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photographie-irie > Grottos and More Grottos, Halong Bay, Vietnam      Pop through a long underground tunnel onto the other side to find classic junks plying the waters of the bay. Certain areas get the most traffic and can become quite congested, especially for overnights on the junks in popular coves. Knowing this in advance should help you plan to avoid the common fare as much as possible. Unless you drive the process, the elaborate Halong Bay tour system tends to move you along as just another part of the lemming herd.
photographie-irie > Junk Cove, Halong Bay, Vietnam       Certain attractions such as a hike to caves, or a visit to floating villages, or popular beaches attract quite a bit of traffic. Other than nighly generator noise, though, the boats are generally most attractive and add to the whole exotic experience. Most junks are actually diesel powered, with sails just up for show, many with none at all. Only a few boats authentically sail these waters.
photographie-irie > Grottos and More Grottos, Halong Bay, Vietnam      I had the good fortune of a single kayak and my own private junk with my own local guide for a day to explore Halong Bay, given that noone else on the three day trip chose the kayak option. In most cases they try to pair you up in double kayaks, but if you can be on your own, do so and extend the envelope from that of a normal limited tourist base experience. My guide was most amenable to venturing well away from standard stuff, and letting me off on my own as long as we knew where to rendezvous. The local guide is handy, though, for quickly taking you to hidden grottos accessbile only through isolated tunnels underneath the massive rock formations.
photographie-irie > Eroding Karst, Halong Bay, Vietnam       The eroding bases of the limstone karsts and coastline makes for intriguing places to explore nature's sculpture. From a kayak you can get intimate with towering rock formations literally overhead as you cruise along shore and close to offshore towers.
photographie-irie > Cruising the Junk, Halong Bay, Vietnam      I took a semi deluxe three day two night affair packaged from Hanoi so as to have the most time on the water kayaking (the second full day), and a deluxe overview cruise in the fancy junk with a bunch of fine partying people. The food and service were superb as you relax wandering among the maze of eroding limestone karsts.
photographie-irie > Vertical Karst, Halong Bay, Vietnam       Karst strewn Halong Bay is one of the consumate destinations for people visiting Vietnam, and for good reason. Dramatic scenery in a beautiful natural setting. Junks lined up to take your small fare for a few days on the bay, kayaking, beaching it, and generally lounging as the world goes by. A wide range of quality is available, as the huge number of operators keeps things cheap at the lower end. Upper end deluxe is there too, though. Only few hours from Hanoi, I strongly advise watching weather patterns from there and then striking when the weather is promising. Make your trip on short notice on that basis, as I've heard it can be dissapointing to be rained on for your two or three days there. Most trips are easily arranged in Hanoi, but if you have the time and inclination, heading toward the bay and arranging your own junk with a group of your own making can be the best. Better yet, the kayaking is sublime if you are expedition oriented. and decent kayaks are for hire.
Grottos and More Grottos, Halong Bay, Vietnam     

Pop through a long underground tunnel onto the other side to find classic junks plying the waters of the bay. Certain areas get the most traffic and can become quite congested, especially for overnights on the junks in popular coves. Knowing this in advance should help you plan to avoid the common fare as much as possible. Unless you drive the process, the elaborate Halong Bay tour system tends to move you along as just another part of the lemming herd.
photographie-irie > Grottos and More Grottos, Halong Bay, Vietnam      Pop through a long underground tunnel onto the other side to find classic junks plying the waters of the bay. Certain areas get the most traffic and can become quite congested, especially for overnights on the junks in popular coves. Knowing this in advance should help you plan to avoid the common fare as much as possible. Unless you drive the process, the elaborate Halong Bay tour system tends to move you along as just another part of the lemming herd.
Grottos and More Grottos, Halong Bay, Vietnam     

Pop through a long underground tunnel onto the other side to find classic junks plying the waters of the bay. Certain areas get the most traffic and can become quite congested, especially for overnights on the junks in popular coves. Knowing this in advance should help you plan to avoid the common fare as much as possible. Unless you drive the process, the elaborate Halong Bay tour system tends to move you along as just another part of the lemming herd.
See photo in original gallery.
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