Ha Long Bay - "Decending Dragon Bay" in North Vietnam

A visit to the Halong Bay a 3-4 hour drive from Hanoi is a visit to pure natural beauty. Here you find over 1500 islands all made of limestone during a period of 500 million years!
Most people that come here take a day tour were they have a nice seafood meal on the boat and listen to music in loudspeakers. That is not the ultimate way to visit this wonderful part of the world on the UNESCO world heritage list.
I suggest you to take a 2-4 day tour out in the archipelago and enjoy the solitude and clear night skies.
 Remember to heck that the boat has good life jackets etc before you leave the harbor and do choose a good boat company that you have selected by a travel agent for safety!
The best time to visit is during the summer months. During the winter it can be rather cold and the weather can change quickly. There are also many great caves to visit and they are usually included in the boat tours.