After a long, four hour transfer from Hanoi to Halong bay, we were greeted by our guide/Butler Tien and embarked on our private charter, a 3 day, 2 night Bhaya Cruise. The boat looks like it’s from another era white on the outside and dark wood paneling on the inside. We are greeted with a welcome cocktail and shown to the master suite, with our own private balcony and full 4 piece bath. After sailing away from the harbor we are left alone to settle in and unpack, then lunch was served. The private dining room is charming and Tien serves us four courses with a strong emphasis on local cuisine and harvested from halong bay. After lunch we made our way to one of the floating villages. One of the locals rowed us around the village. The first thing to hit you are these very colorful houses kept afloat by nothing more than air filled barrels. The life is very simple but the kids especially seem very happy either in school, or the younger ones playing and hanging out.
Back on our boat to relax and dinner was served prompt at 7 pm, another 4 course meal of local sea food, as well as a beautiful carved melon with our names engraved in it to celebrate our honeymoon, followed by desert which was a coconut cake with candles which was a lovely touch to the start off journey through Halong bay.