist with minor medical complaints although serious issues will need to be referred to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar.

Indonesia - Seminyak

Seminyak is the village immediately to the north of Legian with a reputation for all the pleasures in abundance to its south, but with a distinctly upmarket vibe. Here the sunglasses are bigger, the dresses designer and the drink of choice champagne.

Seminyak stretches from Jalan Double Six in the south and morphs into the villages of Kerobokan and Umalas somewhere north of the Petitenget temple. 

Fashion designers flock to Seminyak in their hundreds and use this area to showcase their wares with little boutiques lining Jalan Raya Seminyak and Jalan Kayu Aya/Laksmana and Oberoi. Consequently, this increases the level of fashion awareness among the crowds that call this place home and you'll notice plenty of people attempting to uphold their image while slamming back cocktails at one of the many chic bars in town.

The beach here is simply an extension of the one further south in Kuta and Legian, but there are fewer patrolled areas for swimming and there are constant rumours circulating of the latest tourist to have drowned due to the treacherous waters. It's best to heed the warnings of the many signs along the beach to swim only been the flagged areas and ensure that a life guard is on duty in case you get into trouble.

The hotels in Seminyak represent some of the best in Indonesia with the likes of the Legian and Samaya showcasing just how well luxury accommodation can be done. At these sorts of places you can easily fork out in excess of US$500 per night — but these prices are bargain when compared to similarly priced rooms in the West. Despite the abundance of top end accommodation, it is possible to find cheaper digs located away from the beach but they are generally more expensive than what can be found in Kutaand Legian.

A big feature of the Seminyak scene is eating. Some truly amazing restaurants call Seminyak and more increasingly Kerobokan home. Eateries such as La Lucciola and Sarong are top notch while cafes such as Café Bali and The Tuckshop do fantastic coffees, cakes and lunches. The inner foodie in many people will delight at the options available here.
Orientation
The main roads of Seminyak are Jalan Raya Seminyak, which is simply an extension of Jalan Legian further south and Jalan Kayu Aya, which houses a full range of boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Somewhat confusingly, Jalan Kayu Aya is also referred to as Jalan Laksmana and Jalan Oberoi. For the our purposes we use Jalan Laksmana from the junction with Jalan Raya Seminyak down to Seminyak Square, then Jalan Oberoi from there to Kudeta and the Oberoi Hotel and then Jalan Kayu Aya from there on to where it meets Jalan Pettitenget just after La Lucciola. It sounds confusing, but for all intents and purposes it is the one road and takes about 30 minutes to walk from end to end.

Outside of these roads, the area can feel like a bit of a rabbit warren as once tranquil ricefield laneways become sandwiched between the concrete walls of villas and upmarket hotels.



ATMs are available on Jalan Raya Seminyak and in some convenience stores located on Laksmana and Jalan Caplak Canduk. Internet cafes are predominantly located on Jalan Raya Seminyak, but free WiFi is widely available at the cafes on Jalan Laksmana. Medical emergencies are best treated at Sanglah hospital in Denpasar, though there is a small medical clinic on Jalan Laksmana.

Indonesia - Kuta

Kuta is the proverbial jewel in Bali's crown in terms of tourist numbers and is a place where families, football teams and singles come for sun, surf and beer. It's a typical tourist resort town with cheap food, cheap booze and all night partying to keep the throngs entertained after having flown in for a week to let off steam. It's not for everyone, but it certainly ticks all the boxes for people wanting a cheap holiday by the beach while having fun at night.



Over the past 40 years, Kuta has transformed from quaint seaside fishing village with a magnificent palm fringed beach to bustling tourist haven with a good beach. The beach sweeps in a golden arc from the airport in the south all the way along the coast to the north for tens of kilometres.

On the beach are countless trinket sellers, masseuses, food and drink vendors and people renting surfboards. Away from the beach, things become decidedly hectic and the narrow streets are home to eager store owners selling everything from cheap clothing to locally-made handicrafts. Some people find the persistent nature of the salespeople more like harassment and avoid Kuta completely for this reason. Others take it all in good humour and offer a bit of banter in return.

Kuta attracts an amazingly diverse mix of people, but the largest group are probablyAustralians on all-inclusive packages looking for a cheap escape from the cold Australian winter. You'll see plenty of bars and restaurants obviously catering to an Australian clientele and don't be surprised when Balinese surfboard vendors greet you with a "G'day mate!"

Within the backpacker crowd, there is a diverse range of cultures represented and many use this area as a base for learning to surf. Most round-the-world travellers will choose to stay here for a few days to orient themselves and then head out to other areas to discover Balinese culture. Many are also attracted by Kuta's reputation for cheap hostels — while it is true you'll find some very cheap deals, the best ones fill very fast and those left, well, they're not always so hot. If you're arriving in the evening without a solid reservation, we'd suggest you take whatever you can get and look around the next day to find something more habitable.

Set to the north of Jimbaran and Bali's international airport and with equally busyLegian and Seminyak further still to the north, Kuta offers a lot in convenience and location but it isn't really at the top of our hit parade.

On Saturday, 12 October 2002, Kuta — and Bali — hit world headlines for all the wrong reasons. The radical Islamic terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)exploded two bombs on Jalan Legian, first at Paddy's Bar then at the Sari Club. The blasts killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Many were subsequently arrested, with three men receiving the death penalty (carried out some six years later), though many were disappointed that Abu Bakar Bashir, the radical figurehead of JI and alleged brains behind the bombings, got off with a very light sentence.

Three years later, on October 1, 2005, JI struck again, with suicide bombersblowing themselves up at a Kuta Square restaurant and two Jimbaran beachside restaurants. That time they killed 20 people, 15 of whom were Indonesian.

The Monument of Human Tragedy, dedicated to the 202 killed in the first bombing, was built on the site of the original Paddy's Bar. A Peace Park has been discussed for the site of the Sari Club, but has been mired in politics and disagreements between the plot owner and the Australian group that want the park but don't have the funds to buy the land. For now nothing except for a parking lot and a small warung are there.

Kuta is also infamous for its Kuta Cowboys — freelance gigolos (though they reject the term) that work Kuta Beach. Female travellers should expect to be propositioned while on the beach and while they'll generally leave you alone if you make your lack of interest clear, they can sometimes become an annoyance. 

A 2010 film, Cowboys in Paradise in which Balinese gigolos talked of the scene, brought it momentarily to the attention of authorities and arrests did follow, but the hubbub had largely dropped off the front page. Of more concern perhaps, the film talks of Bali's HIV rate as being 84 times that of Australia and some interviewed in the film had been neither tested for HIV, nor regularly used protection. So if picking up a bit of local talent is one of your goals while in Kuta, use protection.

Indonesia - Bali

Enigmatic Bali is the proverbial jewel in the crown of Indonesian tourism. The Hindu enclave has long entranced foreigners, from artists and writers in the 19th century through to surfers in the 20th century and these days, well, pretty much everyone from budget-conscious backpackers through to well-heeled luxury travellers from around the world come to Bali.

There’s a reason the crowds come and it’s this: Bali pretty much offers anything a traveller might want. It’s beautiful, the culture is rich and fascinating, it’s cheap (or at least consistently excellent value for money), the geography is stunning, the shopping eclectic, cuisine wide-ranging and delicious, and the people friendly. In short, Bali is really what other destinations try to conjure themselves up to be when seeking to entice tourists.

The challenge of a holiday in Bali is not to find something to do or hunt down a fabulous place to hang your backpack/kaftan/Louis Vuitton luggage: it’s successfully whittling down the enormous list of possibilities to a few manageable items.

Let’s begin with the beaches. Kuta, a long arch of sand that stretches into Legian and Seminyak beaches, was the original beach of choice for surfers who first started straggling into Bali in the 1960s. These days Kuta still attracts beginner surfers, with its gentle breaks and array of surf schools vying for the attention of newbies.

But people come to just hang out on the beach, swim and party as well. Those seekingbig nights out tend to gravitate to the Kuta/Legian area, with the style of parties tending to get more sophisticated and exclusive (generally speaking) as one heads north toward Seminyak and then to a lesser extent the much quieter Canggu area. Thumping bars, gourmet restaurants and designer shops vie for the attention of the crowds right across this patch of Bali. This is a good spot for families with older kids, with attractions such as Waterbom park and loads of water sports on offer.

Sanur, on the east side of the island, is another of the island’s original beach resort areas. What it lacks these days in terms of trendiness it more than makes up for in terms of easygoing-ness. The beach is fringed by a reef meaning the shore is safe for kids’ swimming, and a boardwalk along the beach makes pram pushing a pleasant rather than frought experience.

From either coast, head up north through patchwork rice paddies to the cooler hills of Ubud, the island’s cultural and artistic heart. Check out the Monkey Forest, a revered temple sanctuary where primates who can be a bit naughty are boss. As well, look up eccentric Victor Mason and book in for a bird-watching ramble through the paddies. Ubud’s dining choices in particular are superb, whether you’re after cheap and cheerful, authentic Indonesian or a world-class degustation.

Cooler than Ubud still is the fruit and veg capital of Bali, Bedugal. Wander around the lush Bedugal Botanical Gardens — where Bali Treetop Adventure, which boasts an array of adventure circuits that include flying foxes, spider nets and swings — and perhaps try your hand at strawberry picking as well.

Across the northern and eastern coast are plenty of opportunities for diving or snorkelling. Padang Bai, Candidasa and Amed are sleepy but pretty resort areas to the east, while Lovina and Pemuteran are lovely northern spots. The west is more remote and rugged, though with some worthy destinations: Balian beach is suited for surfing rather than swimming, but has a sprinkling of pretty places to stay and slip into the quiter way of traditional Balinese life.

To the far south of the island lies Tanjung Bukit, home to plush Nusa Dua and an array of exclusive resorts nestled into cliffs with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean.

Nusa Dua was deliberately developed as a high-end wealth traveller’s ghetto. It mostly is, but the beach is publicly accessible and often you may eat a meal at a resort and use their pool and other facilities — check ahead of time. Other beaches around the Bukit are also publicly accessible and are some of the most stunning spots on the island: Padang Padang, Balangan and Nyang Nyang are all breathtaking. The former two have a few warungs to keep you fed and watered, but Nyang Nyang is a bring-your-own picnic affair with somewhat tricky access.

A must-see (albeit very touristy) on the Bukit is the kecak performance at Pura Uluwatu, when more than 100 Balinese portray the classic Hindu epic, the Ramayana, with dancing and amazing rhythmic chanting. After the dance head back to Jimbaran, where warung after warung sets up candelit tables on the sand and serves barbecued seafood freshly plucked from the waters lapping nearby. Select your own fish, prawns and mussels which are served with rice, vegetables and an array of tempting condiments, light or heavy on the chilli.

Don’t forget to factor in time for a spa visit while in Bali. The spa at Ayana, the former Ritz-Carlton, is repeatedly voted as one of the world’s best and if you have the money, is a worthy splurge. Those on a more typical budget should check out Jari Menari, an all-male masseuse joint in Seminyak, while those on a tighter budget still should book into Cozy on Kuta’s Sunset Road — our pick for Kuta’s best attraction!

A note on tourism in Bali: Record numbers of tourists have been arriving on the island in recent months as memories of bombings targetting travellers in 2002 and 2005 fade, along with the threat of further attacks (though some countries, such as Australia, maintain warnings against travel to Bali). The horrific bombings left around 230 people dead and the tourist industry in tatters.

But these days congested queues at Bali’s international airport, traffic snarls in popular areas and crowded beaches all attest to Bali putting the worst of the aftermath of the attacks behind them. The island is bursting at the seams and the flipside of this is that Bali’s infrastructure is pushed to capacity. With the spike in numbers has come debate on the direction of development: Should more new hotels or villas be allowed? Should new roads be constructed through fragile areas? Pollution — of the air, sea, groundwater, vacant land used as dumps — is on the rise, and old fears that Bali’s intricate, rhythmic culture may disappear in the quest for a quick buck have resurfaced.

If you’re a little adventurous, consider spending some time in Bali and then some time elsewhere in Indonesia, which offers a bounty of other stunning, less touristed islands that could really use your tourist dollar. Lombok, Komodo and Flores, for starters, are all remarkable to see. They’re challenging destinations but more than reward travellers who make the effort to get there; and you my be the first among your friends to actually see some of these islands.

The destination in Vietnam - Ha Long Bay

Geographical position

          Ha Long Bay is located in the northeast corner of Viet Nam, 165 km from Ha Noi. In the Province of Quang Ninh. Ha Long Bay covers an area of 1,553 km² with 1,969 islands, of which 90% are limestone islands. To the west and north west, Ha Long Bay stretches from Yen Hung district in Ha Long city to Cam Pha town in Van Don district; to the south-east and in the south, Ha Long Bay borders the western shore of Tonkin Gulf; to the southwest the Bay borders Cat Ba island (Hai Phong province).
          In 1962, Ha Long Bay was recognized as a vestige and beauty spot of national significances by Ministry of Culture and Information of Viet Nam and was also recognized as a world national heritage site twice by UNESCO organization. The first time, in 1994 for the exceptional and universal value of the landscape and the second time in 2000 for the special value of geology and geomorphology.
          Ha Long Bay’s center area was regognized as a world heritage area by UNESCO and covers an area of 434 sq. Km, including 775 islands, of which 411 are named. It is bound by Dau Go island( in the west), Dau Be island (in the south) and Cong Tay island(in the east).
          A buffer zone lies around the World Heritage Area, the width is about 5 - 7 km from the protection line to the sea , on moving scale of 1-2 km.

Climate

          The  climate of Ha Long Bay is tropical, being wet and hot. It is devides into four  main seasons: winter is from November to March of following year, the temperatures drop to between 15oC - 20oC. Summer is from May to September, the temperatures increases to between 26oC-27oC Two others seaons: Spring and Autumn, climate is cool. The annually  average temperature between 18oC - 19oC.
          Annual rainfall averages from 2.000mm- 2.200mm. The salinity of seawater divides into between seasons: rainy season 21‰-22‰, dry season 32‰-33‰.. The bottom of bay is quite flat with the average depth of 5 -10m, in some parts 15-29m depth. There are narrow passages such as: Cua Luc(20m), The Vang(22-27m) and the others with 9-10m depth. Thanks to the system of islands and islets, the waves in Ha Long Bay are quite light, here is a uniform daily tide vanation of 3,5-4m. The low spring tides in March, April, August and December, the highest tide is in January, June, July and December.

History of the name”Halong”

           The name Ha Long is literally translated as “Descending Dragons”. Prior to the 19th century, this name was not recorded in any documents or archives. When mentioning the present-day Ha Long Bay, old historical books often referred to them as the seas of Giao Chau, Luc Chau, Luc Thuy, Van Don, Hai Dong or An Bang. Not until the late 19th century did the name Ha Long Bay appear on the Bac Bo Gulf (Tonkin Gulf) chart of the French.
          So when did the name Ha Long Bay originate? A legend has been handed down in the local area relating to the name Ha Long Bay, which says:
          “Long ago, in the first founding days, the Viet people were attacked by foreign aggressors. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and a herd of Child Dragons to help the Viet fight the invaders. While the enemy vessels were launching massive attacks against the mainland, the dragons descended in flocks from the sky. They spat out innumerable pearls which, in a moment, were changed into innumerable stone islands linked together into a firm citadel that checked the enemy’s advance and smashed their vessels into pieces.
          After the invaders were driven out, Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, right at the place where the battle occurred. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed was Ha Long, and where the Child Dragons came down was Bai Tu Long. The place where their tails violently wagged was called Long Vi( present Tra Co peninsula).
          The Legend glued to the orgination of children of the Fairy and the Dragon. Dragon and fairy symbilized to the traditional strength of fatherland and the poetic name of this area , which named by the local people. Nowadays, many names of islands and islets on Halong Bay contains Dragon(Rong) like: Dau Rong(Dragon head), Mat Rong(Dragon eyes), Hon Rong(Dragon Islets), Cai Rong anf faraway Long Chau, Bach Long Vi(White Dragon tail).

Tourism

Ha Long Bay has a special landscape with beautiful caves and beaches. In addition, it also store traditional cultural values, historical relics, temples, and pagodas. Therefore it offers many favorable conditions for tourism development, such as: sightseeing, swimming, kayaking, staying overnight on boats, diving, mountain climbing, involving in traditional festivals, fieldtrips, and study tours.