Halong Bay, Vietnam, was our port of call today, the last on in this country. The bow was opened at 6am for viewing, even though it was just getting light and the haze in the air was heavy below the overcast skies. One of us was awake by 5am, and ready to watch the sailing around the monoliths right from the veranda. It was much cooler today with temps in the high 70's and humidity up there at 84%. The winds were 6.6 mph and did little to clear that sea or sun haze.
While watching the various rocky limestone mounds, we also spotted a lot of floating Styrofoam chunks and plastic bottles, sort of ruining this unusual part of the world. Ignoring the signs of flotsam, these karst limestone peaks, as they are called here, are situated in calm seas and number in the area of 2000 different little islands. The scenery would have been superb had the sun decided to peek out. It never did most of the day, so most of the photos we captured are going to be dull greys, black and white during their ethereal misty dawn, as it is called here.
The Volendam docked starboard to the new pier, a first visit here for Captain Frank since the new port was finished. He said the cruise terminal was also new, but was located very far from where we docked. It would take electric-powered buggies to transport most people there. Sure, it is walkable but in the heat, few people did it. We were not alone in the port today as the Crystal Serenity was already there. That ship is a little larger in size than the Volendam at 68,870 gross tons. It holds up to 1000 guests with a 1 to 1 crew ratio. The Serenity was refurbished in 2023 and their veranda cabins measure 215 square feet with a balcony of 54 square feet. We would guess it is in the luxury cruising column, mostly all-inclusive.
There was a variety of tours offered today starting with the longest ones. This port is the gateway to the capital of Hanoi and a 12-hour past and present Hanoi with lunch and dinner was $250. Hanoi highlights was 9.5 hours for $180 including lunch. A village visit was 7 hours and $120 while Hai Phong village and Halong countryside were both 5 hours at $160 and $80. A visit to Yen Tu Monastery was 5 hours at $60, and a bay cruise and cave was 3.5 hours at $100. A signature bay cruise was 3.5 hours for $130. Kayaking the monoliths was 4 hours and $120.
Before we left the ship, we took the time to go to deck six forward and take some pictures from the starboard side. We were alone out there when we heard tapping on a window. Thinking it was workers down below, we turned around and spotted Captain Frank in the window of the bridge waving at us. Nice that he took the time to wave hello.
Anyway, we did none of those tours because there was a free shuttle taking us to Hong Gai Ward across a bridge to Vincom Plaza about a half hour drive from the ship. They were scheduled to operate from 8am to 8pm and run every 15 minutes. We left the ship before 10am during another drill practicing for a possible helicopter crash on the back deck. The free shuttles were right there at the gangway. The ride was scenic going through the port area that is undergoing a major project with towers of apartments or condos within a gated-like community. A park was being planted and a full size sports and theme park was in the process of going up.
This mall we went to was very modern with four levels and some nice stores that included Levis, H&M, and Nike Shoes. The other stores were Asian more or less, not anything we know in the states. But before we went inside, we decided to carefully cross the four-lane highway and walk the seawall facing the bay and several huge monoliths. There were dozens of the brightly painted local fishing boats and some houseboats it appeared. We hiked for about ½ mile getting pictures of the boats below and the limestone peaks very close to this area. A few local fellows were fshing off of the bridge we walked, but more were fishing from the old wooden boats in the bay. It appeared there was a fish market nearby with a small harbor where these boaters go to sell their catch.
We had hoped to find some place suitable for pizza and beer, but it did not exist in this mall. Walking each level, we found their nice grocery store similar to the one in Phu My. We had been told tht if wanted to buy something in these markets, we would need local Dong. Other than major credit cards, they did not accept US dollars in the stores or restaurants. The souvenirs stand vendors and for sure, the taxi drivers/turned guides would take the US $$$ in a heartbeat. There was a fourth floor food court with two venues. One was a real restaurant and the other a fast food vendor. Also located on the top floor was an arcade for both kids and adults and a theater that showed movies. The popcorn did smell good though.
We had one mission today at this mall and that was buying shoe laces for a pair of dress shoes. Searching all four floors of this mall, we did not find one place that sold laces. We even checked the supermarket, which was more like a Target once again. We over heard a man telling some folks on the bus that he tried to buy hairspray in the supermarket, and was told they did not accept US dollars. They would take credit cards but he did not trust that. So the checker told him the price of the hairspray was the equivalent of $50 USD or 50,000 dong. He thought that was excessive, but she insisted the dong was equal in price to the US dollar. So not true, since that hairspray was marked 50,000 dong which computes to under $2 USD. She wanted $50, and we sure hope he did not pay it. Good grief….you have to do your homework on the conversions before you leave the ship. Like we stated previously, the ship does not give us that information anymore as the money values change daily. And the majority of people use their cell phones to double-check. Sorry to say, but these days it is not wise to trust everyone.
With no chance for pizza and beer, we decided to go back to the ship. The shuttle was parked outside the mall, but was not leaving until the bottom of the hour at 12:30pm. BY then another bus had arrived, and we were free to board the coach which filled up with guests in 10 minutes. It took 20 minutes to arrive back at the ship. At the point of the gangway, we either turned in our landing cards or kept them in case we wanted to go off the ship again later. We held on to them, and later turned them in at the front desk. Had we not turned them in, the ship could be delayed leaving and we would face a fine.
We were making progress with photo sorting and report writing that we never did go back. We had a lunch of salads and a shared sandwich and some ice-cold watermelon saved from yesterday. At 3pm, we made a visit to the Princeton Tailors to check out their line of clothes. However, no one was there even after waiting for 15 minutes. We will have to come back tomorrow.
As it began to get dark (there was no visible sunset), we could see the city lighting up with their main towers shimmering with multi-color flashing lights. Most of it was on the Bai Chay Ward where the cruise terminal was located. The flywheel was dancing with color and the gondolas from the towers that spanned the bridge were lit up as well. Then the bridge was lit up with alternating colors. This was so unexpected that it was really a treat to watch.
The light show continued with party boats that even lit off fireworks while we ate dinner. Our meal tonight was shrimp cocktails, one Pho soup, and chicken skewers. Mains were one barbacoa beef tenderloin slices and one large and tasty pork chop. Our treat for the night was a bowl of strawberry gelato and a glassful of tres leches cake pieces mixed with fruit and topped with whipped cream. We were back to the room by 9pm, and figured we would be on our way by then, which we were. Captain Frank blew the horn twice and we were on our way out of the bay.
Emer Barry was the singer this evening in the World Stage with "An Irish Girl in Hollywood).
We sure are looking forward to a restful day at sea tomorrow.
Bill & Mary Ann
