Wintry days at Bái Tử Long Bay

According to legend, when Vietnam was under siege from northern Chinese invaders, a dragon and her children descended on the country to protect it. The dragons fought with fire and emeralds, which later turned into rocks on the sea. The invaders were defeated and their ships sank into the sea. After that, the dragon made Ha Long Bay her lair, while her children waited on her at Bái Tử Long Bay. 

I did a 2-day 1-night cruise to Bái Tử Long Bay. IndoChina Junk is the only company that runs tours here and they have 13 nicely-decorated ships. It was a wonderful experience of relaxing, watching the limestone rocks sail by, meeting other people on the cruise ship and eating seafood delicacies. In winter, the scenery had a cold, calm and misty look; beautiful in grey and green!

View from near the captain's cabin

Limestone rocks, green waters and serenity!

Stark winter beauty

Upper deck on the ship

Around evening, we descended from the ship to a private beach. We spent an hour relaxing, talking and getting to know the Vietnamese staff on the ship and watching the local boys play beach football. I later went kayaking in the sea - an absolutely exhilarating experience!

Ships, boats and kayaks everywhere!

Beach football, with oars serving as goalposts

My first time on a cold beach!

The limestone rocks at Bái Tử Long Bay are soft, resulting in several cave formations

Exploring the caves

Our ship was parked here at night, amidst other ships

The next morning, we visited a floating village in the sea. There are many such villages in Ha Long Bay and Bái Tử Long Bay. Vietnamese people from the mainland settled there, to escape the American war. The limestone rocks form a natural barrier to the dangers of the open seas. The people make their living from tourism and get their supplies from the mainland. The villages have schools, and children learn to row a boat at the age of 5, which is the only way for them to get around.

The waters are clear and pristine

Our boat-woman

Houses in the floating village

A lone fisherman

Water puppet shows are a centuries-old tradition in Vietnam. The show is complimented by local music and uses characters and incidents from farm life, tales and stories, weddings and festivals.

Stage for a water puppet show at Yen Duc village

Puppets depicting rice cultivation using water buffaloes

Tràng An grottoes

The Trang An grottoes in Ninh Binh province are a 2-3 hour drive away from Hanoi. It is called "Ha Long Bay on land", because of its stunning scenery of limestone rocks rising out of a river. This place is more popular with Vietnamese tourists than foreign ones, and is slightly less commercialized. I did a 3 hour boat ride here.

The crane standing on a turtle and holding a lotus symbolizes: "May you be remembered for one thousand years, and may your cult endure for ten thousand years."

Country flags welcome you at the starting point

Lotus, the flower of the dawn, is the national flower of Vietnam

Local boats

Limestone rocks on either side of the path taken by the boat

Going into and out of a grotto

Emerging from a grotto, this stunning, pristine scenery was a treat to the eyes!

Chinese temple by the river

We alighted at the temple for a few minutes, some to make offerings, and some to enjoy the serenity

Feng Shui stone turtle; such stones are abundant near temples

Tropical mist

Lights and lanterns at Hội An

The ancient town of Hội An in Vietnam was a trading port in the 15th - 19th century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; with its houses, streets and shops preserved over the centuries. The architectural and other influences combine mostly Chinese and Japanese styles. The Thu Bồn river runs through the town.

In the olden days, the town traded in spices and silks and was home to wealthy merchants. Now-a-days, it caters to tourists and is filled with cafes and tailoring shops. Colourful handcrafted lanterns are everywhere, lending an air of tranquility and romance.

Inside a Chinese temple

Streets of Hội An are filled with shops, cafes and tourists on cycles

There are many Chinese temples and other attractions. A 1-day 5$ pass lets you visit any 5 attractions.

Painting inside a temple

Spiral incense sticks can be bought outside the temples for offerings

Narrow streets between houses

A well-preserved town

The "Japanese Bridge" originally separated the Japanese houses from the Cantonese ones. It still remains a unique structure, that has a Buddhist temple on one side of it.

Cycles lined up against a Japanese house

An old house of Hội An

A holder for incense sticks

A little space in the town centre, where traditional Vietnamese dramas and music are performed in the evenings

The riverfront

Some of the ships have been converted into tourist boats and floating restaurants

Tourists can take a boat ride up and down the river to see the town, and to float candles on the river

Cheap food and drinks at a floating restaurant

Cute Vietnamese children selling candles, which can be floated on the river

The lights and lanterns come alive at night, giving the town a fairy tale appearance!