Dawn in Halong Bay: Exquisite!

Halong Bay is of course rightly recognised as one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is a huge area covering some six hundred square miles. The limestone karst islands have been formed over millions of years and present the most striking images to the tourist. Nobody, seeing these for the first time, can fail to be impressed. It is the most serene and tranquil place imaginable. Even as it has become busier with tourist boats carrying their charges to the hot destinations in the bay, it has remained a languid and peaceful location. The sheer size of the place enables the boats to stay well away from each other. At night though, they come back together and huddle in large groups at two or three locations; safety in numbers for the passengers. This brings with it, the chance to see the bay at its best.

Night Fall and Fairy Lights

As night falls the lights on the boats come on and the shimmering of their bulbs across the water brings an extremely picturesque scene. This is though, only a taster for what is to come. Rising early on one of these cruises is a must. Many of the cruises offer dawn Tai Chi classes as part of the itinerary. It is hard to think of a better location in which to indulge in this activity.

As the bay begins to awaken, the night sky turns to daylight bringing with it it the most perfect of vistas. Quite often an early morning mist will shroud the karst rock formations lending an eerie almost ethereal quality to them. They loom out of the darkness in the total silence of the dawn, often taking the traveller by surprise. The boat may well have moored no more than a few metres away from one. Hidden by the dark, it will loom out, displaying its enormous bulk as the light comes and the mist clears.

In the Still of the Morning an Engine Stirs

The total silence will on occasion be broken by the sound of a small engine, puttering away in the distance as someone begins their daily chores. Even this though, lends a special quality to proceedings. This is a magical time to be in Halong Bay. Slowly but surely things start to stir, just the odd boat at first, but then more join in, starting their engines for the day ahead. Soon it will be time to retire below decks for breakfast.

Spending an hour on deck before breakfast on a Halng Bay cruise boat is one of life’s great pleasures. What a way to start the day. Soon, breakfast eaten, the cruise will continue on its way. Whether off to see the pearl farms, or to explore an exciting cave, anyone wise enough to have risen early, will already have enjoyed a splendid start to the day.

Early morning in Halong Bay, the best time in the best of locations in one of the best countries in the world.

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