Honestly wasn't sure what to expect but halong bay is just unreal 😭 the heritage cruise was so well organised, pickup from hotel was bang on time. kayaking through luon cave was def the highlight, water was SO clear. The sunset party is 10/10.

super chill way to start your morning in hanoi tbh. guide was knowledgeable and spoke great english. tran quoc pagoda was so pretty esp in the morning light. one pillar pagoda is smaller than expected but still cool for pics. ho chi minh complex was the best part imo. done by 1pm so the whole afternoon was ours.

Did the cozy bay cruise as a solo traveller and it was great value honestly. the caves were stunning, couldn't believe how big surprising cave is from inside. yes the bus ride is ~2.5hrs each way so go prepared lol but halong bay itself more than makes up for it. the seafood lunch onboard was really good too.

took my parents on the full day hanoi tour and they absolutely loved it. dad is a big history person so the war museum was his fav. ethnology museum is also really well done, very interactive. the guide was patient and kept things simple which my parents appreciated. lunch included was a bonus and the food was yummy.

Uluwatu at sunset is just... wow. we almost skipped it thinking it'd be too touristy but so glad we didn't. the kecak fire dance with the ocean in the background was honestly magical. monkeys are very cheeky so keep your sunglasses close haha. pro tip - arrive 1-1.5 hrs before sunset to explore the temple properly before the show crowd arrives