Halong Bay

Today we are headed out of Hanoi for a boat cruise on Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site that is truly spectacular.  The last time Jeff and I were here, we had cool, rainy weather.  Today is glorious – sunny and warm and perfect for being on the water. 


About the only thing marring the experience is the sheer volume of garbage floating on the water.  At one point, it looked as if we were pushing through the remains of a ship that had broken apart… not just the plastic bags, styrofoam coolers and disposable cutlery we’ve been passing, but actually pieces of furniture bobbing in our wake.  It’s a real shame and I hope the authorities can do something to reduce the dumping and improve the water quality, for the sake of not just the tourists, but especially the Vietnamese people.  This is their beautiful gem and should be preserved in its original pristine beauty.


We are served a multi-course seafood lunch aboard ship.  I am feeling better and ready to ditch the BR diet, so tuck in to all the delicious food set before me.  Ooh… it is yummy.

There is a cave to explore in the afternoon, but it involves climbing hundred of stairs up, up, up a mountainside, then down, down, down into the cave.  Jan is dubious about her ability to do it and Gary is suffering from his neuropathy, but they both push themselves and find they are able to make it all the way through. Well done Nohners!  Fortunately our boat has come around to meet us in a different location, so we don’t have to deal with all the stairs on the way out.

The more adventurous are then outfitted with kayaks and have about an hour to putter around the little bay in which we are anchored.  The rest of us enjoy a cool beverage and nice breeze aboard ship until they return.
  And then it is time to head back to port.  We have gotten a good, long afternoon on Halong Bay and our boat is one of the last to pull into port.  We will spend the night in the town of Halong and head back to Hanoi in the morning.  For us Nohners, a day on the water has been a wonderful respite.