The World Heritage Site is inhabited by fishing communities. It’s true, people are actually living on floating houses and boats and make their livelihood by fishing and growing oysters and shrimps. The Halong Bay villagers sell their fresh catch to the tourists in passer-by ships from their boats.
Some houses/boats are also built on the edge of the rivers. Many people that live on boats can keep their catch of fish alive in water in the bottom of the boat. Looking at the inhabitants of those villages makes you realize the inventiveness of people to find a place to live and survive.