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Halong Bay!
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We decided to start the NY off in style heading on a tour to Halong Bay for 2 days and a night spending the night sleeping on the boat! Our tour was duw to pick us up at 07:00 So we were there raring to go! At 08:15 we were still waiting (I nearly went into work mode!!!) and got told that the bus was stuck in traffic so they would take us to meet the bus by moped! I wasn't happy about this at all bearing in mind we had a big rucksack each! Had no choice though so got on the moped with the rucksack in between me and the driver...I felt really safe and considering what I've told you about Hanoi traffic! Ended up ricocheting into the side of a van and wobbling like a good'un but got there in one piece much to my husband's amusement who had it all on camera!
Halong Bay was out of this world! Unbelievably beautiful and we were really lucky with the weather on the first day with sun, sun, sun! The organisation of the tour was interesting - we'd swapped boats 3 times by the time we reached the first cave with another boat going through the window of the second boat we were on! Hmmm! The cave was the most spectacular we'd ever seen, huge with amazing formations, it felt like being underwater somehow with big cauliflowers! Think you would have to be there to understand that description! Hee Hee! Staying overnight on the boat was FAB - there were only 6 of us as it was quite cold and the others chose to stay in the hotel but we had a great fish dinner and then headed onto the top deck under the stars! One of the highlights of the trip so far and retired to bed with choco-pies (great chocolate biscuits filled with marshmallows) and a bottle of pink bubbly! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The next day our crashing ability continued with our driver smashing into a floating village and breaking the moorings which must have gone deep down in the water! As you can imagine he wasn't very popular. We don't understand Vietnamese but reckon there might have been a few swear words going on! We cruised around the bay for the rest of the morning and then headed back to Hanoi with the tour guide sat on my lap for abit of the way...don't ask! The day ended with my second motorbike experience...I had decided to think positively by this point so spent the whole time saying 'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this!' It worked!!! Onwards and up t'North!
Latest Comments (1)
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Halong Bay Tip (reply)
Dec 12, 2006 03:05 EST by pvhaa
For a unique high-end experience, book passage aboard the Emeraude -- a copy of a French steamer that once plied these waters in the early 20th century. Certainly the largest boat at 55m (180 ft.), the elegant Emeraude has 38 cabins, a fine-dining outlet, and plenty of room to stretch your legs. The luxury trip comes with a price tag, of course, but the 2-day, 1-night cruise is well worth it.
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33 votes 
This is a top pick!
