J+L in Transit

The Road to Hạ Long Bay & Our Boat, Paloma

Hạ Long Bay is only about 90 miles away from Hà Nội, but it still is a 4-hour drive. We met some good friends while crammed into a mini-bus. After arriving at Hạ Long Bay, we took a smaller boat from the dock out to the cruise boat. Our boat, the Paloma, was beautiful — built in the style of a traditional Chinese junk. The meals on board were very good and the cabins were comfortable. Throughout the cruise we were surrounded by the amazing beauty of Hạ Long Bay. We spent 3 days and 2 nights aboard the Paloma.

Local Fisherman on the Dock as We Depart for the Paloma

The Paloma

Top Deck of the Paloma

View of Hạ Long Bay

A Vietnamese Fishing Boat in the Distance

Floating Village

Our first cruise activity was visiting a floating village. The residents of the village are fishermen and oyster farmers. Their houses are all floating on the water of Hạ Long Bay. We took a tour aboard a bamboo boat, piloted by one of the women from the village. After the tour, we visited the oyster farm.

Bamboo Boats at the Floating Dock

Bamboo Boats with Local Villagers

Boat Close-up

Us Riding on the Boat Taxi

James Aboard the Bamboo Boat

Houses of the Floating Village

Local House and Fishing Boat

Kid Hanging Out on a Porch of the Floating House

This Hammock Looks Comfy!

Boats and Houses

Bamboo Boat Taxis Silhouetted Under a Limestone Arch

Taking a Spin on the Bamboo Boat Taxi

Lin on the Bamboo Boat

We Arrived at the Oyster Farm, Fishing Village in the Background

Climbing Up to the Top of an Island

The islands of Hạ Long Bay are limestone karsts formed by hundreds of millions of years of erosion. There are now thousands of islands rising dramatically from the waters of the bay. We took a climb to the top of one of the islands and got a great view of the surrounding area. Halfway up, there was a cage full of monkeys — sad to see them cooped up but we fed them a couple bananas.

Nice Monkey Wanna Banana?

Monkeys

View from the Top of an Island

Another View from the Top

Yet Another View

Lin Descends from the Peak

Dog Relaxing in His Island Home

Island Beach

View of the Beach from the Docks

Kayaking & Secluded Beaches

The cruise brought us to another floating village and rented kayaks from a local shop. With the kayaks in tow, we headed for an area of Hạ Long Bay abundant in rock archways and secluded beaches. We paddled around for a while, through sea caves and under rock arches, and settled at a pristine beach. We thought we were alone until a saleswoman paddled up in a bamboo boat and tried to sell us Pringles. After we said no, she left and we were again alone in paradise.

Kayaking Towards a Rock Arch

Passing Under the Rock Arch

Other Side of the Arch

Secluded Beach

Us at the Beach

Here Comes the Pringle Boat

Amazing / Surprising Cave

Our final cruise activity was a tour of Amazing Cave (a.k.a. Surprising Cave). We were both amazed and surprised by how big the cave was. The islands in Hạ Long Bay are all made of limestone, so there are caves in many of the islands. Amazing Cave is one of the largest ones.

One of Many Cave Entrances on the Side of the Island

Stalagmites Inside the Cave

Feels Like an Indiana Jones Set

View from the Top, Outside the Cave

Panorama from Outside the Cave Exit

We Strike a Pose Outside the Cave

Looking Back Down Into the Cave Gives a Sense of Scale, the People Look Like Ants

Floating Shop, Outside the Amazing Cave

Leaving the Cave Island, a Woman Sets Up Shop with a Floating Fish Store