Xin Chao!! Today we leave Hanoi and drive 3 hours to Ha Long Bay, located in northeastern Vietnam, in the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long Bay translates to “Descending Dragon” and was named a UNESCO World Heritage sight in 1962. It is composed of 1,960 limestone islets, which according to local myth, were formed by a family of dragons that the Gods had sent from heaven to protect Viet Nam and it’s people. When the dragons descended upon Ha Long Bay they began spitting out jewels and jade, that when hitting the sea turned into islets as a fortress against invaders.
During the Vietnam war many of the channels between the islets were laid with mines by the U.S. Navy.
We sail through a heavy shroud of fog that blankets these green jewels. Large jelly fish drift by in the water below and soon small boats are pulling up to the junk to sell sea shells, cigarettes, liquor and all manner of other items. Nothing I want to buy here.
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