Ha Long Bay. |
Boat trip around Ha Long Bay. |
Ha Long Bay |
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In Northern Vietnam we spent a few days in Hanoi City and then headed out for a 3 day visit to Halong Bay. A gorgeous bay which has been created by a shelf of limestone that has sunk down below the sea, the mountain tops (now a maze of islands) are all that is left above water. We cruised the bay on our way to Cat Ba island, and spent our first night on the boat. |
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Ha Long Bay. |
Boat trip around Ha Long Bay. |
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On Cat Ba Island we visited the National Park and did a small, though challenging, trek to the top of one of the forested mountains. On the way to the trek the bus stopped off at a cave that was used as a hospital and military supply station during the war. The building in the cave was not so impressive, but the fact that the a tunnel leading out was off limits because the map of where landmines had been placed in it had been lost, was. |
View from mountain top - more mountains. |
Cave used during the war as a hospital and supply base. |
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The mountains and islands in Halong bay are full of caves. We visited a spectacular one during our boat cruise. It just went on and on with amazing formations lit by various colored lights - really impressive and a highlight of the trip. |
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Though we ended up in a large group consolidated from various agencies (both things we were promised would not happen) we had a great time with great people and incredible food.
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