Factfile
Population: 82 million
Time zone: GMT +7 hours
Currency: Vietnamese dong
Language: Vietnamese
Int. dialling code: +84
Religion: Buddhism
Tourist board
More information
- Halong Bay homepage
- Cat Ba island
- Hanoi
- Culture of Vietnam
- History of Halong Bay
- Getting there - airport parking
- Getting there - airport hotels
- Getting there - holiday insurance
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Recommended by...
Kate Pettifer
Freelance journalist
"Halong Bay, off the Vietnamese coast, is one of the most breathtakingly tranquil and beautiful places I've ever visited. Take a day trip from Hanoi or stay overnight on Cat Ba Island to soak up the natural beauty of the bay's deep green sea and dramatic limestone islands."
Halong Bay - Cat Ba island
Cat Ba island is the largest in the bay, with over half its area covered by a national park. Cat ba is an area of extremely high biodiversity and home to some highly endangered species. The Cat Ba langur is native to the island, and there are fewer than 100 animals left in the wild. As well as a huge array of birds and insects the island is also home to rarer mammals such as the giant oriental squirrel and civet cats.
Recognised in 2004 by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve of the world, Cat Ba is a regular tourist hotspot. Hiking and boating are common activities in the area and the bay is often shared with the local fishermen.
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