The glass facade
Inspired by coal, mirroring the bay.
Hoangkid — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hoangkid — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Meiko21 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A striking modern museum on the waterfront of Hon Gai, the eastern half of Ha Long, wrapped entirely in black glass. The Spanish architect Salvador Pérez Arroyo took the idea from coal, the province's great industry, and the facade works as a giant mirror for the sky and the bay beside it. The building opened in October 2013 as part of a complex with a library and an exhibition hall. The ground floor is given to nature: the skeleton of a whale more than 20 metres long, found dead off the Van Don islands in 1994, hangs above the lobby, and a room of large projection screens recreates Ha Long Bay. The upper floors tell the story of the region from its prehistoric cultures through the wars fought on this coast to the coal-mining era, and the cultures of its peoples. Outside stand large exhibits, among them a block of anthracite coal of about 28 tonnes, said to be the largest ever mined in Vietnam. The museum is a good choice on a day when the weather keeps boats in port, and on a clear evening the building reflects the sunset.
Inspired by coal, mirroring the bay.
Over 20 metres, above the lobby.
About 28 tonnes, in the forecourt.
Tran Quoc Nghien Street, Hon Gai, Ha Long
Yes, it is one of the best alternatives when the weather stops bay cruises, and takes one to two hours.