Very touristy - dozens of boats steaming around some of the 3000 islands that rise up from the emerald waters. A wonderful sight! Well, it would have been had we been able to see anything - the first 2 days of our 3 day tour where very cloudy and hazy! Shame!
Still, our boat was very nice and the food was even better. We met some very nice people (including an Aussie bloke that is related to the late John Peel).
For the 2nd night, we stayed in the town of Cat Ba. Not exactly the most charming of places - there are an endless number of hotels - it was also very very quiet. I guess it is very different in high season?!