Ha Long Bay (Bay of the Descending Dragon), around 165 km from Hanoi, covers more than 1,550 sq.km with 1,969 islands, including a protected area covering more than 430 sq.km dotted with 755 limestone and schist islands believed to be between 250 and 280 million years old.

The Ha Long Bay Management Board has helped central government and local authorities and relevant agencies issue policies on environmental and ecological protection and tourist activity control in the area and a plan on the protection of Ha Long Bay through 2020. The board has also co-operated with domestic and foreign scientific establishments and organisations to conduct surveys of sea birds, karst islands, sea environments for restoration of coral reefs, and pollution in the bay.

A project on the Ha Long Ecological Museum with the Cua Van floating cultural centre as a focal point has been carried out. The museum preserves nearly 100 items and sets of items, 18 sources of intangible culture, about 100 scientific reports and five documentary films of the Cua Van fishing village's traditions and festive activities.

Last year, Ha Long Bay welcomed 1.4 million visitors, including 800,000 foreigners and earned VND40.7 billion in tourism revenue.