Halong Bay never disappoints
Update: Mar 15, 2022
Halong Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh boasts of poetic and majestic beauty. After postponing a trip to Halong due to the pandemic, I finally visited the charming bay in February and had a great experience.

A poetic view of Halong Bay - Photos: Vuong Loc

The weather in Vietnam’s northern region turns cold in late spring. I, therefore, travelled to Halong Bay to enjoy the last few warm days in February. During a boat trip around the bay, I was enchanted by the gorgeous scenery and immersed myself in the soft sea breeze. It was a wonderful experience.

With the sun above, our boat was in the middle of the bay where several tourists and I witnessed giant limestone mountains of different sizes and shapes surrounding the bay.

As part of the trip, I visited Sung Sot —one of the three most beautiful natural caves. It took us more than an hour to reach the cave by boat.

Inside the Sung Sot Cave

The stone steps leading to the cave can prove challenging for tourists. After climbing the stone steps, we reached a place resembling a balcony, where one was treated to a panoramic view of Halong Bay.

The Sung Sot Cave was higher. After walking a little, we finally saw the cave. Sung Sot covers an area of 10,000 square meters and is home to thousands of stalactites and stalagmites that make it seem like a natural masterpiece.

In the evening, travelers can go kayaking in the bay and explore the impressive Luon Cave.

The Ti Top Islet in the bay is also unmissable. The highest point of the islet is another place for tourists to admire a panoramic view of the entire bay.

However, nothing compares to sunset at the bay. Tourists can find peace of mind while witnessing the last sunrays of the day shining on the surface of the water. For me, the breathtaking sunset view kept me at the bay a little bit longer.

By Vuong Loc
 

Saigon Times - english.thesaigontimes.vn - March 13, 2022