The fishermen and fishing families of Halong Bay live on small floating houses anchored in sheltered coves at the bases of tall mountainous islands, thus deriving some natural protection from Mother Nature’s wrath in typhoon season. There are several fishing villages in the bay, the largest being Cua Van with about 130 floating houses and a population of about 600 people.

Cua Van is unique as it is the only village with a primary school and a clinic (floating, of course). The village is home to generations of fishing families and many of the residents never leave, but grow up and grow old in this tiny unique world they are born into.

The children learn to swim before they can walk and they row little bamboo-basket watercraft on their own, and amazingly deftly, when only about 5 or 6 years old. Cua Van is at the top of any list of places to see when cruising Halong Bay, those who are lucky enough to visit are captivated by this extraordinary little community and its distinctive way of life