Cát Bà | Hai Phong | Vietnam

 BLOG - I Continue From Here  - Ha Giang - Day 04

Backpacking Vietnam: Day 10, 11 (1 and 2 August 2019)

Escaping a Storm

I reached Quang Ninh in the morning. I booked a ferry to cross the Hall long bay and reach Cat Ba island. The ferry journey was interesting as I saw the towering limestone islands rising from the sea. 

When I reached Cat Ba, I was informed at the hostel that there was a tropical storm called WIPHA coming in and the island might be cut off from the mainland for few days. So, many were leaving the island. To be stuck in this island for an indefinite time without doing anything would be terrible for me as I had only a month of travel here. So, I canceled my bookings and booked a ride to Hai Phong. 

While waiting for my ride back to mainland, I had lunch and cold coffee. At around 1:00 PM, I was taken on a boat to the mainland. Here, I boarded a bus that took me to Hai Phong. That is how I landed in this city that is off the tourist map. 

By 5PM, I was In a cafe eating a tasty Banh Mi and sipping on a corn milk. Tào Phó Caramen (Silkened Tofu Pudding and Caramel) I had in this small cafe was delicious. The place was authentic as this town sees very less tourists. 

I took a walk around the city and watched a few locals play a board game. They got very aggressive while playing the game and screamed at each other. 

At the hostel I was staying in, I met a South Korean man. He was very nice and we spoke for some time. The caretaker at the hostel was a young girl who was impressed with my sketches. So, I gifted her a sketch of mine. She was very happy. 

The hostel was in a residential area and in front of my hostel, there were houses. The doors were open and I could see families dine with their friends. They sat on the floor around the food and beer that were arranged at the centre. It was still drizzling outside and that seemed like a perfect weather to have a drink and eat some good food. I had dinner at the hostel - Pasta with egg. 

This unexpected turn of events had lead me to a wonderful place which otherwise, I would have never visited. I enjoyed my walk around Hai Phong and the interesting people I met there. I was ready to continue my journey the next day - to a new town, to seek new adventures. I had begun to feel like a local now. 

To Be Continued...