Print version  Print this page
Share this  del.icio.us digg stumbleupon

Ha Long Bay History

Literally, "Ha Long" is translated as "Bay of Descending Dragons." Prior to the 19th century, this name was not recorded in any mainstream papers or archives. Previously, the present name of Ha Long Bay was often referred to by the names of An Bang, Luc Thuy or Van Don. Not until the late 19th century did the name of Ha Long Bay first appear on a French Marine Map and on an article entitled "Dragon appears on Ha Long Bay" of "The Hai Phong News".

The name of Ha Long Bay is often associated with a legend handed from generations of the local residents which says that: "Long ago, in the first days of foundation, the Viet people were attacked by foreign aggressors. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her herd of Child Dragons to help the Viet people in the fight against the invaders. While the enemy vessels were launching massive attacks against the mainland, the dragons descended in flocks from the sky. They spat out innumerable pearls which changed intojade stone islands the moment they touched the water. These islands linked together to form firm citadels that checked the enemy's advance and smashed their vessels to pieces.

After the invaders were expelled, Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, right at the place where the battle occurred. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed is present Ha Long, and where the Child Dragons came down is Bai Tu Long. The place where their tails violently wagged is called Long Vi, the present-day Tra Co Peninsula with its soft sandy beach stretching over kilometers."