Vietnam - Hanoi & Halong Bay

[Big Boy]

Part 5 - Dao Soi Sim Beach & Cookery Demonstration

Dao Soi Sim Beach

We deliberately left our cabin too late to participate in the Tai Chi, only to find that we were the first ones up. The Tai Chi instructor was very keen to teach us, but we managed to persuade him otherwise. Nobody else surfaced until breakfast time.

As we enjoyed a really hearty breakfast, V Spirit set sail for Dao Soi Sim Beach. There are no natural beaches in Halong Bay, and this was one of several man made beaches. ETA at the beach was 08:30. Surely madness going to the beach at 08:30 when it’s warm, but when the temperature is in single figures………………..

The dock at Dao Soi Sim Beach

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Our Junk docked beside Dao Soi Sim Beach

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Dao Soi Sim Beach

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The main attraction of this beach is that you can climb to the top of the hill behind to get a 360 degree view of the bay. However, there was a heavy mist, with very poor visibility. I climbed about two thirds of the way to the top before I decided that continuing would be pointless. I was so far ahead of the rest of the group that they didn’t realise I’d not been all of the way to the top as I passed them on the way down.

On the way up

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A misty view from half way up the hill

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A misty view from half way up the hill

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Going down again

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One strange thing about the climb was a cage with a dozen monkeys inside half way up the hill. I couldn’t understand the reasoning behind this.

Caged monkeys

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After this activity, it was just the long cruise back to port, which included a Vietnamese cooking demonstration.

Vietnamese Cooking Demonstration

This started with V Spirit’s chef demonstrating fruit and vegetable carving. He was a bit of a devil with his knife.

Chef working his magic with his knife

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The finished article

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Next was how to make Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Well, my wife could be a Spring Roll world champion, so when asked for a volunteer (expected to fail) she took 2 steps forward – she is truly the master.

This was followed by yet another monster lunch before the journey back to Hanoi.


Tomorrows installment: Back to Hanoi and Tran Quoc Pagoda

[buksida]

The mist is a shame, that really is a stunning view from up there.

[Big Boy]

Yes, a 360 degree panoramic from the top. On a clear day, the best view in the bay.

[hhfarang]

Must stop drinking so much Chang and maybe I'll retain some of those grey cells that are left.

Too late Lomu! You're body is only running on pure muscle memory already.

[Homer]

Vietnamese roads are not the best, and obviously built in sections. For some reason, they don’t seem concerned with the way they join one section to another,

Many opportunities to see less than industrialized nation quality combined with design giving low priority to the users in Vietnam. Seemed obvious to me this was because 'nam was once a poor communist country, then it evolved into a communist country with an economy that's part planned and part market driven.

But I did get a kick out of finding the same waste can in EVERY place I stayed.

[PeteC]

The mist is a shame, that really is a stunning view from up there.

I think that's the location they use when making official photos of the bay. Bamboo Grove had/has an avatar photo that may have been taken from there I think? Pete

[buksida]

Here's what it looks like without the mist:

Full set shot in October: http://ontheroadasia.com/halong-bay.php

Sorry for the hijack BB, back to your TR ...

[Big Boy]

Sorry for the hijack BB, back to your TR ...

Quite OK. It just doesn't seem to have the same atmosphere without the mist

[Big Boy]

I've just compared my misty photo with your crystal clear photo. We seem to capture the same islands, but from a completely different angle (irrespective of the fact I only went 2/3 of the way up). Did you use the Dao Soi Sim Beach viewpoint or a similar one?

[GLCQuantum]

Thanks for the trip report BB. Makes for a good read.

[Big Boy]

There's another 4 days worth to go yet

[GLCQuantum]

Keep it coming...!

[buksida]

I cant remember the name of the beach, but it was quite small with a cordoned off area for tourists, the view is from right at the top; here is another angle.

[Bamboo Grove]

Bamboo Grove had/has an avatar photo that may have been taken from there I think? Pete

My photo is from the cave.

[NOKYAI]

As a Yorkshireman, I wonder if you could include costs for the trip, particularly the boat trip? Loving the TR, it makes me feel I have got a bit lazy just enjoying HH and not having to go to work every day.