Separated from the familiar pace of life
From Hanoi, the distance of more than 2 hours does not create a feeling of distance, but is enough to gradually separate from the daily rhythm of life. Ha Long International Shipport is still crowded as usual, with groups of passengers connecting each other, and trains continuously entering and leaving. Everything still retains the familiar shape of a famous tourist destination.
Only when stepping onto the ships does the journey begin to shift to a different pace. The Cycad yacht has a strong Indochinese style, impressing with warm colors, the main wood material reminiscent of ancient times, enough to make people naturally slow down.
Around noon, the yacht left the wharf. The familiar limestone mountain ranges of Ha Long Bay gradually receded behind, giving way to a more open space as the ship went deeper towards Bai Tu Long. The further they went, the fewer boats became, and the distance between the rocky islands also widened.
Lunch is served right on the train, while the journey continues. Amidst the scenes open continuously outside, the conversation at the dining table is often interrupted by times looking out the window, encountering blue rocky mountains, of all shapes passing by before your eyes.
In the afternoon, the boat stops in the bay, for tourists to take a bamboo boat or kayak to explore Vung Vieng fishing village. The village is 25km from the mainland, and is dubbed by international newspapers as one of the 16 most beautiful fishing villages in the world.
Located amidst waves and rolling rocky mountains, the small fishing village has about more than 20 raft houses for aquaculture. This place still retains the typical quietness of Bai Tu Long, with a slow pace of life, almost unchanged over time, creating a feeling of being completely isolated from the outside.
Returning to the yacht at the end of the afternoon, the bay gradually enters the most beautiful moment of the day. The sun sets, the afternoon sunlight covers the water and the golden-orange rocky mountains. On the deck, more and more tourists begin to gather, without prior arrangement, heading towards the bay, taking advantage of recording the sunset frames changing every minute.
Night on Bai Tu Long Bay
As the sky darkened, Bai Tu Long Bay took a completely different turn. Phone signals weakened, wifi was almost gone, and familiar devices were also rarely used. The space opened up in a simpler way, leaving only the sea, wind, and lights from the yacht.
Dinner is served on the ship with a menu of many seafood dishes caught right in the local sea area. The processing method is not fussy, retains the natural flavor, just enough for tourists to be satisfied for a long day on the bay. Under the yellow lights on the deck, melodious music blends into the windy space, creating a more romantic dinner than ever.
The dinner party on the yacht ended after a brilliant fireworks display, which was also when everyone separated into small groups, scattered around chatting on the deck. Some chose to return to the cabin, enjoying a peaceful, quiet moment on a soft chair outside the balcony, facing the vast sea.
Night on the bay passes quickly. The quiet space, no noise, makes people feel sleep deeper than usual. The next morning, opening the cabin door, cool and fresh air rushes in, making the feeling of relief and lightness of the body appear very clearly.
After breakfast, visitors are transported by small boat to Thien Canh Son cave. The road to the cave is not long, only a few sections of stone steps along the mountainside. Inside the cave, stalactite blocks with many different shapes exist naturally. From the cave entrance on the top of the high mountain looking down, Bai Tu Long Bay is vast, painting an endless beautiful landscape.
Thomas, a German tourist who came to Vietnam for the first time, and his family experienced a overnight journey on Bai Tu Long Bay. He shared: "The tourism here is beautiful and quite pristine, unlike places we have been to before. We like to chat with local people, learn about life on the bay and feel the peace here. Everything happens slowly and gently, making the trip memorable.
The yacht returned to the wharf at the end of the morning, closing a short but enough journey to leave a lasting impression. Thomas said he wanted to return, because the male tourist was impressed by the scenery, the friendliness of the people and the memorable experiences in Bai Tu Long Bay.
In recent years, Bai Tu Long has also been changing in a clearer direction, with many new sightseeing routes and an increasingly diverse yacht system. The popular itinerary in the bay lasts 2 days and 1 night, passing through points such as: Vung Vieng fishing village, Cong Do - Cap La area and Thien Canh Son cave. Some routes are expanded towards Van Don, allowing tourists to stay longer and experience deeper in the bay.
The yacht system on the bay stretches in many different price levels, accompanied by types of experiences from basic to high-end. Thanks to that, tourists can choose a suitable itinerary, depending on their resort or exploration needs.
Bai Tu Long maintains its appeal in the way the journey stretches. Stops are not rushed, the time between activities is long enough for each experience to become complete.
A night on the bay passed quickly. But that was enough for the trip to last, in a very unique way.
