2 Nights Cruising Halong Bay with my Hubby

If you had told me I would be paddling a kayak (with Steven) in the middle of Halong Bay in the South China Sea, I’d have told you you’re crazy. Sometimes it’s necessary to do something crazy now and then, right? But here we are cruising Halong Bay on a junk boat. Life is really good!

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Halong-Bay-1440x700-e1602609104133 2 Nights Cruising Halong Bay with my Hubby

Cruise Halong Bay

With Someone Who Doesn’t Like Cruising

I love the water. My husband does not. That’s not exactly true. He doesn’t like being on the water. So I wasn’t sure how this vacation would go.

Hạlong (or Ha Long) Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is a three-hour drive from the city of Hanoi. It is known for its emerald green waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests.

The plan was to leisurely cruise between the scatter of small islands topped with lush vegetation. We would eat delicious food, explore the fishing villages, and enjoy various water sports like canoeing and swimming. Steven enjoyed the first two and left me to my own devices on the last two.

If you need more Vietnam, then click HERE for a 3-day Hoi An getaway.

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The water is deceptively clear and very salty, so floating is a breeze.

World Heritage Status

We opted for the three-day Halong Bay cruise, which included a private dinner and kayak trip, which to my surprise, my hubby actually enjoyed.

Halong Bay can be busy. It is a World Heritage Site that has become very popular these days. However, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the area without feeling the throng of tourists– if you’re lucky.

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Signature Halong Cruise staff escorted just the two of us on a sea kayak expedition. We paddled past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islet. It was scorching hot that day, and we sat in the cool water with our personal junk boat bobbing in the background.

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Signature Halong Bay Cruise Line

There are tons, literally tons of operators on the bay. We chose Signature Halong Bay Cruises for a 3 day/ 2-night cruise of the bay because I liked the light and bright interiors. Many of the junks were decorated with dark woods and deep colors.

There are junks in higher and lower categories (even for the broke backpacker class), and most of them also give you multiple option for your Halong Bay cruise. You can find day trips, 1 or 2 night cruises or even longer.

The food was delicious and plentiful, the accommodations were comfortable and looked just like the photos, and the service was top-notch. We enjoyed visits to the caves, fishing villages, swimming, kayaking, cooking classes, and tai chi on the top deck in the early morning.

must-see-vietnam 2 Nights Cruising Halong Bay with my Hubby

Comments

  1. Cherryl

    Lovely trip. I admire anyone who goes kayaking (the one and only time I tried it I managed to soak myself with the paddle lol (clearly didn’t have the right technique) 😆.🛶

    1. Stacey A. Peters

      I hope to do it again soon even if I have to do it alone. I had a blast. Thanks for taking the time to leave a message, I appreciate your support.

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