Halong Bay ranks 3rd in Southeast Asia’s most ideal destinations

Located in the northeast of Vietnam, Halong Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story with its thousands of limestone islets.

Touropia said that some of the islands contain lakes while some are hollow, with a colorful fairyland of grottos inside. Four fishing villages composed of floating houses can be found on Halong Bay.

The bay, which spans 1,553 square kilometres and includes 1,969 islands of various sizes, was twice recognised by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000.

In 2011 it was voted one of the seven New Natural Wonders of the World.

The bay is an iconic destination for visitors to Quang Ninh province, with its rich biodiversity, stunning beauty, and significant historical and cultural value.

Last year, Quang Ninh welcomed 7.7 million tourist arrivals. In the first six months of 2016, it greeted 5.4 million tourists, including 2 million from abroad, a year-on-year increase of 52%.