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Most travelers visit Vietnam in wintertime, this is dry
season in the country. Winter in Halong Bay is a really
good time to visit. From December through to late
February every year, the temperatures drop to around 16
- 18???C. The bay is calm, quieter than in the real peak
season, and with little wind, holidaymakers can expect
excellent conditions for cruising. It has become
increasing popular in recent years. This is, of course,
hardly surprising. Halong Bay Vietnam is six hundred
square miles of scenic magnificence. The crystal clear,
blue water contrasts beautifully with the two thousand
limestone karst islands, that pepper the whole area.
Whilst the vegetation is not as abundant as in Spring,
the islands can still look their best. Mists roll in
during the early part of the days and create a magical
ambience to the place. As the boats slip silently
between the islands it really does take on a mystical
appearance. The boats stop off to visit some places of
interest. Sung Sot Cave, the Surprise Cave, is one of
the more popular stops. It's stalagmites and stalactites
have fascinated people through the ages. Now lit by
electric lights, they present an excellent visual
experience for explorers. To gain access, tourists have
to climb up to a high spot on Bo Hon Island. The view
from here at this time of the year is amazing.
It is not surprising that Halong Bay has been rewarded
by some many different organizations over the years.
UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site, because of
it's outstanding natural beauty. It was then voted as
one of the "Seven Wonders Of Nature" in a global poll.
CNN, Time magazine and many other world travel companies
have included it in their top ten destinations anywhere
on earth. The credits continue to roll in as more and
more people become aware of, what used to be one of
Vietnam's best kept secrets.
Tourism over the years has climbed steadily, and in the
peak season the Bay can expect to see approximately 8000
visitors per day. Hundreds of tour boats now work in the
area giving many the chance to cruise round the whole
area in complete luxury. The standards of these vessels
is very high indeed. Following on from safety scares a
few years ago, strict regulations have been put in
place. The old boats are disappearing are brand new ones
are replacing them. Whilst keen to keep the aesthetic
appeal of the old junks, the new ones are built to look
the same. However, these are a completely different
animal. High tech in every way, they incorporate the
very best of safety features and captains and crews are
very well trained.
Halong Bay is quite simply, one of the finest vacation
destinations in the world. Travelers will enjoy it's
scenic beauty, flora and faun whenever they visit. It
makes a pleasant change though, to find a truly great
location, that isn't completely governed by the time in
which you visit. Whether you chose peak season or the
quieter winter months, you are guaranteed to be
completely enthralled, taking home memories to last a
lifetime.
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