09/07/2026
In the quiet waters of Ha Long Bay lies a story written in wood and woven into crimson silk, the tale of the ba vách, Quảng Ninh’s most revered traditional vessel.
These aren’t merely boats. They are the keepers of an ancient maritime wisdom, each one a masterpiece of humble ingenuity. The name itself - ba vách, meaning “three panels”, speaks to a craftsmanship born from necessity and refined through generations. Three large wooden planks, carefully joined along each hull, create a structure of remarkable grace and unwavering stability, allowing these vessels to dance with the bay’s temperamental waters as if in conversation with the sea itself.
The distinctive bat-wing sails, traditionally stained with natural brown dyes, are more than functional, they are poetry in motion. Each sail tells of countless journeys, of fishermen who understood the language of wind and tide. The techniques of sail-handling, the ethereal “cánh tiên” (fairy wing) when running with the wind, the “pha chằng” (cross-brace) when dancing sideways through crosswinds, and the resolute “vát hai buồm” (dual-sail angle) when facing the bay’s resistance, represent an intimate knowledge passed down through time.
After years of absence, these iconic crimson sails have returned to grace Ha Long Bay’s waters. Today, visitors and guests can once again witness these magnificent vessels gliding across the bay, experiencing firsthand the artistry and grace that defined generations of seafarers.
Some treasures, we are honored to preserve.
Photos: A sunset in Halong Bay, by Nguyễn Minh Trang (changgg_oiwiiiiiii)
