The misty vista added an ethereal air to the area when be boarded the boat just before lunch.
This island had an antennae and sort of temple on top. It also had a small beach on the other side.
The beach and dock on the island with the pagoda on top.
The harbor is full of overnignt junks and day touring boats. Halong City (on the harbor) is not a very attractive place becoming increasingly overwhelmed with highrise hotels. I stayed overnight here in 1999 on my first visit and took a day tour of the Bay. It is much nicer to take an overnight boat and cruise on the bay and watch the sunset and sunrise from the deck.
A working barge.
The harbor is full of overnignt junks and day touring boats. Halong City (on the harbor) is not a very attractive place becoming increasingly overwhelmed with highrise hotels. I stayed overnight here in 1999 on my first visit and took a day tour of the Bay. It is much nicer to take an overnight boat and cruise on the bay and watch the sunset and sunrise from the deck.
A working barge.
Floating fishermen's villages. 
A boat just like ours anchored nearby. Our boat had 8 cabins with their own bathrooms and a staff of 6 including our guide. We made the four hour drive from Hanoi in a large van.
A "snack boat" from the floating village.
These boys from a floating village were selling albalone shells.
One of the many big caves on the islands open to visitors. The walk up and down is steep and usually without guard rails but the caves are illuminated with easy paths. This cave is Hang Sung Sot.
The top deck had lots of comfy chaise lounges for island watching.
And the meals were something else. We had a "master chef" of sorts on board who outdid himself at every meal. There were seven or eight courses (we lost count)...each one better than the last. This was just a shrimp cocktail appetizer with beautiful sculptured flowers. One guest made the mistake of eating a white one which turned out to be garlic.
And how about Spring Rolls on a hollowed out pineapple lit up inside?
The sellers were persistent and there every day.
Gearing up for a kayak ride.
A supply boat for the fishing boats and the village.
The kayaks set off for a two hour spin around one of the islands.
Doesn't everyone cut up their cucumbers like this for an appetizer?
Uploading the kayakers.
The party's over. Back in Halong Bay.
The word Halong translates to "the place where the dragon meets the sea".
A boat just like ours anchored nearby. Our boat had 8 cabins with their own bathrooms and a staff of 6 including our guide. We made the four hour drive from Hanoi in a large van.
A "snack boat" from the floating village.
These boys from a floating village were selling albalone shells.
One of the many big caves on the islands open to visitors. The walk up and down is steep and usually without guard rails but the caves are illuminated with easy paths. This cave is Hang Sung Sot.
The top deck had lots of comfy chaise lounges for island watching.
And the meals were something else. We had a "master chef" of sorts on board who outdid himself at every meal. There were seven or eight courses (we lost count)...each one better than the last. This was just a shrimp cocktail appetizer with beautiful sculptured flowers. One guest made the mistake of eating a white one which turned out to be garlic.
And how about Spring Rolls on a hollowed out pineapple lit up inside?
The sellers were persistent and there every day.
Gearing up for a kayak ride.
A supply boat for the fishing boats and the village.
The kayaks set off for a two hour spin around one of the islands.
Doesn't everyone cut up their cucumbers like this for an appetizer?
Uploading the kayakers.
The party's over. Back in Halong Bay.
The word Halong translates to "the place where the dragon meets the sea".
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