Halong Bay means 'descending dragon bay". Legend states that gods sent dragons, who dropped jewels and jade from their mouths into the bay, creating its emerald waters and 1,960 limestone, rocky, topped islands covered by rainforests. Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, features islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets. The region is popular for scuba diving, rock climbing and hiking and were inhabited by prehistoric peoples.
Province: Quảng Ninh
Location: Vietnam
UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: 1994

Most images are from our day cruise in 2019, with a few from our overcast, three-day cruise in 1995 years before the crowds began arriving.