Ha Long Bay not only has fairy beauty of stones and water in an oceanic area with four separate seasons but also owns a great system of natural, magnificent grotto system associated with sensational, attractive legends and folksy tales. In addition, there are many other long-standing historical and cultural values that less people know and experience.
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| Ha Long cutural relics |
Ha Long Bay is one of the residing cradles of the ancient Vietnamese people, which created culture bases such as: Soi Nhụ culture that appeared 18,000 - 7,000 years ago, disposing in the area of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long, with relics at Me Cung, Tien Ông, Thien Long, etc.; Cai Beo culture existing 7,000 - 5,000 years with remains left at Cát Bà Island (Hải Phòng); and so on. Especially, Hạ Long culture that emerged 4,500 - 3,500 years ago was divided into two stages. At the early stage, the majority of people community belonging to Cai Beo culture moved gradually to the North-Eastern and then settled at Hai Ninh coast (Mong Cai town today) and they made up Thoi Giếng culture base. In the later stage, parts of Ha Long people immigrated into plain and mountainous midland areas in the North of Vietnam. The traditional occupation of these people was exploiting water. They made original stone instruments like axe and spongy pottery. For that reason, Ha Long cultural base has a really special role in the ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Nowadays, excavation tasks to find out more valuable vestiges are still being performed in order to bring human beings new discoveries from an age-old culture - Ha Long culture.
In the 7th century, the time of King Ly Anh Tong, Van Don trading port - the first commercial port of Dai Viet country was built in Ha Long. The trace of this trading port now can be found at Cai Lang wharf (Quan Lan Island). During a long period of time from Ly - Tran - Le Dynasties, Van Don has been operated with a great size and is the place of trading and cultural exchanging with neighbouring countries: Xiem La, Japan, China, etc. Hence, in the developing process of history, Ha Long has become a cultural and commercial exchanging centre between the old Vietnam and other countries.
Furthermore, Ha Long is also the place recording the hallmarks in resistance history of founding and preserving the country, along with glorious victories on Bach Dang River, Cua Luc and Van Don under the command of national heroes: Ngo Quyen (938), Le Hoan (981), Tran Hung Dao and Tran Khanh Du (1288). The two special resistance wars fighting with France and America are also counted in. As a consequence, Ha Long Bay has got a strategic position in matters of developing the national economy, society, and national defence and security.
Enduring the rise and fall of the history, with a number of changes by time, Ha Long Bay is still imposing among the sky and earth with its own grandiose beauty that attracts plenty of travellers passing by. And especially its cultural and historical values have confirmed true worth of a wonder of nature recognised by the entire world. That is why one poet - cultural famous celebrity visiting Ha Long has uttered: "The wonder risen among the high firmament".
Source: simplevietnam.com
HANOI - HALONG - HUE - DANANG - HOIAN - MY SON - HOCHIMINH
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