On the Dragon Pearl through the Halong Bay

The Halong Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long) is located in northern Vietnam and was formed over 300 million years ago. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is said to consist of a total of 1969 karst formations that protrude from the water. The name means 'Bay of the Descending Dragon'. According to legend, the bay was formed by a dragon that lived near the coast in the mountains and created deep furrows in the land with its tail, which were flooded by the water when the dragon submerged into the sea.

A visit to Halong Bay is definitely a highlight and a must-do in Vietnam. However, I had also heard and read about negative experiences, such as too many boats, mass tourism, too much trash, and overcrowded party boats. Therefore, I did a lot of research and chose a more expensive and exclusive boat tour with Indochina Junk. With a lot of luck, I managed to snag the last available cabin at the last minute. To cut to the chase, it was the right decision and a wonderful tour: the organization was perfect from start to finish, an English-speaking guide, a small and manageable boat with 18 guests, a great crew, delicious and abundant Vietnamese food... And above all, due to the fantastic planning, we rarely saw other boats and tourists. We spent 3 days on the junk boat 'Dragon Pearl 2' cruising through the incredibly beautiful Halong Bay, which exuded a mystical atmosphere with its emerald green water and countless karst formations. The onboard activities included kayaking, a cooking class, visits to a floating fishing village and an oyster farm, exploring a cave, a great barbecue on the beach, relaxing on the sundeck, and of course, socializing in the evening.

A relaxing and wonderful way to explore Halong Bay!