The waters and the several thousand islands in this part of the Gulf of Tonkin have an uncanny ability to mesmerise. Shear cliffs and limestone caves, emerald waters and Chinese junks all provide a relief from the crowds on the mainland and a stunning place to explore natural features. The entire area, which covers 1500 square kilometres, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.

The easiest way to see Halong Bay is by organising a tour package in Hanoi. A bus will take you to the harbour at Haiphong. Along the way the bus will most likely stop off at various designated government tourist shops.

To take in all the sights of Halong Bay and stop off to look at the various caves and grottoes it is best to stay on Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba is the largest of the islands in Halong Bay and development is rapidly expanding to cater for tourists. Cat Ba is 40 kilometres from Haiphong and can be reached at a relaxed pace by boat in about 2.5 hours. The only issue with staying only one night on Cat Ba is it won’t allow enough time to explore Cat Ba National Park, especially if you decide to have a night out in one of Cat Ba’s night-clubs. However, it is probably enough just to cruise through Halong Bay, where the boat will stop at some of the larger caves and at times fishermen will actually come up to the boat to sell their catch.

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Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, My Son is a collection of ruins of the kingdom of Champa. My Son is considered the heart of the old Cham civilisation with remnants of its religious centre still visible. With an Indian influence its history is similar to those of Ayuthaya in Thailand and Angkor in Cambodia. The site was occupied between the 4th and 13th centuries.

Unfortunately during the American War (the Vietnamese name for the Vietnam War) the entire area was extensively bombed and mined. However it is still worth a trip to experience one of South-east Asia’s most historic sites.

It can be reached independently, however tours can be arranged in Hoi An. By taking a tour it will make the whole process easier, but you may be amongst a crowd as buses arrive at My Son at similar times.

UNESCO

Tours

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