Hue to Halong Bay via Hanoi

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Thursday, December 9th


This morning we left the hotel at 6AM for an early flight to Hanoi. After a short bus ride, we transferred to a ferry that delivered us to our junk boat, the Bai Tho Junk, on Halong Bay. This junk has 18 private cabins and would serve as our hotel for the night.

Ha long means “where the marble dragon descends into the sea.” Within the bay, about 3000 vegetation covered islands rise up from the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Legend says a great dragon lived in these mountains. As the dragon ran to the coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys and crevasses. This area has also been named a Unesco World Heritage Site.

This afternoon we boarded small sampan boats for a visit to the Cua Van floating village. About 3000 fishermen and their families live on the water. Long told us if someone doesn’t like their neighbor, it is very easy to simply take your house and float to another part of the village. Gives new meaning to the idea of a mobile home.


At 5 PM as we rounded the corner of the Halong Bay we were treated to a spectacular sunset. This is the life!

Tonight we enjoyed a fabulous feast of crab, prawns, squid, curried pork, steamed rice and vegetables aboard our junk. What a memorable dinner! (We seem to be having lots of these dinners!) Not to worry, Mel has vegetarian feasts too.

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Photos

Bai Tho Junk
Cabin levels

Our Sampan driver-rower
This young woman was incredibly strong and fast

Young village boy rowing his boat with his feet
Out trying to sell his fish and shells

Comments

[Alicia Garijo]

Sunset
It looks like a breath-taking experience. What a spot to be in to see such a sunset!