Halong Bay has been known for a long time as a wonder of the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . This part of the Tonkin gulf consists of about two thousand islands and islets emerging from the water and stretching for hundreds of kilometers. Its landscapes are unquestionably fantastic.

But today we want to present you an authentic life of the floating villages on the bay which is one of the original features of this place.
The majority of the islands in Halong Bay are in fact uninhabited, there are only 4 floating villages including: Cua Van, Vung Vieng, Ba Ham, Sung Sot ,… which are populated by fishermen.

About floating houses
These villages were generally formed at the foot of the rocky peaks of the bay in order to protect themselves from bad weather offshore. The inhabitants live there in their small fishing boats. These are now pretty rudimentary wooden and bamboo houses. Blue and green are adopted for the walls of houses while red is used for roofs. These colorful houses float on the water thanks to the frames of fishing nets and platforms supported by empty barrels. Fishermen in Halong Bay tie their houses together to resist the force of currents and storms.

Discovering floating life
Fishing is the main activity of the inhabitants of these villages. However, some are also developing fish farming, rearing and processing cultured pearls.. These houses are only supplied with electricity by car batteries. Fresh water is collected from rainwater and by a land tanker. People seem to have a more than normal daily life. There are no department stores. However, there are still small shop boats, cafes, small markets, a bank. And what a surprise, a school is built for children. It is so interesting to see, early in the morning, the departure from school of the bright-eyed children of the village on small bamboo boats. A real village like on main land!

So do not miss these villages during your cruise in Halong Bay. Because once you witness these scenes of life, you will never forget this unique experience.

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