TK: we set off early to drive to Halong city to join our boat to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Halong bay. It is a stunning collection of limestone peaks jutting out of an emerald green sea. There are over 1000 of them in an area of 1500 sq km. we joined the boat, set sail and sat down to a delicious lunch of fresh seafood, prawns, whole crab and squid, with rice veg. After some cruising, we stepped off the boat visit the 'amazing cave.' It was huge with an amazing ceiling that had been softly carved by the effect of water over millions of years. Jess was particularly drawn to the third cave which had an interesting rock formation shaped like a giant phallus. We then went kayaking around the rocks, which included going through a small archway into a fully enclosed bay with spider monkeys jumping around the trees that overhang the water. It was a magical place. We just caught the end of a beautiful sunset before sitting down to another delicious seafood feast accompanied by beautifully carved vegetables. Number one meal of the trip so far! Our Vietnamese hosts then turned on the karaoke machine.