Ha Long Bay

Our next destination is the city of Ha Long. To get there, we take an overnight bus. But this time it's completely overcrowded. Every centimeter is used and most people are sitting on the floor. Fortunately, we have our beds.

Arriving in Ha Long, we need a coffee first to leave the restless night behind. Marcia slept surprisingly well but I only managed to close my eyes occasionally. Nevertheless, we decide to rent a scooter shortly before noon and explore the city.

Ha Long is completely different from Hanoi and Sa Pa and feels like an empty big city. Many buildings and settlements are uninhabited or still under construction. The city fascinates us because it sometimes feels like a modern ghost town.

One highlight for us is a Buddhist temple on a hill that we discovered by chance. Even though it is staged as an attraction, the place has something special.

For the second day, we book a tour of Ha Long Bay. We cruise through the impressive rock formations on a pretty comfortable ship. Definitely a must-do in Ha Long.

After this great day, we decide to stay one more night in Ha Long to explore the area more. We rent a scooter again and drive along the coast towards the east. Along the way, we admire the unreal landscape and empty beaches.

On our last day, we actually want to visit the amusement park in Ha Long, but unfortunately, it only opens in the late afternoon. Since we have already booked our bus to Ninh Binh at around 3:00 p.m., we have to cancel the visit. Instead, we walk to an observation tower nearby. It is a bit run-down, but the climb is manageable with some caution.

Now we continue to Ninh Binh by 'Private' bus. We are provided with snacks by the woman next to us. Refusing food is not allowed.