Ha Long Bay
Travel Advice for Senior: Ha Long Bay
Our final and much anticipated stop in Vietnam, was a trip to unbelievably beautiful Ha Long Bay, known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. It is also an UNESCO Heritage site and one of the “New Wonders of the Natural World”.
It’s a two-and-a-half-hour scenic drive from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina at Ha Long Bay. Sometimes it’s nice to take a car ride through the countryside in a foreign country and see how the people outside of the cities live and this was no exception.
We boarded the Dragon’s Pearl boat around lunchtime and set off for an overnight trip out on the bay. The Dragon’s Pearl was a lovingly restored boat with rustic wooden interiors. The rooms were small but nicely outfitted. Thankfully the weather was nice, and we were able to dine outdoors on the deck. They provided drinks and food for lunch and dinner on the first day and breakfast and lunch the second day. All food was nicely done.
We sailed Bau Tu Long Bay in the afternoon and explored the awesome Thein Canh Son Cave and the beach at Hon Co Island. The boat was full and several of the folks on the boat were interested in taking out rowboats and going cave exploring, which were all included. It was a good day to be active if you felt it or if you felt like hanging out on the boat and enjoying the awesome view, that was good too!
After the activities, we had a very enjoyable multi-course dinner with wine on the top deck and then set sail for a fantastic view of the sunset before heading for a secluded cove to spend the night.
There’s something nice about lying in bed watching the water and limestone formations go by early in the morning. We set sail early and headed to another island for a bit of hiking for a nice view and some beach time before a buffet lunch on the way back to the marina. The crew did a good job and the time spent on the Dragon’s Pearl was very enjoyable.
The boat tour thought Ha Long Bay is a must-do item when going to Vietnam. The waters weren’t very rough and the limestone cliffs are a wonder. We really enjoyed the downtime of sailing for a few days as we were getting ready to hit the ground running again at our next destination…Laos!
Where we stayed: Dragon’s Pearl Boat. Meals included. Nice accommodation and great itinerary on board.
How we got there: 2.5 hour drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.This was part of a four-week private tour through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.
General Accessibility Information: Vietnam has made strides in accessibility, though some challenges remain. Most major cities have accessible tours, sights, transport and hotels. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements.See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
