Martin, a Chilean engineer working in New Zealand is taking a couple of months break to contemplate his career as an engineer. The couple Tim & Catherine who live in London is touring Vietnam, enroute to Australia.
We found that all of us have booked the 2 days tour instead of the extended 3 days and we paid almost the same price for the trip. Incidentally we also found that we have the same breakfast: complementary bragute and coffee from our hotel.
The Bai Chay Tourist Wharf in Halong City is very touristy and abuzz with tourists and boats lined up along the wharf. We board the Phrong Tin 12 which were to be the boat we tour, eat and sleep during our stay on the bay. The boat is actually nicer that the many dive liveonboard in Malaysia and Thailand. The bunk is roomy and even come with an attached bathroom.
Halong Bay is overwhelmingly beautiful as the guidebooks have described. We sailed in between hundreds of rocks protruding out of the waters. While some rocks rise slightly above the water level, others jumped straight into the sky. The rocks that tower in the distance form a panoramic range of faded mountains.
Our first stop is Sung Sot (Cave of Surprises). 
The three chambers, connected by a network of stairs, is a lot bigger than I thought. Walkway connect the chambers that contain stalagmites. One of it is shaped like a willy as described in Lonely Planet.
Thereafter, we sailed to an island for a picturesque view of the bay. The lookout is located on top of the hill with long and steep flight of stairs leading to it. The 20min climb was tiring but worth the view.
Martin, Tim, Catherine and I've signed up for kayaking as part of our tour. We were put on another boat and sailed out to another part of the bay. When the four of us are lower into our two kayaks. I realised that we are not issued with life jackets. Nonetheless we paddled through a cave of an island emerged in a secluded lagoon. It was very quiet and peaceful. When we paddled out of the lagoon. It was dark and none of us can recongised our boat from the numerous brown boats anchored there or remember the name of the boats we departed from. After paddling to and fro between the boats. We found our boat signaling to us.
Our adventure didn't stop just there. The four of us found ourselves swimming in the water of the bay next. Catherine reckon that it is about 19 C.
The next morning we bided farewell to Ian, Binh and Ha, whom we got to know during lunch and dinner. They took the 3 days tour of the bay and were dropped off in Cat Ba Island for a hike.
Thereafter, the boat made it way back to Halong City. We finally reached Hanoi at 4pm.
Over and all, the tour was well worth it. The 2 day trip was also a good timing without feeling of a drag in the end. However, the tour can be improved if we're provided with maps or information packs. My only complaint is the guide did not provide any information about the various rocks and islands we passed. The only briefing she did in Sung Sot was in strong accented English which we barely understand.
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