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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jul 23, 2019
By Vu Linh
One of the lasting and most endearing images of Vietnam, far from the rice terraces and soaring forested mountains, are the floating fishing villages that sustain one of the country’s most idyllic lifestyles. Its most famous, and one constantly praised on an international scale for its beauty, is Cua Van, glorious preservation of an utterly unique way of life. Cua Van fishing village has simplicity and rusticity at the heart of everything, from architecture to transport to the incredible way in which the villagers live nestled in a cradle of limestone mountains.
Perhaps more remarkable than its appearance and its operation is the fact that barely anything has changed here in thousands of years. Life in Cua Van fishing village progresses at the same pace as it did for their ancestors, and it is the flat refusal to adapt to modern, mainstream life that is one of the most endearing aspects of the villagers. Tourism to the bay has brought millions of visitors to the doorstep of Cua Van, but aside from locals taking up the roles of sampan boat captains, Cua Van remains a living time capsule of a simple but immensely attractive lifestyle.
As Halong Bay’s most famous fishing village, Cua Van is the unofficial ambassador for fishing village culture in an area where many hundreds of such villages used to lie. The pressures of living purely from the sea are immense and becoming increasingly harder to do in the modern world, so Cua Van aims to keep the unique lifestyle alive by educating tourists who step foot on its wooden decks. Through various displays, documentaries, and artifacts, Cua Van is aiming to preserve the future that it is fighting hard for, in the same pressured conditions that saw the end of many other fishing villages around Halong Bay.
A big part of Cua Van’s culture is its spiritual side. Generations here have considered the soul of Halong Bay to resonate within each resident of Cua Van, and children are taught to respect the bay from a very early age. This includes picking up litter dotted around the vicinity of the bay, which they do from the age of 4 by rowing their own sampan boats. Over time, children grow into the capability of rowing with their feet, which is a trademark method displayed by many rowers in Halong Bay as well as in Vietnam in general.
Kayaking around the Village – The most attractive thing about kayaking around Cua Van is the potential this gives you to explore it from every angle. In kayaks as vibrant as the residents’ houses, visitors can skirt the outsides of the village, looking inward to find how daily life works in the fascinating commune. Kayakers have the freedom to explore at their leisure and discover a completely different world lying in the shadows of soaring peaks above.
Kayaking in Cua Van fishing village
Taking a Ride on a Sampan Boat – Children learn to row from the age of 4, so they are usually highly skilled by the time they are in their teens. As residents get around by boat much more than they do by foot, this becomes a very necessary skill and an aspect of their life that is amazing to visitors. Take in the sights the local way on a sampan boat ride, where a resident will provide a tour and show you the most attractive parts of the village.
Visit the Cultural Centre – Since 2006, Cua Van’s Cultural Centre has been educating tourists and preserving a way of life treasured by all, but especially by the residents who live it on a daily basis. The center is situated on its own raft and contains archeological evidence of an ancient existence, especially antique fishing, and building tools that were located in the nearby mountains. There are also a few films on display that show the slow progression of Cua Van to its place in Vietnam and its role in Vietnamese tourism today.
Sampan boat ride
Cua Van is completely exposed to the open air and only residents can keep the shelter in their houses. For tourists, it’s best to know when to visit the village and when to stay on your cruise ship.
The Peak Seasons (March-May and October – December) – Cua Van glistens in the 7-8 hours of sunshine on offer most days throughout the peak seasons of spring and autumn. Very calm conditions with comfortable temperatures make kayaking a breeze, but the increase in tourists to the bay means waterways with a bit of traffic.
The Wet Season (May – September) – The uncovered nature of Cua Van means that trying to visit during the summer is inadvisable. Not only do grey clouds constantly threaten to shed their rain, but also sky-high temperatures do nothing to help kayakers navigate the waters.
The Cold Season (December – February) – Choose the kayaking option if visiting Cua Van during the winter to warm your body from the cold. Some of Halong Bay is encased in a thick layer of mist in these months and this looks especially enchanting in Cua Van, where colorful houses and rendered as silhouettes in a prehistoric painting.
Private visits to Cua Van are off the table, as the Halong Bay authorities have tight restrictions on access to the fishing village and the bay in general. You can visit Cua Van on a 2-day or 3-day trip on a Halong Bay cruise, but ensure to check the tour itinerary before booking, as many companies decide to visit other fishing villages around the bay like Ba Hang and Vung Vieng. Some companies skip fishing villages altogether due to their crowds, offering more peaceful kayaking excursions in hidden corners of the bay.
Most Recommended Halong Bay Cruise
Nowadays, there are more and more new cruises in Halong Bay with a lot of luxury cruises so travellers have more ahcne for getting a good cruise in Halong Bay. Vietnam Escape Tours Travel is a reliable tour company in Vietnam for booking a cruise in Halong Bay. We are happy to recommend the best cruises in 2023 as below:
Scarlet Pearl Cruise Halong Bay
Scarlet Pearl Cruise is a 5 star cruise in Halong Bay with 23 luxury cabins launched in 2019. All cabins on Scarlet Pearl Cruise are with private balcony. Scarlet Pearl Cruise use luxury limousine 9 seated van for transfer Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi.
A swimming pook is avaialable on cruise so you can enjoy every moment on cruise.
When you book a cruise with us, we can arrange private transfer or sharing limousine van for you from Hanoi. Please contact us for more detail.
Peony Cruise is a 4.5-star cruise in Halong Bay with 20 luxury cabins with private balconies. Peony Cruise was launched in 2018 and all cabins are equipped luxury amenities. All cabins are non-smoking cabins.
There is a pool on Peony with good food and a unique itinerary. Peony Cruise has excellent reviews on Tripadvisor from different travellers around the world.
Elite Of The Seas is one of the most luxurious cruises until 2023. It is a 6 star cruise with very luxurious facilities. Cabins with bathtubs and private balconies or terrace balconies.
You will have a lot of places to check in on the Elite Of The Seas 6 star cruise. A large swimming pool will satisfy all travellers when you take Halong Bay trip with the cruise.
Elite Of The Seas was launched in 2022 with 35 luxury cabins. So if you have a high budget for a Halong Bay cruise, then this cruise is a good option for you.
Dora Cruise is a budget 5 star cruise in Halong Bay. Dora Cruise was launched in 2019 with 22 cabins, and all cabins are with private balconies. A swimming pool is available on cruise.
Dora Luxury Halong Bay Cruise provides good food and good service with a reasonable price. When you travel with Dora Cruise, you can book a limousine sharing van or a private transfer.
A 6 star cruise launched in 2023 with 39 luxury cabins. Cabins on Catherine cruise are luxury with friendly services. Catherine Cruise has a large swimming pool for traveller to enjoy thier time when the cruise is moving. There are many check-in points on cruise. There is a poker room on cruise, massage service and gym is available on cruise. Catherine has itinerary in Halong Bay Core and you can visit the most popular destinations in Halong Bay like Luon Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island.
If you visit Halong Bay then Catherine Cruise will be a good option for you.
Please check with our travel consultant for more inforamtion about a cruise in Halong Bay for overnight. There are many options and it depends on your budget, our travel consultant can suggest for a reasonable cruise with good deal for you group.
