Story: Nguyen Truong Quy
Photos: Quang Ngoc
It’s the perfect season to explore Quang Ninh – Ha Long, a land of islands, festivals, and heritage.
Composer Hoang Van wrote: “Dear Quang Ninh, in the love for our homeland, there is a heart devoted to you, the place I cherish so dearly…”
Singing these lyrics inspires a quiet affection for this region. It begins with the landscape, but deepens through the local heritage and culture. Quang Ninh – Ha Long holds a special position as the country’s “front porch.” Much like a miniature Vietnam, the province stretches from mountains to vast seas and islands, and is home to diverse ethnic communities and landscapes.
Standing at the center of the province, Bai Tho Mountain bears inscriptions left by King Le Thanh Tong and later scholars. These traces of poetry carved into stone reveal a long cultural and historical legacy shaped by many generations.
Since the region was known as An Bang Prefecture, the sea and islands have always defined its character, guarding the maritime route from the north into the Red River Delta. Today, the province boasts 250 kilometers of coastline and more than 2,000 islands – the largest concentration of islands in Vietnam. Most of them are limestone formations that together create the spectacular landscape of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site famed for its countless karst islands rising from emerald waters.
Bordering the “mother dragon” of Ha Long is the “baby dragon,” Bai Tu Long Bay, along with wind-swept islands such as Cai Bau, Quan Lan, and Co To. Farther east lies Tra Co – Mong Cai, where the S-shaped coastline of Vietnam begins, names familiar to generations of Vietnamese from their earliest geography lessons.
Composer Truong Xuan Man wrote: “Waves echo the voice of the blue sea, filling the sails with wind.” Each locality adds to the area’s distinctive landscape and a coastal culture shaped by the sea and centuries of maritime exchange.
Over time, Ha Long became a beloved summer retreat for people from all over northern Vietnam. When warm weather arrives, southern breezes carry cool air from the bay inland, while the sea offers abundant seasonal delicacies. Onshore, cultural activities and festivals constantly revive longstanding traditions, creating vibrant experiences throughout this heritage landscape.
This summer, Heritage Guide invites you to explore Quang Ninh – Ha Long, featured in our April issue aboard Vietnam Airlines flights.
