Today took us on a real rollercoasterfrom the buzz of bees to the bittersweet sight of starfish.
We kicked things off at a local bee farm, and just in time too. We were lucky enough to spot the queen bee and see the hive in full swing before the heavens opened. Ali even helped lift one of the hive slates bees swarming around, cool as anything! Afterwards, we ducked into the little shop and café as the rain came down in sheets. With Vietnamese coffee in hand, we sampled nearly ten different types of honey each one more delicious than the last. We left with full bellies, a few jars in our bag, and a real appreciation for the care that goes into honey production here.
When the skies cleared, we headed out to Starfish Bay a place we’d been looking forward to. But sadly, it ended up being the first real disappointment we’ve had in Vietnam.
The beach was strewn with rubbish, and even worse, we saw people picking up starfish, posing for photos, and then tossing them back or worse, leaving them out of the water. It felt like some of the starfish had even been manually relocated just to gather them in one area for tourists there were none to be seen anywhere else along the shore.
The boat trip across and back was fun, and Georgia loved it but it left us thinking: some experiences should be run properly, or not at all. Starfish Bay could be incredible with the right care and respect, but right now it’s a sad example of what happens when tourism trumps nature personal i would avoid it, it does not match the hype.
Still, the rain held off while we were there, and we made the most of the moment with a quiet stroll along the shore, we headed back on the boat grabbed some lunch nearby and called it a wrap.
To finish the day, Georgia had her chin stitches removed at a nearby clinic brave as ever, and was back to full smiles in no time. (She can swim again!)
Vietnam has been amazing so far, and starfish bay was the first real letdown but it also reminded us why responsible travel matters.
On to the next adventure.
