Hanging in Halong Bay, Vietnam


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Last Updated on August 13, 2018 by Audrey Scott

Junk Boat, Vietnam
Halong Bay, Vietnam

Sometimes a moment of peace in a beautiful setting is what you need when traveling, especially when you are in northern Vietnam. A nod to Halong Bay for filling this need and for offering some of the most visually spectacular landscape in the region. Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon, ” Halong Bay has almost 2000 limestone islands that rise above the water like dragons moving through the sea.

After spending two wintry weeks in Hanoi in January, we were thrilled to feel the sun's warmth. The passengers on our boat all flocked to the top deck to relax and soak it up, while marveling in the possibility that peace and quiet could exist this close to Hanoi. For a moment, we were free of the crush of motorbikes, traffic, and endless honking.

The Vietnamese are apparently equipped with an entrepreneurial gene and find ways to sell you things – anything – at every turn, even on the open seas. For instance, throughout Halong Bay, rowboats filled with Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers and beer miraculously appear out of the middle of nowhere and sidle up on the side of the boat at every opportunity.

Woman Selling in a Rowboat - Halong
Woman Selling Snacks from Rowboat in Halong Bay

Relaxed and properly dosed with sunshine and Oreos, we returned to Hanoi the next day feeling refreshed and ready to take on the hustle and bustle of the city once again.

Photos from Halong Bay, Vietnam

If you don’t have a high-speed connection or want to read the captions, you can view the Halong Bay photo essay.

Booking a Halong Bay Live-Aboard Boat Trip

Although it is possible to piece together a trip to Halong Bay independently, the Vietnamese make it mighty difficult. We booked a 2-day, 1-night liveaboard “deluxe” tour through Hanoi Guesthouse for around $50 per person. The additional $15 for “deluxe” was worth it to ensure a small group, a new boat, seafood meals and kayaking options.

About Daniel Noll
Travel and life evangelist. Writer, speaker, storyteller and consultant. Connecting people to experiences that will change their lives. Originally from the U.S. Daniel has lived abroad since 2001 and most recently has been on the road since 2006. When he's not writing for the blog you can keep up with his adventures on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And you can learn more about him on the About Page and on LinkedIn.

3 thoughts on “Hanging in Halong Bay, Vietnam”

  1. Hi Daniel,

    Your pics are awesome! I really like it. It will be a great experience to capture best photos of sunset, floating houses and locals. I love doing kayaking through lagoons and tunnels to admire its spectacular view of Halong Bay.

    Reply

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