Up to date: June 2020
Ha Lengthy Bay is an imposing type of place made up of virtually 2,000 limestone islands.
It was a few 4-hour drive on a bus from Hanoi, Vietnam, however I met a stunning woman named Grace, from Melbourne, so the time went shortly. We even ended up getting our personal rooms on the boat which was superior!
The Junk Boats are these lovely outdated wood ships that actually look extra like a pirate ship than something I may put into phrases.
Right here’s what it’s wish to go on a Junk Boat Cruise in Ha Lengthy Bay, Vietnam!
If you happen to ever needed to really feel such as you’re a pirate…
Lunch on the Boat
We had lunch as quickly as we boarded! It was a full unfold of fish, rooster, tofu, rice, and so on. Our first day was filled with actions! Our first cease was at slightly floating village the place a small group of individuals have lived for a lot of generations.
Every home has it’s personal fish farm and is self-sustained so no one ever leaves.
Even the little kids take boats to their small one-room floating college! We acquired to go to one of many little floating huts they usually had caught oysters, crabs, prawns and all types of different fish.
Sung Sot Grotto or “Superb Grotto”
A Velocity Boat Into “The Valley”
We then took a smaller Vietnamese “pace boat” to an space of islands known as “The Valley.” It felt like I used to be in Jurassic Park or Avatar as we floated previous dozens of gigantic, historical, limestone islands.
We needed to undergo a pure cavelike tunnel to achieve this unbelievable lagoon within the heart of one of many islands.
After our island tour full with a stunning tour information, we went again to our Junk Boat and sailed additional till we reached the Sung Sot Grotto or “Superb Grotto.”
I had no concept that these unbelievable caverns existed!
The one we visited is a World Heritage space and rightfully so… it was completely unbelievable! The caverns had been chilly and lit by delicate lighting to showcase their magnificence. Whenever you got here out the opposite facet of the grotto you had a view from the highest of the cliffside overlooking the entire bay.
Going Kayaking
After the grotto, we had much more in retailer for us. Grace and I took out a kayak for about an hour and explored the little caves and wonders across the surrounding islands.
We explored the limestone caverns and “parked” our kayaks to soak up the view searching onto the bay.
Dinner at Sundown
Dinner was served simply earlier than sundown and, after such a protracted day, we rested and loved the view of the bay lit up by the man Junk Boats.
We had our remaining thrill of the day by leaping off the second story of the boat into the ocean beneath!
At 9:30 pm we got fishing poles to check our luck at squid fishing. It simply so occurs I’m a pure! I caught two in a row, whereas no one else was in a position to catch every other squid! In keeping with our tremendous tour information, catching a squid simply earlier than the brand new moon brings a month of excellent luck.
The Following Morning
We had been up early the next morning for a hazy dawn and a noodle breakfast and occasional.
I took benefit of my previous couple of hours onboard soaked up the solar on the roof deck and skim till the boat acquired to shore. The view was nonetheless as magical as once I first boarded. I wasn’t prepared to go away!
We docked round midday and I purchased some lovely pearl earrings from avenue retailers. Lunch was organized WAY too early however we did get free beer! It appeared like we tried to stuff twice as many individuals on our bus for the journey again to Hanoi as we had on the way in which to Halong Bay.
After we acquired again to Hanoi we had been every dropped off at our respective accommodations and I bid farewell to my new good friend Grace. She will likely be transferring to LA in January, so I’m excited to hitch forces within the huge metropolis!
I had an in a single day prepare scheduled to take me as much as Sapa at 9:40 pm so I had a number of time to kill. I used to be in a position to go away my bag on the resort I had stayed on the night time earlier than final whereas I strolled the night streets of the Previous Quarter.
I used to be so exhausted, hadn’t showered, and all my garments had been soiled, but I needed to board a ten-hour prepare to Sapa. I caught a taxi to the station and boarded the prepare round 9:30 pm.
Extra Info
Location: Ha Lengthy Bay
