Discover Halong Bay: 8-Day Group Tour Exploring Northern Vietnam’s Eastern Beauty
Halong Bay is a bustling tourist haven, teeming with visitors and boasting a plethora of hotels and well-developed facilities. It’s said that the area is home to thousands of hotels, ranging from grand establishments to cozy inns. The hotel we chose was exceptionally spacious, and the breakfast buffet was a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
The presentation of the breakfast was a delightful surprise, showcasing the local culture in every detail. As you step into the dining area, two charming baskets greet you, adorned with conical hat designs. Below them, an array of handmade delicacies, reminiscent of rice noodle rolls, are on display.
A young female chef prepares these treats on-site, skillfully spreading out a sheet of rice noodle and meticulously cutting it. The process is almost meditative, and the resulting noodles have a perfect balance of firmness and smoothness. Drizzled with a special sauce, they offer a light, slightly tangy flavor that lingers on the palate.
Northern Vietnam exudes a distinct Eastern charm, or perhaps a more pronounced regional character, with “local culture” woven into every corner. The aesthetic here is a blend of tradition and modernity, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere.
Halong Bay offers three scenic routes, all accessible by cruise boat. We opted for the first route. As our boat set off, a gentle drizzle created a mystical ambiance, with distant mountains shrouded in mist, like delicate ink paintings on rice paper. Our traveling companion, a wise uncle, remarked that this ethereal scene was a blessing, evoking the feeling of a fairyland. Such enchantment, he noted, might be lost if the weather were clear and everything sharply defined.
I shared the uncle’s poetic words with my friend Qian Xiang via text, and he responded with a profound insight: “It seems like someone who sees life clearly but still loves it.” My friend’s reflection was so perceptive, and I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such wise and insightful individuals.
In Halong Bay, one feels transported to a realm where the hustle and bustle of everyday life fades away. The sea offers a sense of freedom and openness, a rare and cherished experience. Small boats would occasionally approach, offering freshly caught seafood to be cooked right on the deck. They would toss a rope up, tie it to our larger vessel, and if there was no interest, they would calmly untie and move on, their enthusiasm undimmed for the next potential customer.
On our return journey from Halong Bay to Hanoi, we passed by a vast cemetery nestled among the fields. The tombstones were ornate and colorful, each with its own unique design—some square, others with upturned eaves like miniature pavilions, and some resembling small Western-style houses. These cemeteries, hidden within the lush greenery, resembled tiny, picturesque villages, quietly beautiful and serene.
These cemeteries reflect the people’s deep-seated hopes for the afterlife and the enduring memories they leave behind, a testament to the rich tapestry of life and culture in this enchanting region.
