Paradise Found: Cruising the Stunning Waters of Cat Ba Island, Vietnam ...

#itaste #veneziacruises #vietnam Paradise Found: Cruising the Stunning Waters of Cat Ba Island, Vietnam 🌊🏝️ - iTASTE Cat Ba Chronicles: Kayaks, Spring Rolls, and Snake Wine Adventures Cat Ba is a chill little island hanging out in the northeastern corner of Vietnam, while its popular sibling, Ha Long Bay, hogs all the attention. Both spots are ridiculously pretty, but Cat Ba won my heart because it’s less crowded – fewer people = more zen. We hopped on a Venezia Cruise for a 2-day, 1-night extravaganza. They’ve got more packages than a courier service – day trips, 3-day tours, stays in Cat Ba town or village – you name it. If you’re curious, hit up their website: veneziacruises.com (but finish reading this masterpiece first). The journey started in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where a bus scooped us up for the 4-hour road-and-ferry combo trip to Cat Ba. By 12:30 PM, we were on the cruise, pretending to be fancy. Lunch was a hearty spread with beef stew, fish fry, and a bunch of other dishes that tasted better than they looked – and trust me, that’s a compliment. After eating enough to sink the boat, it was adventure time.

Kayaking: Armed with paddles and hope, we hit the waters. The guide told us where to go, but let’s be honest, we just floated around like confused ducks. Swimming: Because we’re fancy ducks who also swim.

By 5:30 PM, it was time for a Vietnamese MasterChef class. We learned to roll rice paper spring rolls that were so good, I briefly considered opening a spring roll shop back home.

The evening was pure magic – rooftop views, a killer sunset, and then dinner featuring pork, prawns, and other Vietnamese dishes that pleased everyone from US to Aussies to Europeans to us desi foodies. Day 2 Adventures: Breakfast was carb heaven with bread, noodles, eggs, and bacon. Then we cruised to Viet Hai village, a chill little spot transitioning from farming to tourism. Some folks got all sporty and cycled there. I, on the other hand, chose the battery car because #Efficiency. In the village, we tried snake wine (spicy!), dipped our toes in a fish spa (ticklish!), and took a gazillion pictures because, well, Instagram.

Back on the cruise, we wrapped things up with lunch before heading back to Hanoi, where we were dropped off at our hotel by 6 PM, tired but very happy campers. The Verdict: This trip was awesome. The views? Epic. The food? Delicious. The memories? Unforgettable. Cost: Just $130 per person, including pickup and drop-off. Totally worth it. Go book it already! ------------------------------------------------------------