Karst Mountains and Caves, Bái Tử Long Bay North Vietnam

Boat on the Bay
A Dragon’s Pearl junk rests at anchor with the batten sails up on Bai Tu Long Bay, North Vietnam.

Quiet Waters off Cap La Island
We weren’t the only tourists anchored in the bay, but the other boats were far enough away that their presence didn’t disrupt the morning peace. Apparently, there is a new government regulation that all boats cruising the Halong Bay area must be white; gone are the brown and red junks of the past.

Sea Eagle
It’s times like this I wish I had one of those massive wild-life lenses… Even with a lot of cropping, my 70-200mm is no match for the magnificent sea eagles flying loops high over our heads in the hazy morning sky.

Dragon Pearl 1
Can you imagine a more perfect place for breakfast? All of the meals included in our package were superb: fresh and beautifully presented.

Kayaks at the Ready
Our time on the boat is well ‘managed’; not long after breakfast, our boat has cruised from Cong Do to Cong Dam. Our tender has gone to a local village and returned with red kayaks that contrast with the dark green waters .

Kayaks
We climb into the kayaks and set out on the waters …

Lead Kayak (iPhone6)
… following our guide past towering karst cliffs…

Kayaks in the Caves (iPhone6)
… and into one of the many pitch-black caves in the limestone.

Limestone Karst Formations
Roughly 20 million years of geological upheaval combined with the effects of erosion have carved out a landscape of caves and hollows and jagged shapes. Happily, the waters here seem cleaner than where we have been kayaking the day before (see: Spring Rolls and Winter Weather).

Cong Dam Fishing Village
We kayaked past some of the boats and floating houses that are part of Cong Dam, a small fishing village comprising around 120 people. According to our guide, these families used to live in the caves that riddle the islands, but they were moved into villages when Bái Tử Long was established as a National Park in 2001.

Boat Skeleton

Limestone Karst
We and our companions are dwarfed by the landscape around us as we head back to our boat.

Fishing Boats
As we cruise away from Cong Dam, the sea-haze settles in around us and the horizon almost disappears.

Fisher People
We watch the local fisher people go about their daily business.

Fisher Woman in a Rowboat

Karst Islands
In the afternoon haze, the colours change from one moment to the next.

Boat on the Bay

Hon Co Island
It is late afternoon when we arrive at Hon Co Island.

Sundown from Hon Co Island
We are tendered to the island, shown the steps up to the cave where we will later eat, and where we have wonderful afternoon views over the water.

Sunset from Hon Co Island
We are told our tender will take us back to the boat to change for dinner at six pm, giving us just over an hour for more ‘swimming or relaxing’.

Dog on the Beach
Back down the steps from the cave, a dog keeps an eye on us while we watch the sun go down.

Mr Giang
Hon Co Island belongs to the Indochina Junk company. A family of care-takers lives on site.

On the Beach

Thien Canh Son Cave
Later, we return to the island, climb the 100-odd steps up to Thien Canh Son Cave, then descend into it, guided by burning tea-lights and welcomed by clapping staff. Candles and flower petals are everywhere.