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The legend of Halong Bay is a fine one. In the time
of Chinese invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons
to Vietnam's coast in order to protect its people.
The dragons spat jewels and jade into the water, forming
beautiful islands which densely filled the Gulf of
Tonkin, forming a barrier against invaders. Today,
the only foreigners occupying Halong Bay are curious
travellers from around the world, who come in peaceful
hordes to see Vietnam's finest natural wonder.
Spanning 1500 square kilometres, the "Bay of the
Descending Dragon" lies east of Hanoi and attracts
tourists of all forms. Visitors can choose from a
simple daytrip boat tour, a 5-day blitz of island
exploration, or something in between. If you have
time, we strongly encourage a 2 or 3 day tour of the
bay to best witness its beauty. While the sky's the
limit in terms of cruise luxuries (and costs), this
traveller took a comfortable all-inclusive (minus
alcohol, naturally) 2-day trip for 30$USD.
Because tour options are varied, travellers should
have no trouble choosing a package to suit their tastes.
Couples can soak up the romance of a smaller cruise;
nature-lovers can opt for expensive cave tours, and
sporty travellers can hike, bike, kayak and swim,
all in one trip. When booking a tour, we recommend
that you ask the agent to write out everything included
in the package; sights to be toured, kayaking and
biking options, et cetera. Some tourists are stuck
with boat crews cutting back on activities to save
travel time.
Once off the mainland and upon a tourboat, options
are plentiful. Between big, delicious meals prepared
by the boat crew, tourists can relax on the sundeck,
swim, kayak, and snap pictures aplenty of the scenic
islands. The boats make stops for guided tours of
Ha Long's famous caves, full of stalactites and stalagmites
and steeped in local folklore, explained by friendly
guides. At night, tired tourists can put their feet
up, taste some of Hanoi's local wine or beer, and
looc up at the stars while chatting with other passengers.
Your boat crew may speak of a a post-dinner karaoke
affair, though be warned that the music is mostly
tinny Vietnamese pop. Feel free to decline a turn
on the mic, or else dive in and chalk it up to a cultural
experience.
After a peaceful sleep in your ship's cabin, don't
be alarmed if you wake up to the chipper "good mornings"
of vendors rowing up to your boat on rafts laden with
cigarettes, Coke, biscuits and other western staples.
Despite its idyllic appearance, Halong Bay remains
an iconic point on the tourist trail, and local people
from nearby towns and floating villages know the value
of this economy.
The next morning, those on 2-day tours can enjoy
more swimming and scenery before the journey home.
Travellers on longer trips disembark on popular Cat
Bat island for hiking and cycling through
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