For some reason today I was thinking of Ha Long Bay. It’s in Northern Vietnam close to China in the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnamese legends say that the islands were formed by a family of dragons that came from the heavens to defend Vietnam from the invading Chinese. The dragons spat jewels and treasures to form a formidable barrier which are now these islands. There are thousands of little islands here that jolt out from the seas. Within are fishing communities and floating villages. It’s believe that the dragon family still make their homes here and the name Ha Long means “Descending Dragon.” I’ve been here several times and it’s one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen.
Linh Vien Thai is Amerasian, born in Dalat, South Vietnam, where he continued to lived during the war. He left for the U.S. and is now an American living in Tokyo. He enjoys adventure traveling and doing what’s right to make the world a better place.
