VIETNAM – HALONG BAY CRUISE

No visit to Vietnam would be complete without a cruise along Halong Bay’s calm, crystal clear, turquoise waters. Featuring thousands of limestone isles, the two days we spent floating through the bay was unforgettable. Our room on the ship had a large double bed and a sitting area in front of floor to ceiling windows. We could take in the stunning view at any time.

We arrived on the boat around noon and was greeted by a lunch buffet of fresh Vietnamese fare. All food during the cruise was included, however drinks were not. The lunch spread had plump shrimp, rice paper rolls, satay skewers, curry and fried rice. I was happy with both the selection and fresh ingredients. That afternoon, we ventured out onto the water to visit the floating fishing village and spent time swimming and kayaking in the water, which was surprisingly warm. At the floating village, we boarded paddle boats that were operated by the villagers and only by women. On the water, without any shade, the sun was roasting.

Before dinner, a hands on cooking class was held on the top-deck, where most guests had gathered to watch the sunset. For dinner, we were treated to a multi course meal starting with spring rolls and oysters. One of the after dinner activities was squid fishing, which The Hubby was excited about. Compared to our experience in Hong Kong though, that evening was much more leisurely. Instead of looking for squid, I was distracted by the giant jellyfish.

The water in Halong Bay was so calm, we barely noticed the current. Even The Hubby, who easily gets motion sickness felt fine. Our second cruise day started with a hot bowl of pho and a bahn mi sandwich before exploring Halong Bay’s caves. The crew of Pelican Cruise were professional and friendly. They did announce drink specials at the bar throughout the night, but I didn’t feel any pressure to spend more.

I loved every minute of our time in Halong Bay and the photos speak for themselves.