When you think of Vietnam, or when you see pictures of the country, the most iconic image will probably be taken from Ha Long Bay. To see one of the great wonders of the world is a dream for many people. It certainly had been scribbled down from day one on our travel bucket list back in the days of planning and it’s pretty safe to admit that it did not disappoint. In fact, it was genuinely the most incredible place I have ever seen in my life and one of the most memorable experiences I’ll ever have.
We booked our 1 night, 2 day tour through Galaxy Cruises as it had been highly recommended by our Hanoi hotel staff. They were excellent in helping us choose the right cruise for us and made sure we got a good deal. They organised everything which was so helpful, as many tour offices in the city will scam you or sell you an exaggerated trip that will not meet your expectations. I read a fair few reviews from people who had been ripped off so was pretty apprehensive to book elsewhere.
Our coach picked us up right on time and we were introduced to the tour guide on board the trip with us – Tom. He was great at communicating throughout the excursion and had so much knowledge on his home country, which he shared during the 4 hour drive to Ha Long Bay.
It was astonishing to hear about his life and the strict rules the country of Vietnam must follow. For instance, divorce can take up to 5 years to even be processed and women must wait another 5 years to re-marry. We also learned how families celebrate weddings and how funerals are planned. Whilst passing through rice fields, Tom explained the reasons why tombs were scattered around the tops of the fields.
Apparently, when a Vietnamese person dies, they are buried in the rice fields after 3 days. Day 1, families will come and say goodbye to the body, day 2; there would be a huge party to celebrate the life of that person and day 3; the burial in the rice field will take place. The body will remain there for 3 years, then will be dug up and the bones will be cleaned. Then the remains are placed in a photo like shrine which is given back to the family to keep. Crazy isn’t it!?
We arrived at our boat for the evening and after a welcome drink we were shown to our rooms. I didn’t know what to expect having never slept on a boat before but I was pleasantly surprised by how great our room was. We had our own private balcony right on the back of the boat, perfect for sunbathing and drinking our complimentary wine. The bed was the softest we’ve had during our entire travels (Asia does not do soft mattress’s) which was an added bonus. What really made our stay extra special though was having big windows to look out over the magnificent bay whilst we slept.
Ha long Bay consists of over 1969 limestone island in all sizes, scattered around the crystal clear warm water. It’s the most surreal place you’ll ever see and is so unbelievably peaceful – a rare phenomenon in Vietnam. After lunch on the boat, we got right on to our first activity of the day – kayaking around the bay. We had so much fun doing this (once we both mastered the technique) and paddled through caves and tunnels while admiring the breathtaking scenery.
Sea monkey’s live on the islands who jump around the trees by the water. There had apparently been far more of them in the past however, these little creatures are heavily hunted which is a big problem for the Vietnamese wildlife. They are so tiny and fast so we struggled to capture any pictures of the ones we did see. Still, there’s plenty amazing sights to photograph around you…
After kayaking, we had some swimming time in the bay. The water was so warm and extremely salty. We had a great time jumping off the boat into the water with our tour group. Gary took the opportunity to work on his dive techniques but I’m feeling more practice may be required.
The food on the boat completely blew our expectations out of the water (no pun intended). We were fed like absolute kings for all breakfasts, lunches and dinners on-board. It was a great time to meet new people too as you were all sat as a group. We had a lovely evening meal with a couple from Mauritius and another from Hong Kong, By the end of the meal, plus two bottles of wine later, we were all great friends.
In the evening, we sat on the top deck with some English couples and had some drinks whilst we spoke and told our travel stories. Typical that all the British people were the last ones awake, still drinking into the night. We managed to get lots of recommendations from others who had been to places we were yet to see. Everyone in the group was so friendly and it was great how the cruise was designed for people to interact with one another.
After a blissful nights sleep in the wonderful comfy bed, we were up at 6.20am and ready for the activities ahead. That day we hiked to the largest cave in Ha Long Bay, Hang Sung Sot. This experience was unlike any other and truly magic to see. The cave was HUGE and thankfully had steps to make it easier for tourists to get around – unlike the other caves which required ropes to scale the sides. The vast space inside was enchanting and I felt as if I was in some Indiana Jones style movie set. It was a unforgettable experience for the two of us and I could not recommend it enough.
Back on the boat, we got involved in a cooking class and learned how to make fresh spring rolls. It was great for me as I have a small obsession with them and can now make them at home. Turns out it’s actually super easy, so will most likely become my specialty.
We then parted ways with our group and headed on back to Hanoi to continue our Vietnam tour. I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to see this part of the world and will no doubt speak of it for years to come.
I hope you have enjoyed this post and have been encouraged by my pictures to make your way to Vietnam. This country has such a small amount of tourism in comparison to Thailand however, after seeing Ha Long Bay, it’s obvious why more and more are choosing to come here. Vietnam is pretty spectacular…
Thank you for reading,
Lots of love
Xx
