Exploring Ha Long Bay

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Nu, the homestay owner, greeted us every morning with a warm smile. Her place was the perfect spot to stay—comfortable, cozy, and equipped with everything we needed. It was clear that she had her connections in place. She arranged for a bike rental and helped book our tour to Ha Long Bay, which saved us the hassle of running around town to plan things ourselves. The options for the tour were varied: a day trip, a 1-night/2-day trip, or a 2-night/3-day trip. But with only eight days in Vietnam, we had to keep our schedule tight, so we quickly ruled out the longer tours.

After discussing with Missy, we chose the day trip. It offered most of what we wanted—kayaking, exploring limestone caves, and a ferry ride—without the late-night partying on the boat. We weren’t interested in that part, so a quick tour suited us perfectly. The tour cost us around 15,000 INR ($180) for both of us, which seemed like a decent deal.

That evening, Nu confirmed our booking and shared the details. I got the guide’s number and was told to be ready early the next morning.

We woke up at 6 am the next day, despite the bus not arriving until 8. Hanoi mornings are a sight to behold—so alive. The streets were filled with people playing badminton, jogging, and doing morning exercises. The small eateries and shops were buzzing, and you could hear the distinct sound of noodles boiling in the street-side stalls. We found a woman selling sticky rice wrapped in leaves, a dish we’d never tried before. It cost about 10,000 VND (₹35 / $0.40), and we happily devoured it—Missy, in particular, since rice for breakfast is normal in her hometown. It was the perfect start to our day.

By 7:45 am, we were waiting outside on the main road, ready for pickup. Just as we expected, a man in a blue shirt came running towards us, paper in hand, calling my name. He led us to the bus, which had a big glass window, offering a great view as we set out on our 3-hour journey to Ha Long Bay.

Our guide, Dylan, had a sense of humor that kept the entire bus entertained. Short in stature with a funny English accent, he playfully teased us about our destination, joking that we were headed to Cambodia or China before finally announcing we were on our way to Ha Long Bay. His playful energy set the tone for the ride.

We made a couple of stops along the way. The first was at a large, chain-like shopping mall. These malls seemed to appear every few kilometers on both sides of the highway. After a quick visit to the restroom, I grabbed a snack and had a cigarette before we hit the road again. The second stop was in Ha Long City, where we could already see the famous limestone formations emerging from the misty horizon. The rain started to fall lightly, adding a dreamlike quality to the landscape.

We arrived at the Ha Long Bay port in the early afternoon. The grand entrance looked more like a mall than a ferry terminal, with a spacious lobby and sleek, Instagram-worthy architecture. Dylan split us into small groups of five, and we ended up with a Bangladeshi couple and a solo traveler from the Philippines. Together, we boarded the ferry and headed into the sea.

Lunch was served on the ferry—a spread of Vietnamese dishes that felt hearty yet light. As we sailed deeper into the bay, the limestone islands loomed larger, their dramatic silhouettes rising from the emerald-green water. We had two options for the afternoon: kayaking or row boating. We chose the latter, not wanting to risk our camera equipment in the unpredictable water.

The rowboat took us into the heart of the limestone formations. It was peaceful out on the water. The sounds of paddles slicing through the water and the echo of distant bird calls added to the serene atmosphere. The farther we rowed, the more isolated we felt from the world. Surrounded by towering cliffs, it was like entering another realm—one untouched by time.

Next, we headed to one of the bay's largest caves. Dylan, with his ever-present humor, warned us, "We go up here and come out the other side. If you come back to the same place, you're lost!" Sure enough, the cave was massive, with towering limestone formations inside that seemed to glow under the subtle lighting. The climb was easy, especially for us, since we were used to the hills of Meghalaya.

After exploring the cave, we were back on the ferry for our final stop—a beach on one of the islands. There were over 1,600 islands in the bay, but this one stood out with its golden sands and calm waters. Missy, having only seen a beach once before in Mumbai, was excited. We even went live on Instagram, sharing the moment with our followers. To our surprise, some tourists had come fully prepared for the beach, changing into bikinis and diving into the water.

As the day wound down, we enjoyed snacks and wine on the ferry, watching the sunset cast a golden glow over the bay. A giant Ferris wheel in the distance illuminated the skyline of Ha Long City, adding a festive vibe to the evening.

By the time we got back to the bus, everyone was quiet, tired from the day’s activities. The return journey was a blur, with the same pit stops along the way. We were exhausted but thrilled by the adventure. Tomorrow, we had an even longer journey ahead of us—300 kilometers north to Sapa.

In the Bus

On the Deck of the Ferry

In the Rowboat

Exploring the Limestones

View from the Cave Island

Missy in the Cave

Missy at the Cave Entrance

Snacks on the Ferry

Ferris Wheel of Ha Long City