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Ha Long Bay Cruise: Exploring Vietnam’s Limestone Labyrinth

Ha Long Bay (photo by Dave Lee)

See a calm, soothing side of Vietnam with an extraordinary cruise in Ha Long Bay. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its spectacular and mesmerizing scenery—rugged limestone islands encircled by emerald green waters.

Located in the Gulf of Tonkin in Northern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay has more than 1,600 karsts and islets covered with jungle vegetation.

The neighboring Lan Ha Bay sports about 300 limestone islets. And northeast of both is the less visited Bai Tu Long Bay, which boasts 3,000 rocky islets.

Ha Long Bay (photo by Dave Lee)
Ha Long Bay (photo by Dave Lee)

These natural wonders of Southeast Asia developed over a period of 20 million years, with the sea sculpting the rocks.

The jagged islets and ancient karsts have been notched and carved by rain and seawater, creating hollow islands and caves.

Two popular caves accessible to tourists on a Ha Long Bay tour are Sung Sot Cave (“Surprise Cave”) and Luon Cave.

Famous for its vibrant green water and epic scenery, Ha Long Bay and La Ha Bay look like scenes from a movie. If you’ve seen the 2017 film Kong: Skull Island, you know it has been.

The magical scenery became the central set for the action film. Helicopters fly over the island mountains and eventually land on one lush islet, where a King Kong surprise awaits.

Rosy Cruise

Rosy Cruise ship in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Rosy Cruise ship

We ventured to see the myriad of islets with a two-day, one-night Rosy Cruise. The boutique cruise company operates out of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, offering sweeping views of the beautiful scenery.  

Built in 2020, Rosy Cruise features 22 luxury suites that meet international standards. With a maximum of 52 guests, the ship provides an intimate sailing experience, and wandering the boat never feels crowded. 

The spacious cabins are draped in comfy bedding and decor with ensuite marble bathrooms and stand-alone bathtubs with showerheads. Western-style toilets ensure a comfortable experience.

View from our private cabin (photo by Dave Lee)

Every suite features floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, offering incredible, up-close views of the monolithic islands and the lapping green water of the bay.

The steel vessel boasts five decks with an outdoor jacuzzi on the third deck, a restaurant on the fourth, and a sundeck on the fifth.

All meals are served in the spacious dining room, with bay views on three sides. On the fifth floor, the sundeck offers a place to relax, enjoy a drink at the Skybar, and capture…

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