The People
Halong Bay is divided into two parts: the city part with industrial zone and bustling city life and the coastal part with animated tourism activities and floating life on the sea. One could easily differentiate between those living in the city and those living closely with the ocean. Seamen, floating villagers and islanders often have hardened features but generous smiles and an air of openness about them that must have come from spending their whole life in touch with nature.
When you cruise around Halong Bay, you could easily spot villagers driving boats full of supplies such as waters, snacks, fruits etc to sell to tourists or a tiny form of a woman climbing on the rocks gathering shellfish and snails for market. Some of them make a living on the floating villages; others sell fresh seafood just caught from the sea. After a day of hard working, they get together, having meals, drinking some rice wine, singing and laughing as the sun sets behind the magnificent karst mountains. For them, life might be harsh, but life is still full of joy.
