A fishing village on Bai Tu Long island (Photo: VOV)

According to Ramadurai, she decided to choose the luxurious Dragon Legend for an overnight Bai Tu Long Bay cruise.

“As tempting as it was to plonk myself on the sun deck to watch the endless parade of limestone islands, the caves and kayaks beckoned. And so, we again clambered up the small boat towards Hon Co island to explore Thien Canh Son cave,” she said.

The author shared that after a short hike from the shore, she found herself in a multi-chambered world filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

“Descending from the cave, we walked towards the other side of the island, for a spot of kayaking on the placid waters,” she noted.

Ramadurai also enjoyed an elaborate dinner whilst on the cruise, followed by games put on by the staff with great enthusiasm.

“I fell asleep to the soothing hum of the ship’s engines cutting through the inky darkness outside and woke up to clear sunshine that made the landscape seem even more captivating,” she added. 

After enjoying a strong serving of Vietnamese coffee, the journalist visited Vung Vieng fishing village.

“We took a small boat to a pier where we got on bamboo boats rowed by women whose petite size belied their tremendous strength. And off we drifted, past craggy islets, under stone arches and along the floating homes of this community,” she wrote in the article.

Ramadurai revealed that the setting of the village was stunning, with homes nestled in the midst of towering limestone hills.

“And while floating in the midst of these magnificent karsts formed over millions of years of geological activity, it is easy to start believing in mythical creatures and magic,” she revealed.