Millionaire experience in a real junk

5 days’ trip to Hanoi & Ha long Bay, Vietnam.

On 23 Feb. we made a short trip to Hanoi & Ha Long Bay with friends and retired staff of OCBC.

It was indeed an eye opener. The people in Vietnam are poor but they are very hard working…especially the women folks, carrying their produces weighing many kilos at both ends over their shoulders and walking around in the city selling them. They are friendly and cheerful in their daily routine.

The traffic system is horrendous with limited traffic lights and crossing the road is a real challenge. You are not only looking out for cars but with the number of trishaws and motorcycles you are actually competing with them at road junctions. Strangely, the people there are very good at manoeuvring their way out.

You can have Vietnamese Chicken rice/Escargot (luk luk snails) by the roadside sitting on low stools and with no qualm about being awkward. Even bread, the French Loaves, are being sold at road junction.

You can be a millionaire with RM250 in Vietnam cos you will get 1 million Dong with that money.

The place is very peaceful and you can see a large number of European Tourists enjoying trishaw rides or going around on rented motorbikes. Prices for food are reasonable and the styles are quite similar to Chinese foods. We had one at ‘Little Hanoi’, which is very tasty & the price is reasonable.

Two days one night at Ha long Bay also provided us with memorable experience. Firstly, we have to get into the Junk vide a makeshift platform with 2 crewmembers holding it at more than 30% slope. Then we were asked to surrender our passports for registration with the local police before setting sail.

The one night stay in the Junk, initially, I was a bit apprehensive as I imagine it to be a Junk just like our Logo but it turned out to be quite a luxurious boat with eight rooms on twin sharing.

Seafood meals were provided for dinner and lunch while breakfast we were served English breakfast. Sunset at Ha Long Bay, observing it from the sundeck was so beautiful, with so many limestone islands popping from the sea. With stops for climbing, trekking and kayaking we had a wonderful time. The cruise costs USD54.00.

KP