Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cẩm Phả town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters. 

Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km², including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km² with a high density of 775 islets.^[1] The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate.^[2] The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including atropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem.^[3] Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species^[4] and 60 endemic faunal species.^{[5]  —WIKIPEDIA}

From L-R: Me, Leane from Australia, Michael and Vitec from Poland

This is our boat. It means billow according to Google Translator.

After eating, we are headed towards the floating village.

The green colored house is a school.

After the boat ride, we transferred back to the tour boat to go to Hang Dau Go.

Looks like chickens kissing or fighting?

Hang Dau Go (Cave of Wooden Stakes) is a huge cave consisting of three chambers, which you reach via 90 steps. —SOURCE

Once again my brain is again challenged as to the difference of stalactite and stalagmite.

Legend has it (as told by our guide) that the Dragon and Fairy lived in this cave. They have 100 children. They lived together but called it quits after some time. The couple took 50/50 of their children. From time to time both of them still returns to the cave to pay a visit to the remembrance that they have left for each other.

This is what the fairy has left for the dragon.

This is why the fairy keeps coming back for more

I just have to LOL when I heard the story. There are a lot of rock formations inside. And you really have to use your imagination to see it. 

Can you see the cat?

We made it out alive! Etchos lang.

Then we\’re off to the boats…then back to Hanoi.

The journey back was informative and insightful because Leane told me wonderful stories of her travels. Will blog it on another post.

XOXO

By far the most exciting itinerary in Saigon.

The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong\’s base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968.

The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped achieve ultimate military success. —> Source

Mr. Rivera and the Cu Chi Tunnels Diorama.  It shows how complex and well thought of are these tunnels.

                                  

What amazed me the most is the use of white egg-shells that they painstakingly crack and glue to the medium (wood or plastic?) for a 3D effect. After putting up the egg-shells they paint it  for the design to pop out. 

                                   

We continued the journey to the tunnels after staying for more than 15 minutes. Mr. Rivera was hilarious and informative at the same time. He has shared to us his experience of the war. My seatmate Steffen (a good lookin\’ fella from Germany) asked me if I believe a word that he says. I said I don\’t know in a way he\’s still interesting. We laughed.

I forgot how much I paid for the entrance fee but that won\’t be cost more than 10 USD.

We were asked to watch a black and white documentary film about the life of the Viet Congs during the war. Mr. Rivera explained to us one-by-one the function and importance of each \’holes\” and \”rooms\” in the tunnel. 

Then off we go to see the tunnels for ourselves.

Kasya ako diyan noh?!

First of all the soil in Cu chi  its actually clay. Walking there feels like you\’re stepping on cement it\’s hard but smooth.

I wasn\’t able to try this hole (pictured above) because, I have no one to leave my things with. Aaarggghhh! The disadvantages of travelling alone. But I know I can go through there because I saw a lady who\’s more vertically and horizontally challenged than me was able to go through.

Then comes the booby traps that was simply covered with dry leaves for concealment. Once you step on it expect a surprise tusok.

Now you don\’t see

Surprise!

Booby traps in different types and sizes.

War Tank. The Photobooth of Cu Chi. You can touch and  climb on it. No worries.

Viet Cong are also resourceful people. They recycle dropped bombs. After tweaking, it was reused as their own weapon.

The last part of the tour was the trek of the clean and longest tunnel open for the tourists. It was headed by the Cu chi guard (guardia civil). You can just go and follow him inside. I wasn\’t able to finish the tunnel. Because I chickened out! I didn\’t freaked out but as we go further it was getting darker, colder and smaller. My heart was beating fast. I don\’t want to bother everyone with my drama, I just went out to the nearest exit. The technique should be, to follow the guide since he\’s holding a flashlight. Or might as well bring one. I\’m going back and try this again if hubby will be with me.

My hands were shaking so this is the only decent photo that I have inside

Exit…Stage right

Relieved

There\’s a firing range and refreshments available after the tunnel walk. I opted to rest instead of shooting guns. There\’s this one guy who was laughing at me  because I fidget on the sound of the gunshots. The way back was uneventful but I got to talk to Steffen during the trip back to the hotel. He\’s a cool guy. He even invited me to visit his country and Europe in general. Too bad I wasn\’t able to get his e-mail address. I invited him to visit Singapore and Philippines. So wherever he is, good luck to his MBA exchange student programme in Shanghai and further trips for him around Asia.

Cu Chi Tunnels is a must when you visit Vietnam. 

XOXO