Through the hostel I booked a package trip to Halong bay which was described as a three day relaxing boat trip to a tropical paradise. First night to be enjoyed on the Jolly Roger cruise ship and then followed by an exotic night on a secret island staying in traditional bamboo shacks... What it actually turned out to be was a party boat filled with great people and now great memories.
The first day on the boat was spent lazily sailing through the limestone islands, jumping off the boat and swimming, kayaking, walking in caves and topped off with a lovely lunch (finally no noodle soup in sight!).
The evening was quite different and entailed a blur of group drinking games and partying until the early hours of the morning on the boat.
The next day was a very early jump start of 7am with Vietnamese sailor men banging on the cabin doors and screaming to wake everyone for an early morning breakfast. The morning was then spent leisurely sailing to our secret island paradise- slightly difficult with the sway of the ocean following the slightly merry night before. If only the weather had been slightly better it really would have been a paradise. The beach had beautiful white sands lined with palm trees, little bamboo huts, volley ball net and a big bar! This day was spent lazing about on the secret island, rock climbing and tubing for some (...but typical me style i spent the day catching up with sleep). The evening was again...drinking games! Some of us event went for a late night dip into the sea to see the photo luminescent algae that glow when they are agitated- it was an amazing sight!

Another 7am start- this time from a huge gong and we set sail back to the
harbour to board an extremely uncomfortable mini bus for a 4 hour trip back to Hanoi. I had a great seat in the isle on the floor for most of it!

To sum up Halong bay it was a blur of beautiful scenery, boats, amazing people and rum!

BAAM, KAAPAAM, BOOM (you will know who you are...)