Ha Long Bay is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its aesthetic and geomorphological value. Located on the northeastern coast of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay has a vast area of up to 1553km², with about 1969 limestone islands, each island is a natural work of art, rising from the shallow water, creating a lively and colorful picture.
Ha Long Bay is surrounded by Ha Long City to the north, the vast waters of the Gulf of Tonkin to the south, Cat Ba Island to the west, and sandstone islands to the east. The caves here, once explored by British and French expeditions, are valuable cultural heritages, containing the secrets of geological and cultural history.
Geological Formation and History of Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is composed of limestone formations dating back to the Carboniferous and Permian periods, with a thickness of over 1000 meters. This light gray limestone, both sturdy and smooth, provides ideal conditions for the formation of the characteristic karst topography. The thickness of the limestone layers varies from 500 mm to 5 meters, often separated by thin shale layers. Chert appears sporadically in small quantities, while dolomitization occurs unevenly in some areas.
These limestone formations extend throughout the bay, primarily tilting westward. However, their structure is more complex due to the influence of north-south trending faults. Cat Ba Island stands out with its gently sloping limestone hills, formed mainly from thinner Carboniferous limestone layers, distinct from the thicker limestone that forms the bay’s foundation. Small karst areas in the eastern part of the bay are formed on Devonian limestone, interspersed within sandstone formations.
In the northern mainland of Ha Long Bay, Triassic coal layers are found, complexly folded and containing anthracite coal seams up to 50 meters thick, currently being mined from open pits. The boundary between the coal mines and limestone runs almost parallel to the coastline, and this area is also heavily influenced by faulting. The geological structure of the limestone in the bay is intricate, evident in the flooded valleys between the islands, formed by faults. Although the rock layers in the eastern part of the bay are nearly horizontal, they tilt at various angles elsewhere, and small folds also appear in the western part of the bay. However, the geological structure doesn’t seem to significantly impact the karst morphology, as the curves of the hills on the islands are largely independent of the inclination of the limestone layers.
Famous islands and caves of Ha Long Bay
Over millions of years, weathering and erosion by wind and water have transformed the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay into natural masterpieces with a variety of fantastic and majestic shapes. Erosion has not only created unique forms but also vast, shimmering caves, adding to the mystical beauty of the bay.
Fishing Villages in Ha Long Bay
There are four fishing communities residing in the bay, consisting of approximately 400 households with a total population of around 1,000 people. These fishermen live on boats and floating wooden houses in the core area of Ha Long Bay, tens of kilometers away from the mainland. They do not own land or houses, and their main livelihood is fishing and aquaculture.
1. Cua Van Fishing Village: The Oldest and Most Famous Fishing Village in Ha Long
Cua Van Fishing Village is located in Hung Thang commune, in the center of Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province, about 20km from the mainland. This fishing village has been voted one of the 16 most beautiful villages in the world. There are many interesting activities here such as fishing, boating, watching performances, singing folk songs, and exploring Tien Ong Cave, fishing ponds, and Ba Ham Lake area…
Cua Van Fishing Village is the descendant of two historical fishing villages, Truc Vong and Giang Vong. It is home to 176 fishing households. The floating houses on the water create an ancient and peaceful scene. To visit Cua Van Fishing Village, visitors can rent an overnight boat, then freely explore by rowing a basket boat or kayak.
Visitors to Cua Van Fishing Village will be able to go fishing, boating, squid fishing, and net fishing at night. These are interesting activities that you should not miss when visiting Cua Van Fishing Village. If you are lucky enough to come to Cua Van Fishing Village at the right time, you can also watch performances, sing folk songs, cheo singing, teasing singing… In addition, there are many other interesting things here such as mountain climbing, exploring Tien Ong Cave, fishing ponds, Ba Ham Lake area…
2. Ba Hang Fishing Village
Ba Hang Fishing Village is located at the foot of Dau Go Island, near the Thien Cung Cave area. Ba Hang Fishing Village has beautiful scenery and is home to more than 50 households engaged in fishing and aquaculture. Visitors to Ba Hang Fishing Village will experience the feeling of becoming a real fisherman with activities such as rowing, casting nets, and enjoying fresh seafood.
The reason it is called Ba Hang Fishing Village is that when the tide is high, the water in the cave is full and it is possible to travel by boat through the cave easily. When the tide is low, three caves in the cave will appear and visitors can start exploring. At Ba Hang Fishing Village, visitors can not only admire the beautiful natural scenery but also take a boat through the islands. Besides, visitors can also experience the feeling of becoming a real fisherman with activities such as rowing, casting nets, and enjoying fresh seafood caught by themselves.
3. Vung Vieng Fishing Village: A Fishing Village with a Peaceful and Romantic Scenery
Vung Vieng Fishing Village is located in the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, about 24km from the mainland. With its quiet location and beautiful scenery, this fishing village is a favorite destination for many visitors when visiting the world heritage site of Ha Long. This fishing village used to be a trading route between Vietnamese and Chinese people. Visitors to Vung Vieng Fishing Village will be able to explore Mat Quy (Ghost Face) Island, Bay Gieng area, the primeval forests on Van Don Island, and many other small caves in Ha Long Bay.
Vung Vieng Fishing Village has about 50 households living on aquaculture and eco-tourism. There is a small school for the children of the fishing village. Visitors can participate in activities such as fishing, swimming, kayaking, and enjoying fresh seafood dishes. In addition, visitors can also visit the coral and marine conservation center to learn more about the biodiversity of this sea area.
4/ Cong Dam Fishing Village: A Fishing Village with Many Small Islands Around
Cong Dam Fishing Village is located in the southwest of Bai Tu Long Bay, about 40km from the mainland. This fishing village is home to more than 120 households with over 600 people. This fishing village has many small islands around, creating a picturesque scene. Visitors to Cong Dam Fishing Village will be able to participate in activities such as fishing, swimming, kayaking, and enjoying fresh seafood dishes.
Cong Dam Fishing Village has many rare seafood species such as jellyfish, grouper, tuna… In addition, there are many rare tree species such as oil trees and ironwood trees… Visitors can explore mangrove forests and coastal forests to admire the richness of nature.