Halong Bay
Halong Bay is undoubtedly Asia’s most enchanting destination, defined by a myriad of limestone island formations rising out of the emerald waters.
Hạ Long is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove forest, coral and tropical forest. It is also home to thousands of plants and animals of numerous species, for example shrimp, fish and squid. Some species are particularly rare and can be found no where else.
With such special values, at the 18th Session of UNESCO’s Council of World Heritage held on 17 December 1994 in Thailand, Hạ Long Bay was officially placed on the list of the World Natural Heritage. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values. This confirms the global premier value of Hạ Long Bay.

Wherever you come from, whosoever you are and however old you are, you will certainly experience the same emotion and feeling when admiring this wonder of stone and water. And great experiences will always remain even when you leave the place. The legend of Mother Dragon and Child Dragons sending out pearls to form thousands of stone islands to stop invaders still serve as the soul of this invaluable heritage of the world.

Cua Van Floating Village
Van Gia – Cua Van is situated at Hung Thang Commune, Halong City, 20km away from the tourist boat wharf, the fishing village lies in a calm bay surrounded by mountain. Cua Van Village has a population of 733 in 176 households. They mainly earn their livelihood by fishing.

There are 4 fishing villages in the World Heritage site: Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vong Vieng and Cap La with a total of 287 households and 1,283 people of which Cua Van is the largest. This is a habitat that has maintained both a tangible and intangible marine culture.

Visiting the village, tourists have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, who live in the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay.

This makes it ideal for anchoring boats here. Their floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc.

The village boasts a training establishment for their children. Over an area of 150m2 lies four classrooms and one small room for teachers. They are the first floating classrooms in Hạ Long. At present, Cua Van has 7 classes, mainly in grade 1 and grade 2. The youngest pupil is 8, while the oldest one is 17. It is interesting to see the rambunctious children going to “school”. Their bustling calling and their flopping rowing liven up the atmosphere of the quite bay. Looking at the small boats driven by tiny oars going to school, and the radiant faces of the children, one feels confident in a bright future for the fishing village.

Cua Van now has become a tourist attraction and has been present in the itinerary of almost all tourist agencies.

Cat Ba Island
Nestled on the periphery of Vietnam's fabulous Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island is big -- over 350 square kilometres, but most tourists see but a sliver of it.
Put ashore during their various Ha Long Bay excursions, tourists spend most of their time in a small area on and around Cat Ba Harbour -- that's where just about all the accommodation is, and across the harbour road, there's a long promenade skirting the water -- in the evenings it becomes a make-shift beer garden, with dozens of places vying for customers to sit at plastic tables and tip a glass or two of bia hoi.

The bay provides a pleasant view, dotted with fishing boats and floating restaurants, and hosting it's share of smouldering sunsets on the western horizon. In addition to hotels and restaurants, the harbour road also features a handful of 'massage parlours' in front of which, would-be 'masseuses' hang out in the evenings, aggressively soliciting male customers as they pass by. A local has informed us that one of these places actually offers real massages. But we won't tell you which one.
At the deepest point of this chamber a "royal garden" appears with a clear pond and a fascinating landscape of small mountains. Many birds and plants (benjamin figs, cycads and centenary banyan trees) can be seen here. On some days groups of monkeys straying in from the dense vegetation of the island might appear, in search of fruit.

The grotto covers some 10,000 m2. There are thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. Light posts line the passage and illuminate the amazing scenery. Spotlights of varied colors are placed in such a way to be unobtrusive and add to the enchantment of the grotto.

The 30-meter high roof of the grotto, the walls and innumerable cracks and crevices are evidence of millions of years of spectacular natural creation. Close to the exit a mammoth formation stretches from floor to ceiling, tapering at the center to form a concave pillar that appears to be keeping the ceiling in place. Walking through the cave ones imagination can run wild conjuring up all kinds of fantastic creatures and fanciful creations.

And of course, as always here in Vietnam, there are legends! One such involves a rock which seems to form the shape of a horse and a long sword. As the legend goes, Thánh Gióng (Saint Gióng) helped the people of the area to chase away evil spirits and demons. After this feat, Saint Gióng flew to heaven, leaving a stone horse and sword behind to guarantee the demons did not dare to return.

Titove Islet
On November 22, 1962, this tiny island had the honor of receiving a visit from cosmonaut Ghermann Titop, a hero of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by President Ho Chi Minh. To mark the significance of their visit, Uncle Ho named it Ti Top Island. The island is a very popular stopover for visitors cruising Halong Bay.

The beach on the island takes the shape of a half-moon crescent encompassing half of the island. A bit small though it might be, it wins kudos for its quiet and airy atmosphere, its clean white sand and clear waters, as well as its alluring landscape. The beach is ideal for swimming nearly year round, as even in winter the water temperature is still a pleasant 65-70 degrees F.

However, perhaps the island’s real attraction is the pagoda-styled lookout point its peak. After climbing the 427 stone steps winding up the mountain one is treated to a most incredible 360 degree view of Halong Bay. For those who tire out before reaching the summit there is a spacious lookout point half way up as well.