My experience in Halong Bay was a bit tainted by the disorganization of the tour company we were with and how rushed our 2 days were, but that did not take away from the sheer beauty and magnificence of the famed bay.
We've heard a few different numbers ranging from 1,969 to 3,000 islands in the bay, but it doesn't matter because we were constantly surrounded by the limestone -- or lambstone as the Vietnamese say-- cliffs.
We did an expedited trip that included a 4 hour tdrive from Hanoi, 40 minutes in Surprise Cave, 30 minutes on an island with a view deck, and 30 minutes kayaking in the dark. We spent the night on the Papaya cruise, which I thought was the coolest part of the tour. It's something that many people do and what I think makes the Halong Bay experience so unique. It's pretty cool waking up to the rocking of the boat and the giant cliffs surrounding you!
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| surprise cave |
Our boat housed 15 of us, all of whom were incredibly nice. I also thought that the kayaking (though dark) was really amazing because of how close we could get to the islands and see how large they really are.
Though postcards will tell you otherwise, Halong Bay is usually cloudy, but I found that the mist and darkness only made the area more beautiful and mystical.
Halong Bay was by no means my favorite stop, as it was impossible for us to get away from the touristy feel of it. We have become so accustomed to being able to go out on our own and have our own schedule, being herded around was a bit difficult and frustrating. I have dreampt of seeing Halong Bay for years though, and it certainly lived up to my high expectations. Even though we could not get away from the numerous boats that go through the Bay each day, it is for good reason since it is such a protected area. It also allowed us to see the scale of the islands and how huge they were next to the cruise ships that dotted the Bay.
Unfortunately, areas of the Bay have floating trash and there is ALWAYS someone trying to sell you something. Though it was so touristy and rushed, it is a sight that cannot be missed if you are in the area.
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| misty morning |
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| someone on our boat caught a squid |
My experience in Halong Bay was a bit tainted by the disorganization of the tour company we were with and how rushed our 2 days were, but that did not take away from the sheer beauty and magnificence of the famed bay.
We did an expedited trip that included a 4 hour tdrive from Hanoi, 40 minutes in Surprise Cave, 30 minutes on an island with a view deck, and 30 minutes kayaking in the dark. We spent the night on the Papaya cruise, which I thought was the coolest part of the tour. It's something that many people do and what I think makes the Halong Bay experience so unique. It's pretty cool waking up to the rocking of the boat and the giant cliffs surrounding you!
Halong Bay was by no means my favorite stop, as it was impossible for us to get away from the touristy feel of it. We have become so accustomed to being able to go out on our own and have our own schedule, being herded around was a bit difficult and frustrating. I have dreampt of seeing Halong Bay for years though, and it certainly lived up to my high expectations. Even though we could not get away from the numerous boats that go through the Bay each day, it is for good reason since it is such a protected area. It also allowed us to see the scale of the islands and how huge they were next to the cruise ships that dotted the Bay.
Unfortunately, areas of the Bay have floating trash and there is ALWAYS someone trying to sell you something. Though it was so touristy and rushed, it is a sight that cannot be missed if you are in the area.
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