Memory: Viola Cruise - Halong Bay, Vietnam
I’d heard about Ha Long Bay cruises from friends. They told of a bay filled with party boats and revellers leaping into the jelly-fish laden waters amid other extroverted delights that I usually take a hard pass on. Was I up for an adventure? Hell, yes! Was I keen on a floating Ibitha? Gawd, NO. The cognitive dissonance was real.
I need not have worried. Not only had wifey booked us on the civilised, elegantly furnished three-deck traditional junk Viola Cruise, but she’d also picked one of the rare cruises permitted to float further out than Ha Long Bay, into the infinitely more tranquil Bai Tu Long Bay, leaving the heaving boats of backpackers behind.
The next three days ticked all the #holidaygoals boxes. Kayaking around the limestone pillars, over to secluded beaches. Rum-laced egg coffees upon the deck. Exploring the Vung Vieng fishing village in search of pearls.
Tai chi sessions on the top deck to welcome in the day, with black kites soaring above and local fishermen gliding by as the orange light of the rising sun reflected upon the calm waters. Bliss.
Our fellow cruisers were lovely folk with whom we enjoyed easy conversations over our shared meals. The food was overflowing and often so ornately presented that we required assistance from the wait staff to access the edible bits.
Each day was busy enough to make the time fly but still allowed time to kick back and chill. If I had any niggles, they’ve since faded beneath the vivid memories of Mother Nature’s glorious, ever-shifting painting we floated through.
Head to dusty_cowgirl_discoveries on Instagram to check out my photos from Vietnam.
For more information on the Viola Cruise around Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays: www.violacruisehalong.com
