CASTAWAYS HA LONG BAY
- Abbie Smith
- Nov 22, 2017
- 4 min read
We booked a Castaways trip through Vietnam backpackers for 3 days, 2 nights in Ha Long Bay on their private island. We had debated this for a few days as it is SO expensive and much more than our daily budget but after looking at our other options and because our friends were here we just decided to just go for it. The price for the trip is about $220 then you have to buy drink tokens for the island (do not leave these lying about they will get taken!). Drinks on the island are expensive but you are paying for the experience.
We packed a small backpack and left our large bags at the hostel. EVERYTHING gets covered in sand in the bungalows so don't take too much. You stay in little huts on the beach with like 10 bunkbeds, it's cosy but like a little sleepover. We were lucky to have a small group of 15 people (unlucky to some) but it meant we all hung out as one group and we had such a good squad, we still have our whatsapp group going as everyone is still travelling about in Asia.
The journey to Ha Long Bay leaves super early, you meet in reception for 6.30am, so make sure you wake up early enough to capitalise on your free eggs. It's then a 2/2.5 hour bus, then a 7 minute ferry, then a 30 minute bus then a 25 minute boat directly to the private island. It's long but when you pull round and see the Castaway island it's so worth it. Everything is so clean, the beds are comfy and its completely secluded. You get safe boxes on your beds to put all valuables in and the toilet/bathroom facilities are great, they are long drops though - prepare yourself for the smells.
When you arrive you have the afternoon to chill before the people from the day before return from their booze cruise. They offer tubing, rock climbing and wake boarding but equally you can just play beach volleyball/lye on the beach. The food on the island is great.. if you love carbs and sea food. But who doesn’t? I think they give you so many carbs to soak up the alcohol LOL but they have like battered fish, squid, rice, noodles, bread and every kind of potato type you can think of. The breakfast is eggs, rice, ham, salad and the best bread rolls ever (or maybe that's my hangover talking).
On the day of the booze cruise you go out at 10.30am after breakfast. The boys decided to shotgun 5 beers before breakfast (shot gunning means breaking a hole, opening a can and then downing it through the side - I tried it but after me spending 2 months trying to force down shandys I still can't enjoy beer unfortunately)
You sail out on the boat and then head out in kayaks. Try not too go too hard on the drinks before kayaking so you can actually enjoy the scenery. The bay is absolutely amazing. You then have lunch, more carbs, then back to the island, a little (lot) half cut.
Most of us can't remember eating dinner that night so god knows what we looked like eating all da carbsssss. The music at the beginning of the night was below average and we were such moany bitches about it - all the staff kept saying wait for the dj wait for the dj and he did not disappoint. The music was INSANE - such good remixes I legit felt like I was at festival. We were dancing for HOURS. We woke up the next morning like absolute cripples!
We decided to stay in Cat Ba for one night which meant we only had a 30 minute boat before being able to go lie down. I would suggest you do this if you suffer from hangovers. Cat Ba doesn't have a lot but it's quite a nice place to chill for the night with good seafood - Just don't book Caio hostel. It was horrendous in every way possible.
Do you want to know what I loved most about the Castaway island? There was no wifi. We were disconnected from everything from the moment we left the hostel on the first morning to when we got back 3 days later. It's amazing how much you actually communicate with people when you don't have the option to go on your phone, during breakfast etc. It kind of made me realise how much I check my phone and is something I’m trying to cut down on especially as when you’re in and out of WiFi you find yourself sat catching up.
P.S you will suffer the days following Castaways. The hangover was REAL.
If you're debating Castaways just go for it! You won’t regret it! It is a booze cruise; you will get caught drinking right handed, you will have dirty feet for 3 days, you will parddyy on the beach till sunrise, return with unexplained bruises and cuts but you will also have an great time and make amazing memories! Abbie JS xxx
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