Hạ Long Bay

Hello, little friend. Look at my water. It is a beautiful, sparkling green, like a shiny emerald stone. Can you see the big, tall rocks that pop up out of the water. There are thousands of them. They look like gentle green giants sleeping in the sunshine. Little boats with bright red sails float by, saying hello as they pass. It is very peaceful here in my home, a country called Vietnam. I am a special place. I am Hạ Long Bay, which means Descending Dragon Bay.

I have a secret story I want to share with you. A very, very long time ago, a brave Mother Dragon and her sweet baby dragons flew down from the sky. They came to help the people who lived here and keep them safe. The dragons were so kind. They opened their mouths and breathed out wonderful things. They breathed out shiny jewels and beautiful green jade. Plop. Plop. Plop. The jewels fell into my water and turned into all the rocky islands you see today. The islands made a strong wall to protect everyone. That is how I got my name, and why I feel so magical.

For a long, long time, people have loved me. They sail their boats on my calm water and even live in happy little villages that float. They are my friends. Then, in the year 1994, something wonderful happened. People from all over the world decided I was a special treasure that everyone should take care of. I felt so happy and proud. Now, friends from everywhere come to visit me. They love to see my green water and my sleepy giant islands. I love sharing my beauty and my dragon story with them, and I will always be here to welcome you, my new friend.