Ha Long
Encyclopedia
Hạ Long also known as Hong Gai, Hon Gai and Hongay, is the capital city of Quang Ninh province
, Vietnam
. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Hạ Long Bay. It is located at about 160 km northeast of Hanoi
. The population in 2001 was 185,228.
to tourism
, due to the large amount of visitors drawn by the famous Hạ Long Islets every year. At present, Hạ Long is experiencing rapid growth not only in tourism sphere, but as a place upon the main road to southern China
. In 2007 Vietnam-China Business Forum, a $400 million deal was signed to build a highway linking Hạ Long, Mong Cai
and Quảng Ninh.
Hạ Long city is divided into two parts: East Hạ Long and West Hạ Long. The eastern part ("Hon Gai"), where most of the official buildings and industry are concentrated, is connected by bridge
with the western part ("Bai Chay"), considered to be more of a tourism attraction.
There are several good quality hotel
s in Hạ Long city and plenty of budget
accommodation, two hospital
s and several private medical centers.
In the south of the city there is Bai Tho (‘Poem’) Mountain with its almost vertical seaward face, which was widely used by some famous local poets. The limestone peak is rich in bio-diversity and offers attractive views of the bay. There are also such places of interest as Cua Van Fishing Village, Hoang Gia Park, Hạ Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quảng Ninh Museum, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House, Children's Cultural House.
Hạ Long city has an active Roman Catholic Church in its eastern part ("Hon Gai") on the hill near the main post office
, which holds the services on Sunday evenings and on Christian
holidays.
The biggest hotel in Vietnam is planned to be built on the bay, beginning from 2007.
Quang Ninh Province
Quảng Ninh is a large province located along the northeastern coast of Vietnam. The province is home to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site. The provincial capital is Ha Long. Nearly 80 per cent of the province is mountainous with abundant land, forest water and mineral resources. Nearly 90 per...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Hạ Long Bay. It is located at about 160 km northeast of Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. The population in 2001 was 185,228.
Overview
The city's economy has recently switched from coal miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
to tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, due to the large amount of visitors drawn by the famous Hạ Long Islets every year. At present, Hạ Long is experiencing rapid growth not only in tourism sphere, but as a place upon the main road to southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 2007 Vietnam-China Business Forum, a $400 million deal was signed to build a highway linking Hạ Long, Mong Cai
Mong Cai
Móng Cái is a district-level city of Quang Ninh province in northern Vietnam, on the border with Dongxing town, Fangchenggang, Guangxi Province, China. It has a population of about 103,000. It is known as one of the wealthiest cities in Vietnam with the average income in some areas exceeding...
and Quảng Ninh.
Hạ Long city is divided into two parts: East Hạ Long and West Hạ Long. The eastern part ("Hon Gai"), where most of the official buildings and industry are concentrated, is connected by bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
with the western part ("Bai Chay"), considered to be more of a tourism attraction.
There are several good quality hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s in Hạ Long city and plenty of budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
accommodation, two hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and several private medical centers.
In the south of the city there is Bai Tho (‘Poem’) Mountain with its almost vertical seaward face, which was widely used by some famous local poets. The limestone peak is rich in bio-diversity and offers attractive views of the bay. There are also such places of interest as Cua Van Fishing Village, Hoang Gia Park, Hạ Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quảng Ninh Museum, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House, Children's Cultural House.
Hạ Long city has an active Roman Catholic Church in its eastern part ("Hon Gai") on the hill near the main post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, which holds the services on Sunday evenings and on Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
holidays.
The biggest hotel in Vietnam is planned to be built on the bay, beginning from 2007.
Etymology
The name Hạ Long is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese 下龍, meaning "descending dragon." For more about the origin of this name, see Hạ Long BayAdministrative divisions
The township is divided into 20 wards:- Hà Khánh
- Hà Lầm
- Hà Trung
- Hà Phong
- Hà Tu
- Hồng Hải
- Cao Thắng
- Cao Xanh
- Yết Kiêu
- Trần Hưng Đạo
- Bạch Đằng
- Hòn Gai
- Bãi Cháy
- Hồng Hà
- Hà Khẩu
- Giếng Đáy
- Hùng Thắng
- Tuần Châu
- Việt Hưng
- Đại Yên