Ha Long Bay

Vietnam

by Jyothis Nair

Thomas BergenrothJyotsna ManojArjun Nairmeghna krishnaMini NairIndira VNairJyothis Nair
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Azalea Cruise

Exclusive Suite with Terrace

Website
Tripadvisor
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  • Avoid!

    Not worth it

  • Okay!

    Good for few days

  • In love!

    We would go again.

My 30 second thoughts…

Words aren’t enough to describe how magnificent the entire experience is – you should feel it yourself. Breathtaking landscape, well trained staff and exclusive service along with neatly laid out tour plan – we couldn’t ask for more. It is just that the whole experience is on a pricier side.

Location
Ambience
Friendliness
Food
Cleanliness
Facilities (incl. activities)
Value for money
Transfer from Hanoi

If you are starting the trip from Hanoi, you better have an early breakfast! Filled with amusement of going for three days of big-boat ride, the boys are all ready by 09:00 hrs. for the pickup team who will arrive at our hotel reception by 09:15 as promised.

We are at the port! The ride to Ha-long bay took us around 2.5h with a comfort break in between. The car was a comfortable 7-seater with enough space for all of us and our bags. Overall cost to quality of service was too good that we arranged the rest of our taxi travel from Ha Long to Ninh Binh and later from there back to Hanoi through Orchid team. Costed us around 100$ for each of those trips – quite okay considering 3-4h of drive and ~200km in each direction through Vietnam country sides.

While completing the check-in procedures at Orchid Cruise’s lounge, we were told that the transfer to main boat was just a 10-minute boat ride away but checking in all passengers will take some time. So the boys decided to explore the port area until the team gets everyone checked in. {edit} By the way, don’t be alarmed by the nothingness or quality of the port; this is no way an indication of what is coming.

If you are starting the trip from Hanoi, you better have an early breakfast! Filled with amusement of going for three days of big-boat ride, the boys are all ready by 09:00 hrs. for the pickup team who will arrive at our hotel reception by 09:15 as promised.

We are at the port! The ride to Ha-long bay took us around 2.5h with a comfort break in between. The car was a comfortable 7-seater with enough space for all of us and our bags. Overall cost to quality of service was too good that we arranged the rest of our taxi travel from Ha Long to Ninh Binh and later from there back to Hanoi through Orchid team. Costed us around 100$ for each of those trips – quite okay considering 3-4h of drive and ~200km in each direction through Vietnam country sides.

While completing the check-in procedures at Orchid Cruise’s lounge, we were told that the transfer to main boat was just a 10-minute boat ride away but checking in all passengers will take some time. So the boys decided to explore the port area until the team gets everyone checked in. {edit} By the way, don’t be alarmed by the nothingness or quality of the port; this is no way an indication of what is coming.

The Cruise – Day 1

As you would have seen in the video above, the crew warmly welcomed us onboard with freshly made local drinks and all smiles. Following a quick debrief by the manager about the next three days’ agenda and safety aspects of the ship, we swiftly moved to our exclusive suite – all four of us eager to explore what is in store.

As we look out through the big windows all around the panoramic suite, we are awestruck by the sheer beauty of untouched mother nature. The room is just amazing; even the jacuzzi in the bath got a direct outside view of the beautiful landscape (can’t stop using the word beautiful!). The private terrace is half as big as the width of the ship (because there are only two such suites in the entire ship); plenty of space for the boys to run around safely!

As you would have seen in the video above, the crew warmly welcomed us onboard with freshly made local drinks and all smiles. Following a quick debrief by the manager about the next three days’ agenda and safety aspects of the ship, we swiftly moved to our exclusive suite – all four of us eager to explore what is in store.

As we look out through the big windows all around the panoramic suite, we are awestruck by the sheer beauty of untouched mother nature. The room is just amazing; even the jacuzzi in the bath got a direct outside view of the beautiful landscape (can’t stop using the word beautiful!). The private terrace is half as big as the width of the ship (because there are only two such suites in the entire ship); plenty of space for the boys to run around safely!

It’s time to pick something up from buffet lunch table and start the journey into the amazing view of limestone karst formations, rising out of the sea! As the cruise enters a less populated area near Lan Ha Bay, we have a choice to stay onboard and just breath in the beauty around us or take a swim in the green, emerald water and/or go kayaking! Mini opted to stay onboard today… get some me-time and sink into the nature… while the boys burn few calories and test the self flying AI of Mavic Po.

Back in the ship after a good time out in the sea, we quickly freshened up and joined rest of the guests at the top deck listening to the soft music played by the live band. As the evening sets in, Advaith is trying his hands on some Vietnamese traditional cooking class lead by the ship’s executive chef. The chef further spices it up with some insights into Vietnamese dining culture – rich in stir fried rice and fish!

It’s time to pick something up from buffet lunch table and start the journey into the amazing view of limestone karst formations, rising out of the sea! As the cruise enters a less populated area near Lan Ha Bay, we have a choice to stay onboard and just breath in the beauty around us or take a swim in the green, emerald water and/or go kayaking! Mini opted to stay onboard today… get some me-time and sink into the nature… while the boys burn few calories and test the self flying AI of Mavic Po.

Back in the ship after a good time out in the sea, we quickly freshened up and joined rest of the guests at the top deck listening to the soft music played by the live band. As the evening sets in, Advaith is trying his hands on some Vietnamese traditional cooking class lead by the ship’s executive chef. The chef further spices it up with some insights into Vietnamese dining culture – rich in stir fried rice and fish!

As the sun dips into the sea, the captained anchored our ship at a gorgeous location. We were then served with a sumptuous local cuisine themed dinner in an intimate and truly romantic setting. Before the dinner is served, you may also opt to dance to the live DJ’s tunes as our boys did! Later, Advaith tried his luck with squid fishing but seemed like luck wasn’t with him this time or he decided to quit too early! Can’t complain much as I also wanted to get back to our room… just to immerse into the nature surrounding us…

Now, back to our suite, we are going to spend rest of the day enjoying the beautiful views right out of our beds…

… good night… sweet dreams…
✰☽ (－‿－) (－‿－)（､ﾝ ）(､ﾝ ) ☾★
… talk to you tomorrow…
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The Cruise – Day 2

DAY 2 – READ MORE…

The Cruise – Day 3

DAY 3 (coming soon)

Ha Long bay through the eyes of a 5-year-old
Jyothis Nair

Jyothis Nair

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Thomas BergenrothJyotsna ManojArjun Nairmeghna krishnaMini NairIndira VNairJyothis Nair
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10 replies
  1. Thomas Bergenroth
    Thomas says:

    Very nice Trip, highly recommendable. And Jyothis, does a very nice Job in summarizing and keeping treasured memories.👍👍
    We we’re Glas to bei part of Same journey.

    Reply
  2. Subhash
    Subhash says:

    Very comprehensive coverage of a nice trip at a great location! Nice video and descriptiin. Waiting for more…dear Mr. Sancharam!

    Reply
  3. Dead🙃
    Dead🙃 says:

    Well narrated travelogue Jyothis!
    remember you sharing this experience and some of us planned a Vietnam trip taking your inputs.. !
    infact we had opted for the same cruise. had planned it for Mar 2020 and then we all know what happened. itinerary is ready and will execute it once things r back to normal😊.

    Reply
  4. Lakshmi Das
    Lakshmi Das says:

    Dear Advaith, Just loved the way you have articulated..brilliant 👏👏…keep writing..you are a great talent dear…

    Reply

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