VIETNAM
THE CHANGE IN THE WATERS WHEN WE CROSSED INTO VIETNAM was dramatic. Commercial fishing is much more organized, and dredges and commercial barges are everywhere. Fish farms line both sides of the river, mainly raising tilapia.
For the next two days we visited towns along the river that we explore via walking tours, bike rides, and kayaking. My favorites were the chef’s tour of the Sa Dec Market and the farming village of May An Hung.
The last day we disembarked and were transported to Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City with a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda with its giant Buddha statues. We flew to Hanoi that afternoon where our hotel was in the center of the old quarter. We spent the next couple of days exploring the walkable streets, and the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, a popular gathering spot for locals. The bustling quarter was packed with restaurants, shops, people, and hundreds of mopeds.
The next day we boarded our short Bhaya Cruises’ Halong Bay cruise. Our boat looked like an old Chinese junk, but was built in 2009 and boasts nice cabins and facilities including a spa, restaurant, and bar. The afternoon was spent rowing around caves as well as enjoying a quick swim. The next day we did a spectacular walking tour through Surprise Cave, where multicolor lights shine on the stalactites as the path winds through several caverns. When we reemerged, there were more than 100 boats in sight, which created a dynamic backdrop.