A Halong Bay cruise offers an exciting excursion from Vietnam's capital. Bidisha Bagchi hops aboard.

We woke up to a cloudy day in Hanoi.

It wasn't raining. But the sky was in a really bad mood.

We were all set for our Halong Bay cruise, and a cloudy day might cast a shadow over the highlights.

The cruise company bus arrived at its scheduled time and picked us up to take us to the Halong Bay pier from where hundreds of cruise ships leave.

We boarded a small motorboat equipped with life jackets and reached ours. It was a three-story vessel with a deck that offered sweeping views of the lush surroundings and the jade waters.

From the deck, we enjoyed the views of the bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the gulf of Tonkin.

The cool breeze was perfect with the sun partially shining on hundreds of islands and islets that create a spectacular vista of limestone rocks of various shapes and sizes.

The green water shimmered in the bright sun and reflected the rocks. It was a scene straight out of a postcard.

We could have stayed on the upper deck for hours. But it was time for lunch. Still, the dining hall had large windows, and the limestone pillars were clearly visible as our ship sailed by.

What we experienced in the name of lunch for the next hour was just a grand feast - every kind of Vietnamese delicacy, deliciously cooked and artistically presented. There were soups, salads, shrimp, fish, chicken and rolls - you name it.

Our guide had told us this cruise wouldn't be laid-back. There were lots of activities, and we probably wouldn't have much time to relax.

The ship first anchored near the Sung Sot Caves - a huge natural cavern complex with stalagmites and stalactites, high up on a hill.

The view of the bay from the top is magnificent as huge rocks dot the bay.

Our next destination was Soi Sim Island, which had a white-sand beach.

By the time we returned to our rooms, it was evening and time for the cruise liner's "sunset happy hour".

Other ships around us were anchoring at night and, with all lights switched on, the bay looked gorgeous.

Once again, the table was laid for a grand dinner and there was another round of mouth-watering local food. A squid-fishing activity was scheduled for later in the evening, but we were too tired after a hectic day.

We drifted off to the sounds of cheers and shrieks of those catching squid.

We awoke the next morning to thumping sounds coming from a tai chi class on the upper deck.

After breakfast, we went kayaking.

We got close to the stone formations and floating fishing villages where fishermen and their families live, despite typhoons.

After returning to our ship, we tried our hands at cooking Vietnamese fare. Our guide showed how to make the rolls for which the country is famous.

When we reached Hanoi, we didn't mind the crowds and noise.

We were still feeling serene from the cruise.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn

IF YOU GO

Vietnam Airlines flies directly to Hanoi from Beijing. China Southern has flights from Beijing to Hanoi via Guangzhou. Halong Bay cruises can be booked online or by hotels. Some cruises offer pick-up and drop-off services. Arranging a car from Hanoi to Halong Bay costs $90 to $120.

The Sung Sot Caves is a huge natural cavern complex with stalagmites and stalactites, high up on a hill. Photos by Bidisha Bagchi / For China Daily

Tourists go kayaking to get close to the stone formations and floating fishing villages.

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the gulf of Tonkin.

Food is artistically decorated.

Local rolls are made on the cruise.

The room with a view on the cruise.

(China Daily 07/13/2014 page10)