Halong bay.

I wrote my last post on the coach to Halong bay. A 2+ hour ride from Hanoi, which formerly took four hours before the new expressway. A party of about 20 of us headed to the top tourist destination in Vietnam. We boarded a lovely vessel whose downstairs was set with nice tables for lunch. The upstairs had lounge chairs and other seating to enjoy the view. And what a view! The rock formations emerged from the sea, framed by other formations in the distance giving the entire horizon an ethereal feel. It was like sailing through a painting. There was a lady with a silk kerchief, the kind my mother wore when she set her hair in rollers. The kerchief felt so symbolic to me, as I reflected on my life. I felt rooted in this moment where a kid from a family with too many kids and never enough money could now be sailing through this wondrous place in Vietnam. My blessings have been many and it is not lost on me.

We were served a great lunch with many courses. About an hour into the trip we arrived at the “wet cave.” We could choose a traditional vietnamese boat or a two person kayak. Reflecting on our past canoeing experiences where I ended up in the drink more than once, we picked the boat. It was really fun and there were monkeys! Plus, we stayed dry, that could not be said for the canoe teams.

After reboarding the main boat we sailed another hour to reach the “Dry cave” which our guide, Mr. Bien, said was a trek of 125 stairs up. Ok. so not thrilling, but not too bad, as I figured it was good practice for the 500+ stairs we will ascend for an upcoming attraction in Nihn Binh.

Turns out Mr. Bien is a liar. We ascended the 125 stairs, to a beautiful view, then we descended into the innards of the cave, which admittedly, were incredible. But then we had to make the journey up again, on even steeper stairs to get out. We were all sweaty, tired and smelly by the time we arrived back to the boat. The crew invited us all to the top deck to enjoy “happy hour” (and maybe air out our stenches) on the journey back. The light was fading slightly and it gave the view an even more majestic feel. It was honestly the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Some folks on trip advisor had said to skip halong bay because it was so “touristy.” Not in a million years would I advise that. Visiting Halong Bay is an experience I won’t forget and will be forever grateful for the path that brought me there.

Mr Bien showing us the exact spot that is printed on their money

First 125 steps