Ha Long is a coastal city in Quang Ninh Province in northeastern Vietnam, best known as the gateway to Ha Long Bay. The city stretches along the Gulf of Tonkin and combines a modern waterfront, residential districts, fishing communities, and port facilities. Offshore, Ha Long Bay contains hundreds of limestone islands and islets rising from the sea, creating a landscape shaped by geological and marine processes. The city also provides access to Bai Chay Beach and nearby islands. Its location between the coast, mountains, and bay makes Ha Long an important tourism and maritime center in northern Vietnam.

Ha Long's cultural identity is closely connected to the sea and the communities that have lived along the northeastern coast. Fishing villages have traditionally relied on marine resources, while temples and shrines reflect the religious practices of coastal communities. The wider Quang Ninh region is also associated with the Dao and Tay ethnic groups, whose traditions contribute to the province's cultural diversity. Cua Van and other former floating fishing villages in Ha Long Bay illustrate how families adapted their homes and livelihoods to life on the water. Today, maritime traditions continue alongside the city's expanding tourism and service industries.

Ha Long Bay is the city's defining attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its limestone karst landscape, caves, arches, and forest-covered islands. Boat cruises provide access to landmarks such as Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island, while kayaking offers a closer view of smaller lagoons and rock formations. Bai Tu Long Bay, east of Ha Long Bay, contains a similar landscape with fewer developed areas. On land, Bai Chay Beach and Sun World Ha Long Complex provide additional recreational options. The surrounding coast and islands support a range of marine habitats, while limestone cliffs dominate the area's visual landscape.

Seafood plays a central role in Ha Long's cuisine, with squid, oysters, prawns, crab, clams, and various fish commonly served in restaurants and markets. Chả mực, a fried squid cake made from finely ground fresh squid, is one of the city's best-known specialties and is strongly associated with Ha Long. Other local dishes include sam biển, a type of horseshoe crab prepared in several ways, and seafood-based noodle soups. Ha Long's markets provide access to both fresh and dried marine products. The city's connection to fishing, seafood processing, and the surrounding bay remains an important part of its local food culture.