2012 Aug 2-7 Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island & Ninh Binh - Part 2/3

We went on a 3D/2N Halong Bay Tour + Cat Ba Island the next day - USD 129

There are many tours available for this and we settled for this one http://www.odctravel.com.vn/halong-tours.html

Travel to Halong Bay is approx 3.5 hours.
The tour company will pick you up from whichever hotel you are staying in and travel by "mini van" to Halong Bay... there will be one stop along the way.
The package includes all meals during the journey and pick up / return back to hotel. It is a full 3 days tour whereby you only get to return by 7pm or so on the third day.

The itinerary for this is :
Day 1
8.30am pick up from hotel and travel to Halong Bay
Lunch and dinner on board (cruise starts)
Activities - Cooking class, Squid fishing + Lazing around
Overnight on board

Day 2
Breakfast and lunch on board
Dinner at Cat Ba Island
Activities - Visit Caves, Beaches (not clean) + a peak (good view)
Overnight on Cat Ba Island, Hung Long Hotel

Day 3
Breakfast at Cat Ba Island
Lunch on board
Travel back to pier and return by land to Hanoi

Our cruise ship

The room, electricity available from 6pm to 7am

Upper Deck

Sunset on board

Kayak into the "hole" - if water level rises and we are inside it means we are trapped :)

Smaller boat to take us to shore

Arriving at Cat Ba Island

Hung Long Hotel at Cat Ba island

Just too many people at the beach (Cat Ba Island)

- To be continued -