It’s our first trip to Ha Long Bay and we will surely be back next year - and WITH JADE SAILS AGAIN!
We have had one-day & overnight cruises in other countries, but this one with JADE SAILS on 13 December was by far our BEST SHORT-CRUISE EXPERIENCE!
The VIP shuttle/SUV picked us up from the Hilton Garden Inn on Phan Chu Trinh (the hotel recommended this company among several to choose from) and we had a very comfortable 2-hour ride from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. The bucket seams came with massaging options, the Wifi was strong and there was drinking water for all. Our driver asked us several times to feel free and ask for a “pit stop” anytime, and he did stop at the Pearl Farm where we had delicious coffee. (Sadly, I’m so forgetful of names).
Upon arriving at Ha Long, we were promptly & efficiently escorted to the ship. Kevin very kindly helped me manage the 1.5 deep step from the dock to the ship. We were the last to board (due to my creaky knees), but Nam, our cruise director did not make a big deal out of it, nor did he call attention to it. Very tactful! (It is things like these that make a big difference to the enjoyment or disappointment of the guests!)
Nam very clearly explained our schedule for the day & amazingly, the schedule worked like clockwork, because the crew was efficient and got things done!
Lunch was exquisite! The soup, the salad, the poached salmon and the scallops were presented beautifully and were delicious! The dessert was very good - a take on New Orleans’ Bananas Foster at Brennan’s, but even better!
We opted not to join the boats going to the caves, or the kayaking, but we had a very relaxing afternoon watching the scenery- with the cool breeze and the perfect afternoon weather,
In all our travels, meeting new friends make the experience more enjoyable! We made new friends with guests from Texas, Madrid, Sydney, Norway, and some young men from HaNoi on a holiday.
What fun it was to join the cooking class! We prepared spring rolls- outdoing each other with our wrapping prowess, and goody! Not 15 minutes passed and the fried spring rolls of chicken, shrimp, noodles, 2 kinds of mushrooms and onions was served to us promptly - with fresh fruit, pastries, sliced rolls, and Vietnamese VODKA spiked with orange juice! What a nice, GENEROUS, unexpected bonus to our trip! (It wasn’t mentioned in the brochure that we would be served a nice afternoon repast!)
Many of us probably wished the day wouldn’t end yet, as we had such a great time, with no hitches or unpleasant incidents - thanks to the SKILL OF NAM, KEVIN, the STAFF, the CHEF and the pretty, gracious WAITRESSES!
I wish I could remember the name of our driver, but please do thank him from us!
Thank you all, for giving us wonderful memories of Ha Long Bay, your hospitality and your vibrant country!
Sincerely,
Maria Duncan & Martin St-Amand
San Francisco, California
&
Montreal, California