QUANG NINH PROVINCE
Quang Ninh is a large province located along the north-eastern border of Vietnam. Quang Ninh is a mountainous and coastal province, with more than 80% of its area being made up of mountains and hills, including 1.969 islands in Halong Bay also. In comparison to other provinces in the north, Quang Ninh has been more under the influence of north-eastern monsoons. The wind blows strongly and the temperature drops to between 1 and 30C. During a north-eastern monsoon, high mountain regions such as Binh Lieu and Hai Ha, Đam Ha sometimes see the temperature drop below 00C. S torms have a large influence on the province, mainly in June, July and August. The intensity can be extremely strong, especially in island and coastal regions. In general, Quang Ninh is a province having good and abundant geography which create great potentials to develop the economy in all fields. Because of its great tourism potentials, Quang Ninh now becomes a centre, one of the important locations of the master plan in developing the economy of the whole country. Quang Ninh is made up of 21 ethnic groups, but only 6 have a population of over 1,000. These groups live in their own communities, and have their own dialects and particular ethnic features.
HALONG CITY
Ha Long City, the capital of Quang Ninh Province, is located by the shore of the spectacularly Halong Bay, covers the land area 271,95km2. And the population is over 221,000 people. Ha Long City is divided into two parts: the administrative and commercial center to the East and a tourist center to the west. When it comes to the tourist center, there are a lot of hotels and restaurants, and a very beautiful natural beach… Two sides are connected by the beautiful bridge, Bai Chay Bridge. The Bridge is more beautiful when you see it from the Bay. We call it Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world, it covers an area of 1,553km2 with 2,000 islands. Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site due to great value of its remarkable limestone “Karsts” landscape and geomorphology.
Market and Pagoda
Long Tien is located right at the bottom of Bai Tho Mountain.Bai Tho (Poem) Moutain lies at the heart of Ha Long city. From a far, the 106-meter-limestone mountain looks like a huge castle with three imposing towers. Its past name Truyen Dang means Light Projecting. This mountain has inspired many poets. In 1468, during his inspection tour to the eastern region, King Le Thanh Tong stopped here. Inspired by the stunning beauty of Halong, the King wrote a poem and had it carved into the southern side of the mountain. Hence its name is Bai Tho (Poem). In 1729, Lord Trinh Cuong composed a poem in response to that of King Le Thanh Tong and also had it carved near the former. The mountain features other poems by Nguyen Canh and some other poets.At the top of Bai Tho Mountain, you feel surprised at the magnificent landscape of Ha Long Bay. In the background of immense emerald waters, of rock bobbing, of high sky, of surrounding flowers and trees, you can figure out the tiny images of boats. Bai Tho makes up one of the beauty spots of Ha Long.
Long Tien Pagoda
Built in 1941, Long Tien is the biggest pagoda and a well-known historical place in Ha Long City. The pagoda is situated at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain in the Chua Long Tien Street, near Ha Long market.The pagoda has original and unique architectural style of the Nguyen Dynasty. Atop the three-gate entrance stands a statue of Buddha in a sitting-position. Below is a bell tower, featuring three words Long Tien Tu (Long Tien Pagoda), flanked by two parallel panels. The main altar is dedicated to Buddha. The altar on the right worships generals of the Tran Dynasty, while the altar on the left is dedicated to the Holy Mother of Three Palaces. It is very convenient for tourists to come there as the pagoda opened on the 24th day of the 3rd lunar month. At present, everyday is a festival. Tourists and Buddhist followers from near and far visit the pagoda for sightseeing, or presenting their offerings ti Buddha. The pagoda gets extremely crowed on the 1st and the 15th day of each month and during Tet traditional holiday.
Long Tien Pagoda Festival
Place: Long Tien Pagoda at the foot of Bai Tho (Poem) Mountain, Ha Long City.Time: The official festival day is on the 24th of the third lunar monthSignificance: Long Tien Pagoda was built quite recently, 1941, and is the largest pagoda in Ha Long City. The festivities of the pagoda are not reserved solely for Buddish faithful, but hold a spiritual meaning for every local.Some locals say that every day is a festival day at Long Tien Pagoda. Foreign and dosmetic tourists arrive for sightseeing, while faithful burn incense and recite prayers to Buddha. But it is on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month that they arrive in greater numbers, and particularly over Tet. When spring arrives, it is the festive season for the whole region. People call Long Tien Pagoda Trinh (Submit) Pagoda. They arrive to burn joss-sticks here first, afterwards to continue on a pilgrimage to Yen Tu Mountain and finally to participate in the festivities at Cua Ong Temple. Locals organized a procession carrying palanquin pass by Tran Quoc Nghien Temple (Duc Ong Temple) to An Duong Vuong Temple in Vung Dang via Long Tien then back to the pagoda. It was palanquins run fast seem to fly past the canal in the tale.
Ha Long Market
Ha Long Market situated in the centre of Ha Long City, Ha Long market is the bigges market in Quang Ninh Province. The spacious has nearly arranged departments and stores, which sell various items of goods, from ordinary to luxurious ones. Most of them come from China. The aqua products are fresh and cheap. Ha Long market is famous for its grill octopus, which any one who comes here should taste to forever remember the flavor of this speciality.