Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site’s outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
Criteria for inclusion as a World Heritage Site
| # | ||
|---|---|---|
| vii | To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. | All |
| viii | To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. | All |
Nearby
Sites
| Name | Since | Distance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Pho Co | 2019 | 130.5km | site_ao | ||
| Trompe-l’œil Murals of Hanoi | 2018 | 131km | site_ao | ||
| Vietnam’s Notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton’ Prison | 2017 | 130.9km | site_ao | ||
| Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama’s Dinner Table | 2018 | 130.1km | site_ao | ||
| Hanoi’s ‘Train Street’ Is Amazing and Slightly Terrifying | 2018 | 131.4km | site_ao | ||
| Office Building | 130km | site_brutalism | |||
| Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape | 2016 | 150.9km | site_whs | ||
| Trang An Landscape Complex | 2014 | 144.3km | site_whs | ||
| Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi | 2010 | 132km | site_whs | ||
| Newly found stakes prompt fresh look at Vietnam’s defeat of the Mongols – VnExpress International | 2019 | 45.8km | post |
About the source: UNESCO
Within UNESCO's broad remit, this specialised agency of the UN works towards international cooperation agreements to secure the world's cultural and natural heritage, designating venues of exceptional value as World Heritage Sites.