Cat Ba - traveling our way to Halong Bay

Everyone who visits Vietnam goes to Halong Bay. And the reason is simple, it's breathtaking. However, the prices are also breathtaking. Taking up a tour will cost for starters atleast 100$ and then you have a crappy tour. A price on the decent tour easily goes up to 200$ or even 300$. So we had to think of a way around that. Luckely we meet quite some people who have the same troubles. One day we met a nice couple who told us of Cat ba. The biggest island in Halong Bay. And telling us that this is a good and affordable way to go there and do inexpensive day trips from there. After some research it was clear that this was the way. The way we prefer to go, especially since it ment that we would be almost the only travelers.

After our bus, boat & bus ride we came in Cat Ba town. Deserted as it was we had no problem finding accomodation. We hired a scooter and rode around, watched the stunning sunset over the sea and all the islands of Halong Bay. 

We wanted to do a day trip in the famous bay one day and were asking around were to do so. We ended up at Ali Baba's guest house. While asking for the price and what we would do etc we overheard Korean people talking. On our way out we said hello in Korean and drunk as they were, so happy they were for us to talk Korean. We directly got a beer pushed in our hands and shrimps & crap from the hotpot they had for dinner. We were pushed to explain how we know Korean (1 word?) haha and were we have been. Somehow we had been in a town they were from and thus the evening started with even more beer haha. Like in Korea itself we end up drinking with them.

We decided to do the tour and asked the Koreans to join us too. Even though at the tour itself they were drunk before lunch was served. Wodka doesn't do Asian people well. The tour was brilliant. Kayaking through caves, swimming at secluded beaches and best of all. No other boats! We have read so much stories about halong bay and it's gift & curse. Yes it's beautiful. Also ugly because you are with atleast 100 boats at the same spot. We skipped that part and did the Lang Ha Bay. Which is the same, just smaller and quiter. Best decision ever.

Last day the Korean people coocked us delicious food. Spicy pork something. So happy as a child who gets a new toy i (Tom) was. I missed the taste and was not really that fond of the taste of Vietnam. A great few days to look back on!