We were transported via motor coach to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO site and one of Vietnam's most treasured landmarks in the Gulf of Tonkin. The trip was about 4 hours through some picturesque, very green and lush countryside. We boarded our "junk", which was really quite luxurious, for our overnight cruise of the bay. We were taken to our stateroom where we would be spending the night.
Ha Long Bay is a remarkable place that was unlike anywhere I had ever seen before. It's known as the "Bay of the Descending Dragon" and is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs, thousands of islands and islets and groups of "floating villages". We cruised among the many rock/island formations that dotted the bay and saw lots of other interesting junks. Generations of Vietnamese live and work on the many junks throughout the bay; fisherman and pearl divers include families with grandparents and children all working together.
Mike hiked to the top of one of the formations with the group. I would have loved to go, but was still feeling the affects of my fall from the day before. The following morning, some of the early risers went and explored a limestone cave.
We had an amazing feast that night. It happened to be Thanksgiving in the U.S., and they even prepared turkey, which I imagine was difficult to find, for one of the courses. We were given a menu with what we assumed was three "choices": fish, turkey, and shrimp. They brought out each course, which was a full meal in itself! With the fish were potatoes and vegetables, then the turkey was brought out, followed by the shrimp meal. This was after salad and soup. No way could I eat all of that food, but it was delicious and prepared perfectly.
Ha Long Bay is peaceful and serene and not to be missed when traveling to Vietnam!
Ha Long Bay is a remarkable place that was unlike anywhere I had ever seen before. It's known as the "Bay of the Descending Dragon" and is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs, thousands of islands and islets and groups of "floating villages". We cruised among the many rock/island formations that dotted the bay and saw lots of other interesting junks. Generations of Vietnamese live and work on the many junks throughout the bay; fisherman and pearl divers include families with grandparents and children all working together.
Mike hiked to the top of one of the formations with the group. I would have loved to go, but was still feeling the affects of my fall from the day before. The following morning, some of the early risers went and explored a limestone cave.
We had an amazing feast that night. It happened to be Thanksgiving in the U.S., and they even prepared turkey, which I imagine was difficult to find, for one of the courses. We were given a menu with what we assumed was three "choices": fish, turkey, and shrimp. They brought out each course, which was a full meal in itself! With the fish were potatoes and vegetables, then the turkey was brought out, followed by the shrimp meal. This was after salad and soup. No way could I eat all of that food, but it was delicious and prepared perfectly.
Ha Long Bay is peaceful and serene and not to be missed when traveling to Vietnam!
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