We've heard mixed messages about this trip and it's peak season and Easter weekend into the bargain. The weather is socked in so we are less than enthusiastic that we booked this from Hoi An as we didn't want to risk leaving it til we got to town. I am sure we would have just skipped it otherwise. We see lovely agricultural lands surrounding Hanoi city, then go through an obviously industrial region, heavy steel production, high tech firms, garment factories, obviously a big employer in this region. Lots of "Made in Vietnam" pride in this country. They often point out the better quality of their goods - "not Chinese."
We are picked up at the hotel in a small bus and proceed to pick up others til its almost full (full enough) for the 4 hours ride to the coast and the Bay of Taiwan in the South China Sea. There's the requisite half hour stop for a pee but also to shop! It seems a bit chaotic at the dock, with people arriving and departing at this obviously small company Syrena. It seems OK on the web site but now appears to be one of the smaller operations, maybe on a shoestring budget?? We've picked a cruise company in the mid-range and I'm glad we have not spent $1000 for the 1.5 day trip.
Or wee host on this 17 room vessel Mr. Big is joy to listen to, all smiles and positive about everything, so we try to cheer up...he turns out to be the highlight of the voyage..
We are tendered out to the ship which looks nothing like the website photos, no red sails, and looking tired and in need of a paint job again. We have a nice tiny cabin with a balcony, comfortable bed, and bathroom which we barely use.
We are totally surrounded by other boats of all sizes, none look super new or modern but I think there are some really good ones at a price. We can't see much, it's fogged in and rain threatens...certainly nothing like the photos on the bedroom wall or website promos for these trips!
First we have a buffet lunch (OK, adequate food) served by nice friendly young staff.
We are picked up at the hotel in a small bus and proceed to pick up others til its almost full (full enough) for the 4 hours ride to the coast and the Bay of Taiwan in the South China Sea. There's the requisite half hour stop for a pee but also to shop! It seems a bit chaotic at the dock, with people arriving and departing at this obviously small company Syrena. It seems OK on the web site but now appears to be one of the smaller operations, maybe on a shoestring budget?? We've picked a cruise company in the mid-range and I'm glad we have not spent $1000 for the 1.5 day trip.
Or wee host on this 17 room vessel Mr. Big is joy to listen to, all smiles and positive about everything, so we try to cheer up...he turns out to be the highlight of the voyage..
We are tendered out to the ship which looks nothing like the website photos, no red sails, and looking tired and in need of a paint job again. We have a nice tiny cabin with a balcony, comfortable bed, and bathroom which we barely use.
We are totally surrounded by other boats of all sizes, none look super new or modern but I think there are some really good ones at a price. We can't see much, it's fogged in and rain threatens...certainly nothing like the photos on the bedroom wall or website promos for these trips!
First we have a buffet lunch (OK, adequate food) served by nice friendly young staff.
Then off to visit a cave the Vietkong used to hide during the war. It's 400+ steps up so Ted and I opt to stay on board and wait for the others to do it. They don't come back oohing and aahing so not a bad choice. Then to a super-crowded handkerchief-sized "beach" on Titov Island (sand probably hauled in).
Our trusty guide Mr.Big pays for us to enter through a turnstile, gives us a towel, and we have all of 45 minutes to swim and enjoy the beach. The swim area is about 30 feet deep and a hundred yards long...other boats are piling into harbor, two or three deep to offload more passengers and it's already about 5pm, sun going down in an hour. Ted and I lie on our towel for a bit, and listen as people brave the water and declare it too cold..
At 5pm we head to mid bay and anchor, we're apparently here for the night amid many many other boats, so you can't appreciate this Unesco World Heritage site designation at all. A few people kayak from the boat. It is dry and clearer for our happy hour drinks on the "sun" deck, no sun but warm enough.
Dinner is served a set meal, ambitious and really quite good for this small boat. They make an effort to find out where we are all from and put our cuntry's flag on our table, a nice touch to get us mixing. Ausralia fields the most guests. But it includes India, France, Italy, Taiwan and the 2 Canadians. Later some try squid fishing: fishermen 0, squid winners!
We all seem to retire early hoping for better weather by morning.
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