Phil & Gail: A Cruise on Ha long Bay

We decided to enjoy one final trip together before Phil returns to the States by taking a very nice overnight cruise on Ha long Bay. Although it doesn't look very far on the map (165 km or about 103 miles from Ha noi), the trip took four long hours by car including about an hour getting out of Ha noi. This is the reality of travel within Vietnam; it is much slower than we would expect in the States. For those of you who have memories of the Vietnam War, Ha long Bay is about 30 miles north of Hai phong, the North Vietnamese harbor that was bombed extensively during the war.

Our cruise ship, the Bhaya I, is in the style of a Chinese/Vietnamese junk.



We knew the trip was going to be pleasurable as we walked onto the ship and found rose petals being rained down upon us. Our cabin was nicely appointed as well.



Gail was in ecstasy when she saw the lunch buffet. Among other dishes, such as stuffed crab, steamed squid and large boiled shrimp, she found beef burgundy with MASHED POTATOES! Comfort food from home. Needless to say several trips were made to the buffet to sample the potatoes.



Ha long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site primarily because of the extensive karst topography. (For those of us who aren't geographers or geologists, the bay is filled with wonderful steep limestone islands jutting out of the water.) It is very dramatic.




Just as with the limestone formations in Missouri, these limestone islands also contain numerous caves. This is one of the largest, formed from both wave action and water erosion.



The bay is also home to families who live in floating villages.



They make their living by fishing and selling to tourists.



As we were cruising to a new location, the chef taught us to make nem, fried Spring rolls which, of course, we had to sample.



After relaxing



and watching the sun set over the bay,



it was time for dinner. Shrimp on pomelo (like a dry grapefruit) with smoked salmon.



Followed by the main course of lambchops with steamed veggies.



You may wonder why we were eating Western food in Vietnam. The guests on this cruise included a French family, a tour group of twelve Russians, a Swiss couple, a Chinese couple and us.

After a restful night of sleeping on the bay, a happy couple completed another adventure in SE Asia.