The B Side: Boat Binders - Halong Bay, Vietnam

As it was Fleet Week, the best week of the year, back home... Bri and I would not be denied a few days of sun out on the Bay. However, this time it would have to be Halong Bay (just about a 4 hour drive from Hanoi) and there were no Blue Angels or fly-overs. There was still a ton of food, drinking beers, and great weather. Because it might have annoyed the other guests on the boat, I did not play Highway to the Danger Zone on repeat... but I sure thought about it.

There aren't a ton of stories to tell or tips to give about the 3 days and 2 nights we spent on our boat in Halong Bay. We had gotten a recommendation to go with Indochina Junk (like boat) company, to go on the Dragon's Pearl, and to do more than just one day since you get to go further out to the more isolated islands. All these turned out to be great tips, as the boat and food were awesome, and we were able to cruise out to Bai Tu Long Bay and see more of the 2,000+ limestone islands with minimal crowds. The scenery was incedible from start to finish, as the seemingly endless rows of islands dot the calm waters and the haze gives it an almost mystical feeling. Appropriate, as the legend states the Bay was made by a giant dragon's tail hitting the rock and carving out the massive stone karsts. Halong Bay literally means: "bay that was carved out by big ass dragon"... or something like that.

In between massive 6 course meals, and napping in the lounge chairs, we made stops both days to kayak around the islands at sunset, including one night on the private beach owned by the boat company. The big tour stop was a visit to a Fishing Village, the biggest in Halong Bay, where 50+ families live. There's a school and a full oyster farm. There were 19 total people on our boat, couples and friends from Germany, Australia, England, Australians living in Veitnam, and English living in Australia and Tokyo. We were the only Americans and Honeymooners. Our second and final night, we ate dinner in a cave and the boat staff made us (and the English couple, celebrating their 1 year anniversary) a cake we shared with all our boat friends.

It was a very fun and relxing trip in some of the most amazing scenery in the world. Not to mention a welcome break from the craziness of Hanoi motorbike-dodging. After one more night back in Hanoi, we made it to Hoi An, Vietnam... a historic town with great food and a laidback vibe. Here for two days, then back to Thailand for some beach action on the Island of Koh Chang!