A fog enveloping the boat began to rise as we did on day two of our luxury Halong Bay cruise with Paradise Cruises. It appeared to be a residual haze from an evening storm. We hadn’t heard a drop of rain, snuggled up in soft white sheets in our air-conditioned cabin, oblivious to the outside world. To me, the haze just made the setting more mysterious and beautiful.
Our luxury Halong Bay cruise with Paradise Cruises took us through this stunning scenery. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Luxury Halong Bay Cruise
Contents
Day Two
We got up and made our way to the dining room for breakfast. A table glowing with baked goods, pancakes and bread sat at the far end of the room, another held the silver bain-marie trays cradling bacon, sausages and other warm Western and Asian breakfast options.
There was a selection of cold cuts and salads too and of course, fresh, fluffy omelettes were being flipped by a chef in another corner. We worked our way through some sweet, tropical dragon fruit, banana, pineapple and watermelon, eggs and sweet Vietnamese coffee to set us up for a busy day on the water.
Related: 10 Amazing Things to do in Mai Chau Vietnam
Sailing in Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Skye Gilkeson cruising Halong Bay, Vietnam with Paradise Cruises. Image © Skye Gilkeson
A Halong Bay Day Trip
After breakfast, we boarded the day boat, the Paradise Explorer, our base for sightseeing for the day. The main cabin was set up as a dining room and the upper deck had an in the indoor lounge area while outside sunbeds were spread around the sun deck to lounge while taking advantage of the view.
Coffee in hand we made our way to the sun deck and grab a spot in the corner.
With an hour and a half of sailing to reach our first destination, we sat and enjoyed the ride and the changing scenery. Floating across the bay, we spotted caves, local fishermen at work; dropping lines, nets or searching shallow rock pools.
Related: Mai Chau Homestay Experience
Beautiful Halong Bay in Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Local fisherman Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Fishermen working Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Shipwreck near Cua Van floating village Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Fisherman on a solo stretch of sand near Cua Van floating village Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Cua Van Floating Village, Halong Bay
We soon started to spot small clusters of colourful wooden houses, floating on the surface of the water. Our guide, Hoi, a local from a fishing family in the area explained each family lives in one of the small houses – three generations could live in each. It was a vast difference to our luxury Halong Bay cruise amenities. It was also one of my favourite items on our Paradise Cruise Halong Bay itinerary.
The other few houses in the row, are inhabited by other families. They live side-by-side to support each other, work together and help pass down their knowledge of fishing through the generations via the family line.
When the children marry, they simply build a new home at the end. The houses, like the local people, are modest, some only measure about 25 metres squared. Hoi, told us many enjoy their simple life without the modern-day distractions valued by the city folk living in cities like Hanoi. However, villages like these are in the process of being resettled elsewhere.
The local government says the move will reduce the waste in the bay, provide the people with more living space, more hygienic living conditions and better access to education. Traditionally, children from these fishing villages don’t go to school after the age of 14 as they have to learn the family trade of fishing.
Related: A Quick Hanoi Guide
15 month-old Hung, a local village boy from Cua Van floating village Halong Bay, Vietnam. Image © Skye Gilkeson
