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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
May 16, 2023
By Jinnie Lee
If you have joined the Halong Bay tours from Hanoi, tourists certainly cannot forget the stunning beauty of thousand islands and islets on the bay. Stone Dog Islet is one of the beautiful images and profound significance in Halong Bay, located near Dau Go Cave in the West. Stone Dog Islet has been regarded as a peaceful symbol of tourists' voyages for millions of years. It belongs to an area of 1,969 islands around the majestic Halong Bay, which has been classified as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO twice. Simultaneously, it is an impressive attraction alluring numerous tourists due to its unique shape and legend. Your Halong Bay tours must be incomplete if you do not have the opportunity to admire this unique islet among the 1,969 islands that surround the stunning bay. Let's explore the outstanding spot of Stone Dog Islet with us.
Stone Dog Islet is 8 meters tall and appears to be difficult to see when the boat is cruising from the harbor to the bay area. The picturesque beauty of Halong Bay, though, becomes more obvious as the boat travels by. This rocky islet's unusual shape serves as evidence of its geological rarity. The harmony of the surrounding landscape, the emerald water, the strange islet, and most importantly. They all come together to create a unique, poetic representation of nature that can only be seen in Halong Bay.
The reason why it is called “Cho Da Islet” (Stone Dog Islet) comes from its appearance which looks like a huge dog with its head turning to the sea. In Vietnam, it is common to see a dog acting as the doorkeeper by lying outside the door.
The majority of the traditional temples and the ancient homes in front, on both sides of the gate, have a pair of stone dogs. They either protect the home and keep anything bad or evil spirits from entering or they greet guests and share good news.
The image of Stone Dog Islet standing in the water appears to be a metaphor for the protection and maintenance of the security of both fishermen and tourists visiting Halong Bay.
This image also brings deep meaning, contributing to promoting the values of the natural landscape here. The harmonious combination between Stone Dog Islet and Ha Long creates a romantic view of nature. This symbol has come to the minds of both fishermans and tourists for millions of years.
Stone Dog Islet in Halong Bay
Stone Dog Islet - Halong Bay is beautiful in every season, each season has its own interesting features, however you also need to pay attention to the typical climate of this place to choose the most suitable time for yourself.
Halong Bay has a clear season in terms of weather: the summer is hot and humid due to the tropical monsoon climate; the winter is dry and cold. Summer is also the peak tourist season of Halong Bay, so if you go in this season, you should focus on the following points: You should not go in June – July because this season is the peak season, the number of visitors is very crowded, the cost is expensive, the service price is often higher than usual. At the same time, in these seasons, storms often make landfall, causing danger to tourists.
So from March to May and from August to October will be the best time for you to visit Stone Dog Islet so that you can have an amazing Halong Bay tour at a more reasonable price as well as enjoy the stunningness of the Bay without too much bustling.
There are many means of transportation that take you to Halong Bay easily such as motorbike, car, shuttle bus, train or plane.
Those who enjoy adventure or want to visit Halong for a reasonable price frequently use motorbikes as their primary mode of transportation. If you're traveling by motorcycle, you should have a map or a Google map handy, as well as items like a raincoat, sunscreen, face masks, water, and other essentials to keep you hydrated and prevent road fatigue.
For Halong Bay travel from the South provinces of Vietnam, you can travel by plane, but the stop will be at Cat Bi Airport, so you need to catch a bus or taxi to Halong Bay. This way is only suitable for those who combine the Hai Phong and Halong Bay tourism.
The distance by bus between Hanoi and Halong is 160 kilometers. You can reach here with two directions. The first one is going from Sai Dong along National Highway 1A to Bac Ninh and then from Bac Ninh, following Highway 18 towards Chi Linh, through Dong Trieu, Uong Bi to Halong Bay. The other route starts from Hanoi along National Highway 18A passing Pha Lai, Sao Do, Dong Trieu and Uong Bi towns to Halong Bay.
The best way to discover Stone Dog Islet is to book a Halong Bay cruise, by the way you not only have a visit to Stone Dog Islet but also go to other places and take in the panoramic view of Halong Bay.
When coming to Halong Bay, visitors can not only visit and admire the beauty of Stone Dog Islet but can also visit many other attractive places: Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Fighting Cocks Islet,etc.
In the itinerary to visit Stone Dog Islet- Halong Bay, Thien Cung Cave (as known as Heavenly Palace Cave) is a must-see spot. It is located on Dau Go Island, in the southwest of Ha Long Bay, about 4 km from Tuan Chau Harbor. It is 25m high from sea level. Thien Cung is known as one of the largest caves of Halong Bay, an underground paradise, shimmering. People called Thien Cung Cave because in the cave there is a layer of stalactites emitting shimmering light, inside the cave has a door connecting to the sky, every time the sun rays shine on the shield of the cave, it becomes more sparkling and magical. For tourists who like to experience and explore caves, Thien Cung Cave is a place that you cannot miss. When entering the cave, it is like entering a fairyland full of charm. Nature is blessed with a very distinctive landscape as well as a wealth of enduring historical and cultural values. When you have the chance to visit the bay, you should not miss this location because it offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to both appreciate the natural beauty and learn about history.
Thien Cung Cave
Beside Thien Cung Cave, Stone Dog Islet is also near Dau Go Cave which is a famous place not to be missed when coming to Halong Bay. Nature has endowed this place with a very special natural setting. The cave has a mysterious beauty that attracts a large number of tourists every year. Dau Go Cave is a limestone cave located in the Halong landscape complex, about 3 km from Tuan Chau Island and about 6 km from Bai Chay. Coming here, visitors will feel the poetic, wild beauty, surrounded by mountains, with many natural stalagmites and stalactites.
Fighting Cocks Islet is located in the southwest of Halong Bay, about 5 km from Bai Chay Wharf, attracting a large number of tourists to check in and admire the beauty. Fighting Cocks Islet is the symbol of Halong Bay, from Stone Dog Islet to Trong Mai Islet is not too far away and convenient to move. Trong Mai Islet is a small islet standing next to each other, from a distance visitors will see the shape of 2 chickens, with a length of about 10m. In addition to the artistic values, Fighting Cocks Islet has many other meanings, this is the symbol of Halong Bay and in Vietnam tourism.
Fighting Cocks Islet
Stone Dog Islet - Halong Bay is currently attracting a lot of tourists to visit and admire the magical beauty of Halong Bay that Nature Mother has bestowed on this place. Stone Dog Islet has a special meaning, surely this is an extremely ideal destination where visitors can check-in comfortably, which will satisfy all visitors. Bringing a special meaning and peaceful scenery, Stone Dog Islet promises to make your trip in Halong more fanciful than ever. For further information about Halong Bay tours, feel free to contact us or visit our website.
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