Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Ha Long Bay, Vietnam 

Today we are in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam which is among the country's most celebrated attractions and has been designated a World Heritage Site.  The scenery is magnificent and almost surreal.  There are nearly 2,000 rock formations jutting out in the bay and we were fortunate to sail in and around them on a small "junk" boat.  I'm usually very hesitant to take a tour on a junk boat because I worry about climbing on and off of it but after a discussion with our shore excursion staff and looking at photos of it, I decided to give it a try.  I'm so glad I decided to accompany Bob on this tour because the boat captain and staff were wonderful and made me feel quite safe when boarding and disembarking the boat at Dau Go Harbor.  

The name Ha Long Bay means "where the dragon descends into the sea."  It has its origin in an ancient legend according to which a huge dragon appeared, aiding the local people in their fight against northern invaders.  After victory was achieved, the dragon and its young remained, turning into a fence of rocky islets as protection from further invasion.  Even today, sailors and locals still claim sightings of a giant sea monster.  

 

This famed seascape offers fantastic images of fragmented limestone outcroppings, sheer cliffs, huge rock arches and tranquil waters.  Some of the rock formations rise from the sea up to a height of 900 feet projecting strange images (perhaps it's a glimpse of the sea monster)!!!

Once we set sail we relaxed as the vessel glided through the breathtaking seascapes of fragmented limestone outcroppings, past huge rock arches, sheer cliffs, picturesque coves and islets rising out of the sea like green-clad monsters.  As we sailed our hosts offered us some green tea and snack crackers.  

After approximately an hour we had the opportunity to visit the Thien Cung Cave.  We docked at a clearing on the rocks where stone steps had been carved out of the rock.  Anyone who was interested in climbing up to the cave and walking through it had the opportunity to disembark.  Of course, Bob was one of the people who enjoyed walking through the cave.  I chose to remain on the boat and relax, along with about half of the other passengers.  

Thien Cung Cave is one of the most beautiful and well-known caverns in Ha Long Bay, located on Dau Go Island, which is the westernmost point of the world heritage site.  The cave is an old phreatic underground cave formed between 781,000 and 11,700 years ago.  Its unique beauty is found in its system of bright white speleothem, which sparkles and looks as if it were carved from crystal. Visiting the cave, visitors feel like they are lost in a splendid and magnificent palace, so the cave was named Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace).

While the hikers were ashore the boat captain moved our vessel so we would arrive at the point where our other passengers would be when they exited the cave.  Once everyone was back on board we continued our relaxing sail through the rock formations.  

After a very relaxing afternoon sail we returned to the dock and boarded our ship. We thoroughly enjoyed these spectacular rock formations and can understand why they have been designated a World Heritage Site.


Now, we will continue our sail in the beautiful country of Vietnam and turn toward our next port, which is Chan May.

 

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