I was very fickle on deciding where to go for my birthday trip. Pakistan and Georgia were on top of my mind but at the same time I also feel too lazy to go somewhere that required more than 7 hours flight time. Blame my old-ass.
Somehow my company outing to Bali was scheduled exactly on my birth date, so I was thinking to go somewhere that has direct flight from Bali. If it somewhere near then it supposed to be around South East Asia – that I’ve never been to.
Vietnam has been very popular recently in my Instagram reels so I really had an eye on it. Technically I’ve been to Ho Chin Minh in 2015 for work thingy, but never been to it’s northern part like Hanoi and Da Nang. Ha Long Bay used to be in my bucket list years ago, but it disappeared along the way. So I think this is the time to put it back on the list. Also, Birthday Cruising in Ha Long Bay sounds immersive doesn’t it?!
There are a lot of cruise options with different price belt, but since it was my birthday so I did not mind to splurge a bit. After doing some research, my top cruise choice are : La Regina, Doris and Peony. All of them had a very good review and nice interiors amongst others. But at the end, I opted more for : Doris Cruise. Simply because it has the most perfect shape bathtub by the window. LoL. I instantly could picture my self dip in the bubble bath overlooking the emerald green sea of Ha Long Bay.
I booked Doris via Booking.com but it did not include the transfer from/to Hanoi so I had to reach them through email and arranged it separately with additional cost. We had a very convenient limo bus that pick us up right at the hotel lobby. The trip to Hanoi to Ha Long Bay is around 3 hours, with a half an hour rest in the middle.
Arriving at the pier of Ha Long, we then directed to a small boat that will take us to the cruise. During the 40 mins sails to the cruise, the crew tell us about the myth of Ha Long Bay. Ha Long actually means descending dragons. So long long time ago, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, summoned a family of dragons from the heaven to protect Vietnamese from foreign powers. These mighty creatures spat fire and emeralds, creating a barrier of islands and islets that formed a natural fortress along the coast. The invaders’ ships were shattered by the dragons’ fierce breath, and the people of Vietnam were saved. After the battle, the dragons were so captivated by the beauty of the earthly realm that they decided to make it their home. As the dragons plunged into the waters, their tails carved deep valleys, and the sea rushed to fill the crevices, forming the stunning landscape now known as Ha Long Bay.
As our small boat approached the Cruise, we could see the cruise attendants waving their hands towards us. Upon boarding on the cruise, they handed cold towels and a refreshing drink in the lobby then escorted us to the restaurant in 2nd floor for lunch while they were preparing the room.
We were sent to the room after enjoying a set of delicious lunch. Though I had seen the room on the booking site, experiencing it firsthand was a completely different feeling. I mean, just look at this room! It has the perfect size with a subtle Vietnamese touch yet still looks modern. 10/10.
Exactly at 3 PM, the crew gathered all guests who wanted to join the Kayak activity. I did not have certain expectation on this one, but as we paddled away from the cruise, I instantly found solace in the tranquil waters surrounded by the limestone. The setting sun also cast a warm glow over the bay, creating a picturesque scene that felt like a personalized birthday gift from the universe.
Knowing that the sun began to set dramatically (as it showed a perfect bright round shape), we rowed the Kayak faster to get back to the cruise as we did not want to miss any single second of the sun down from the cruise.
The cruise offered a pleasant sundown little party on the rooftop deck, they showcased Vietnamese cooking lesson that later became the canape of the session.
The evening unfolded with the best seafood dinner that I shamelessly indulged with multiple rounds of grilled shrimps and clams. I swear they were so tasty!
We spent the rest of the night just relaxing at the room. Oh, if you concerned about seasickness, don’t be. Because the water are so calm you don’t even realize that you are sleeping on the boat. It’s gentle rocking only added to the overall serenity of the night.
In the next morning, we woke up to a good breakfast and a little bamboo boat trip to the Dark & Bright Cave (Hang Sang & Toi). It was an easy and nice one for a morning activity. Actually the cruise also provide an early morning taichi session on the upper deck at 6 am. I was interested at first, but the bed won me over at the end. Lmao.
The cruise returned for disembarkation point at around noon time. As I bid farewell to Doris Cruise and the enchanting landscapes of Ha Long Bay, I couldn’t help but reflect on the spontaneity that led me to choose this destination. Sometimes, the best birthday celebrations are the ones that unfold in unexpected places. So happy that I still got to experience something for the first time on my birthday 🙂
