A Final Morning in Lan Ha Bay
Day 5 · 26 November 2024
Our final morning in Lan Ha Bay took us through the Dark and Bright Cave area, paddling beneath limestone arches and into hidden lagoons before returning to Tuan Chau Marina. From there, there was little time to pause — we headed straight for the airport and a flight to Siem Reap, where the temples of Angkor Wat awaited the next stage of our journey.
Our final day began early, as we were due back at Tuan Chau Marina by around 10.00am. We transferred by speedboat to the Dark and Bright Cave area, where we were paddled through the caves in small boats and into the sheltered lagoons beyond. Afterwards we returned to the cruise ship for brunch while making our way back towards the main holding area used by the overnight cruise boats, before transferring back to the marina.
Rather than returning to Hanoi, we had arranged with the tour company for a direct transfer to the airport, allowing us to continue straight on to Cambodia, the next destination on our trip.
Photo Diary
Exploring the Dark and Bright Caves
We were taken by launch to the starting point for the small rowing boats, where the local boatmen clearly enjoyed showing off their skills by racing one another across the water. The trip itself was short but great fun, taking us through the cave area before we returned by launch to the cruise ship.
Brunch and Packing for Siem Reap
When we returned to the cruise ship at around 8.00am, we had a couple of hours to pack and have brunch while the ship slowly made its way back towards the main anchorage. From there, we transferred by launch for the final journey back to the marina.
Our cabin aboard the Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan, with plenty of space to relax before packing for Siem Reap.
Onward to Cambodia
When we booked the trip, we had been unsure whether to return to Hanoi or head straight to the airport. Our flight was not until 6.00pm, so there was no real need to arrive before mid-afternoon. In the end, we decided to arrange a transfer directly from the marina to the airport and simply relax there before the flight.
Hanoi to Siem Reap
Route prepared with FOSSGIS OSRM. Report a map issue.
We had also pre-arranged transport from Siem Reap Airport to our hotel in the centre of the city. When we arrived, the hotel offered us a private driver, guide and transport for the next three days. At first, $400 seemed a lot of money, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made all holiday. It removed what could easily have become quite a hectic few days and meant we had far more time to enjoy Siem Reap rather than worrying about how to get around the temples.
Our first practical task was finding some US dollars. We had not brought any with us, but quickly discovered that many tourist businesses preferred payment in dollars. Fortunately, most of the ATMs we tried dispensed US currency, so the problem was easily solved.
With that sorted, we headed out for our first look around Siem Reap. Food and drink were cheap, plentiful and delicious, and it made for a very easy introduction to Cambodia.