Halong Bay is renowned as one of natural marvels acknowledged by UNESCO three times between 1994 and the present.

It is situated in the north of Vietnam and boasts stunning and majestic scenery. It is hard to discuss Halong Bay without mentioning the enormous coral reefs that are submerged beneath the water, in addition to its natural treasures such as limestone islets.

The existence of coral reefs is undoubtedly a perfect paradise to explore and enjoy for anyone who is passionate about the beauty of the ocean.

The coral reef ecosystem in Ha Long Bay is home to marine life such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, seaweed, annelids, and sponges.

These reefs provide an ideal nesting environment, expanding biodiversity and creating a diverse underwater habitat.

Coral reefs also contribute significantly to the local economy by attracting tourists from around the world who are curious about the beauty of Halong Bay, especially its coral reefs.

People passionate about the sea flock to Ha Long to experience the reefs, boosting the bay’s reputation, increasing income for local businesses, and creating job opportunities for the community.

In the marine environment of Halong Bay, there exist many types of corals, in which coral reefs are divided into two main groups: reef-building corals and non-reef-building corals.

Therefore, reef-building corals are the foundation for creating beautiful coral reefs, while non-reef-building corals only participate in the reef as members of the coral reef community.

• Reef-building corals: They are usually found in shallow tropical waters far from river mouths to maintain high water clarity and salinity. These corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, which perform photosynthesis to produce nutrients essential for the corals. This relationship allows the coral to use produced nutrients for growth and release into the surrounding water, supporting the energy and material cycle of the coral reef ecosystem. 

• Non-reef-building corals: Meanwhile, non-reef-building corals do not require symbiotic algae and can thrive in deeper and darker environments with little light penetration. In areas where reef-building corals are not dominant, the deep-sea environment is an ideal place for non-reef-building corals to survive and thrive. Although they do not grow as fast as hard corals, they also contribute to the coral reef ecosystem and provide habitats and feeding grounds for marine animals.

To have a chance to experience and admire the beautiful colorful scenery of the coral reefs along with the small animals living and swimming underwater paradise, visitors can travel at one of the following locations:

• Cat Ba archipelago: Located in the south of Halong Bay, Cat Ba archipelago is famous for its coral reef biodiversity. It can be said that Cat Ba is a place with a rich and dominant number of corals compared to other places with coral reefs with 177 species of coral discovered. Visitors can join local tours, such as the Cat Ba tour for 3 days and 2 nights, which offers a chance to explore the stunning coral reefs, kayak, swim, and relax.
• Lan Ha Bay: Lan Ha Bay contains over 400 islets and limestone karst structures. Here, snorkeling allows you to immerse yourself in the wonderful undersea environment and experience the beautiful coral reefs under the water. Visitors who enjoy a One Day tour at Lan Ha Bay will be satisfied by seeing the whole view of Lan Ha Bay, kayaking, swimming and seeing coral reefs.  
• Cong Do area:  This area offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving where the coral reef is almost completely preserved with rare coral species such as red coral, horn coral, etc. In particular, the coral reef here is still thriving and rich, and is also home to valuable species such as Tu Hai, Grouper, Grouper, Mussel, etc.  While specific tour operators for the Cong Do area could not be found, you can contact local dive shops or tour operators on Cat Ba Island for customized snorkeling and diving trips..

Here are some snorkeling & diving tours that you can see coral reef in Halong bay

Azgo.vn Travel

• Phone (+84) 915 955 939
• Email azgo.info@gmail.com
• Website for booking https://azgo.vn/st_tour/tour-lan-ngam-san-ho-vinh-ha-long/

Phuc Thinh Travel

• Phone (+84) 979 089 012
• Email: phucthinhjscqn@gmail.com
• Website for booking https://phucthinhtravel.vn/tour-vinh-vinh-sanho-ha-long.htm

Overfishing and destructive fishing will reduce the number of animals living on coral reefs and affect the ecosystem, causing the coral reef to weaken, making it vulnerable to attacks by other species.

Protection policies are also implemented by continuously organizing regular patrols and monitoring, zoning areas of coral reefs with a high coverage of over 30% and placing signs prohibiting anchoring of vessels that may cause negative impacts on the reef. 

At the same time, propaganda about the harmful effects of water pollution can be mentioned, including the movement “Ha Long Bay without plastic waste” in 2019, with the aim of focusing on propaganda for service businesses to sign a commitment not to sell single-use plastic products.

Thanks to the above activities, from a degraded state, Ha Long Bay coral reefs are showing signs of good recovery, discovering reefs with high coverage of over 60% and many growing branch corals.

Ha Long Bay is an ideal place for tourists to experience and discover the colorful and interesting coral reefs that cover a large area under the water. At the same time, these coral reefs play an important role in the marine ecosystem in Ha Long as well as contributing to the development of the local economy.

By exploring and supporting conservation efforts, we can help preserve these natural wonders for future generations to enjoy. Whether you are an avid diver or just a nature enthusiast, the colorful world of coral reefs in Halong Bay is a must-see destination, providing an unforgettable experience.