hanoi ( part 2 of 3)

Town onHalong Bay

Ha Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long) is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

The bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle

vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves.

Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes Cave) is the largest grotto in the Halong area.

天宫洞是下龙湾不可错过的美景之一。

Grotto At Halong Bay

Halong Bay, Thien Gung (Heavenly Palace) Cave

越南 - 下龙湾 , 天宫洞

越南下龙湾天宫洞前的小码头

Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Lake of the Restored Sword, is located in the heart of Hanoi

The lake takes its name from a legend involving the Emperor Le Loi who celebrated his defeat of the Chinese by a nautical gala.

He appeared at the helm of his ship, holding the magic sword which had given him the victory when a giant tortoise grabbed the sword.

Since the sword had done its duty--freeing the Vietnamese from the Chinese, the Emperor named the lake after this event.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Pagoda by Hoan Kiem Lake

Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple Bridge across to Ngoc Son temple

Entrance to Ngoc Son Temple

Hanoi's Old Quarter: The 36 Streets

The Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. The famed water puppetry originated from Northern Vietnam. This is an ancient art form that started with rice farmers who adapted conventional puppetry to the flooded Padi fields during the monsoon season.