April 4, 2018 - We made it to the coast. This is the top of Poem Mountain which offers this spectacular view of the bay. It was very steep and the only way I survived the trek is my years of training with the Japanese Yakuza and the fact Colleen knows CPR.
This is HaLong Bay. An UNESCO World heritage site. It is blessed with spectacular limestone karsts that burst out of the sea. Legend tells they are the teeth of a dragon from a long ago battle. This beautiful place is easily the most popular tourist destination in Vietnam. It looks like Avatar was filmed here.
The problem is the government knows it and it is being severely over developed. Massive amusement parks, hotels that would make Trump look demure, and store after store are all along the shore blocking the views of all this natural beauty. The place is becoming Branson Missouri. I fully anticipate the Osmonds to open a theater here soon
Tomorrow, along with a flotilla that would rival the Normandy invasion, we are scheduled to take a cruise.
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