Skip to main content

Hanoi - Halong Bay (UNESCO World Heritage site)



This is one of the junk boats at the wharf on Halong Bay which we will be boarding.




On board the junk boat ...... this is the kitchen, we'll be served lunch on board this boat.


Multi shaped rocks along Halong Bay ..... resemble Guilin in China


It's the beginning of winter, temperature around 20 deg C and it's quite misty.  Time difference ..... Hanoi is one hour behind Malaysia.



Twin rocks in the middle of the bay

Very scenic all along the way



Lunch served on board the junk boat, fresh seafood ...... deep fried fish, steamed clams, tofu, a vegetable dish and steamed mantis prawn



a sampan came  by our boat to sell fruits


after lunch we proceeded to Paradise island and explored the Grotto, it's an optional tour




Do you know what this is?   I know it's disgusting but I just wanted to share with you, it's roast DOG!  We managed to snap this picture when we were walking along the wet market at the Old Quarters.  The lady vendor was not happy when we took the shot.  By the way we were told that dog meat is the most expensive meat  in Hanoi, next is beef, then chicken, duck and the cheapest is pork.

Read more of Halong Bay at Wikipedia


More pictures of Hanoi in my next post......

Labels:

Comments

  1. My Little SpaceDecember 30, 2009 at 7:10 PM

    Oh my god, just look at those roast dogs! Unbelieveable! I'm a dog lover so I don't think I like that one there. Gosh! Other than that the scenery is absolutely beautiful. However, thank you so much for sharing those incredible photos!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Divina PeDecember 30, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    Oh, poor dog. But thanks for sharing those photos. They're beautifully taken.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sokehah cheahDecember 30, 2009 at 11:45 PM

    Hi
    My Little Space
    Divina
    To them, dog meat is a delicacy. Poor things, so pitiful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ElinDecember 31, 2009 at 12:38 AM

    OMG!!OMG!! I can't believe it...poor dogs! My Australian friend once told me that her Vietnamese neighbour stole her dog and roasted it and I thought she was kidding but now you really confirm the truth. They love dog meat. I will definitely live far far away from them...in case they roast my dogs for their dinner :(

    Thanks for sharing those beautiful scenery photos and those yummy food onboard the boat. Do you mind me asking how much do they charge you
    for the boat trip inclusive of the lunch provided?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ravenous CoupleDecember 31, 2009 at 12:38 AM

    for a second thought that dog was a small suckling pig...but the tail gave it away...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Angie's RecipesDecember 31, 2009 at 4:04 AM

    I have been to Guilin, and yes, Halong Bay and Guilin do look very much alike.

    ReplyDelete
  7. penny aka jeroxieDecember 31, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    Such a beautiful place. I must make it a point to visit but I will not go near the roast dog. It is really disgusting.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MaryMohDecember 31, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    Awesome food and pictures but sadly the last picture just kills all my appetite! I'm sure you had a great holiday. Happy New Year, Cheah!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sokehah cheahDecember 31, 2009 at 10:00 PM

    Hi
    Elin
    I don't know how much they charged for the boat trip and lunch, because we joined a tour and it was in the itinerary. Halong Bay is about 4 hours drive east of Hanoi. I did ask our guide and he said you can go for a back pack holiday to Halong Bay. All in our trip was RM1838 per person, with RM100 for optional tour, should be cheaper during other months, December is peak season, flew by AirAsia.

    Ravenous Couple
    Suckling pig is served flat, not standing up like that, really pity that poor dog!

    Angie
    So no need to go to Guilin now!

    Penny
    Totally agree with you. Our guide said it's a pity we don't know how to appreciate dog meat, it's a delicacy, ugh!

    Mary
    I had to post it to share knowing full well it's so disgusting. Happy New Year to you and your family too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. pigpigscornerDecember 31, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    The place is so pretty! until....the rost dog O.O oh my!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sokehah cheahJanuary 1, 2010 at 1:18 AM

    Hi
    pigpigscorner
    Not a bad place to visit, it's an eyeopener!

    Anncoo
    Wishing you and your family a very Prosperous New Year too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. ShirleyJanuary 1, 2010 at 10:04 AM

    Looks like my previous comment didnt come through, so re-posting.
    The pictures are great! Thank you for sharing the roast dog as well. Though gross, its good to know about cultures. A very happy new year to you and your family Cheah!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sokehah cheahJanuary 1, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    Hi
    Shirley
    Thanks. Happy New Year to you and your family too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. JacquelineJanuary 2, 2010 at 2:50 PM

    Best wishes for a very healthy, joyous and blessed 2010 to you and your loved ones, dear friend!
    Thanks for 'taking me' along the tour - your pics are lovely, but as others have said the last one is horribly disgusting to say the least, not your capture though but.....! Even the baby duckling in your next post is another turn off for me! Nonetheless, your reason for sharing them is appreciated as we get to know what's happening elsewhere. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sokehah cheahJanuary 3, 2010 at 8:21 AM

    Hi Jacqueline
    Thanks, Wish you and your family a Happy, fruitful and healthy New Year too! I hesitated about those postings but then just want to share it with all my friends as these are cold, hard facts! It's good to know what's happening in other countries, an eye opener.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for dropping by. Please click on 'Anonymous' if you do not have a blog but do leave your name after the comment because I would like to know who you are.

Popular posts from this blog

Snow Swallow Dessert ~ 天然野生雪燕

  Natural Wild Tragacanth Gum 'Snow Swallow' or Xue Yan is a gum derived from different varieties of sterculia trees.  It's actually a sap drained from the root of the plant and  the gum dries as it exudes and is then collected.  Once rehydrated will increase to about ten times in size and their white stringy, jelly like strands texture resembles that of the much prized and highly valued bird's nest.  One thing to take note when cooking this dessert is that the gum is highly soluble in water and cannot be boiled too long. Since it is 'cooling' for our internal organs, the elderlies should take this in moderation and not recommended for nursing mums for the breast milk may cause the baby to purge. Snow Swallow Dessert  ~   天然野生雪燕 Ingredients 8 gm Snow Swallow gums 10 gm red dates 10 gm goji berries 20 gm dried longan Rock or piece sugar to taste 1 litre water Pandan leaves (optional) Method Soak the Snow Swallow gums in plenty of water for at least...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tamarind Pork Belly (Babi Assam) ~ 亚参五花肉

A very appetising dish with tangy and robust flavour of tamarind juice, red and green chillies added more oomph to the dish.  This dish will surely whet your appetite and you'll go for second helping of rice to soak up the tangy gravy.  This is a Peranakan dish but as always, there are many varieties to this delicacy.  I tweaked the recipe a bit to suit what I have in my pantry and the end result is a very yummy dish that I will not hesitate to whip up again and again. Tamarind Pork Belly (Babi Assam)  ~   亚参 五花肉 Ingredients 450 gm pork belly, cut into bite size 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 3 shallots, finely chopped 30 gm tamarind pulp (Assam paste)  + 250 ml water 3 green chillies 2 red chillies 2 tsp tau cheong (preserved bean paste) 2 tsp dark soya sauce 1 Tbsp brown sugar or to taste 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp fish sauce 1 onion, sliced Method Mix the tamarind pulp with a cup of...
3 comments
Read more

Double boiled Black chicken soup

This chicken soup is slightly different from the normal good old chicken soup as it's double-boiled with black chicken.  Flavoured with traditional Chinese herbs like sweet wolfberries /goji berries/Boxthorn fruits, Ginseng aka 'Pau Sum' in Cantonese and Yuzhu aka Solomon's seal rhizome/polygonatum, this soup is believed to be invigorating and nutritious.  According to the Chinese, the black chicken has curative value and it's above that of white chicken meat as the former has less fat. A short introduction to the traditional Chinese herbs.  'Pau Sum' helps to increase energy, enhance healthy blood circulation and also boost the immune system. Wolfberries   helps to improve vision and  nourish the lungs and kidneys. Yuzhu helps to treat dry throat, dry cough, promote production of body fluid and relieve dryness syndrome.  
14 comments
Read on for the Recipe