I joined a few friends and we made our way to Cat Ba Island, located in Northern Vietnam and the only inhabited island in Halong Bay. I enjoyed a fresh papaya salad while we all marvelled at the setting sun and the beautiful oranges and reds that were cast upon the fishing boats and open water below.
The next day, ready to hit the open sea, we boarded a large wooden "pirate-like" boat and cruised into Halong Bay. This bay consists of thousands of limestone isles jetting sharply out of the water, the rugged rock formations creating a sharp contrast to the still waters below. As we sat on the top deck of our boat, I was calmed and inspired by the beauty that surrounded us. We spent the next night and day soaking up the experience of the bay - Children shouting from boats below with efforts to sell fresh fruit, stumbling through a massive cave lit up with bright greens and pinks to reveal the jagged rock formations above, a dive off the side of our boat into the chilly waters just before dusk, brightly colored homes decorating the water and creating a small fishing village, a beautiful setting sun, an early morning wake-up call to kayak between the islets, and finally a short but steep hike to the peak of an island to enjoy a spectacular view of the bay. An amazing way to leave Vietnam!
