We started our adventure in Vietnam by going on a cruise in Halong Bay to wind down and relax after travelling all the way from Malta.  A local company was scheduled to pick us up from our hotel in Hanoi the next morning so as soon as we arrived in Hanoi we checked in at our hotel and went out to explore the neighbourhood. Our hotel for that night was right in the centre of the Old Quarter and it was the perfect place to get a first feel of this chaotic city.  We could easily notice how busy the streets are with motorcycles  going in every direction, locals selling their stuff on the pavement and numerous of low stools and tables spilling out onto the pavement by local restaurants. We didn’t even dare taking our stroller out as it was very clear that it was too dangerous to walk through the streets along with motorbikes. So we carried our 18 month old baby in the baby carrier and walked around before it got dark. Check out our post on Hanoi for more detail.

The next morning we woke up early for our 2 night cruise in Halong Bay. We embarked on the Dragon Legend Cruise by Indochina Junk – a beautiful wooden junk that accommodates around 30 people with very spacious rooms decorated with Vietnamese hand crafted décor and also a pool on the deck which you won’t find on all junks. Our son was the only kid on the cruise but we were told that it is very common for them to host families with children. Cruising around the numerous rock formations was breathtaking. Our cruise went to Bai Tu Long Bay which is the less touristic area, so we could admire the scenery without having too many obstacles of other junks in the view.

 

On the first day we went to the beach by a small boat where we could do some canoeing and explore the rocks from close by. As we could not risk taking our 18 month old on a canoe, my husband and I took it in turns to go on the canoe while our little boy could spend some time swimming, and playing on the sand and with sea shells.

 

 

 

We were taken to a floating village whereby we could see floating houses and how people lived on the sea. The voyage by the small boat was very relaxing and peaceful – you barely hear a noise except for the splashing water as the boat drifts slowly in the sea. We were also stopped at a pearl cultivation market afloat whereby they explained the process of how they cultivate pearls in oysters in aquariums.

 

On the boat there were activities organized at different times of the day. We attended early morning Tai Chi on the upper deck before sunrise – a peaceful start to the day. We also could admire sunset and sip one of the freshly made cocktails from the cocktail bar while people could play mini golf on the deck. Our little boy enjoyed the golf too … running after the ball until it disappeared in the hole and the other passengers onboard enjoyed his entertainment too 🙂 We attended a cooking class where we were shown the technique of how to roll Vietnamese spring rolls and whatever was prepared during the class was freshly served with the rest of the dinner. Food on the junk was very much fish based and very authentic.

At night the crew also organized squid fishing right from the junk. After dinner we used to spend some time on the lower deck and watch the daily night show until it was time for our son to go to bed. One of the highlights (as the crew refers to it) is the bbq on a private beach. This company contributes to the preservation of Halong Bay National Park and to the community living there. As a reward the company is allowed to use a small beach for entertainment. It was indeed an enjoyable afternoon especially if you’ve never ate on a beach.

The cruise itself was very enjoyable and very heavenly indeed. As one would have expected the dynamics of the junk itself was not very much toddler friendly as there was a number of staircases with no gates so we had to be on high alert all the time to make sure our son does not approach the wooden stairs. Other than that the junk was very spacious and our son had lots of space where to run around. Having a pool right on the junk was a big plus for us with a toddler as we could spend time swimming with our toddler in the pool while enjoying the breathtaking views during the free time. I think that a cruise in Halong Bay is a must if you travel in Vietnam as it is a great experience for all the family.

On the way back to Hanoi we stopped to watch a water puppet show which our son loved and to which he applauded heartily. Water puppetry is a traditional form of Vietnamese art that developed over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta.