Two weeks in North Vietnam - 12/21 - 1/3/2023

Day 6- Sailing into sunset/Dinner-12/26/2023

We are now sailing while the sun is setting in the horizon and it is truly such an amazing experience. 

Narrow passage between the islands.

The bay is dotted with limestone islets cloaked in lush greenery, creating a mesmerizing seascape.

The upper deck with a 360 degree view of the bay as we are sailing.

Hoa enjoying a quiet moment on the upper deck.

Small boats sailing in Halong bay

The sun is starting it descend.

Beautiful warm glow from the sun over the bay.

 The natural transition from bright to a gorgeous orange glow over the magnificent of the bay was mesmerizing.

I never get tired of watching this scenery.

Limestone karsts rising from emerald bay. 

Nice reflection of the sun over the water.

 The Halong Bay limestone karsts are the result of over 500 million years of geological evolution, shaped by complex processes involving tectonic shifts, sea level changes, and weathering.

 The area is characterized by thousands of limestone pillars, caves, and islets, creating a landscape unlike any other in the world. This karst formation is one of the most extensive and well-preserved in Southeast Asia, showcasing the incredible power of natural forces over time.

The boat is now docking for the evening.

The sun just set but you can still see the orange glow in the sky.

Dinner time

We went to our bedroom and there are 2 Vietnamese Áo dài (Vietnamese Tunic) for us to wear at dinner time.

It was fun wearing the tunics.

Hoa and Minh

Loan and I at the dinner table.  On the right is the dinner menu.

Table set up.

We started with Cha gio (Vietnamese fried roll) .

Deep fried oysters with chili salt, Lotus root and shrimp salad

Organic pumpkin and potato soup with wild mushroom served with garlic herb.

Nice presentation and the soup was also delicious.

Pan Fried sea bass fillet served with ratatouille sauce and pasta

Grilled chicken with lemon grass and lemon leaf served sesame steamed rice.

Portion is really copious!

We did not expect much but we were nicely surprised that the food surpassed our expectations.  I forgot to take pictures of the desserts

Night has set in and it is now dark.  Lots of cruise boats docking in this area for the evening.

View from the upper deck.

The moon shinning above.

Gorgeous night with the moon illumining the bay.

After dinner, we were invited to squid fishing.

The squid are attracted to the lights.  You have to be extremely patient, attention and luck to caught them.  We stayed for a short time as we just do not have the patience to give it go.

NEXT... Sung Sot cave