24 Apr 2023
Everything about this 2D1N cruise was positive for me, and the biggest part of it had to do with our guide for the trip, Cong!
The trip started off with a shuttle pickup, which was right on time, and got us to where we needed to be without issue. Only wish the aircon was a little stronger on the shuttle, but that's nitpicking.
As soon as the cruise started, the crew did everything they could to make our trip as pleasant as possible. Every meal was absolutely delicious, and what views to dine to as well! The chef was phenomenal.
The ship itself is rather old, but we were told that the wooden junk boats are no longer being made, so as they are retired, they will not be replaced, so it was a unique opportunity to stay on one for this trip. The bed was clean, and the aircon was strong in my room, so I was happy with that.
Cong was simply the greatest guide, and he made the entire experience so much fun. He was a wealth of information about not just Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay, but about much of Vietnam as well. He worked tirelessly to make sure everyone on the tour was having a good time, and he was successful in doing so. His jokes were funny, and his storytelling is excellent. He led us on a fruitful kayaking trip, and was able to adapt on the fly when he realized that the caves we were visiting were crowded and led us to the beach first so we were able to experience an empty beach to ourselves, and a much less crowded cave afterwards.
This experience provided the memories for a lifetime, and I will not soon forget the cruise, or Cong!