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Ha Long Bay is a spectacular dream world on the Northern Vietnam coast.
The name means “descending dragon”.
According to the legend, the bay’s thousands of emerald green islands
were created by a giant green dragon thrashing its way at the sea.
Life on the bay has a rich history.
Most of the islands are steep, rugged and uninhabitable,
but people have lived on and around the bay for centuries.
Caves hidden among the limestone grottos once served as a hideaway for pirates.
But Vietnam’s rapidly changing economy has affected life in this timeless setting.
In 1991 Vietnam opened its border to trade with China.
This introduced inexpensive motors for boats.
The sails of the classic junks began to disappear,
and a new way of life emerged for the people of the bay.
Many motorized boats still raised their sails
as a tribute to the long tradition of sailing.
Captain Not operated one of these boats.
He has been sailing on the waters of Ha Long Bay since 1969,
and has seen many changes here in recent years.
One of the most dramatic changes that came with the new motors
was the creation of these floating villages.
The people here used to live on small boats,
and use the boat for fishing as well.
They would also have a small house on the land.
The whole family would live on the boat
and travel for fishing.
Now the families can stay here in the protected waters
while the fishing boats move around the sea.
They have various jobs in this village.
Some people have vast boats and go the sea and catch fish.
Some people just farm fish and stay in one place.
Another has a business in services.
In one of the bay’s small villages of around 300,
life revolves around fishing.
Most of the fishers sold to the mainland for export.
Smaller fish are used by villagers for food and fish farming.
Most of the homes in these villages are actually small-scale fish farms.
Under the floor board of their floating homes live hundreds of captive fish.
Can has been a fisherman all his life.
Retired, he now farms fish under his bedroom floor.
I lived here with five generations of my family.
When we all lived on a boat,
there was the influence from the storms and big waves.
It made our lives extremely harsh.
Living in the floating villages is much better for me.
It’s better for my health as I get older.
Most people who live here feel life has improved
since the motor boats replaced sailing.
But the changes are not all for the better.
The motor boats are bringing more people,
and pollutions and overfishing are creating new problems.
In 1994 Ha Long Bay was listed as a world heritage site,
an effort to preserve the delicate eco-system
while maintaining a good life for the people who call it home.