The Magic Islands of Halong Bay

Trip Start Aug 15, 2006
1
26
93
Trip End Aug 13, 2007


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
boat
(Halong Bay hotels)

Flag of Vietnam  ,
Saturday, November 4, 2006

We went to Halong Bay for 3 day boat trip - one night we stayed on the boat and one night on Cat Ba Island. We were picked up at 7am from our hotel in Hanoi and after 3 hours we arrive in Halong City. The dock is crowded with over 50 boats (junks). The boats just cram there way in on top of each other.It was funny to watch them push each other out of the way.

There were 16 on our trip (mix of French, Canadian, American, English and Australians). We met some really great people and they really made the trip enjoyable. Our room on the boat was really nice (better than the hotel in Hanoi!). The water was very calm and the sun was shining which made for good sailing. We visited some caves after lunch and stopped at a secluded beach before we dropped anchor for the night out in the bay. We had a very relaxing evening chatting on the boat and then a great sleep.

The second day we sat with our legs dangling over the front of the boat as we approached Cat Ba Island. You couldn't get more relaxing than this. We went for a 3 hour trek which we were warned was quite difficult - but after the Himalayas and Fuji we weren't worried. The trek turned out to be more of a rock climbing exercise. We had a good laugh though. After lunch we went back out on another boat and spent the afternoon swimming and kayaking in secluded bays before heading back to hotel on the island. That night we hit a nightclub (at last) but we were kicked out at 12am when they closed down for the night.

The Halong Bay trip is highly recommended we had a great few days and the Bay is truly amazing.
Slideshow Print this entry

Comments

vimport
vimport on Dec 2, 2006 at 03:00PM

Thank you!
Dear Lin and Paul,
Thanks for the link to your blog. It has been a great joy to see your photos and read about your journey. I read every page.
Thanks also for connecting with me in Halong Bay. I saw beautiful scenary and had marvelous food on my trip through Viet Nam; however, the best part was all the great people I met. What a treat to spend time with such dear and gentle people. You two were so nice. I wish we lived closer and could have a pint every now and then.
You are lovely people that make the world a lovely place. Thank you.
George B.

Add Comment