Halong Bay

After a few days of not so positive experiences in Vietnam and Ha Noi, our luck finally changed. Today we achieved the impossible and finally received a police report, thanks to the help of Dong A Hotel. But the main uplifting event was the daytrip that we took yesterday to one of Vietnam's most beautiful nature sites- Halong Bay. Even the sun graced us with its presence! :)

Ha Long Bay (literally: Descending Dragon bay) is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam.

Local legend has it that long ago, when the Vietnamese were fighting Chinese invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons to help defend the land. This family of dragons began spitting out jewels and jade. These jewels turned into the islands and islets dotting the bay, linking together to form a great wall against the invaders. The people kept their land safe and formed what later became the country of Vietnam. After that, dragons were interested in peaceful sightseeing of the Earth and then decided to live here. [Wiki]

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes Cave) is the largest grotto in the Ha Long area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. [Wiki]
Without a doubt the most beautiful caves that we have ever seen, the name "Grotto of Miracles" is an apt name indeed.

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

We also went kayaking on the bay discovering little havens of peace and silence within the isles, punctuated only by the cries of birds and occasional who-hoos of other kayakers...

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

Upon returning to Ha Noi, the streets were full of madness. An unbelievable amount of motorcycles, streets full to the brim with people.

From Vietnam

The reason- it was the day of the Full moon (Mid-Autumn) Festival. We still caught a childrens performance of song and dance.

From Vietnam

Lii lisab:
Vaga tore paev oli tana. Halong Bay koos oma uskumatult ilusa koopaga, toesti lihtsalt pole sonu, et seda koobast kirjeldada.
Siis kajakiga soitmine Halong Bays, lihtsalt fantastiline:)
Tundub, et Vietnam hakkab meile oma positiivsemat kulge naitama..
Ei tea kas see on olnud juhus, aga viimastel paevadel on ka kohalike inimestega palju positiivsemaid kogemusi olnud- vaga tore giid Halong Bays, uskumatult abivalmis tootaja hotellis, kes tuli meiega politseisse, et lahendada meie olukorda ja vaga abivalmis ja sobralik tootaja baaris half man 1/2 noodle. Ju on meil toesti vaja halbu kogemusi, et osata hinnata neid haid..