As we move into the seasons of pumpkin pie and hot spiced cider I am reminded of the rich cinnamon colored sails of the entrancing boat on which we cruised Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam.
A fleet of classical wooden Paradise cruise ships, in a variety of sizes, awaited us when we arrived at Taun Chau island, about a 3~hour drive from Ha Noi.
I was immediately captivated with these classical wooden vessels, rich with history, detail and tradition.
The humidity was so thick when we boarded condensation had formed on our doors, but as soon as everyone was on board, the AC kicked on, evaporating these water shields. I loved the old~world porthole windows and room numbers on each of the stateroom doors.
Each of our rooms had intimate little decks where one could relax privately to watch the world sailing by.
Here’s what it looks like from the exterior, so charming.
“Ha Long Bay” translates into the “Bay of Descending Dragons”, so named because of the extremely steep rock formations that fill these waters. The belief is that these limestone peaks were formed by dragons diving from the sky into the sea, creating these deep crevasses in the process.
The lounge chairs on the top deck were an ideal place to relax and take in the views.
I couldn’t get enough of this combination of dark wood, white painted wood and those luffing cinnamon sails
slowly negotiating along this dramatic scene of verdant spotted rockery.
Optional excursions were available during the day.
We took an incredible hike through the massive Dau Go Cave, fashioned with lighting and pathways so you could see all of the stunning natural beauty… including an abundance of ancient Stalagmites and Stalactites.
No single image can convey the grandness and complexity of this cave, I think it took more than an hour to get from the entrance to the exit.
Floating villages along the way offered local snacks and seafood.
This buoyant supermarket provided a little bit of everything… roasted sweet potatoes, ciggys, vino, peanuts, plums, ritz crackers, snickers bars, oreos, pretzels and a variety of beers!
As we were approaching a beach one afternoon I spotted some bright flags on the lower section of this towering formation.
I’m not sure, but I think this is someones dwelling {maybe it’s some sort of a cave?}, and {I’m thinking} this is their little patio looking out, with railed stairs leading down into the water.
Could that be possible??
Très exotique!
After our hike, we hung out on a sandy beach with a bunch of monkeys, and these two.
We also did a little shopping on the cruise.
With the aid of her bamboo handled net,
we were able to buy these gorgeous pearl bracelets, I love every single imperfection.
While I admired these cinnamon sails from all different angles and viewpoints, I think I enjoyed them the most in the morning while practicing Ti Chi with the instructor on the upper deck as they languished in the soft morning breezes.
Emily your adventures leave me breathless and so inspired. The colors, the ships, the water and those glorious pearls! Thank you for sharing !!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Wow, Emily, your photos are breathtaking! I love that beautiful cinnamon color against the bright blue sky. This looks like such an amazing trip! You're making me want to abandon our plans for Europe next year and head east instead.
Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving planned and that I get to see you around the neighborhood soon! XOXO
Jeanne — that is a tough call… but this is my second trip to the east and each time I go the list of places I want to explore continues to grow. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Karena — thank you so much, that is quite a complement coming from you! Happy Thanksgiving!
What a gorgeous post, Emily! After falling in love with Asia on our recent trip, Vietnam has moved high on my list of places to visit. My 21 year old (who is studying in Hong Kong) is going to Vietnam in two weeks and I passed along this post and told him to book a cruise on Ha Long Bay ASAP – I just skyped with him and he told me he has it all planned! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos with us! xoxo