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Halong Bay is probably where you would find yourself. Majestic and mysterious, Vietnam’s Halong Bay is a breathtaking location with over 2000 incredible jagged islands and islets rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

This superb panorama of limestone peaks enshrouded in mist, tumbling into the gently lapping sea and enclosing within its folds striking hidden caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The near-perpendicular pinnacles conceal the remains of many grottos and caverns, created over millions of years ago through a complex process of erosion whereby water trickled through limestone cracks enlarging them to create spectacular caves and resulting in the distinctive towers seen today.
About a 3 hour ride south of Hanoi, Halong Bay draws a steady stream of travelers year-round, who mostly opt for several days of cruising on a typical Vietnamese junk. Beyond the breathtaking seascapes on a boat trip through the bay, an amazing range of adventure travel opportunities are on offer: Travelers to Halong come to explore the spectacular caves, among them the amazing “Surprise Cave” with its 3 enormous caverns, where illuminated stalactites grow down to touch the rising stalagmites; to kayak and scuba dive around the islands and in and around some of the more remote, less accessible caves, such as the Dark Cave; to get to know “real-life” Vietnam, cycling through farm fields and remote tiny villages, where self-reliant locals raise and prepare their own food; to experience one of Vietnam’s most fascinating cultural features – the floating villages, nestling in the sheltered bays, where houses are set atop barges and year round, inhabitants catch and cultivate fish.

Surprise Cave

Cruising on a typical junk is in itself an adventure, and experiencing the star-studded night sky and lapping sea waves with the outlines of dozens of limestone towers silhouetted in the backdrop makes for a surreal picture. Halong Bay’s breathtaking splendor, enormous scale and unique geomorphology make it one of Vietnam’s most spectacular experiences.

For an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Ninh Binh, or “Inland Halong Bay”, north of Halong is a paradise of lotus-covered ponds, meandering waterways and lush green rice paddies where contorted limestone pinnacles, caverns, spires and hills, shaped like mythical creatures provide the setting. Here, ornate temples, pagodas and Buddhist shrines rise from the center of small lakes and rustic homes perch under natural overhangs or nestle into the living rock. The steady rhythm of traditional Vietnamese village life continues here as women tend to the rice fields while men in wooden boats cast nets into the tranquil waters. A motorbike ride into the nearby mountains is a great adventure and a half-day boat trip to Tam Coc or Trang An into caves and old temples is well worth the journey.

On the Way to Tam Coc

What make this entire region unique are not the towering cliffs themselves, but rather their sheer number and unique shapes. Halong Bay, translated as “where the dragon descends into the sea” is the stuff of myths. Legend has it that the islands were created by a great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the sea, its tail gouged out valleys and crevasses, and as it spat out jewels and jade, these turned into ,the dramatic towering pinnacles for which the bay and its surroundings are renowned.

Source: familyadventuretravelwork

Recommended Tours in Vietnam:
Halong bay Kayking
Biking Hidden Paths of Mai Chau & Ninh Binh

Rupali Karekar describes the second half of her holiday to Vietnam.

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WHEN I wrote about my scuba-diving and canoeing experience in Vietnam, one reader suggested that I need not have gone that far for that kind of divine experience, when I can easily enjoy it in some exotic locations nearby.

But my adventure tour to Vietnam did not focus only on the beaches and sea. And while I did have a great time diving, singing to myself while canoeing in the serenity of the fabulous waters of Catba Island, as well as dozing off on the deck of my house boat in the middle of the day as a gentle breeze lulled me to sleep — I also enjoyed my bicycle rides in the villages of Ninh Binh and quiet walks in the mountains of Mai Chau.

Fabulous waters and beaches of Catba Island.
PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

My journey to Catba Island ended on the fourth day of my northern Vietnam tour, and I took a bus ride to Hai Phong from where I proceeded to a long but picturesque ride to Ninh Binh (pronounced Ning Bing) — a splendid patch of green that was quite a contrast to the blue waters of Halong Bay.

A quick boat ride along a small rivulet in the area opened up a hidden world of floating rice fields, neatly separated by respective farmers by skillful plantation of the rice saplings, and marked by the thinnest of twigs plonked into the muddied grounds.

I was surrounded by huge rocks made of limestone and my boat had to pass through three cave-like openings in these rocks to reach the other side.

A quiet boat ride that led to a number of caves.
PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

The dark caves were so small that at times I had to bend down to touch my nose to my knees to avoid getting a bump on the head. They were so narrow that two boats would have to wrestle each other to make it to the other side.

Passing through three cave-like openings in the rocks.
PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

The rivulet was lined on both sides by rice fields floating on the water, with farmers submerged waist deep in the fields while they harvested the crops.

Rice fields lining the river in Vietnam. PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

The afternoon was spent cycling in the village, avoiding the huge patches of rice grains occupying the roadsides, where they had been  laid out for drying. Manouvering my bicycle through these hurdles was an adventure in itself.

Rice drying on the side of the road. PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

Amazing as the view in Ninh Binh was, it faded in beauty to the countryside of Mai Chau.

Hidden in the mountains of north Vietnam, this tiny paradise is a tourist hotspot, mostly for its quiet greenery but also for the unique experience of staying with the locals in stilt houses.

Nearly 100 villagers provide modest accomodation to tourists in an adjacent house, which qualifies as an outhouse to the main structure. The smallest room can accomodate four people, who are provided with nothing more than a mattress, covers and a mosquito net to sleep at night.

Villager outside stilt house in Mai Chau. PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

However, the fields are a nature-lovers’ playground, where a simple walk can stretch for hours as smiling faces greet you and welcome you to their little world.

Just do not be bothered by the various grass-hoppers who occasionally land on you at any time of the day. If you manage to catch some, they can be quite a delicacy when roasted or fried for dinner. I was challenged to try one out, although I have to confess, I chickened out.

I am sure there are amazing places to see in South East Asia and most of them are quiet near. But, the seven days I spent in Vietnam — with its good food, friendly people and amazing countryside — were worth every penny I spent.

Vietnamese sunset. PHOTO: Rupali Karekar

I do not regret going that far for a holiday. In fact, given half a chance I would do it again.

Source: Rupali Karekar (blogs.straitstimes.com)