Halong Bay! One of the things on my bucket list to see and I got to cross it off. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam because of the towering limestone karsts that dot the bay that are full of hidden caves, secret beaches, and a thriving ecosystem.
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I booked an overnight boat tour from my hostel in Hanoi. There are half-day tours and 3-day tours available as well depending on how much time you have and how much you want to see. My overnight tour cost around 90 USD.
I got picked up from my hostel bright and early in the morning and transported 4 hours to Halong Bay. Once we got on our cruise boat, we were met with hospitable service and lunch right as we started our journey to the bay.
Cruise boats in Halong Bay
Our first stop was Sung Sot Cave, a very popular attraction in Halong Bay because of its size and the viewpoint you get at the end of it. Sung Sot means Surprise Cave. It was well lit with bright colors that gave it an artsy effect.
Sung Sot Cave
Just outside of the inlet that holds the cave is a spot to rent kayaks from. It was included in our cruise so we just had to grab a paddle and a partner and we were off. It was pretty awesome to paddle up to the foot of these giant mountains that stick straight up out of the water.
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We got to kayak for about 30 minutes before it started turning dark and we had to return to the boat for dinner. I tried my hand at squid fishing after our meal since they offered but I had no luck. Typical when I fish.
Tomorrow, I will upload day 2 of our 2-day cruise in Halong Bay. Stay tuned for that.
Have you ever been to Halong Bay? What did you see there?
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