Halong Bay, on water and on land!

Aaah Halong Bay. Isn't it the first place you think of when you hear about Vietnam? With its 2000 islands spread over 1500 km2 , Halong Bay never ceases to fascinate, and one can easily imagine oneself on a junk, lost in the immensity of the archipelago, surrounded by a fog from which emerge, mysterious, the limestone peaks covered with abundant jungle!

And it is for this reason that, taking advantage of a long weekend in Vietnam, we decided to go and discover this mythical bay, as well as its sister, the "land Halong Bay", less known but just as superb.

I had already been to Halong Bay in 2007 during a previous trip (see more details here: Ha Long Bay ), but the travel conditions were very different! At the time, as a young backpacker, I had chosen the cheap boat/fast trip option. But this time I wanted to do it with more style, with a private boat please! So departure from the luxury marina, rather than from the port crowded with tourists, very appreciable, and a feeling of being alone despite the many boats that crisscross the bay. This one

is certainly very large, but the boat routes are controlled and the anchorage areas for spending the night are imposed. Nevertheless, a definite advantage of a private boat is that we could ask to move if another boat decided to anchor a little too close. It must be said that the staff was very attentive, with a guide, a captain, a sailor, a cook, and a waiter. As soon as we arrived on the boat, we were warmly welcomed, and the surprise was then announced to Sara: no, we would not be with 40 other tourists, but we would be free to enjoy the front deck or the upper deck as we wished and the chosen degree of exposure to the sun! And we quickly discovered the talent of the cook, who prepared soups and seafood for us like no one else, while the waiter was delighted to be able to practice his French with us! As you will have understood, we were well off! And we quickly get used to this peaceful way of life, at the whim of the islands and the changing landscape, which we can admire from the windows of our "dining room" and the bedroom, breathtaking views on the program!

is very well organized, and we also enjoy magnificent and interesting excursions, by boat around a floating village on the first day, and by bike on the island of Cat Ba on the second day. And the cherry on the cake, a private barbecue on a deserted beach with small dishes in the big ones! It would have been absolutely perfect if the rain had not interrupted our meal. And this same rain was not going to leave us alone, because because of it we had to return to the port on the second day (we had planned two nights), on the order of the local authorities. A few years ago several tourist boats sank, and since then a certain paranoia grips the local authorities, who recall all the boats at the slightest gray cloud! And the decision is final at 3 p.m., for everyone, even if the weather improves afterwards. A little disappointed we therefore return prematurely, while a magnificent sunset greets us between large clearings, the storm having in fact been very short-lived. The boat company responded very well, arranged our transfer, and fully refunded the second night, but one wonders how

Despite this little unforeseen event, we still enjoyed the boat until 6pm on the second day, and it allowed us to spend more time in Ninh Binh afterwards. And a night spent on the boat also allowed us to admire this marvel in a certain comfort, and to spend a most perfect evening with a small glass of champagne in hand, "go big or go home", as our Anglo-Saxon friends would say.