Joanna James
Halong Bay is heaven on earth. It is a painting of mountains drawn in with a thick calligraphy brush. When you visit you would find yourself held in thrall at the sheer beauty and natural landscapes that precede you. There's plenty to do in the bay area and here are some of the best ideas.
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but Halong City is a seaside market town that does not cater much to the exotic expectations you may have of it. But you will be in the city and it is quite worth exploring if you have an eye for authenticity as you can witness the people of Vietnam and how they live their usual day-to-day life.
The city is home to the biggest aerial tramway that opened in 2016 and can carry as many as 230 people at one time. The observation deck has great views of the bay.
Spend some time sunbathing on the beach. The best beaches include Tuan Chau, Ba Trai Dao and Soi Sim to name a few. Since these beaches are found in between the island you can sign up for a cruise with tour operators like Bhaya Cruises and head off to these beaches. Go scuba diving, kayaking and visit the caves at the same time.
There are many options when it comes to the best luxury cruise in Halong Bay and one of those is a visit to Bai Tu Long Bay in the northeast which is a geological masterpiece. It is only accessible through some cruise lines so be sure to check and see if your chosen tour operator does cruises to these secluded areas.
Visit the magical grottoes of Vietnam's Phong Nha-ke Bang National Park and Hang Son Doong cave – the largest cave in the world. It is a sheer sight to witness and one that you will hold in your memory for a long time after. Your cruise operators will offer you this option so be sure to say yes.
One of the more unique aspects of Halong Bay is its floating villages. It is both a fascinating and a truly humbling experience to see these homes floating along on the bay where the locals eke out a living in whatever way they can and their homes are colourful and add such a vibrant and magical feeling to the bay. There are four main floating villages, namely, Cua Van, Cong Dam, Ba Hang and Vung Vieng.
Take a day off on your cruise to literally jump off the boat and go kayaking or scuba diving in the clear blue waters. There are some designated kayaking areas like the Dark and Light Cave as well as a scuba diving and snorkelling option that your tour operator can plan out for you. The teeming marine life is well worth going underwater for.
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