Whether shrouded in mist or bathed in sunshine, the sheer island mountains of Halong Bay are one of Asia’s finest landscapes. Cruising the calm waters through the limestone islets, you will see Vietnamese life at its most unspoiled and traditional, with families reliant on fishing for their livelihood waving from their floating homes. There are several options to explore the bay. An overnight stay in the port city of Haiphong allows a full-day boat trip with a fabulous seafood lunch, fresh from the morning market. Even better is an overnight trip on a traditional junk or colonial-style cruiser, with the sun setting and rising on wonderful views.