Frankly I was underwhelmed by Ha Long Bay. Yes, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site it is pretty lovely with its close to 2,000 limestone islets in various shapes and sizes. But having become a mass tourist attraction, the bay now suffers from the effects of it. The waters have a permanent oil slick and there’s rubbish and dirt floating around – I so would NOT jump in for a swim. The people who did jump in, I think are nuts.

A bunch of friends who had gone to Ha Long Bay in December told N and I that it was worth spending two nights there. We were to find out that was so NOT the case. The both of us were bored out of our wits being stuck on the boat for two days. Not to mention the fact that the food was crap. The only so-called fun thing was the kayaking but that could be done during a day trip or with just one night’s stay. I think why those friends recommended two days was because they are the kind who can relax and do absolutely nothing. N and I however are not like that. Us two girls need action action action. So my advice is a night’s stay is more than enough. Given me, I’d just do a day trip as I was rather underwhelemed by those islets. The four-hour bus ride to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi is not the most comfortable either.

Pictured above is a cultured pearl farm we were brought to. Boring place. All they really want you to do is buy the pearl jewellery.

During our kayaking session on the second day, we paddled to a floating village and we got out of our kayaks to have a look. We parked next to a school and the teachers there were very friendly even though none of them spoke any English.

Children from the floating village having lessons. The world the tourists who come and visit live in is so different from that of those of the villagers’. Just shows you there are so many ways to live life.

Sunset at Ha Long Bay

Opening of the Hung Sung Sot cave, which I must say was pretty impressive because of its size – the ceiling apparently goes up to about 30m in height. There are many stalagtites and stalagmites in the cave. But I’m also not a huge of dark, musky caves either so I can’t say this was my favourite spot in Vietnam.

View from the cave opening