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About Vietnam
  Sample Tours
 | About Vietnam >> Vietnam's Geography :>> Vietnam's Geography - Islands Vietnam has around three thousand islands from limestone archipelagos to tropical hideaways, clustered in large and small groups. They range from tiny rocky pinnacles that scarcely break the surface to large land areas supporting substantial populations. :> Ha Long bay in the Gulf of Tonkin Ha Long bay consists of a dense cluster of over thousand limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Cat Ba Island, the largest island of the Cat Ba Archipelago, offers some of the most beautiful terrain and diverse ecosystems in Vietnam, including primeval forest, coastal mangroves, waterfalls, limestone lakes, freshwater swamps, and hot springs. The island's abundant fauna includes boar, wild cat, porcupine, deer, and monkey. Ha Long Bay is one of Asia’s most important tourist destinations attracting well over two million visitors a year. However, the bulk of the tourist traffic is concentrated in the central World Heritage Area, leaving the more remote, but equally attractive, areas more or less deserted. Little Vietnam uses traditional wooden boats to take visitors on private cruises that avoid the crowds.
:> Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos - Off-limits to visitors Truong Sa (the Spratlys – about 450km from the Cam Ranh bay and the largest archipelago in the South China Sea) and Hoang Sa (the Paracels – about 350 km from Da Nang) are the subject of a territorial dispute between Vietnam and China. Therefore, they are off-limits to visitors. This is a pity, for both are richly bio-diverse with an abundance of coral reefs – more than 600 in the Spratlys alone. Even more unfortunately, the conflict over its ownership has blocked conservation measures and led to over-exploitation and environmental degradation. :> Nha Trang There are just over 70 islands scattered off the coast in Cam Ranh Bay. They stretch from Nha Trang City far into the South China Sea. A few have small populations, but most are uninhabited. Boat trips concentrating on four of the islands closest to Nha Trang bring you a great fun. :> The Con Dao Islands The Con Dao Archipelago is about 200km due South of Ho Chi Minh City, connecting with the mainland via a boat from Vung Tau, about 180 km to the north of Con Dao, but a new air service has made a visit more straightforward. The main island of Con Son is the largest island, was once a much-feared penal colony until 1975 but is now home to a couple of thousand people who fish, dive for pearls and grow fruit. Most of the archipelago is now a National Park with some good beaches, clear water with pristine coral, lush tropical forest with many flowers, coconut groves, and few visitors are starting to generate interest in visiting this largely unspoilt area. Con Dao is definitely a place for nature lovers, but also an opportunity to visit an unspoilt tropical island before development. There is little doubt that it will soon become a popular destination, so if you want peace and solitude in a pristine setting, now is the time to go. :> Phu Quoc and beyond Phu Quoc is a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand, of the Cambodia coastal line. It is the largest of all Vietnamese islands. There are 99 mountains and hills covered in green primitive forests with majestic waterfalls and babbling streams. The fresh sea breezes and stunning sandy beaches touching crystal clear blue waters make this a true paradise. There are two ways to get to Phu Quoc Island, by air with Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh City or Rach Gia or by sea by public boats leaving the mainland from Rach Gia or Ha Tien.
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