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Travel & Experiences

Cruising in Vietnam

The cruise ship Dragon's Pearl, foreground, is docked in northern Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, which leads to the open waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The often mist-shrouded limestone cliffs frame the bay. A side trip on a Vietnam tour, the bay cruise consisted of three days of swimming, kayaking and just chilling on the deck of the ship, an ironwood-tooled vessel fashioned to look like a junk. Passengers were seeking respite from the motocross traffic, swarming pineapple vendors and ceaseless capitalist hustle of nearby Hanoi, Vietnam's second-largest city.

The cruise ship Dragon’s Pearl, foreground, is docked in northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, which leads to the open waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The often mist-shrouded limestone cliffs frame the bay. A side trip on a Vietnam tour, the bay cruise consisted of three days of swimming, kayaking and just chilling on the deck of the ship, an ironwood-tooled vessel fashioned to look like a junk. Passengers were seeking respite from the motocross traffic, swarming pineapple vendors and ceaseless capitalist hustle of nearby Hanoi, Vietnam’s second-largest city.  (Molly Selvin/Los Angeles Times)

Cruising in Vietnam

A floating snack vendor attracts customers on the beach at Ha Long Bay.  (Molly Selvin/Los Angeles Times)

Cruising in Vietnam

Tran Van Bien, 27, the cruise’s English-speaking tour guide, on board the Dragon’s Pearl, whose 18 small rooms are packed with amenities, including air conditioning, a tiny bathroom, a king-size bed, terry bathrobes and rubber flip-flops.  (Molly Selvin/Los Angeles Times)

Cruising in Vietnam

It’s lunchtime on the bay, following a session of kayaking in and around cliffs and grottos. The white-tablecloth meal featured barbecued fish and dragonfruit. Multi-course lunches and dinners typically consisted of locally caught prawns and fish, chicken, stir-fried vegetables and tofu dishes. For breakfast, a buffet of fresh fruit and baked goods was served outdoors on the ship’s middle deck.  (Molly Selvin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cruising in Vietnam

The cruise passes a fishing village nestled into the craggy shoreline of Ha Long Bay.  (Molly Selvin/Los Angeles Times,)

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