We want to tell you about Ha Long Bay, an incredibly captivating destination that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. This enchanting spot, with its breathtaking landscapes and deep cultural roots, offers a unique glimpse into the natural wonders and rich heritage of Vietnam.
After a hearty breakfast, we set out from Hanoi towards Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. The two-hour journey is a scenic delight as we pass numerous kumquat plant nurseries along the way, creating a vibrant green and orange plantation. Kumquat plants are on sale for the upcoming Tet festival, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year coinciding with the Chinese New Year.
TET – the Vietnamese New Year’s Celebration
For this occasion, every Vietnamese household is adorned with at least one kumquat plant to bring luck for the coming year. It’s not uncommon to see Vietnamese loading these plants onto scooters, turning the streets into lively garden displays. Vietnamese people are quite superstitious; it’s customary for the first guest entering a home on the first day of Tet to be born under the animal sign celebrated in that particular year. Failing this, it is believed to bring misfortune for the entire following year. Therefore, it’s considered good practice not to show up at someone’s home unless explicitly invited to the festivities.
HA LONG – Where The Dragon Descend Into The Sea
But let’s get back to our journey: the name Ha Long in Vietnamese translates to “where the dragon descends into the sea.” It hosts approximately 2,000 limestone islets and numerous karst caves. A local legend tells of a time many years ago when the Vietnamese were fighting against Chinese invaders; the gods sent a family of dragons to aid them. These dragons began spewing jewels that transformed into the islands and islets dotting the bay, eventually uniting to form a barrier against the invaders. The people saved their land and turned it into what would later become Vietnam. The place where the mother dragon landed was called Hạ Long, the location where the children arrived was named Bái Tử Long (Bái: following, Tử: children, Long: dragon), and the spot where the children violently stirred their tails was called Bạch Long Vỹ (Bạch: white color of foam, Long: dragon, Vỹ: tail).
Once we arrive in Ha Long Bay, we board the cruise ship that will be our home for the next two days. We are greeted by the ship’s crew with music and songs, immediately putting us in high spirits. And we’re off! Within minutes, we’re offshore, entering another dimension: thousands of towering limestone rocks emerge from the water, with a light mist in the background creating a surreal atmosphere. The spectacle before us is incredible, as if we’re transcending time and space, and our eyes are filled with wonder. We could linger on the water, contemplating the landscape in this magical atmosphere, for hours on end!
NEM: Ready For The Cooking Class
We take possession of our sea-view room with a private balcony, styled in colonial fashion reminiscent of Asian atmospheres. We head to the dining room where a typical nem-based lunch awaits us. Are you familiar with nem? They are very thin rice paper rolls filled with vegetables, beef, shrimp, or chicken, and then fried – a true delicacy! In our journey from northern to southern Vietnam, we’ve eaten all kinds of nem, each one different from the other. But before lunch, a cooking class awaits us: we will prepare them from scratch! The one who creates the most beautiful nem wins the title of chef, complete with a coronation! It’s super fun!
Cat Ba Island
The surprises don’t end here. We reach the first floor and board a motorboat that will take us to Viet Hai, a village on Cat Ba Island, where approximately 200 people live. The lifestyle is frugal, providing us with a genuine connection with the local people. The village operates somewhat like a commune, where work and resources are shared. The people are smiling and a bit shy; I’m struck by the communist posters conveying the message that each family should have no more than two children. Vietnam is a densely populated country, surpassing one hundred million inhabitants in a relatively small area. Therefore, the government adopts these birth control systems to sustain the entire population. I found this truly surprising.
Back on the ship, after dinner, they offer us a tasting of Vietnamese liquors. After trying five liquors, it’s time to return to our room and get a good night’s sleep. The alarm will ring at 5:45 tomorrow. Indeed, at 6:15, we have an appointment on the ship’s top deck for a tai chi lesson.
Time to our tai chi lesson!
We wake up while it’s still dark, and after having coffee, we head to the ship’s top floor: dawn is breaking. The panorama at dawn is breathtaking! Our tai chi master arrives, and we begin our lesson. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese discipline, a type of martial art that generates well-being and balance for the mind and body. Taking the lesson at dawn, with the fresh sea breeze caressing our faces, is absolutely fantastic!
After breakfast, we board the motorboat towards the canoe parking area. Canoeing among these giant rocks is truly exciting. Be cautious, though; the canoe can sway quite a bit before you get the hang of it. But soon enough, you get used to it, and you row with absolute tranquility. We arrive at a hidden beach among the rocks and visit the Trinh Nu Cave, a cave nestled among these cliffs, hiding a very suggestive sandy beach.
Our adventure among the islands of Ha Long Bay is coming to an end. We return to solid ground with all the wonder of this enchanting bay still in our eyes and our hearts full of emotions.
Bonus tip
If you plan to take the canoe tour, which I highly recommend, bring shorts and flip-flops.
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