25.05 Day 70 Bai Tu Long Bay to Hanoi
Monday 25th March - Bai Tu Long Bay - Hanoi (70)
The curtains in the cabin open to the ever present spectacular karsts (with the same view from the bath in the ensuite), and whilst the kids continue to sleep in their connecting cabin, Kate does her Tai Chi again whilst I just sit outside with a coffee in hand.
A lighter breakfast this time though still plenty on the buffet because by 8am we jump on the tender to visit a cave on one of the karsts - like other caves we’ve been to, this one was only discovered in 2004. The narrow entrance leads to a cave that has clearly been on the tourist trail a while; this cave remnants of stalactites and stalagmites but not on the same scale we've been fortunate to see elsewhere. And for the first time we’re definitely not alone having to stop and wait for other tourist groups to file past.
Back on Dragon Legend, packing is done in double quick time with the kids running around the decks playing spy games. All the cruises are similar in that 2 day / 1 night really means 24hrs / 1 night, whilst our 3 day / 2 night means 48 hours on the boat. But not wanting you to go hungry a brunch is served at 10:30 as we join the procession of boats back to the port. After so much food in the past 36 hours we’d woken hungry, simply because our stomachs had expanded over the proceeding meals.
Our bags appear on the pontoon and we wave farewell to Dragon Legend I which in an hours time will be taking it’s next load of guests (Mr Smiley and Mr Milkyman both do 25 days straight before earning a 5 day break).
Overall was it worth it? Absolutely. We were very happy with the Dragon Legend boat, the food was amazing (and plentiful), the cabin luxurious, the staff friendly, our activities varied but with enough down time.
Was it expensive - in Vietnam terms Yes - the 48 hours cost more than our last 2 weeks.
In Australian terms, still Yes at almost $2,000 (Damn you weak Aussie $ vs the US $ in which it was all priced up) but perhaps not given all the inclusiveness of it (baring drinks).
Definitely recommended.
Our same minivan is to take us back to Hanoi, with a stop enroute for a water puppet show which commences with two ladies standing on a boat being rowed around a small lake in front of us before an unlinked set of five performances (?) of puppets splashing around in the water, guided by underwater poles held by 6 people in dungarees / waders stood behind a mesh netting (we only know because they come out at the end). A bit bizarre but at least we’ve seen it and don’t feel compelled to watch a full show back in Hanoi.
We’re dropped right by Little Hanoi Deluxe Hotel, the hectic hustle and bustle of the narrow streeted Old Quarter in the capital city in stark contrast to peace, serenity and wide open spaces of Bai Tu Long Bay. We squeeze in some school work for the day before seeking dinner at the corner spot visited previously with simple meat and bread. And with the promise of more travel tomorrow, to a land based bed.
