Sometimes the best experiences start with a bad feeling. After a painfully long drive, our driver made a stop at what can only be described as a giant tourist trap. Twenty buses, crowds everywhere, overpriced souvenirs, noise... not exactly the dream start to what we hoped would be one of the highlights of our Vietnam adventure. The arrival terminal didn't help either. Hundreds of tourists, organized chaos, and a transfer boat waiting to take us to our cruise ship. We were quietly wondering if we'd made the right choice.
Then we stepped aboard the Dragon Legend. And everything changed.
Our luggage was already waiting outside our cabin, the ship itself was beautiful, and our connecting rooms even included a bathtub overlooking the bay. During lunch, while sharing a table full of delicious Vietnamese dishes, the first limestone karsts slowly appeared outside the window. The doubts disappeared.
Bai Tu Long Bay turned out to be everything we had hoped for: towering limestone islands rising from emerald waters, breathtaking scenery, and a peaceful atmosphere far away from the crowds.
Then the activities began. First, a visit to a cave. Interesting enough, but let's be honest: it wasn't the reason we came here.
Kayaking among the limestone giants
This was what we had been waiting for. Our guide pointed at a rock and told us where we could paddle. The only problem? We apparently had a different rock in mind. A much bigger one. So while we thought we were faithfully following instructions, we accidentally paddled a much longer route, passing right alongside the Dragon Legend instead of staying comfortably nearby. Somehow, we still made it back within the allotted time.
What we'll remember most, though, is the silence. No engines. No crowds. Just the sound of paddles dipping into the water and the stunning landscape all around us. Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our entire trip.
Onboard activities like cooking and squid fishing
Back on board, we joined a cooking class and tried our hand at making Bánh Xèo, a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake. Let's just say the chef's version looked considerably better than ours.
As evening fell, we enjoyed the sunset from the sundeck before sitting down to another incredible feast. Oysters, grilled beef, squid, prawns... course after course kept coming.
After dinner, we even tried squid fishing. The squid won.
Fishing Villages
The next morning, we woke up as the ship quietly made its way through the bay again. After breakfast, complete with croissants that delighted the four of us, we visited a floating fishing village where oysters are cultivated for pearls.
We then climbed into traditional sampans, rowed by local residents, and drifted through the floating community while wearing traditional Vietnamese hats. A perfect farewell to Bai Tu Long Bay.
To Hanoi
As we headed back toward Hanoi later that day, one thing was clear. Read more over Hanoi here.
What had started with doubts, crowds, and low expectations had become one of the most memorable experiences of our time in Vietnam. Some places are difficult to describe.
They simply have to be experienced.
Our journey doesn’t end here. ❤️
From African wildlife to Asian adventures and the incredible landscapes of Canada, we’ve collected quite a few stories along the way.
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