Excursions From Hanoi - Halong Bay
Many travelers, whether backpackers or five star tourist, make the the 3 hour journey from Hanoi to one of Vietnam's best destinations - Ha Long Bay.
Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay is probably one of the most visited destinations with in the country. Tours can be 1 day, overnight on the boat or may consist of several nights which include time on Cat Ba Island.
Cat Ba Island is known through out the world for it's rare species of monkey that live in the Cat Ba National Park, amoung many other species and plants. The park itself is a great place to trek and swim.
Below are 8 facts about both Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island, so when you head out there, you wow your fellow travelers or just be a little more knowledgable about your choosen destination!
1. Ha Long Bay is approx 1,500sq km in area.
2. There are over 3000 islands with in the Ha Long Bay area
3. Ha Long means - "where the dragon descends into the sea"
4. Ha Long Bay was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
5. Cat Ba National Park is located with in Ha Long Bay.
6. The National Park has:
- Over 20 types of mammals.
- Over 70 species of birds.
- 745 species of plants.
7. Cat Ba Island is also where the Cay Kim Goa Tree is found. This is the tree that Kings use to make their chopsticks from. If any poisonous food touched the wood, it would turn black.
8. The Latin name for the Cay Kim Gao Tree is Podocarpus Fleuryi Hickel