After Hanoi we took a 5 hour bus ride to Halong Bay. A breath taking area that not only had incredible views but a rich and inspiring culture.
The initial weather in Halong Bay was not ideal. It was raining, cloudy and cold but we didn’t let it stop us. We all took mini boats out into the Bay to explore the area and what we saw was indescribable.
There was an entire village of floating homes in the middle of the Bay. Each home was unique in its own way and painted with such vibrant colors. To be honest it was one of the most incredible things I had ever seen.
Our tour guide explained how they live in these tiny little homes year round, rain or shine. For some reason this was a concept I had a very hard time grasping. How could a village exist in the middle of the water? I had so many questions. Did they have running water, electricity, heating? I was thoroughly confused how this was even possible but my tour guide smiled at me and simply said, “it’s all they have ever known.”
The majority of these people have probably never lived on land so they don’t know anything different. They grow up on the Bay, make a living on the Bay and then start their own family, all without having to step foot on land. It’s quite inspiring actually.
We are all so focused on getting the best internship and the latest and greatest new product while these villagers could probably careless. They don’t need much to maintain their lifestyle. While wealth and being successful might be among our goals I bet these Vietnamese natives only have one goal and that is happiness.
Although all human beings crave happiness I believe we allow so many external factors to get in the way of our happiness while these people just live their life. You could have all the money in the world but that still doesn’t mean you are happy. Yet these people have practically nothing and couldn’t seem happier. Seeing the villages in Halong Bay opened my eyes and allowed me to see what really matters in life.
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