Ha Long Bay

I loved this trip; it started wonderfully right from the shuttle bus.

This was our first cruise. Every experience in Ha Long Bay was wonderful. It was crowded, but the scenery was unlike anything we usually see. Unfortunately, it was cloudy so we couldn't see the sunrise or sunset, but the service was so engaging that it was a truly valuable experience. We didn't have high expectations for the cabin considering the price, but it was spacious, clean, and we were very satisfied. The only downside was that the cruise guide ultimately didn't understand our food allergies and our poor English, which we had communicated multiple times beforehand. We were on an English-guided tour, so I suppose it was unavoidable to some extent. Regarding the food allergies, the information we received just before boarding was the exact opposite, and there were many things we couldn't eat. We thought it was our fault for not being good at English and laughed it off, but the guide persistently explained that they were serving the menu according to what we had been told. However, they quickly prepared an alternative menu for us, and the ship's staff were all smiling and asking if we were having fun and if the food was delicious, which was very comforting. There wasn't a one-night tour with a Japanese guide, and we thought we could manage with an English guide, but it seems we had more problems than we thought. However, the scenery and experiences made us forget our troubles. A few challenges are part of the charm of traveling abroad. I highly recommend that even those who are not confident in their English give it a try! (Looking at reviews, it seems that some guides use translation apps for detailed communication.) Don't forget to prepare cash in advance.

The pick-up from my hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and the transfer to my hotel in Ha Long Bay was very convenient. However, the bus temporarily moved to a different location for toilet breaks, which made me a little uneasy until it returned.