Halong Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders and is renowned as one of the most stunning destinations in Vietnam, an absolute must on all itineraries! Halong Bay features more than one thousand limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes. Its waters are host to a great diversity of ecosystems including offshore coral reefs, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forests, small freshwater lakes and sandy beaches. Many of the islands play host to peculiar grottos and caves often with huge chambers and strange rock formations. The bay is about 170 kilometres northeast of Hanoi and 3.5 hours by road.