Going to Vietnam and not visiting Halong Bay is almost like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. But the truth is that the charm of this bay, which is a UNESCO heritage site, is being lost with the countless boats that fill it.
I decided to go because I wanted to see it for myself, but the truth is that despite taking spectacular photos, you can get the same photos in less explored places, and the journey to get there is very tiring.
At 6am a bus picked me up at the hotel and only after four hours of travel did we arrive at the embarkation port.
Despite being only 160 kilometers from Hanoi, the poor road conditions and chaotic traffic in Vietnam make the journey very long.
I took care of the formalities and boarded one of the many boats that fill the bay for the night. I chose a mid-range option, the Seasun Cruise for 80 dollars, all included. I liked the room, the staff and the quantity and quality of the food, only breakfast had a negative rating, due to the lack of choice.
Check-in on the boat, lunch and departure for a few hours of kayaking. Then go to Soi Sim, a good beach for swimming.
Through the beach you reach a high point and you can have a wonderful view of the bay. Just be prepared to face 800 steps there and back, which in very hot weather becomes extremely tiring, but which are undoubtedly worth “facing”.
At the end of the day you can still visit the largest cave in the bay, Han Sung Sot, with impressive and well-preserved rock formations.
Return to the boat is at night, in time for dinner to be served. Have a few drinks, sing karaoke, exchange conversations with the other tourists on board and the day is done.
The morning starts early with breakfast and is followed by a visit to an oyster farm, right in the middle of the bay. It's interesting to see the process of transplanting oysters, to obtain a better quality species, therefore better pearls, but ultimately the objective is to get you to buy something.
Back on the boat, learn how to make the famous Spring Rolls while waiting for lunch.
At noon it's time to disembark and take another four hours by bus to Hanoi. In the end, it was a good trip, but one that wastes a lot of time traveling and the beauty of the bay is lost with the countless number of boats that fill it.
So, if this is a trip you don't want to miss, stay at least one night on board, otherwise it's very exhausting. And pay attention to the boat you choose, because low price means low quality, so don't be tempted by boats under 60 dollars, because you will certainly get poor service, which could ruin the whole experience.
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