World Heritage site Ha Long Bay has been ranked as one of the 10 most impressive natural wonders in the world by Live Science, a U.S. headquartered science and technology magazine.
The poetic beauty of Ha Long Bay
About 1,600 islands lie in a bay of 1,500 square kilometers in the Gulf of Tonkin, told the magazine.
"According to scientists, the geological layer in Ha Long Bay was covered with a layer of slow-growing limestone for more than 500 million years, then weathered by the sea, broke up and formed the islands that are today", Live Science noted.
Previously, luxury travel experts at New York-based OvationNetwork named Ha Long Bay as one of the leading 24 travel destinations worldwide for 2024 and US magazine The Travel also listed Ha Long Bay in the top 10 most-visited natural wonders of the world.
Located in the northeast of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay covers 1,550 square kilometers, with 1,969 islands. The UNESCO-recognized area is 434 square kilometers, forming a triangle with Dau Go Island to the west, Ba Ham Lake to the south, and Cong Tay Island to the east.
Ha Long Bay has received UNESCO accolades twice before. In 1994, it was designated a natural heritage site for its natural landscape, marking Vietnam's first recognition in this category. In 2020, it secured a second accolade for its geological and geomorphological value.
On September 16, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee added the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago to its list of world natural heritage sites. This latest recognition brings Vietnam's tally to three natural heritages, five cultural heritages, and a mixed natural and cultural property.
By Phuong Loan
