Cruising Halong Bay

We pulled in from the night train (a slightly better ride the second time around) and then hopped in a van for a three-hour drive north of Hanoi to Halong Bay.  There we (eventually) boarded the Dragon's Pearl III a seven-month old boat modeled after the Chinese junks that used to sail around the bay.  We were aboard the boat for three days and two nights with nine other tourists from Italy, Germany, and Australia.  Yet again we were the only Americans around.

We spent time on the boat cruising the less touristy Bai Tu Long Bay where the only other tour boats around belonged to the same company.  Still we did not see the sun but that gave the rock formations in the bay an ethereal look.  Also the water was actually kind of gross so we were glad that we were not tempted by the weather to go for a dip.

We did go kayaking around the rock formations and found many of them had caves.  

After kayaking we would go back to the junk "for relaxing", per the guide, and then another meal.  We basically spent two-and-a-half days resting, kayaking, and eating.  The meals were excellent.  

On our last day we visited a floating fishing village.  The Cam Dong village is located more than one hour off the mainland coast and has approximately 160 residents.  

We met with the village chief who offered us green tea.  A was intrigued by the container on the table and made fast friends with the chief by tasting his honeycomb rice wine. 

We checked out the fish farms that live below the village's houses.














And saw the village school.

We were then given a tour of the village by rowboat.   Our fifteen year old driver made it look so easy but A drove us in a circle.   Never mind this guy who was steering with his feet or the three year old child who also rowed past us.

For our last dinner we were taken to a cave lit by candlelight.  A fishing family once lived in this cave and sold stalactites to make money but were "asked" by the boat company to relocate. 

Overall it was an different place to visit.  It was very interesting to tour the village and paddle around the rocks.  For those planning a trip to Vietnam, we would highly recommend this company to others considering a cruise but we don't know if this is a "must-do" if you are time-limited.