Once we'd decided Vietnam was our next destination we started working on where we would go once there; one particular place was firmly at the top of the list and that place was the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Hạ Long Bay situated in the Quảng Ninh province.
Its sandstone pillars, 500 million years in the making, are striking to behold and there's other aspects of interest like the fishing villages in which the inhabitants live in floating houses and Song Sot cave complex where one can descend into a cave system full of stalactites and stalagmites which they light up as one walks through. We did some bike riding on one of the islands, sway in the bay and kayaked to some really cool and very secluded spots through caves only accessible when the tide was low enough.
Our cruise was on a Chinese "junk" which sounds shit but was opulent. We secured one of only two cabins up the front so had our own private deck (picture below taken from tat deck) perfect for the evening and early morning, and with only ten or twelve other tourists on board there were something like two crew for every tourist meaning service was spectacular. The food was amazing, I kicked the ass of a Cornishman in a spring roll making competition, we did tai chi early each morning, my girl had massages every day and we generally just enjoyed the total peace and quiet of the bay and the boat.
On the first day we met another couple from Cornwall, UK who we got along really well with and we ate our meals together and pretty much hung around together for the cruise which was nice. We became pretty good friends, and are to this day, and even stayed with them in Cornwall five years later when we went to the UK for the first time. He didn't even hold a grudge that I've beaten his ass in that spring roll making contest although he maintains to this day it was more of a draw than his loss. (I disagree with him of course.)
Unfortunately my photos are rather shite I blame the camera myself but they're good enough for us to look at and fall right back into the memory and feelings of the cruise which we would definitely do once again when we go back to Vietnam.
If you ever get the chance to visit Vietnam I'd suggest you do it because we found the people to be really friendly (mostly) and accommodating and even though their English is pretty bad they don't mind giving it a go and that makes all the difference. It's not overly costly and there's a lot to see and do.
I'll probably do another post down the track as I have some images from Hanoi and surrounds that could prove interesting although they're as equally shite as the ones in this post. For now, if you have any questions or thoughts on this particular post let me know...and if you want to read more about my tai chi experience, go to this post I wrote a while back. You might get a laugh.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Image(s) in this post are my own
That's a beautiful place. What attracts me to it is the absence of throngs of tourists that plague other 'vacation' destinations. Caves are cool to explore, but I would get creeped out if they disappeared via the tide lol. It would have been a hoot to see you beating the ass of the Cornishman in the spring roll making contest :) I'm surprised he didn't ask for a rematch when you went to his place for a visit lol.
A cool place indeed and an excellent location to beat the ass of a Cornishman in a spring roll making contest...and to then eat the spring rolls! It was a top notch holiday.
Since you told me, I was waiting for this post, and as always, it’s wonderful.
The photos are incredible, but you always say the opposite 😅.Without a doubt, it's a perfect place to do tai chi.
However, I was thinking about the historical aspect, not just the war, but the millions of years that have shaped those pillars.
By the way, Australia also fought there, right?
I loved the sunset photo!
Yeah, Australia fought in the Vietnam War for sure, I've written about some of the battles actuLly, in particular Long Tan. That aside, it's a nice place and pretty interesting with deep culture, good food and nice things to see.
Happy Galenkp Day! This place is really beautiful, I have seen something about it and have always wanted to know it. I see that it seems normal to see people in their typical attire in Bahia Ha Long, because your photos look very much like what I have seen in videos. I liked the sunset, it may not be a perfect photo, but it is very impressive just the same. I'm glad you enjoyed this trip and met some valuable people. Hugs bro!...
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It's a super cool place to visit for sure. I'm not sure I'd ever want to live there but to visit was really enjoyable.
Your photos are shite? They are soo much better than many I see here, especially mine.
I just read your tai chi post. I did get quite a laugh. Men do look quite funny their first few times. I'm always surprised when they come back for more.
So this was your second trip to Vietnam? You've made it seem a wonderful place to visit.
Lol...that's my sarcasm coming out I guess.
Yeah, me and tai chi don't get a long very well although I do the man looking like idiot pose really well. I've not gone back for more, and the same goes for yoga which is not my thing either.
This was my first trip to Vietnam and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Have you been?
No I have not, but a good friend of mine goes regularly. Her son lives there. She loves it there. On her last trip she broke her hip, and was in surgery the very next day. Her medical care was phenomenally good, as was billing, cost, and payment.
It's good she received the care she needed, although I've heard some things that would scare people off as well. I guess healthcare can be hit and miss.
Wow what an amazing trip of yours! Hạ Long Bay looks absolutely stunning. Your description about everything makes me wanna book a trip there immediately (just in my dreams for now haha).
It was a good place to visit.
The place looks ideal for relaxation. I find it an amazing place with beautiful scenery to take pictures here and there. The sunset photo looks great to me.
It's a lovely place and quite relaxing. I enjoyed it a lot.
Looks like it was a really awesome time. I've heard so many good things about Vietnam. Even my dad didn't have much bad to say about it from his time over there. He was in the navy and on base most of the time, so he has some really good photos he took during his time there. My father in law was in the jungle and doesn't talk about it much...
It was an interesting place, no doubt about it. One of my highlights, besides the obvious, was to look into some of the historical aspects and, naturally, the war came up. Australia went to war there also, along side your country, and most of those who went don't speak about it and those who do will only do so rarely. I think a naval base would have been much better than the jungle, that's for sure.
Yeah, they still got shelled, but it wasn't nearly as bad as direct combat. My dad wrote a bit of a memoir a while ago and I have thought about sharing it here on HIVE in bits and pieces. Perhaps one day I will (if he is okay with it).
In the end you had to do yoga with the Tai Chi master.... sorry I let out a light chuckle... It was good to read that post.
Regarding these pictures they are spectacular and the place is paradisiacal!!! Especially the photo of the private cabin, what beautiful scenery, thanks for bringing it!
It's a pretty good place to visit and I'll go back someday I guess, there's parts I've not seen and would like to see.
I'm surprised you're commenting considering that big power outage today.
The blackout was yesterday... from 12:30 noon Spanish time until 03:05 when the power came back on, although the internet was very slow. The electricity and internet service is now 100% restored... At least in this part of Spain everything was quiet, but not so in the north.
Wowwww, what a beautiful place! I enjoy how it's not overcrowded with tourists. Caves are cool, but I'd stress out if the tide made them vanish. I bet you won the spring roll competition! I can't believe he didn't request a rematch when you visited.
We couldn't do a rematch because we ate all the spring rolls and there was nothing left to make them with...I could have used some more though for sure. It was an excellent holiday, one I'd recommend to all.
it does look very nice and friendly , the scenery has been used in many movies , if i ever make to Asia i will definitly try to visit that area.
It'll be worth the effort to get there, it's very relaxing on the boat with ahluch scenery and there's some cool things to do as well.
It's a beautiful picture of Vietnam and a wonderful experience you had there from the way you described it and I think with a wonderful hospitality been given and an environment like this, tourist will definitely try to troop in for some experience
I might give it a try one day if the chance arises
Thank you for sharing such experience @galenkp
Hopefully you go there someday.
Welcome to Vietnam, my country :)
For sure.
It surely was an enjoyable trip.