Sunrise in Ha Long Bay

Saturday morning, the islands and inlets of Ha Long Bay looked even more romantic in the marine mist with muted silhouettes rising above the tranquil water. While cruising into the mid-morning, it occurred to me that the haze was more to do with pollution than weather. Sadly, the Vietnamese are way behind other countries in regulations to secure a cleaner, healthier environment. The proximity to China must compromise Vietnam's air quality, as well.

There was a morning shore excursion after Tai Chi on the sun deck, but many people opted to sleep in or simply relax on the ship. The previous night's entertainment of wine tasting and spring roll rolling kept spirits high well into the the night.

Disembarkation of Paradise Elegance took place at 10:30am. In route back to Hanoi, the tourists were treated to lunch at Chi Linh Golf Course.

We are happy to have opted for the pre and post trips offered in addition to the AmaWaterways Mekong River cruise: Saigon, Hanoi and the amazing Ha Long Bay.