Ha Long Bay

For our final excursion in Vietnam, we decided to visit the famed Ha Long Bay. We were picked up at the hotel at 8:30 AM and taken by taxi to the bus where we joined the rest of the group. Ha Long Bay was a four hour drive from Hanoi, and required us to pass through many small towns on the worse possible roads in Vietnam. The ride was a bit grueling and we were all relieved when we finally reached the harbor. 

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, lies along the Northwestern coast of the South China Sea. It is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rain forests. Junk boat tours and sea kayak expeditions take visitors past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets. Ha Long translates as 'where the dragon descends into the sea' and legend tells that this mystical seascape was created when a great mountain dragon charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouging out valleys and crevasses. As the creature plunged into the sea, the area filled with water leaving only the pinnacles visible. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Ha Long Bay's spectacular scatter of islands are dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes, and is a vision of ethereal beauty. Unsurprisingly, it is northern Vietnam's number one tourism hub. 

After exiting the bus we were ushered onto the Asian Dragon, which was one of many boats docked and waiting to pick up the constantly arriving passengers. We were seated at tables which were quickly filled with a large variety of foods, including one large whole fish with head, tail, and fins, which was the main feature of the lunch. After lunch we went up on the top deck to see our first views of the picturesque bay. The skies were a bit overcast because the rainy season is just now starting, yet visibility was good and the temperature was perfect for such an outing.

The boat meandered past many of the small islands which jutted out of the water like massive teeth. The tops were thick with vegetation and home to a variety of birds and wild monkeys. The sparkling waters were filled with all sorts of fish and the bay was home to many fishermen. Until recently, a whole community of fishermen and their families lived on the waters in floating homes. After the area became a World Heritage site, the floating village was dismantled and the fishermen were forced to leave. Many could not find work in the city and were allowed to return to the bay and and now whole families are living on tiny boats.

We arrived at our first stop and exited the boat on a large dock floating in the bay. We transferred to small six-person boats, each equipped with one of the locals who paddled us around. At the base of one of the islands was a cave which was naturally formed by erosion from wind and water. We entered the cave then after a few moments we exited into a secret secluded cove. High mountains flanked every side, and there was no way in or out of the area except from the small cave. There was no shore line either, just steep cliff walls on all sides. It was like being at the bottom of a very large pot.

After our small boat excursion, we were back on the main boat and then were taken to another location where we toured a natural cavern in one of the islands. We were told this was the largest of the 55 caves in the bay. Remarkably it was only discovered about 20 years ago by a local fisherman who was stranded on the island during a typhoon. He was looking for shelter from the storm and followed a monkey to a small hidden opening. He told of his discovery, which led to the cave being opened up to the public. It was truly a spectacle.

We finished the cave tour and boarded the boat once again for our voyage back to the main harbor. We transferred back to the bus and began our ride back to Hanoi. After a couple of hours on the road, all traffic stopped and we remained stationary for almost ninety minutes. By the time we arrived back to our hotel, it was pushing 11:00 PM. This was not only our last tour in Vietnam, it was our last day. We were scheduled to depart for the airport the following morning at 9:00 AM.