After a couple of days in Hanoi, it was good to leave the city behind and travel the 3.5 hours to Halong Bay. Heading out of Hanoi we crossed the Red River and caught our first glimpse of the 'real' Vietnamese countryside; the lush, green rice fields being tended by women in their traditional conical hats and the rows of banana plants drooping in the stifling heat.
Halong Bay, translated as the Bay of Descending Dragons, is a cluster of some 3,000 limestone islands, covered in thick vegetation, that rise majestically out of the Gulf of Tonkin. Many of them are hollow or contain amazing cave formations. The sight of them from the boat as you pass between them really is quite spectacular.
Later in the day, after an afternoon of exploring the aforementioned caves and swimming at a small tourist beach, we sailed into the secluded bay where we dropped anchor for the night and watched traditional fishermen trawling the water for fish and other crustaceans.
We were well looked after on the junk by our small crew of three and the food served on board was delicious: freshly baked whole fish cooked in ginger and chilli, scallops, squid and tiger prawns, spring rolls, rice, noodles and a wonderful array of simply prepared but delicious vegetables.
I don't think there's anything more idyllic than sailing across a beautiful bay whilst watching the sun go down. It was a marvellous introduction to the 'real' Vietnam and the wonders yet to come.
After a brief return to Hanoi, our next stop is the former capital of Vietnam, Hue. See you there.