Halong Bay!
Trip Start
Nov 25, 2004
1
24
169
Trip End
Jan 26, 2005
Halong Bay,
Vietnam
Saturday, January 1, 2005
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
Floating Village (this is what we crashed into!)
! 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!
Comments
Halong Bay Tip
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.
Leaving Hanoi at 8am, you'll check in at the private Emeraude pier and be shuttled to the boat. Before checking in to your cabin, you'll enjoy welcome drinks and a quick orientation. Compact, as ship cabins always are, onboard rooms are decked out in hardwood, with nice fixtures like air-conditioning, a private reading lamp, slippers for shuffling about the decks, and a tidy, compact bathroom area with toilet, shower, and a separate room for a small sink stand. Everything onboard is retro, which means pleasing hardwood, brass, and fine linens. The oversize wicker chairs on the top deck are cozy, and you'll find shaded areas as well as sun-worshipping space. A casual, friendly atmosphere pervades, especially when the corks start popping.
Dining onboard is a delicious buffet, and most guests find themselves sharing a meal with new friends. Lunch on day 1 is followed by a stop at the Surprise Cave, then an afternoon of cruising and great views of the islands. The boat docks in a quiet harbor and guests have an opportunity to, on their own or with a guide, explore nearby Trinh Nu and Hang Trong, the Virgin Cave and the Cave of the Winds, or take a dip in the bay. The back of the boat is low in the water and there is a sturdy ladder making it easy to get on and off (the adventurous will join the crew for dives off the upper decks). Dinner is a sumptuous affair of fine local cuisine (heavy on seafood) and good Western options. Enjoy drinks on the upper deck as you watch the moonlight glisten off the bay.
Day 2 starts with tai chi classes on the sun deck as a brilliant sunrise paints its colors on the arching canvas of high limestone peaks jutting from the glassy waters. Blissful. After your exercise, tuck in to a hearty Western-style breakfast. The boat returns to the dock by 9:30am, and a direct transfer finds you back in Hanoi by lunchtime. The trip is quite memorable, and a ride on this retro ship, outfitted to the nines, is unique to Halong Bay. The price for the overnight cruise is $290 for a luxury cabin for two and $490 for the one-suite room, but discounts for larger groups are available. Transfer from Hanoi costs $100 for a four-seat vehicle. Check the website at www.emeraude-cruises.com or call the offices at the Press Club in Hanoi (tel. 04/934-0888; fax 04/934-0899).