From Da-Nang, we flew to Hanoi then on to Ha-Long Bay by bus for an excursion by boat on this famous bay. Quite a natural germ, no wonder it’s listed as one of the world’s heritage sites. Counting number of boats in the hundred, competing for the right of way to go thru a narrow pass in the sea, one could not help but think that it is being tramped over by unregulated tourist industry.
We returned to Hanoi after one night stay in Ha-Long bay. Hanoi with its 36 Pho-Phuong that I read so much about in the old literature as a kid. This was the first time that I set foot in this area, and things had changed a lot from what I read in the book long ago. “Pho Hang Buom” don’t sell sails and masks etc. any more, instead, they sell tourist trinkets, catchy souvenir T-shirts. “Pho Hang Dau” no longer sells peanut oil, cooking oil, oil for lantern etc. But instead, its sidewalks are lined with Made in China sandals, shoes etc. We also managed to see the Vietnam National Museum of History on our free day.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Noi
Hai Phong
