Ha Long Bay: First and foremost, on any Quang Ninh travel to-do list must be Ha Long Bay, presiding over the sky and sea, and registered by the UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage. It’s such a great pleasure to spend a whole day cruising the bay and admire the tawdry and nostalgic charm under the gleaming sun of the Rooster and Hen Islets, Blackberry Islet, Urn Islet or mystic and otherworldly patterns of the Astonishment Cave, Wooden Head Cave or Paradise Grotto.

Co To Island: One should buy a ticket to get straight from Cai Rong Harbor to Co To Island, a pristine and peaceful archipelago plied with dark green perennial jungles and shady, leafy rows of tree lined alleys. Co To comprises 50 islands, of which Greater Co To and Lesser Co To boasting the finest beaches.

Yen Tu Historical and Natural Site: A much loved place of worship and favorite place of hikers, in particular on Tet holidays, is Yen Tu Historical and Natural Site, well secluded on mist clapped Yen Tu Mountain. Standing atop Phu Van Peak and taking a panorama down below, undulating and rippling lines of mountains in the northeast perfectly frame the landscape painting.

The signature cuisine of Quang Ninh is seafood, notably peanut worms, Mantis shrimps, squids, shrimps and crabs… Best treats are squids, notably its signature squid terrine. The terrine tastes crunchy and meaty; every single bite espouses the fatty sweetness of maiden squids used to make the dish. Visitors to Ha Long particularly seek after squid terrine as a gift to their friends and families.

Furthermore, Quang Ninh also boasts other good treats, like wet rolled cakes and squid terrine, “nodding” cakes, Mantis shrimp rice vermicelli… and in particular Ha Long bubble yogurt. The yogurt is left frozen to become creamy and dense, but much stickier, and served with chewy and soft bubbles, and buttery coconut juice. It’s a great treat to cool yourself down amidst the broiling meridian sun of Quang Ninh, as the light and the breezes hover around.