| ||
| From Grayline Halong's Blog - October 2012 |
Ha Long is the capital city of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Ha Long Bay. It is located at about 160 km northeast of Hanoi. There are four main wharfs in Ha Long: Bai Chay, Tuan Chau, Hon Gai and Hoang Gia.
The city features a typical coastal climate. There are 2 distinct seasons every year, winter from November to April and summer from May to October. The annual average temperature is 23.70C. In the summer, the figure may reach 34 or 38C. In the winter, the temperature may be down to 14C. The average rainfall is high and unevenly distributed in two seasons. Summer rainfall accounts for 80-85% of the total annual rainfall. The highest rainfall is in July and August. Winter is the dry season, accounting for 15-20% of annual rainfall. The least rainfall is in December and January. The average humidity is 84%. Ha Long is a closed sea area that is less affected by hurricanes.
Ha Long city is divided into two parts: East Ha Long and West Ha Long. The eastern part – Hon Gai, where most of the official buildings and industry are concentrated, is connected with the western part – Bai Chay, considered to be more of a tourism attraction. The considerable differences between the two elements, and their separation by a busy vehicle ferry crossing the Cua Luc estuary, made them uneasy bedfellows at first, but time and the imminent construction of a bridge is bringing them together. Although some of the coal mines and associated heavy industries have been moved further east, the commercial nature of Hong Gai is immediately evident. It bustles with life, and is a good example of Vietnam’s emerging industrial cities. A stroll around the market and port is pleasant and informative.
The city's economy has recently switched from coal mining to tourism, due to the large amount of visitors drawn by the famous Ha Long Islets every year. At present, Ha Long is experiencing rapid growth not only in tourism sphere, but as a place upon the main road to southern China. In 2007 Vietnam-China Business Forum, a $400 million deal was signed to build a highway linking Ha Long, Mong Cai and Quang Ninh. There are a huge number of good quality hotels in Ha Long city and plenty of budget accommodation, two hospitals and several private medical centers.
Ha Long City is famous for many tourism attractions. The Hanoi – Ha Long journey just takes about 2.5 hours. The city’s pride is its location facing the World Heritage Area of Ha Long Bay. The main access point is a purpose built wharf to the west of Bai Chay. Its location means that the large numbers of day-trip visitors by-pass Ha Long City altogether, thus depriving the local community of much-needed income. In the south of the city lies Bai Tho (‘Poem’) Mountain, whose name is derived from the several verses carved into its almost vertical seaward face by famous kings and poets. The limestone peak is rich in bio-diversity and offers stunning views of the bay and the red backs of sea eagles swooping below. It's also steeped in Vietnamese culture, not only for its role in wars and conflicts through the ages, but also for its religious associations. There are also such places of interest as Cua Van Fishing Village, Hoang Gia Park, Ha Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quang Ninh Museum, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House, Children's Cultural House. Almost invariably, it is highly recommended for visitors to spend a 2-night trip on a well-equipped 4-star cruise on Ha Long Bay, to spare time visiting famous fishing villages or to take a Ha Long Kayaking.
Recently, Ha Long has been the second locality in Vietnam providing free-of-charge Wi-Fi services after the central city of Hoi An. Over 40 wireless transmitters were installed along National Highway 18A in Ha Long City to supply free Wi-Fi services. Tourists and residents are now able to access free Wi-Fi throughout the city, but are charged for using entertainment services or when exceeding download limits. The supply of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Ha Long is part of a wireless installation project in Quang Ninh province which targets to cover all townships and cities by 2015.
Check out the stunning Gray Line Halong to keep track of not only Halong Bay Cruise activities such as Halong Luxury Cruise, Halong Bay Tours, Halong Bay Junk etc., but also breaking news related to global cruise activities. Contact us to receive best help from our professional tour consultants.
