Bai Tu Long and the Vung Vieng Fishing Village are off the beaten tourist track as it is not so near to the popular Cat Ba Island which has lodging, beaches, and nearby caves where most of the large tour companies and boats operate
There are about 50 families; the population is between 200 and 300 residents. This includes nearly 100 children. These families have lived in this village for generations. The language is Vietnamese. The village is a “floating village.” There are no structures built on the land. The village is very poor. Traditionally income for food and potable water (imported from the mainland) came solely from fishing. Now, there is some supplemental income from tourism also.

There are 4 fishing villages in the World Heritage site: Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vong Vieng, and Cap La. Vong Vieng is the less touristy. After disembarking the mother boat, you will be transferred by rowing boats, tender boats, or kayaking to enter the Vong Vieng fishing village. After entering the village gate (see the picture), you have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, who live in the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay.

Their floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc. There is one community house here where villagers come to have meetings. Here is also the place tourists stop to shop for some traditional handmade items.