Halong Bay overview

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s star attractions. It is a fantastically beautiful, misty region just off the northeast coast of Vietnam that is famed for its karst scenery and recreational activities. People get married, or indeed spend their honeymoons, en-masse in Halong Bay; it is that beautiful. Think myriad isles and islets in aquamarine waters cloaked in a thin veil of mist, and you won’t be far off the mark. Although it is extremely popular and on most tourists’ itineraries who visit the north, only a few of the islands sport any sort of permanent habitation and you can easily avoid the masses. Use Hai Phong or Cat Ba Island as a base and have a go at kayaking or rock climbing.