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There is a Vietnamese fable about the creation
of Halong Bay. It says that the gods, seeing an
invading Navy approaching the bay, sent down dragons
to drive off the invaders and protect the local
people. The gigantic behemoths smashed up the
rocks around the bay with their tails and stopped
the attack - leaving behind over three thousand
rocky islands and outcroppings straggled across
the bay. 
Science, however, says that the limestone and
dolomite karsts were created by the twin powers
of wind and seawater eroding the rock over a period
of millions of years - which sounds almost as
impressive as the dragon theory.
Whichever you choose to believe, the rocks of
Halong Bay, scattered over 1,500 square km, are
a remarkable natural wonder, which is why UNESCO
was prompted to name it one of its World Nature
Heritage sites in 1994. Several of the karsts
are hollow and are riddled with caves and grottoes,
some of which have been turned into Buddhist shrines,
while others are studies in the wonderment of
nature alone. From outside the different shapes
and sizes of the karsts and islands have inspired
local fisherman to give many of them names for
the animals and objects they most closely represent.
Crocodile, Dragon, Elephant, Fighting Cock, Head
of Buffalo, Neck of Horse, Black Cloud and Teapot,
among others, can
The area has also played host to two major Vietnamese
sea victories, in the 10 and 13th centuries, against
large Chinese navies of several hundred vessels.
As the navies approached the estuary to the Bac
Dang River, their ships were wrecked upon thousands
of submerged, iron-tipped, spikes - like the teeth
of a dragon |
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