halong bay, vietnam

For Halong Bay overnight trip, one can choose to stay on boat or the island(Cat Ba). Lucyriver friend who also go there around the same time says that if overnight on boat, better prepare some entertainment like cards or what or it will be real dead boring.

Our day trip starts when a mini bus and a tour guide, Bay, come to pick us up around 0830. There is already a tourist in the bus. Later, we go around the streets to pick up others. After it’s full, we begin our journey to Halong Bay.

Vendors selling French bread along the road to Halong Bay.

The morning is foggy, so is it when we arrive at Halong Bay. Not good for photo taking as it is not clear. Bet at night won’t be seeing twinkling stars as well. Heard that the good time is in September.

The jetty is almost conquered by the reds, oranges, yellows, browns. We are led to one of the junk boats docked at the jetty. The inside seats are like dining tables. One lunch is provided except drinks. We bring our own water.

Our boat cruises towards the open sea. We spend the time taking photographs. Some go to the upper deck to enjoy the scenery.

The picturesque Ha Long Bay in the late afternoon.

There are vendors on boat selling fruits and drinks. They would go near the boat and while the father keep their boat attached to the tourist boat, the mother or child would go up the boat to do the selling.

The upper deck scenery.

The boat takes us to a floating mini market, the fishing village, (before lunch) where they sell souvenirs and SEAFOOD. One can buy the fish, prawns or crabs for the boat to cook to enjoy during lunch time.

Our lunch is shared by six persons, we, the three Charlie Angels, one Thai lady and two French men. Lastly, it is scooped clean by the angels.

After lunch, some are taken on a small boat to visit cave (not included in the package) or kayaking. We, the sparing ones, stay on boats.

Before we return to the harbour, we are taken to visit a cave, Sung Sat. The tour guide is busy explaining to us what does each of the formation look like. Tiger, elephant, jellyfish and even human breast.

The descending of the dragons, once is enough.