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Among thousands of islets in Halong Bay, just 2.5 km from Tuan Chau Marina to the east, lies a little islet that, if you don’t pay attention, you could easily miss passing by it. It’s Cho Da Islet, one of the bay’s most famous attractions.
Cho Da, often known as “Stone Dog” in English, is a limestone islet that stands only 8 metres tall. The explanation for its unique name is that from afar, the islet looks like a giant dog sitting with his back to the emerald waters of the bay.
Cho Da Islet is an essential part of the cultural life of locals of Halong Bay. Stone dogs were a common motif in ancient Vietnamese culture, representing protection and luck.
There are always a couple of dog statues in front of every ancient Vietnamese house, wishing that they could help the owner (and his visitors) in chasing away bad luck or dark souls. That’s why the locals believe that Cho Da Islet represent a watchdog that has been watching over Halong Bay for years and keeping it safe.
Nowadays, in order to visit Cho Da Islet, you could buy the tickets for “Halong Bay Route 1” or “Halong Bay Route 5” in Tuan Chau Marina.
Photos
Stone Dog Islet from a far @Internet
The islet looking like a dog - @Internet
