Halong Bay

Halong Bay’s thousands of limestone islands and islets have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status, and seeing them by traditional junk boat is the only way to properly appreciate the scale of it. The islands hide caves, secluded beaches and a handful of floating fishing villages that are still lived in, not staged for visitors. An overnight cruise, rather than a rushed day trip, lets the light change across the karsts at dawn and dusk, which is when the bay is at its best.