Bob and Ann in Vietnam 2005-2006 Eldertreks Tour

Our Junk


Boat Floating on the Bay

After Galaxy breakfast we boarded our bus headed to Halong Bay, stopping midway to “rest” and shop at a complex created to teach disabled youth a skill and to sell their handiwork to tourists. Best known for embroidered pictures, the kids excel at intricate needlwork on little bags, ten of which Ann purchased among other things.

When we arrived at Halong Harbour we immediately boarded our boat, a "junk" with large dining room where we were eventually served a delicious and nicely presented seafood lunch. Topside was a huge deck with ample seating from which we were entranced by immediate looming of the many limestone islands we sailed between. These were basically huge jutting rocks, mostly barren, but we soon learned that inside of some were huge caverns tricked up for the tourists. The fleets of fishing boats anchored together at docks sheltered by some of the looming Islands create fascinating floating villages.

After lunch we were treated to a display of jewelrey we could buy from the pearl "farms" we floated by. Docking at Heavenly Cave for our Cavern Tour, which took about 30 minutes was worth the time, but most amazing was the view from our boat especially the last hour as we headed back to the harbor during a spectacular sunset.

Our room in the modern Dream Hotel is huge and luxurious, but sadly we seemed to be the only guests in the mammoth complex which had recently opened to accomodate many more tourists. We may have just hit the slack holiday time, but it was eerie in the cocktail lounge waiting for staff to figure out how to mix our drinks and in the dining room all by ourselves. Dinner and breakfast were good, especially noodle soup. Four star grand as it is, though, it did not pass the kleenex and face clothe tests.

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