Cat Ba Island

Woke up @ 7am & took a taxi + ferry to Cat Ba Island=$16 2 ppl

Cat Ba Island tucked inside. 45 min. ferry ride.The ferry dropped us on the north side (we believe) of the island so we had to catch a green bus to town 20 min. away. The process was actually smoother than anticipated after reading experiences getting to Cat Ba. Bus ride cost .93 each.

House Boats & restaurants in town.

Cat Co Cove-15 min. walk SE from town. There are 3 cove beaches.

We explored all 3 coves. There were men cleaning the beach every hour due to debris & rubbish that would wash onto shore.

Cove 2 was the best with limestone cliffs & an empty beach.

Wow-zah

What is this? Freaked Dusty out

Crabs are artist 

Love

Our room is the one right there 👆

View from our hotel for $16 a night. The city is pretty mellow at the moment (low season). We noticed lots of karaoke bars, asians love to sing & party! 

We will update pics from our adventure to Cat Ba National Park...check back later:) 

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Today we took a 4hr. tour of Ha Long Bay. A van picked us up at out hotel, took us to the harbor & we loaded onto Ha Binh 38. There was about an hour of waiting time before our adventure began. This has been a common theme so far in Vietnam.

Cost of 4hr tour: $36 for 2 ppl

 

We stopped at The Fisherman Village & paid $6 each to see the "caves" ($$ trap). We hopped in a bamboo raft & a woman rowed our boat around the bay. The caves were ok & the water was not so clean, but the limestone islands were beautiful to admire. 

The last part of the tour was visiting Thien Cung Cave that was discovered in 1993. They said a fisherman was out fishing until a storm came through. He was leaving the area until he saw a monkey go into the mountain. He followed the monkey that eventually brought him to the 4km cave & the rest was history... Actually another $$$ maker was born... They amped it up by using special lighting adding more umpf to the ambiance. A pretty amazing spectacle.

We watched the sunset heading back to the harbor & were ready for dinner. 

The downtown restaurants are something else...There's a line full of them. Whenever someone walks by or they see a taxi they all swarm to them shoving menus in your face. It's crazy! Aimee had a fresh crab right out of the tank & Dusty had some sweet & sour beef with tomato sauce? 

We head to Cat Ba Island tomorrow and are hoping for some beach time & hiking.