Hanoi and Halong Bay

At last - the final installment on Vietnam! Our last week in Vietnam took us back to Hanoi. While the weather was just as dreary as three weeks earlier on our first visit to the city, it was comforting to arrive in a place that we already felt acquainted with. Hanoi has an energetic vibe and its historic Old Quarter agrees with all the senses from its aromatic noodle stands to the brilliant colors splashed across buildings and within art galleries. Hanoi also holds excellent promise for fulfilling one’s needs to stock up on authentic Vietnamese art, weavings and house wares. I blew my remaining Dong on a beautiful set of bamboo bowls/plates/chopsticks and a few colorful scarves. Another delight of Hanoi are the cheap draft beer joints. You can sit right on the narrow, busy streets and sip on pints of beer for just 15 cents a piece.

Just a few hours drive from Hanoi is Halong Bay, an area of blue-green water and littered with thousands of limestone karst peaks that jut out of the water. These peaks make up a dense cluster of nearly 2,000 rocky islands. A major tourist destination, the bay is best experienced aboard a modern junk (Chinese-style sailing vessel). We chose a mid-range option and were lucky enough to be only two passengers out of four on our luxury boat. On top of the boat was a large observation deck with padded lounge chairs for relaxing as we leisurely passed between the jungle-clad karst islands. The middle deck was a large dining room where we enjoyed the lavish spreads of seafood and vegetable dishes each meal. On the bottom deck was our cozy cabin complete with a heater as the weather in Halong Bay was a bit chilly.

We made several stops on our journey, including a visit to Surprise Cave, an immense grotto. Another stop was at a floating kayak rental shop where we hopped in a two-person kayak and navigated around the islands for several hours. On one of the islands we climbed to the top of the jagged peak for an incredible view of the bay and other junks below. The trip through Halong Bay is a must for any visit to Vietnam, though would be more enjoyable in the summer as snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing from the top deck would be possible. Regardless, we had an excellent time and enjoyed the company of our knowledgeable guide and our fellow passengers, a father and daughter duo from Australia.