I arrived in Hanoi a few days ago, and I’ve already had a whirlwind of an adventure. I saw an amazing local violinist playing in a bar, went on a boat tour of Ha Long Bay, and met some incredible people along the way. I’ve spent a few nights in Hanoi, one night on a boat, and one night on Cat Ba Island. Now, I’m off to Hue, Vietnam. Before I go, let me tell you about my adventure so far.

Dragon facing the hills. Ha Long Bay, North Vietnam

Table of Contents

Beautiful Ha Long Bay
Cat Ba Island
Hỏa Lò Prison, Vaccinations, Live Music, and My Departure From Hanoi

Beautiful Ha Long Bay

I woke up early on the 10th and boarded a bus to Ha Long Bay City. The bay was teeming with boats and dotted with thousands of limestone islands, creating a stunning natural landscape. I met a couple of guys from the States on the bus, and one of them was born in Vietnam and spoke the language fluently. He was a great help in getting around.

After the bus ride, we boarded a large white boat and sailed out to a floating village. We kayaked through some caves and around the village, and then toured a massive cavern. Next, we hiked to the top of an island and went swimming in the ocean. The water was a bit murky due to nearby machinery, but it was refreshing after a long day in the heat. We ended the day by anchoring near an island and sleeping on the boat. The lunch and dinner that were provided were decent, but the breakfast was terrible.

Cat Ba Island

The next day, we took a boat to Cat Ba Island, a popular tourist destination with a small local population. The locals were mostly there to work or sell goods.

After disembarking from the boat, we took a bus to the island’s national park. We hiked to the top of a hill and took some stunning photos of the surrounding area. I enjoyed the park, but we didn’t have much time to explore. We simply hiked to the top and back. Additionally, I was disappointed by the lack of animals in the area. The plants and hills were beautiful, but I was left wanting more.

We arrived at our hotel a short while later and had a light lunch. Then, I went with Quan and Lane (the Americans) to the beaches. There were three beaches on the island, and after checking them all out, we ended up hanging out at the farthest one with a couple of girls from Belgium, Sandrina and Charlotte. We met them on the bus to the hotels, and they were staying at a little resort on the beach in a bungalow. I was so jealous!

After relaxing on the beach and in the water for a while, the guys went to get food, while I stayed with the girls. We made plans to meet up later, and I ate at the hotel, where a small dinner was prepared. Later, we grabbed some beers and vodka and went back to the beach. We ended up staying up until after midnight, sharing stories and trying to sneak into the water.

The next morning, we had a terrible breakfast and then boarded the boat back to Ha Long Bay City. We waited for an hour for our bus back to Hanoi, where Quan, Lane, and I have been relaxing and enjoying the city.

Hỏa Lò Prison, Vaccinations, Live Music, and My Departure From Hanoi

Hỏa Lò Prison

On my last day in Hanoi, I visited Hỏa Lò Prison, a former prison used by the French to detain Vietnamese political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The prison was a sobering reminder of the country’s turbulent history, and I was left feeling disheartened by the stories of the prisoners who had been held there.

Vietnam Vaccinations

After visiting the prison, I went to a clinic to get my vaccinations. I knew that it wasn’t essential for me to get vaccinated, but I decided that it was better to be safe than sorry. The clinic was very nice, and the doctor was informative. However, the shots were more expensive than I had hoped. They were still half the price they would have been in the United States, but I still wanted to spend less. I decided that it was worth it to avoid getting rusty needles from a less reputable clinic.