Ha Long Bay: Cruise with caves, kayaking & lunch

4.80

(20 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the color of the water — sort of jade, but not quite. We’d just left Tuan Chau harbor and there was this soft mist hanging over the limestone peaks. Our guide, Minh, handed out tiny cups of tea and pointed out shapes in the rocks (“That one looks like a rooster,” he said — I didn’t see it). The boat felt steady underfoot, and there was this low hum from the engine mixed with laughter from a group nearby. I kept leaning over the rail to watch fishing boats glide past.

Lunch came early but I was already hungry — something about sea air does that to me. The buffet had all these Vietnamese dishes (the grilled fish was my favorite), and Minh explained what each one was. I tried to say “cha ca” properly; Minh grinned but didn’t correct me. After eating way too much, we stopped at Sung Sot Cave. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of earth and minerals. It’s bigger than you expect — you walk through chambers lit by soft yellow lights, and at one point everyone just went quiet for a second. I liked that.

Afterwards we paddled kayaks around Luon Cave. My arms were shaky but it felt good to drift under those low arches, listening to water drip off the stone. Later we climbed partway up Titop Island for a view over Ha Long Bay — honestly, I almost gave up halfway (it’s steeper than it looks), but Minh encouraged us with stories about his childhood here. At sunset there was fruit and coffee on deck; some folks tried the jacuzzi but I just sat back watching the light change on the water. Still think about that view sometimes.