Awake early - struggling a tad with my head cold - but excited for our big day ahead.

Reshuffled our packing so we could leave our suitcases at the hotel and just take our carry-on for our overnight adventure to Halong Bay. Buffet brekkie in the hotel then our driver arrived promptly at 8am for our 3.5 hour drive to Halong Bay. Was certainly an interesting drive - on our own in an air conditioned vehicle .....again with a driver who didn't speak English! Frustrating! Regardless a fascinating trip - out of the old town of Hanoi and through the city. An abundance of sights to take in - traffic flowing in all directions with motor scooters laden with an array of produce and materials - spotted live pigs, chickens, panes of glass, flower pots.....amazing! Quite fascinating - residential and commercial areas, all quite highly populated interspersed with expanses of paddy fields and market gardens. Distinctive architecture with many narrow terrace -like dwellings colourfully painted with shutters and ornate detail - combined with hovel style shop fronts selling anything from food and drink to clothing, furniture, statues and coffins! Driving on the right hand side of the road (left hand drive vehicles) we followed two and three laned highways, some with tolls, with the constant honking of horns to warn of approach or overtaking. We were grateful for our supplied water - but was a long trip without a stop. View altered with "mountains" appearing - though actually the rocky island outcrops of Halong Bay. The Paradise Bay certainly a much more opulent tourist area with man -made beaches; a beach volleyball competition taking place. Up market accommodation developing rapidly.

We were greeted by a representative from Heritage Line, had our welcome "tea" and waited to board our tender to take us out into the Bay to our boat. The seven minute ride passed a plethora of vessels of all shapes and sizes but the "Jasmine" only has 23 cabins - and we took off with only 20 passengers!

After being welcomed our cruise began about 1pm with us freshening up before a delicious buffet lunch- enhanced by the incredible vista of Halong Bay. I had no concept of the wide expanse of the bay or of seemingly unending profusion of these majestic rocky outcrops. It was sensational just relaxing on the upper deck with the sun shining and watching this part of the world float by. Actually started to feel like we were on holidays!

During the afternoon we boarded the tender for the Cua Van floating fishing village, being transferred to small bamboo boats and rowed by a Vietnamese woman. Awesome viewing the bay and the outcrops from this level - look even more majestic! And the fishing village was fascinating - hard to comprehend families actually living there! Back in the tender we were taken to Tien Ong cave, one of many in the bay but the most recently explored and opened for public access. A short stairway climb and stroll through was interesting.

We were back to the Jasmine just in time for a drink and sunset .....low lying cloud limited the colour somewhat but was worthwhile especially factoring in the other floating junks and vessels in the vicinity. Now the bay took on a whole new mystic as the light of the day faded.

It was then time to shower and change for dinner - a BBQ on deck offering an endless selection, plus a buffet. Yummo! So pleasant out on the deck in the evening with the lights from all the other vessels around us. Great way to end an eventful day!