Halong Bay

Yesterday we went to Halong Bay.  Being able to see Halong Bay was the main reason I've wanted
to come to Vietnam.  The islands in Halong Bay are made of limestone and just jut straight up out of the water with no land at the base.  I'd seen pictures of this place many times.  I'd dreamed of coming here to see it in real life for years.  Nothing prepares you for seeing Halong Bay in real life.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll let the pictures do the talking on this one.  Sit back and enjoy the loveliness that is Halong Bay.

As you can see, it's a truly amazing place.  My only regret is that it was so overcast.  It would have been so much prettier with bright blue skies.  Oh, well.... At least overcast skies meant nice mild temperatures.

We cruised the bay for about five hours, stopping once to visit a cave that was discovered some years ago by fishermen who were looking for a safe place to ride out a typhoon.  It was a pretty neat place to see (tacky colored lighting aside).

Our trip to Vietnam is winding down quickly but there are still plenty of adventures to come.  Hanoi is our next and final stop.  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.