Bai Tu Long Bay

Vietnamese:  Vịnh Bái Tử Long

There's more to northeastern Vietnam than Ha long Bay. The sinking limestone plateau. Which gave birth to the bay's spectacular islands, continues for some 100km to the Chinese border. The area immediately northeast of Ha long Bay is part of Bai Tu Long National Park Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as its famous neighbour. Indeed, in some ways it's more beautiful, since it has scarcely seen any tourist development. This is good news and bad news. The bay is unpolluted and undeveloped, but there's little tourism infrastructure. It's pretty hard travelling around and staying here, and unless you speak Vietnamese, it's difficult to get information.