Tag Archives: Halong Bay

Halong bay cruise

We started from Cat Ba pier with a small boat with two guys on it, a captain and a ship-boy. Both of them friendly but without english language skills. Anyway communication can be done be a smile and finger signs. Benefits: just both of us and no other crowd around, especially no french guys :) We cruised relaxed through Lan Ha bay and after 1.5 hrs we got a call for lunch. Fantastic delicious food prepared on the ship.

cooked on the boat

I had a nap after that and when I opened my eyes we were into the Ha LOng bay. Amazing landscape. Must be more than 2.000 rocks. A labyrinth of stone. We stood on the deck and watched the beauty of this region. UN world heritage since a couple of years.

Inside Halong bay

Later on we had a stop for swimming but it wasn´t that sunny any more so I was not brave enough but Mandy dived into the sea and swam just around the boat. Really great my dear…. And as a team building event we did kayaking. Even it was our first kayak cruise we did very well. Crossed a lot of limestone caves and tunnels and came back to the boat after one hour. Unfortunately a lot of waste in some of the small bays.
The sky was a little bit cloudy so no chance for a nice sunset to view. We stopped to anchor in a bay and while the crew prepared our bed we had a beer and were talking, just smooth and relaxed.

Trip was organized by Tuan Sailing Cat BaIf you come to Cat Ba and need a reliable person to organize a tour for you asked to Tuan.

So bus to Hai Phong is waiting…..

Hanoi – first day

We were picked up at 9 am by the guy from advisor hotel and moved there. Time for first tourist stuff. Took a taxi to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and when we arrived a big queue told us “it takes a while” but anyway we are here to see Uncle Ho. Faster than we were thought we stood in front of the big mausoleum and soldiers in white uniforms watched about everybody (“obey the rules…”) Neither pictures nor speech allowed inside but I took a photo while waiting in front of the entrance.

Uncle Ho

Afterwards we went down the streets searching for the temple literature which is the oldest university in Vietnam founded in 1070. Even Konfizuis taught here. And for sure there is a shrine to honor him. But today students get their degrees and especially young ladies were dressed in Ao Deis (traditional vietnamese clothes) and they looked beautiful. I asked friendly if I can take a picture and here it is…

vietnamese baeuties

Next stop was a cafe we had a fantastic iced coffee and a fresh yoghurt. Yammi stuff. That was enough for today went back to Advisor hotel and had a rest for few hours. I´m on vacation :) Room is good with a private balcony above old quarter and I´m sitting here while writing this post. 5 pm we started for Bia Hanoi which means get a beer for 5.000 dong. Or 2 or 3 and have chat with other traveller. So we did and met Stephan from Scotland and talked about Asia and while Hanoi is so amazing. Having a Pho Bo for dinner and went back to our hotel.
Schedule for next days is Halong Bay cruise and we found an offer for a one cabin boat which means just only to of us will go to Halong Bay for 3 days. Great. Don´t like the idea hanging around with 10 other guys. Too old for that shit :)
I guess we´ll go down now and have one more beer…. cheers.