Contined from yesterday

Hiking and a manmade beach at Titop Beach
After finishing the Sung Sot cave tour, the Stella Luxury Cruise continues on the second trip to Titop Island. Titop Island is famous for its hiking trail and manmade sandy beach. The path to the top of the mountain is narrow and steep, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the summit.
From the top of Titop Mountain, you can enjoy wide panoramic views of Ha Long Bay. Therefore, many travellers prioritize the mountain climbing trip. Upon reaching the summit, visitors can see the most beautiful expansive views of Ha Long Bay, along with breathtaking scenes of large limestone rocks emerging from the water’s surface and the surrounding islands. These scenic views make it one of the best places for photography enthusiasts.
At Titop Beach, the sea water is cool and clear with a deep greenish-blue colour, and the soft white sand allows travellers to relax and unwind. Many swimmers and snorkelers can be seen, as well as hikers on the hills nearby. The entire island is bustling with walkers and photographers. Since it is a manmade beach, natural dunes are not present, so the waves and the white foam running over the dunes you might expect at a natural shoreline are absent here.
Although the sea breeze and the green coconut trees, which are the distinctive features of the sandy beach, are not seen together, green coconuts are being sold at a small shop in one place. Since it is a manmade beach, it cannot compete with nature, but it cannot be denied that it is a beautiful island in the sea.

Ha Long Bay, one of the world’s seven most beautiful bays
From Titop Island, the Stella Luxury Cruise is heading back to the shore to go on its third trip to the main destination, Ha Long Bay. When Stella arrives at the shore, passengers must transfer to speedboats to go to Ha Long Bay. As the small speedboat carrying about 15 passengers, including the guide and the speedboat driver, departs from the shore, it begins to rain again.
It rained off and on all day, so my mood got a little disturbed. For those who prepared sunglasses and big hats to go to the beach, the rain became the villain.
Ha Long Bay is located in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is famous for its serene and beautiful limestone karst formations. It covers an area of 1,553 square kilometres and is made up of about 2,000 islands and islets, most of which are limestone mountains formed around 500 million years ago.
Ha Long Bay, which attracts over one million international tourists annually, is an important destination in Vietnam’s tourism sector. With nearly 2,000 limestone islands set against a blue sky backdrop, Ha Long Bay, known for its jade-green waters, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and has become one of the most beautiful places in the world.
The speedboat we are on is heading towards the sea channel through the rain and water. Above the sea, where the sky is cloudy with shades of green and blue, there are many limestone mountains and small islands visible, which are a unique attraction of the Ha Long Bay sea channel. Most of the rocky areas are covered with monsoon forests, making the entire environment lush, green, and truly beautiful.
Inside the sea, large cargo ships anchored near the reefs can be seen alongside fishing boats. The Ha Long Bay, bordered by beautiful limestone mountains, looks like a magnificent and unique painting…. We need to study it in the Vietnam water border trade area. The speedboat carrying foreign tourists, navigating swiftly over the water between the rocks to the Chinese border, shows a little boy who seems somewhat tired.
Heading to the most beautiful rocky cliffs in Ha Long Bay
After returning from the stormy sea, drenched by rain and wind, we will head to the final destination, the rocky cliffs of the ocean, using canoes and large wooden boats to closely explore the area.
Even in the drizzle, travellers ventured out — some heading towards the open sea on speedboats, others making their way to the massive rock formations in large wooden boats or canoes. The pier along the beach became a lively scene, teeming with people of all kinds and boats of all colours, reminiscent of bees swarming around flowers. The sea, muddy brown, was rough and choppy toward the open ocean, but appeared calm and still like a lake near the rock formations — a stark contrast. As the large boats steered toward the giant rocks, the joy and excitement of the diverse group of travellers became contagious and deeply felt.
A large boat carrying Chinese tourists in matching outfits was seen rowing towards the rocky outcrops, singing songs in unison. At one point, a boat with young Indian children singing songs also appeared. Out in the water, two people were seen paddling small canoes, swaying gently. Rather than a sea, the place looked more like a large lake surrounded by rocky cliffs.
Not only Chinese and Indians from Asia but also travellers from countries like France and the UK can be seen gathering together on separate boats. When the large boats travelling from the beach to the rocky islets and those returning from the rocks pass close to each other, they greet one another with loud shouts and waves. Witnessing these scenes reminds me of the way water-splashing trucks used to cheer and shout greetings to one another during Thingyan in Yangon. If one is prone to nostalgia, then surely the shadows of the past are full of things to long for.
In one spot beneath the water’s surface, you can see a large, white, jelly-like jellyfish floating close to the boat. Between the rain-soaked cliffs, the sea is calm, with a deep, cool green hue. Among the rocks and stones, lush green trees growing in the crevices catch the eye. Ha Long Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, was included in the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World list in 2012. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 species of flowers and over 60 species of wild birds and animals.

The way back home
When returning from the stone caves, Stella will go out to host Vietnam’s famous coffee, while enjoying the beauty of the sunset over Halong Bay. However, the rain, which had been falling and stopping since morning, did not allow a view of the beautiful sunset over Ha Long Bay.
We had to settle for watching the rainy evening beauty of Ha Long Bay from Stella, through the gaps between the clouds. Although Stella’s upper deck was designed to offer the best view of the bay at sunset, the rain followed its unrelenting script, and we ended up spending the whole day in the dining hall on the lower deck.
The return journey from the beach was accompanied by rain. By exactly 6 am, the vehicles were ready to depart for Hanoi. On this gloomy day, amid the falling raindrops, the travellers from Ha Long Bay seemed a bit melancholic, as if they missed the sea. As usual, the cars made a short stop at a large shopping centre that was connected to a food court along the road.
Driving along the highway, passing through lush green fields and major expressways, we arrived back in the Old Quarter of Hanoi as dusk fell. From the car, we caught a quick glimpse of the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, glowing with multicoloured lights. Around the lake, the area was bustling like a night market. In the middle of the lake sits a small island known as Jade Island, home to the famous Ngoc Son Temple. A bright red wooden bridge, known as The Huc Bridge, connects the temple to the lakeshore. Both the lake and the temple are among Hanoi’s iconic landmarks. Although Ngoc Son Temple and the vivid red Huc Bridge are not far from the hotel, we didn’t have time to visit them.
Some shops in the area of Chinatown are quite similar to the Chinatown in Yangon, closing around 9 pm, but the small roadside stalls remain open until about 10 pm or 11 pm. After returning from the beach and passing through southern Chinatown, there aren’t as many motorbikes as in the morning, but a few still zip by now and then. With fewer motorbikes, more cars can be seen on the roads. On the streets, international tourists are still walking around here and there.
In the Chinatown area, signs written in English are quite rare. Notably, only large coffee shops, hotels, and travel agencies display signs in English. Along one street, you can find a travel agency office about every block. The number of international tourists coming to Vietnam is also increasing year by year.
Last year, the number of international tourists who visited was 14.8 million, with more than 2 million tourists coming from Europe and America. I believe that a key factor in the success of the tourism industry cannot be achieved without leveraging the high proficiency of Vietnamese youth in the English language.
Acknowledgement: To be able to write this piece, I am very grateful to my elder brother Ko Kyaw Kyaw Than and his wife Ma Mee Mee from the UK, who supported and arranged the entire trip from start to finish; also to my elder sister Ma Win Win Than, my younger sister Ma Yi Yi Than, and my wife Ma Nwe Nwe Than, who took care of and assisted throughout the journey; and especially to Ma Mee Mee, who took and supported many documentary photographs, I express my special thanks.

GNLM

Going to the ocean in the morning with drizzle feels like a unique and different experience. By the time we left the Chinatown area in the old quarter of Hanoi, the drizzle had turned into a steady rain.
The Chinatown in old Hanoi, Vietnam, is similar to Yangon’s Chinatown, but the structure and style of the houses are noticeably different. The homes are narrow in the front and stretch deep toward the back, typically no more than three stories high. According to local tradition, if a son is born, a ten-foot-wide plot is inherited, so these narrow, ten-foot houses can often be seen, similar to some homes in areas like Thakayta, South Okkalapa, and Dagon Myothit (South) townships in Yangon. Narrow alleys, compact homes, small eateries lining the streets, large coffee shops, swarms of motorbikes zipping back and forth, and a variety of cars emerging from every corner – these are likely iconic scenes that define Hanoi’s Old Quarter Chinatown.
Leaving behind Chinatown, as we ascended onto the highway, the sight of the grand and beautiful new city of Hanoi, with its towering buildings, immediately captivated my attention. Putting aside the multilayered roads and colourful cars of Hanoi, as our vehicle cruised toward Ha Long Bay, my gaze was once again drawn to the expansive green fields stretching alongside the highway, where the vast, serene sea seemed to merge with the lush landscape.

Behind lush paddy landscapes
In the distance, across the vast fields spread like green carpets, neat and beautiful little buildings can be seen arranged in order. Among the wide fields, groups of rice mills, silos and agricultural machinery can be seen scattered throughout. The wide, continuous stretches of farmland, the small production roads, and the irrigation drains present a scene so orderly and well-organized that it looks like a carefully drawn map of an agricultural landscape.
In Myanmar, it’s not easy to come across vast stretches of farmland laid out in large, rectangular plots like those measured in hectares. Most genuine Myanmar farmers own less than five acres of land, so it’s rare to see large, contiguous plots suitable for big tractors to operate efficiently. For such systematically organized farmland to emerge, challenges such as the need for a stable market, favourable weather conditions, and other hurdles must be overcome. Behind the lingering question of “When will all this become a reality?” lies only a sense of quiet contemplation.
Behind the lush green rice fields, Vietnam’s rice cultivation and production are facing mounting challenges. Vietnam’s rice trade is also showing notable developments. In 2024, Vietnam became a record-breaking rice exporter, shipping 9.04 million tonnes. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) global agriculture, supply, and demand forecast report, Vietnam is set to soon surpass Thailand to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter.
Many rice farmers in Vietnam are switching to cultivating other, more profitable crops, which has led to a decline in the country’s rice production. However, Vietnam’s rice exporters are maintaining their hold on the global rice market by importing rice from neighbouring Cambodia. As a result, by 2024, Vietnam could reach an import volume of around 4 million tonnes, potentially becoming the second-largest rice-importing country in the world. This situation, being both the second-largest rice exporter and the second-largest rice importer globally, highlights a unique aspect of Vietnam’s rice trade.

A glimpse of the land of Pearl
When the vast farmlands that once captivated the eye began to fade away, the shimmering reflection of silver light appeared, signalling the arrival at the seaside. This gave a clear sense that we had entered the coastal region. “Ha Long” was once a region known for its coal mines. Along the way, we passed through large areas where hundreds of coal transport trucks used to park. But when international tourists began to arrive at Ha Long Bay, the coal mines gradually shut down, and the entire area appeared to have transitioned to tourism. Now, as a coastal city, Ha Long is also thriving economically through its port operations and fishing industry, becoming a well-known and prosperous city.
Ha Long is famous not only for its coal mines, ports, and fishing industry but also for its pearl farming. Pearl farms built in the middle of the sea, artificial islands, and museums that display the step-by-step process of pearl cultivation and production attract many tourists.
It has only been two hours since leaving Hanoi. Although the drizzle has stopped, puddles from the rain remain. Upon entering the Ha Long area, the car made a brief stop at a place that houses restaurants, a pearl sales hall, and a pearl museum.
What is remarkable is that inside the pearl sales showroom, the pearl production process is demonstrated using small display tables. The process of extracting pearls from oysters and the step-by-step production stages are practically shown, with staff explaining everything clearly. Within the three-story building, there is a large shopping centre that includes gemstone and pearl showrooms, pearl-themed paintings and sculptures, clothing, shoes, and a wide variety of food items. In one section of the shopping centre, there is even a display where crocodile skin is shown with the actual shape of the crocodile, and various types of bags made from crocodile skin are exhibited and sold. As for the dining area, it is located entirely on the second floor.
Having just left the Pearl Museum, we soon arrived at the world-famous Ha Long Bay. It has been over two hours since leaving Hanoi. Although we were glad the rain completely stopped upon setting foot on the beach, we still could not see the sunlight.

A breathtaking cave
We are going to board the large cruise boat, Stella Luxury Cruise, docked at the shore, to explore Ha Long Bay. Approximately 50 travellers will join the journey on the three-story Stella Luxury Cruise. Since there are multiple pleasure boats at the shore heading to Ha Long Bay, we need to be careful not to get on the wrong boat, and the passengers are also quite crowded and a bit bustling.
The Stella Luxury Cruise, departing from Ha Long Harbour, embarked on its first exploratory trip to Sung Sot Cave, the largest and most breathtaking stalactite cave in the Ha Long Bay area.
Sung Sot Cave is the largest and most spectacular stalactite cave among the many limestone caves in Ha Long Bay. It is renowned by tourists worldwide and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage stalactite cave.
Sung Sot Cave is located on Bo Hon Island in the middle of Ha Long Bay, about a 50-minute journey from Ha Long Beach. To reach the entrance of the main cave, visitors must climb over 100 steep steps. From the large cave entrance, you have to go down again to enter the inner part of the cave. Covering a total area of over 12,000 square metres, inside Sung Sot Cave, we can see sparkling stalactites, stalagmites, and natural stone formations that resemble flowers and chandeliers.
Along the cave path, there are large halls, narrow steps for climbing, and narrow walkways where one can only pass a single file, requiring passage through gaps between rocks. Some places are wide and spacious with good airflow. Inside the limestone cave, due to sea erosion, the rock formations have taken on various shapes, resembling decorative stone sculptures. The limestone caves in Kayin State and Mon State of Myanmar are somewhat similar. In particular, Nandamu Cave from PyinOoLwin, and Bat Cave and Jasmine Cave in Kyaikmaraw town, Mon State, are quite alike. However, the Sung Sot Cave is larger and much longer.
At one location, arrangements were made to take commemorative photos, and since there was also a team available to take the photos, the tour was praised for being well-organized. Inside the great limestone cave, beautiful stone chandeliers, stone floral arrangements, and stone flower pots were illuminated and displayed with colourful spotlights. Because it was so beautiful, it was very satisfying for those who wanted to capture it in photographs.
The Sung Sot Cave in Ha Long Bay is also famous for its interesting and legendary stories, similar to other caves. In traditional Vietnamese folklore, Thanh Giong is a very famous hero who is said to have kept his battle horse and sword inside Sung Sot Cave to fight off evil spirits. Visitors can see stone carvings that closely resemble Thanh Giong’s horse and sword. Inside the cave, small cups that can be identified as the footprints of Thanh Giong’s horse further confirm the fascinating legends of the hero Thanh Giong…

TO BE CONTINUED
GNLM