Vietnam — Sellers in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Being chased across the bay

September 2015

Wherever I went in Ha Long Bay, somebody tried to sell me something. Sometimes it was souvenirs such as seashells; other times, it was snacks and fresh water, and occasionally hot snacks and food.

The drinks sold by these sellers were cheaper than on board the boat — where Glory Cruises charged for all drinks, including water, at marked-up prices — but the drinks sold by the floating sellers were still more expensive than in Hanoi.

The Glory Cruises boat had signs telling sellers not to approach — but these were ignored, and the crew seemed to tolerate the small boats of the sellers being moored alongside.

The seller pictured below was remarkably persistent, and she chased our boat from one bay to the next to sell us some seashells.

Here you can see her, with her small children, having retreated to the shoreside. I thought that would be the last we would see her, but she popped up again at the next place we anchored.

I guess this is what all the former residents of the floating fishing villages of Ha Long Bay now do to make a living. There was undoubtedly a need for them, particularly the drinks and snack sellers, as the markup on drinks on board the Glory Cruises boat was excessive.