Ha Long also known as Hong Gai, Hon Gai is the capital city of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Ha Long Bay. It is located at about 165 km northeast of Hanoi. The population in 2001 was 185,228.
Area: 208.7 sq. km
Population: 185,228 habitants (year 2001)
Administrative division:
-Wards: Ha Khanh, Ha Lam, Ha Trung, Ha Phong, Ha Tu, Hong Hai, Cao Thang, Cao Xanh, Yet Kieu, Tran Hung Dao, Bach Dang, Hon Gai, Bai Chay, Hong Ha, Ha Khau, Gieng Day, Hung Thang, Tuan Chau
- Communes: Viet Hung, Dai Yen.
Ethnic groups: Mainly the Viet (or Kinh)
Halong City, formerly the Hon Gai Town, is the cultural, economic and political centre of Quang Ninh Province. It borders Cam Pha to the east, the Yen Hung District to the west, the Hoanh Bo District to the north and Halong Bay to the south with the coastline of 20km.
The city is divided into two parts: East Halong and West Halong. The eastern part is an industrial zone where most of the province's official buildings are also concentrated. The western part, also called Bai Chay, is the animated tourism zone.
Halong's population are most having emigrated from other places to settle here. Halong Bay is famous internationally, and is recognized as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its thousands of natural islands.
Situated in the north-east region of Viet Nam, Halong bay covers a total area of 1,553km², including 1,969 islands of various sizes. The beauty of Ha Long Bay consists in the forms of its mountains, islands and the color of its waters. While exploring the bay, tourists will feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands whose shapes change depending on angle and light and names given according to their shapes and forms and they are astonished by rich system of grottoes and caves which are grandiose and refined natural architectural creations. Ha Long is considered as a precious geological museum that has been naturally preserved in the open air for hundreds million years.
Ha Long Bay has value of biological diversity featured ecosystems of a tropical ocean region including ecosystem of coral reefs, salt water-flooded forests, tropical rain forests… Many important cultural and historical relics have been preserved in Ha Long Bay area. Ha Long is a home of ancient Viet people about 18,000 to 3,500 years ago and a place of witness closely linked to Vietnam’s history during the feudal period.
Also in the city, there are temples, pagodas and historical relics.In addition to the most active branch of tourism, there are other economic activities such as: trade, seaport, coal, marine products and the production of construction materials.