Halong Bay - Mythological Symmetry or Too Many Haluginogenics

Arriving at Halong Bay from Hanoi is symmetrical from a mythological viewpoint as, whilst Hanoi appropriately means “upwardly mobile” dragon, Halong means “descending dragon”. The ancients must have had vivid imaginations – either that or they were under the effects of too much of the local wine. In order to give this additional effects the Vietnamese marinade venomous snakes in it. Maybe the otherworldly properties of these toxins account for their ancestors seeing dragons all over the place. Halong Bay has recently been hyped so much that it is difficult for the place to live up to some visitors’ inflated expectations, but it is still relatively unspoiled and is a unique place which possesses a rare and quintessentially Oriental beauty.

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