HALONG BAY

Our ship -- in service only 8 months so all systems in great condition

Relaxing in appreciation of our beautiful and comfortable state room.

Lunch on the deck while cruising between the mountainous islands.

More islands

The captain on board once again.

The floating fishing "village."

Working on the nets.

The fishing guys after a day of of catching fish in the bay using boats not tied up as anchors of the village.

Amazed at the ingenious manner of life of a fishing group in their beautiful setting.

Mark with the well-informed tour director. He talked about the way that the government learns about shaping the country, sometimes from mistakes made by others trying to meld communism and capitalism; a counrty like Vietnam with no history of democratic institutions needs time and experience to move in more liberal directions. Generally our impression is that the people here seem happy and are not fighting against the government in any major way  -- but, there is corruption.
.

The master enjoying his bath.

A tile decoration in our state room.

Islands in he sun.

Another great shape.

Other boats approaching the island with the caves to pick up their people.

Inside the cave.

More of the cave.

Prosperous Halong Bay City from the water.

Rice fields in the countryside.

Worker using a roller rather than waterbuffalo to prepare the rice seeding ground.

The water puppet stage at Yen Duc Village.

Three young women percussionists who added to the taped music durig each segment of the program.

The puppet ladies plant the rice.

Birds a-mating.

Young maidens receiving dance instructions from their mistress.

The puppeteers take a bow and wave goodbye.

Working the rice field in the traditional conical hat that repells both sun and rain.