Halong Bay islets

[Indochina Sails]

Am Islet

 

On the route to Quan Lan – Ngoc Vung islands; Am Rock or Kettle Islet is situated in Bai TuLong Bay. An island jutting out of the seawaters, the teapot of the Jade Emperor, who accidentally dropped it into Ha Longso, and its handle was broken.

 

Ba Trai Dao Islet

 

This island consists of three small mountains with the height of 23 m, seen from afar; resemble three peaches (Ba Trai Dao). The island connects to a legend of about the romantic love between a youngest fairy who was very pretty with a young and poor fisherman. Because of feeling in love with him, she stole three peaches from Heaven for him, which if he ate, would give him eternal life, allowing them to live together forever. The King of the Heavens discovered the robbery and turned the peaches into three stone islands. Chastised, the young fairy had to return.

 

Today, Ba Trai Dao is a famous tourist attraction with three nice fairy beaches, romantic landscape. It is 22 km from south north of Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf.

 

But Islet

 

Some 30-minute boating away from the Con Coc Islet, on the way to the Three Peaches Islet, visitors see a pen bobbing (But Islet) in the seawaters. This constitutes a monument of knowledge Mother Dragon wanted to pass down to the present-day generations. Lying adjacent to the Pen Islet is a small attractive beach. Tourists can anchor there to take a bath

 

Cho Da Islet

 

In the itinerary of Thien Cung – Dau Go – Ti Top, after visiting Thien Cung and Dau Go, one needs 10 minutes boating to the Cho Da Islet or Stone Dog Islet. Some 8 m up the islet one can figure out a piece of stone in the shape of a dog sitting with its back to the sea, standing guard for the safety of seagoing boats for millions of years.

 

Con Coc Islet

 

Con Coc or Toad Islet is one of the most exquisite works nature has presented Ha Long. Just imagine, an 8-meter-tall toad sitting to wait for rain amidst the vastness of the sea. The Toad Islet lies in the southeast of Ha Long Bay, 17 km away from the tourist boat wharf.

 

Dau Moi Islet

 

Dau Moi Islet lies in the middle of the route between Am Islet and Dua Islet in Bai Tu Long Bay. The islet resembles the head of a termite, a kind of insect often seen prior to the rainy season. Dau Moi Islet is listed in the diversified “animal collection” of Ha Long Bay.

 

Dau Nguoi (Head) Islet

 

From a far, you can see a 25-meter islet, which reminds us of a huge Egyptian head with a big nose. Its chin lies close to the sea surface. Many people associate it with the image of the Egyptian Sphinx. The Dau Nguoi Islet in Ha Long Bay, a masterpiece of nature, has its own poetic beauty as it lies amidst seawaters. The islet lies near Luon Cave, 13 km away from the tourist wharf.

 

Dinh Huong Islet

 

In the itinerary of Thien Cung – Dau Go – Ti Top, one finds Dinh Huong Islet or Lu Huong (Incense Burner Islet) to the southwest of Dau Go Island. Passing the Stone Dog Islet and the Con Meo Cat Islet, one sees an imposing stone slab resting on two other small stones stands blocked the way. The stone slab resembles a huge incense burner, which lies in the middle of the sea as a holy object to worship the Sky and Earth.

 

Dua Islet

 

In Bai Tu Long Bay, some 7 km east of Bai Tho (Poem) Mountain stands a stone islet, which resembles a huge magic wand in Andersen’s fairy tales. It clarifies the geological and geomorphologic significance of Ha Long Bay. Dua Islet serves as an interesting tourist site and a “lighthouse” for seagoing boats.

 

Mat Quy Islet

 

Boating past the Am Islet some 20 minutes, we see Mat Quy Islet or Monster Head Islet, which protrudes about 30-35 m from the waters of Bai Tu Long Bay. Nature has carved the rock in the shape of a monster head, with a rough big nose standing out from a distorted face. From whatever angle, one still find it horrible.

 

Ngon Tay Islet

 

On the way to Ti Top Island, visitors see a stone rock resembling a thump jutting out of the sea. Nature has put the Ngon Tay (Finger) Islet here as a reminder of many interesting extras in the discovery of Ha Long.

 

Oan Islet

 

Situated 300 m away from Bai Tho Mountain and 5 km from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, a 22-meter islet stands out in Bai Tu Long Bay. It has the shape of truncated sticky rice, which serves as an offering to Buddha. French tourists pay special attention to this rock as in 1992; a French famous actress came there to film some shots of the film Indochina. In the island, some settings are still preserved including the stone-paved road to the beach (often called the Slave Pier), the prisons, etc.

 

Soi Sim Islet

 

Soi Sim is an soil island 400 m away from Ti Top Island, and 7-8 km from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. In the island there are many ancient trees. The Ha Long Bay Management Board is going to build a system of guesthouses equipped with modern facilities. At present, a small beach has been improved and upgraded, adding more charm to the attractive holiday resort.

 

Su Tu Bien Islet

 

On the canoe route to Thien Cung - Dau Go Grottoes, one should visit Sea Lion Islet, which is 10 minutes away from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. Amidst the vast seawaters of Ha Long, you recognize a high rock jutting from the sea, resembling a lion stretching.

 

Thien Nga Islet

 

In the waters of Bai Tu Long Bay, a stone islet is bobbing like an alluring and graceful swan (Thien Nga) - a swan losing its herd. This stone swan has taken up countless time and rolls of film of tourist near and far.

 

Trong Mai Islet

 

Trong Mai or the Kissing Cocks is situated on the south-west side of Ha Long Bay, 5 km from the tourist wharf near to Dinh Huong Islet. In a somewhat large expanse of open sea, the island seems to grow up from the bottom of the deep emerald waters. At sunset, the island with the height of over 10 m is bright red and in a somewhat tottery position. Their tiny legs support heavy bodies, and it appears that one strong wave could throw the two stone blocks into the sea. However, hundreds of millions of years have passed, and the Trong Mai is still there. The image of the island is the logo of Ha Long Bay and Vietnam Tourism.

 

Xep Islet

 

Xep Islet or Layer Islet is a huge, multi-layered, square piece of stone which looks like an Egyptian pyramid built in the middle of the Bai Tu Long Bay, Cam Pha District.

 

Yen Ngua Islet

 

The Yen Ngua or Saddle Islet lies in Ha Long Bay, in the centre of the World Heritage Area. Nature has creatively shaped two pieces of stone, one high and one lower, which are linked together to form an imposing rock, looking like a saddle. Boats can go through underneath. The whole rock resembles a sewing machine. How wonderful to have such a magnificent but elegant “saddle”, jutting some 10 m above the sea surface.