22 Apr 2024
From the moment Soan (pronounced ‘One’) picked us up from our hotel in old Hanoi we felt safe and looked after. After several pick-ups and transfer to a large comfortable coach we set off South. Having been previously told we needed to pick up a tour from Cat Bah island our worries were dispersed, we were dropped off in a comfortable waiting room for the short wait for the motor boat which took us to our cruise boat. It is a sleek operation with a prescribed and well-trodden route - I suspect that whichever tour you choose you will end up in the right part cruising or sailing around the beautiful Ha Long Bay World Heritage site - there are lots of vessels but room for all. Our cruise on Venezia did not disappoint. Our room was lovely and clean, per the photos. The food was plentiful, drink prices acceptable (Happy Hour most of the evening). We were given lots of free water. We passed a floating village, went kayaking and swimming and visited Hospital Cave. On the boat we made Spring Rolls, fished for squid and had a karaoke session, One was an entertaining and attentive host ensuring the 15 of us including a toddler had everything we needed from start to finish. We highly recommend this cruise. Take a warm top if going in March, it was cool.