Ha Long Bay – Vietnam

One of the places that has been on my bucket list since I was young was Vietnam – partly because I remember seeing a postcard once of a beautiful sunset over Ha Long bay a place where over 1500 Tiny Islands with abstract faces jut from the emerald green water.

In November 2016 I took the plunge and toured Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand with a very heavy rucksack and what an adventure it was! I wanted to tell you a little bit about my experience in one of the most beautiful UNESCO heritage site’s I have visited.

After arriving in Hanoi and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the city – as well as the many thousands of motorbikes that line the busy city streets on a daily basis we set off on the 3-and-a-half-hour journey through the countryside to Ha Long bay, located on the North East of Vietnam.

When we arrived at the harbor we boarded our Junk boat (Traditional Asian Vessel) which we would call home for the Night and set sail, i was pleasantly surprised by the standard on board, Traditional yet cosy.

The scenery was just as dramatic as Id imagined it to be… as each of the limestone karsts are different shapes and sizes it was interesting to find out that over the years the local people have named these based on their appearance including the kissing rocks in the shape of two chickens

Due to the vastness of the bay one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty is by kayaking which is a lovely way to take in the view and explore some of the caves

A stop at Ti Top island is a must if you are feeling fit you can hike up the 400+ steps to the viewing point to get some incredible photos of the bay, the hike itself is around 15 minutes to the mid point viewing point – as a popular tourist spot this area does get fairly congested. Back down at sea level you can take a swim – beware of the jelly fish though!

We also visited the Dau Go Caves which is magnificent, again there are lots of stairs but a trip to ha long bay would not be complete without a visit inside and the steps inside are newly built and well maintained and the views inside are really impressive

I loved my time in Ha Long and would definitely recommend as a ‘must-see’ attraction in Vietnam. If you are looking to take a cruise in Asia and would like to know more about Vietnam get in touch

Eliza x