One thing about travelling with a prime lens is that you lose the flexibility but it also makes you explore new angles. I went to Hanoi recently and of course, Halong Bay as well.

It is really a beautiful place and here are my attempts at capturing the essence of my trip using the Nikon D40 and 105mm.

1. The best way to move around Halong Bay is using one of these junks. You can stay overnight on these boats and I suggest you do so. A day trip to Halong Bay is not fun enough.


2. I got onto my junk and onwards we go!


3. Halong Bay is a UNESCO heritage site which contains about 3000+ islands. The UNESCO site contains about 300 over of those islands. They are really rocky islands and not the sandy ones that you get everywhere else.


4. Of course, it is not just any tourist spot as there are people who make a livelihood in Halong Bay. We passed by fishing villages on water.


5. Other than fishing and cultured pearls, they also sell daily essential items to the many junks in the area.


6. They can also be seen ferrying tourists to look at the different grottos in the area


7. Caves and grottos are the main reasons you visit Halong Bay. You can choose to either kayak yourself or sit in a boat while someone brings you around. So while I was going into one of these grottos, someone else was coming out.


8. The trip doesn't take long usually as it will probably take 2-5mins of your time to see these "internal" lakes. Soon, it was time to head back to the junk.


9. This was the junk I stayed on, and it was really clean, the staff was pleasant and overall, one that I can recommend to anyone looking to go to Halong Bay. Going with a group of 12 will probably ensure the whole junk to yourself.


10. Now, if I didn't stay for the night, I would have missed the sunset and also the serenity of staying in Halong Bay for the night. It is really quite the experience.


So, if you ever go to Hanoi, make sure you head to Halong Bay. And stay the night.

Day 1

1. Welcome to Hanoi! The land of scooters and motorcycles


2. They are very serious about their scooters as there is a bike-wash! Bet you haven't seen one here before.


3. One thing about Hanoi is that people love the road side. Must be the narrow houses they have there, the roadside feels more spacious


4. Its not an easy life in Vietnam, so people sell their goods everywhere. This is what I call mobile market


5. Of course, selling it everywhere means you have to carry it everywhere


6. It can get tiring so you have to take a break


7. But Hanoi is developing fast, thanks to one man who made it possible - Mr Ho Chi Minh


8. Thats his final resting place and it is heavily guarded


9. Other than these guards, Vietnamese finest also keeps a close watch


10. But at the end of the day, no matter how hard life is, they still know how to take sit back and relax

1. Forgot that Day 2 has some none Halong Bay shots. On the way to Halong Bay, we went on a bridge that was built by the Soviet (if I recalled correctly)


2. On the way, we passed by a Vietnamese funeral and our guide stopped the bus for us to snap a few shots.


3. I found out there were two type of graves - Flower Grave


4. And also the Conventional Grave


5. It was raining in the morning and you can see all of them braving the rain


6. We stopped at a handicraft centre where under-privileged and handicapped kids are trained to produce handicraft for a living


7. They are like machines! Churning out piece after piece of wonderful art pieces


8. They can sew..


9. They can do jewelry


10. Cleaned and ready to put on display

Day 3
After a good trip to Halong Bay, it was time to head back to Hanoi

1. Rice, rice and more rice! Vietnam is one of the few countries capable of exporting rice


2. Stopped by for some sweet pineapples before heading back to Hanoi


3. Back in town, we visited a temple. On the way to the temple, you can see these masters of the scissors at work


4. As usual, there were people at the roadside hoping to secure some sales


5. In the temple, one entrance led to another and another and another...


6. As we were leaving, a little girl was running happily around us. Must have been happy to see me..


7. Hopefully, she won't be tired and sleep everywhere like him


8. It was closing time at Dong Xuan Market and must have been good business for her


9. Outside, you can see people offering ride homes for a fee. I've heard of taxis but have you seen motorcycle-taxis? This man was eagerly looking for a customer


10. But as one market closes, another begins its day outside