HONOLULU (KHON2) -- For the first Mixed Plate after a three-year COVID hiatus, Pamela Young takes us to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The dragons did it, said the ancients. To thward marauders from the North, the gods sent dragons, who spit out precious jewels into the sea to block invading ships. Mixed Plate on the road again after 3-year hiatus The jewels remain today, as the islets of Ha Long Bay. Today, Ha Long has new invaders, these bringing cash instead of crossbows and they are welcomed by a populace that thrives on the business of nine million tourists every year. Of the nearly 2,000 islets, about 40 are inhabited by villagers who know they are blessed and still protected. Folks here said those guardian dragons never left Ha Long. If you look closely, you just might be able to see them. They're nestled within the stalactites of the islet caves, carved by millions of years of erosion. Many of the limestone monoliths are hollow, providing shelter for birds, butterflies and the occasional resting dragon. A bay the size of three Manhattans needs more than mythical monsters to keep it safe. No single-use plastic container is allowed on bay vessels, yet typhoons and floods deposit tons of debris into prime fishing grounds. Check out more news from around Hawaii Local authorities enforce strict marine environment laws to keep Ha Long pristine. The stakes are high for the tourism and fishing industries. Residents believe ignoring the rules will create challenges far too great for even dragons to overcome.