By James

So, nice and early we headed off on our 4-hour journey past rice paddies and ‘Glorious Dead’ war memorial statues for Ha Long Bay. We stopped at a truck stop/tourist trap with what they called a “Customers Corner” which was actually a display on each person who had bought a large statue, complete with their photo, phone number, email address and home address for all to see- an identity thief’s wet dream! (I’ve not added a photo of it here, I don’t want to perpetuate this absurdity!)

At around midday we boarded our boat for Ha Long Bay and the beginning of our cruise with Vega Travel.

After a short break, we hopped into kayaks and went off to explore Hang Luon lagoon.

Next, we climbed up to visit the wonderfully lit Surprising Cave (the discoverer didn’t expect to discover it, apparently!)

That evening we made DIY fresh spring rolls and slept to the sounds of the waves lapping at our boat.

 

 

The following morning we got up early to scale the 425 steps up Ti Top Hill. The view was good, just maybe not 425 steps good…

 

 

Then came the best bit. We moored to the East of Cat Ba Island and hopped on rather rickety bikes. We cycled around a beautiful valley to Viet Hai village, where we met a woman who brewed her own rice wine. We got to try the ‘normal’ one, one infused with hibiscus and even a snake infused wine! (The snake one was the best one, in case you were wondering.)

 

 

After getting a little fuzzy we left Sue and her previously broken leg talking to a woman who made pearl necklaces, and headed off for a trek through the jungle and up the rocks over a ridge.

We got back rather sweaty and hungry, so we ate such a large meal we all fell asleep.

 

 

By the time we awoke we had travelled away from the crowds of Ha Long Bay to the quieter, less travelled area of Lan Ha Bay.

 

 

We refreshed ourselves by jumping into the sea from the boats, daring one another to do more exciting jumps.

Until a sweet, tattooed Japanese lady messed up a flip and Spider Monkey jumped into her front. Her belly and face made one hell of a slap as she hit the water…

As the sun set, we made our way past floating villages into Cat Bay town and spent the night in a perfectly serviceable hotel.

The following morning we headed back to the port just in time for a very localised storm, and then the journey back to Hanoi.

 

Next is caving, tombs and royal cities.

All our love, The Backpack Duo x