Our ship glides through the water the color of jade, a deep creamy stone green, sailing past Cat Ba Island, home to one of Vietnam?s largest national parks. Occasional ripples cut the smooth glass surface, shimmering as though a million tiny sardines are fleeing a hungry predator.
Hundreds of limestone karst formations look like giant green coated gumdrops dropped into the sea, creating a dramatic watery landscape. Whittled away over centuries by wind and water, they?re breathtaking. Most are monolithic mounds with sheered rock walls shooting straight up. Hardy determined trees sprout from their sides and birds roost on or among them.

We?re in Halong Bay, Vietnam, one of the world?s most beautiful places. An iconic image of Vietnam, this place has serious mystique. With a thousand bays and inlets, our ship chooses a lesser used route sailing through the Thoi Quyt area, past the Coc Ngoi islet and then through the Gia Luan area, part of the Cat Ba National Park.
This popular destination in the Quang Ninh Province, 165 kilometers northeast of Hanoi, is known as the Land of Dragons. According to Vietnam legend, the Heavenly God sent a mother dragon and her offspring to the region to fight off invaders. The flock of dragons spat many pearls into the sea, forming thousands of rocky islands to block the enemy. The attacking ships smashed against the rocks, destroying their fleet. The name ?Ha Long? means Descending Dragon. The name ?Bai Tu Long? means Young Dragons Attending ...