Vietnam

Country Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Capital City: Hanoi

Population: 19.5% (2004 est.)

Population Growth: 1.004% (2007 est.)

Currency: dong (VND)

Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language)

Area: 329,560 sq km

Inflation Rate: 7.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 2% (2006)

Domain extension:

VIETNAM MAIN

Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam and is the top tourist destination in the Northern part of the country. Halong bay, in the north, which means "descending dragon. With over 3,000oddly shaped limestone islets, the natural beauty of the grottoes is captivating. Apart from the fact that this is an amazing natural wonder, Halong Bay also plays a main role in the legend of the origins of the Vietnamese. Halong Bay is about 100 kilometers north east of Hanoi and is about a 3,5-hour ride from the capital. Most trips ( day trip or overnight cruises) which costs from $46 USD � $300 USD can be arranged in the many travel agents in Hanoi, the trip value also depending on the budget standard boat or on luxury facilities wooden junk. Trips to Halong Bay can last from 1 to 3 days which are spent exploring the many islands on a traditional junk boat. If you prefer, you can also just be on the boat by day and then stay in a hotel in Halong city at night. Be aware though that this city does not really offer much night life. At nearby Cat Ba National Park you can see monkeys explore caves and swim over coral reefs.