NORTHEAST VIETNAM 133 Bay Halong Bay © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Lan Ha Cat Ba Island Cao Bang Park Ba Be National BEST TIME TO VISIT: MAR–MAY & SEP–NOV MAR–MAY BEST TIME TO VISIT: Cao Halong Halong Cat Ba ( p162 ) ( p152 ), an emerging area of gor- area ), an emerging p152 ( Ba Be National Park ( p146 ), which has superb hiking, p146 ( ( p158 ) and the province’s waterfalls, ) and the province’s p158 ( ( p139 ) on a cruise through its emerald ) on a cruise through its emerald p139 ( biking and a fascinating national park and spend the night with a local Tay rivers, family in Island Lan Ha Bay geous islands and beaches with superb rock climbing, sailing and kayaking Bay and limestone islands waters Bang lakes and historic sights caves,
Board a boat to glide through lakes and Check out the crazy karst scenery of Get right off the tourist trail in undeveloped outdoors on into the great Delve the supernatural beauty of Discover ELEVATION: 0–1980M ELEVATION:
HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS
This area is also a popular route for travelling overland between China and Vietnam and and Vietnam between China overland for travelling is also a popular route area This Looming above the coast, the brooding mountains of the northeast the coast, the brooding mountains of the another world are Looming above Bizarre but beautiful, Halong Bay is geology gone wild, with thousands of limestone pin- but beautiful, Halong Bay is geology gone Bizarre
there are two important border crossings at Mong Cai and Dong Dang. two important and Dong Dang. are border crossings at Mong Cai there Bang and loop back down via Lang Son to Halong City. Bang and loop back down via Lang Son to Halong you can take in the lakes of Ba Be National Park and the waterfalls around Cao and scenery you can take in the lakes of Ba Be National Park map, this is the region to head for if you really want to explore remote backroads. In a week backroads. remote want to explore to head for if you really map, this is the region some of the most stunning in all Vietnam. With northwest well and truly on the some of the most stunning in all Vietnam. Vietnam entirely. The karst connection continues into Cao Bang province, and the surreal scenery is karst and the surreal The Bang province, connectionentirely. into Cao continues nature’s spectacular show continues all the way to the Chinese border. spectacularto the Chinese border. show continues all the way nature’s world-class rock climbing. East of Halong Bay is the less-visited Bai Tu Long Bay, where Long Bay, where Bai Tu Bay is the less-visited East of Halong world-class rock climbing. island that’s fast emerging as an important base for its hiking, travellers’ biking,island that’s fast emerging sailing and nacles protruding from the waters. Fringing the southern part of the bay is Cat Ba, a verdant the southern part Ba, a verdant Fringing of the bay is Cat the waters. nacles protruding from and waterfalls. and extensive tropical forests, as well as a smattering of interesting historic sights, caves historic sights, caves of interesting as well as a smattering tropical forests, and extensive Vietnam’s most impressive and rugged highland scenery, defined by craggy limestone peaks and rugged highland scenery, most impressive Vietnam’s Heritage site is undoubtedly an enchanting experience. But the region also has some of the region But an enchanting experience. undoubtedly is Heritage site Northeast top ticket World trip through the sublime Halong Bay, and a boat is Vietnam’s Northeast Vietnam Northeast Vietnam NORTHEAST VIETNAM of ( Cambodia p156 of). Thousands ethnic for theiroccupation punish theVietnamese ment occurred wasin1979, inanattempt to the northeast.The lasttimesuch anadvance- theydidsothrough upon Vietnam’saffairs, p141. see They were vanquishedinthe10thcentury; andstuckaroundforabout 1000years. BC who occupiedthecountryin2nd century less thancordialrelations withtheChinese, here. Untilvery recently, Vietnamhashad history (andnotallof ithappy)wasmade Much of civilisation. Vietnamese Vietnamese thefertile northeastisthecradleofsea, Dominated bytheRedRiver basinandthe History 134
PHU THO
QUANG THANH Viet Tri Reservoir Claire TUYEN HOA Song Da NORTHEAST VIETNAM Quang GIANG Tuyen Mountain Any time the Chinese wanted toadvance Any timetheChinese
(1287m) HA
Ba Vi Gam 6 River
Hoa Binh OTES ITA • Hsoy ••History VIETNAM NORTHEAST River 2 12A PHUC VINH BINH HOA
National Red Ba Be Reservoir Park Nui Coc BANG 2 CAO
Ha Dong R
HANOI Yen Vinh iver
Phu Thong
Hill Station Tam Dao 21A Cho
Ra Nang
Perfume TAY Pagoda HA River NINH BINH HANOI NGUYEN Na Phac THAI Ninh Thai Nguyen Binh Bac Kan 1A NAM 3 Ha Nam HA Na Giang Nuoc Hai Phuong KAN Ninh BAC Hoang HUNG Bac Cave YEN 5 Hung Yen Bo Hang Pac NINH BAC Giang Bac 16 Dinh Nam Bang Hen Lake Cao DINH NAM Thang Linh DUONG 1B Tra LANG BINH SON HAI THAI Duong Hai Binh Thai Den KiepBac Quang Yen Dong Dang Pagoda Con Son 4A HAIPHONG Haiphong Khanh Trung Lang Son Waterfall Ban Gioc GIANG 1A BAC Do Son 136 Ngao Cave Nguom
Tu Long NationalPark, astunning sceneof Ha anddozensof Bay, beaches.deserted includes the300or solimestoneislandsof Lan liberally cloaked inlush jungle. This parkalso isarugged islandjutting outofBay, thesea, NationalPark, Ba activity. Cat nearHalong all involve amountof acertain water-based The beautifulnationalparksof thenortheast duringthe their thousands summer months. touristsnowflocktotheregionChinese in erably. Bordertradeissurging aheadand of1970s and1980sinsearch a better life. thisregion alsofledthrough inthe Chinese Ntoa Parks National Luc Luc Further northeast, Halong becomesBai Bay Today thingshave downconsid- settled Pingxiang Pass Friendship Beach Do Son
Nam See HalongBay&BaiTuLongMap(p140)
River 4B Cat Ba Island Halong City Park National Cat Ba QUANG NINH Halong Bay Cam Pha C HINA Cai Rong GUANGXI 18 Tien Yen Bai Tu Long Bay 40km 20miles 0 0 Tonkin Gulf of Van DonIsland (Dao CaiBau) (Dao CanhCuoc) Quan LanIsland lonelyplanet.com Park National Long Bai Tu Mong Cai Tra CoBeach Co ToIsland (Dao CoTo) Dongxing Nanning (20km) Island Thuc Vin To