Ha Long Bay, Viet Hai, Vietnam - March 1

Ha Long Bay, Viet Hai, Vietnam - March 1 - March 3, 2025

March 22, 2025

March 1, 2025 we arrived in Ha Long Bay and boarded the Paradise Grand for a 3 day 2 night excursion around Ha Long Bay.

Priscilla, Phil and me aboard The Paradise Grand in Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rain forests.

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is a beautiful area. It was quite the adventure cruising around all the fabulous towering rock formations. The only disturbing part was how much debris was in the water. We all remarked about it to our guide and were told it was from storms in the ocean and they were "working on cleaning it up". I hope they do work on cleaning it up, educate the local fishing families, and can preserve this beautiful place.

March 1, 2025 we visited a fishing village. Here was an example of an old house there: Ho Chi Minh always present!!

Some biked up from the skiff to the village but most, including me, took vehicles similar to golf carts. On the way we picked up 2 bikers that fell off the bikes.

March 2, 2025 in the morning we visited a "Fish Genetics Research Farm" which is the only fish genetic research center in Northern Vietnam.

I found this fish fascinating. It is a Cobia and is in the shark family.

In the afternoon we kayaked around Tai Keo Caves to explore the beauty of the Cat Ba archipelago, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, along with Ha long Bay. Carolyn Langon was yet again my kayaking partner (we partnered in the Amazon also). It was beautiful kayaking around the huge rock formations and through tunnels in the rocks.

My life jacket was WAY too big and annoying but kayaking was still a blast!

Carolyn Langon and me

Sheri Scott, Andre Lablanc, Phil and Priscilla

Shells embedded in the edge of the rock formation. We were kayaking during low tide. The water was a beautiful emerald green!

We Kayaked by an oyster harvesting farm

Me holding up a string of oysters.

Priscilla holding up oysters while Phil steadies the boat:}

Heading back to the boat

Another afternoon adventure was to Dark and Bright Cave where we were transported there by locals rowing bamboo boats.

The boat I was in: Rebecca Bauer; Kathy Rofe (from Australia), Me, Phil, Priscilla, Pat Clarke, Barry Rofe (Kathy's husband) and Annie Bauer

One of the Biggests Highlights of the entire trip for me was getting to see the very endangered monkey, Cat Ba Langur!!! It is only the 3rd time our guide saw one in the 20 years he has been a guide!!

This is the very cool cave we paddled through! The "dripping" stones in the cave were beautiful and fascinating.

Then while the rest of our group was enjoying happy hour I made the mistake of getting on another tour group's boat to the fishing village we visited yesterday. I heard an announcement that the boat was leaving to "a village" in 2 minutes. I quickly got dressed and ran downstairs to get the boat thinking it was yet another village we have not been to. By the time I got down the skiff had just left. They called the skiff back for me - I get on - and there is NOBODY I recognize. At this point I also realized these people were going to the "boring" place we already visited but since they called the boat back for me I could not say "never mind"!! But our wonderful guide was also there and he gave me an adventure into the town, where tourists do not go.

He knew all the locals and we walked though the gardens of the residents and he stopped to chat with locals. It was a very cool experience that was the outcome of my error.