The bay in Vietnam famous for thousands of limestone islands and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is Hạ Long Bay.
Hạ Long Bay lies in northeastern Vietnam’s Quảng Ninh province. Its seascape is formed by thousands of limestone karsts and islets, many covered in dense vegetation and shaped by millions of years of tropical erosion.
The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon,” reflecting a Vietnamese legend in which dragons created the islands to protect the country from invaders. The bay also contains caves, floating fishing communities, beaches, and important marine ecosystems.
UNESCO first listed Hạ Long Bay in 1994 for its exceptional natural beauty and added geological and geomorphological recognition in 2000. It is sometimes confused with nearby Bai Tu Long Bay or Cát Bà Island, which share related landscapes but are distinct places.