Wake up at dawn to the lapping of the waves and the smell of freshly brewed coffee, which is available with pastries in the dining room. If you wish to begin your day active, join the early morning Tai Chi class on the sun deck and merge with the surrounding scenery—a truly unique experience. Board the cozy day boat named Sunset for exciting explorations. As the ship sails for Sung Sot, the largest cave in Halong Bay, breakfast is also served.
Sung Sot features two rooms and is a staggering 10,000 square meters in area. The outer chamber welcomes visitors with stalactites acting as chandeliers hanging from the 30-meter-high ceiling. A connecting 3-meter-wide path opens onto the inner chambers, known as the Grand Opera House. This exquisite chamber includes a crystal-clear pond, an abundance of vegetation, rock formations created over millions of years, a cacophony of birds singing, running water, and occasionally monkeys playing.
Back on board, you can unwind on the sun deck or in the air-conditioned dining area with a tasty "cafe sua da" before heading out on your own and exploring the marine landscape via kayak. The cliffs stretch vertically out of the water, and you feel a sense of freedom while meandering through this green medley of water and tree-topped islets.
The ship continues its journey to a floating pearl farm. You will learn how the various pearls cultivated here are grown, harvested, and processed. Watch as a skilled technician uses precision tools to carefully and gently open an oyster before implanting a seed and returning it to the water. The odds of success are low, and the fascinating process requires several years, but if Mother Nature gives her blessing, the oyster produces a gorgeous round gemstone. After the visit, a leisurely sail back to the mothership gives you time for sunbathing, a relaxing spa treatment, or, of course, the must-watch “blue hour."
Enjoy your dinner aboard, and afterward, join the crew in catching squid, which they will prepare for you fresh as a late-night snack. The bar is open late, eager to serve a drink of your choice as you relax on a lounger and enjoy the serenity of Halong Bay before retiring for the night.
