Ha Long Bay - One of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World - Definitely!

You will have seen Ha Long Bay in travel programmes. Images of limestone mountains and islands rising from the South China Seas are synonymous with Vietnam and feature in all tourist guides and adverts. It was a place high up on my bucket list and I was not disappointed. 

Ha Long Bay is magnificent. The tour guides say it is recognised as one of the seven wonders of the natural world. It must surely be in the top two. I saw it in slightly overcast conditions and I was still blown away. Imagine if I had seen it under clearer blue skies? I laughed aloud many times during my three days at sea at the sheer majesty of what I was seeing & doing:

    # Picturesque islands covered in greenery, trees, birds and animals

    # Crystal clear waters filled with fish that jumped out of the water as we passed, squid which we fished for and caught, huge metre wide jellyfish, crabs and oysters

    # Beaches, coves, caves, caverns, tunnels and secret lagoons

    # Peaks and mountains to climb to admire the views

    # Feeding monkeys

    # Sunbathing

    # Sea-kayaking

    # Writing my name in 10 foot letters on a paradise beach that no one else had visited that day or perhaps that week

    # Opening an oyster and finding a pearl inside

    # Anchoring in quiet bays in a majstic boat and staying in a luxury cabin

    # Making new friends

    # Eating, drinking and playing cards

WOW!

    

 For a while it looked like we would not sail, as high winds in the bay kept all the boats bobbing 

                         at anchor just off Ha Long Town. But then we got the all clear.

    

    

       

                

    

Choosing our oyster to open (only 30% of the farmed oysters produce a pearl - we choose well)

If you go, don't be cheap. Don't go out for a day trip. Don't stay in a hotel in Ha Long town. Don't be cautious and choose a one night package. Book two nights/three days and really soak it up. You will become adept at kayaking, swimming, moving from boat to boat and you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery which will have you constantly taking photographs at every new shaft of light, view of a boat, an island, a mountain or a sea eagle hunting. Ha Long means 'descending dragon' - it should mean 'outstanding beauty.'

I've talked enough - let my pictures say more. Be grateful I can only upload a finite number - otherwise you would have to sit through 100+ images!

    

    

                            Steep climbs and lots of steps, but the views were worth it.

 

    

    

    

    

             Makes you want to canoe under to see what is on the other side - and we did!

    

My sincere thanks and best wishes go to Carlos and Bego (from Malaga) and Samara and Robert (from Montreal) who really helped to make my time at Ha Long more special - for they were excellent companions and generous with their time, conversation and humour. Salut guys!