Ha Long Bay for budget-busters

Ha Long Bay for budget-busters
One night/two day upper-range tour
Many of the luxury tours offer two nights on
the boat, and skip the whole Cat Ba Island experience, so we booked a two-day, one-night tour just to give us a taste of luxury.

The difference was apparent from the outset. Passengers were driven from Hanoi to Ha Long City in a large comfortable tour bus, even though there was only a compliment of eight. As with all other tours we again swung through t
he crafts centre for the victims of Agent Orange.

Once at the pier, instead of hopping from junk to junk to get to our boat, we were picked up at the dock by a small ferry, and taken to where our boat was moored in the bay. It was larger, if not quite as new as the mid-range boat.
The key difference was the service and the
food. The staff on the mid-range tour were good, but seemed like novices compared to the staff on the luxury cruise. And the food was five-star all the way — some of the best food we’ve tasted in Vietnam, with a good selection of wines to go with it (at luxury prices, of course).
Oddly, the cabins weren’t quite as good
as the mid-range tour, but they made the best with what they had. There was no aft deck, and only the fore-deck was available for lounging, but with a small compliment of passengers, comfy sun-loungers and bean bag chairs, there was plenty of room. The air-con cabins were free of any generator noise, and we slept soundly.
We saw Surprising Cave again (and were not surprised) but the kayaking component was quite fun — coursing through more tunnel arches into a secluded lagoon, to be followed by swimming and plunging off the fore-deck into the water, which is always a crowd-pleaser.
The tour ended with another visit to a crappy beach (one passenger found a hypodermic needle floating in the water) and a slow cruise back to Ha Long City, where we were once again whisked comfortably ashore by ferry, for a return back to Hanoi on the big, roomy tour bus.
source by halongngu

Ha Long Bay for budget-busters

Ha Long Bay for budget-busters
One night/two day upper-range tour
Many of the luxury tours offer two nights on
the boat, and skip the whole Cat Ba Island experience, so we booked a two-day, one-night tour just to give us a taste of luxury.
The difference was apparent from the outset. Passengers were driven from Hanoi to Ha Long City in a large, comfortable tour bus, even though there was only a compliment of eight. As with all other tours we again swung through t
he crafts centre for the victims of Agent Orange.

Once at the pier, instead of hopping from junk to junk to get to our boat, we were picked up at the dock by a small ferry, and taken to where our boat was moored in the bay. It was larger, if not quite as new as the mid-range boat.
The key difference was the service and the
food. The staff on the mid-range tour were good, but seemed like novices compared to the staff on the luxury cruise. And the food was five-star all the way — some of the best food we’ve tasted in Vietnam, with a good selection of wines to go with it (at luxury prices, of course).
Oddly, the cabins weren’t quite as good
as the mid-range tour, but they made the best with what they had. There was no aft deck, and only the fore-deck was available for lounging, but with a small compliment of passengers, comfy sun-loungers and bean bag chairs, there was plenty of room. The air-con cabins were free of any generator noise, and we slept soundly.
We saw Surprising Cave again (and were not surprised) but the kayaking component was quite fun — coursing through more tunnel arches into a secluded lagoon, to be followed by swimming and plunging off the fore-deck into the water, which is always a crowd-pleaser.

The tour ended with another visit to a crappy beach (one passenger found a hypodermic needle floating in the water) and a slow cruise back to Ha Long City, where we were once again whisked comfortably ashore by ferry, for a return back to Hanoi on the big, roomy tour bus.

Cat Ba Island

Rugged, craggy and jungle-clad Cat Ba, the largest island in Halong Bay, is straight out of Jurassic Park. Lan Ha Bay, off the eastern side of the island, is especially scenic and offer numerous beaches to explore. While the vast majority of Halong Bay’s islands are uninhabited vertical rocks. Cat Ba has a few fishing villages, as well as a fast-growing town.



Except for a few fertile pockets, the fertile pocket is too rocky for serious agriculture; most residents earn their living from the sea, while others cater to the tourist trade. Life has always been hard here and many Cat Ba resident joined the exodus of Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s and 80s. Although the island lost much of its fishing fleet this way, overseas Vietnamese have sent back large amounts of money to relatives on the island, fuelling the hotel boom of the past decade. Cat Ba is still relatively laid-back, despite about a 20-fold increase in hotel rooms (and karaoke machines!) since 1996.
Almost half of Cat Ba Island (which has a total area of 354 sq km) and 90 sq km of the adjacent waters were declared a national park in 1986 to protect the island’s diverse eco- systems. These include subtropical evergreen forests on the hills, freshwater swamp forests at the base of the hills, coastal mangrove forests, small freshwater lakes and coral reefs. Most of the coastline consists of rocky cliffs, but there are a few sandy beaches hidden away in small coves.

There are numerous lakes, waterfalls and grottoes in the spectacular limestone hills, the highest of which rises 331m above sea level. The largest permanent body of water on the island is Ech Lake, which covers an area of 3 hectares. Almost all of the surface streams are seasonal; most of the island’s rainwater flows into caves and follows underground streams to the sea, which creates a shortage of fresh water during the dry season.

The waters off Cat Ba Island are home to 200 species of fish, 500 species of mollusk and 400 species of arthropod. Larger marine animals in the area include seals and three species of dolphin.

Ho Chi Minh paid a visit to Cat Ba Island on 1 April 1951 and there is a large annual festival on the island to commemorate the event. A monument to Uncle Ho stands on Mountain No 1, the hillock opposite the pier in Cat Ba town.

The best weather on Cat Ba Island is from late September to November, particularly the latter, when the air and water temperature is mild and skies are mostly clear. December to February is cooler, but still pleasant. From February to April rain is common, while the summer months, from June through August, are hot and humid. This is also peak season and the island is overrun with Vietnamese tourists from Hanoi and beyond.

Cat Ba National Park
This accessible national park (Tel: 216 350 - Admission 15,000d, guide fee per day US$5 – Open: dawn-dusk) is home to 32 types of mammals - including langurs, wild boar, deer, squirrels and hedgehogs - and more than 70 species of birds have been sighted, including hawks, hombills and cuckoos. The golden-headed langur is officially the world’s most endangered primate with just 60 left in the park. Cat Ba lies on a major migration route for waterfowl, which feed and roost on the beaches in the mangrove forests. There are 745 species of plants recorded on Cat Ba, including 118 timber species and 160 plants with medicinal value. The park is also home to a species of tree called Cay Kim Gao. In ancient days, kings and nobles would eat only with chopsticks made from this timber, as anything poisonous it touches is reputed to turn the light-colored wood to black.

A guide is not mandatory, but is definitely recommended if you want to go walking otherwise, all you are likely to see is a canopy of trees.

Two caves in and around the national park are open to visitors.
Hospital Cave oozes historical significance, as it served as a secret, bomb-proof hospital during the American War. This cave is actually just outside the park and the entrance is located about 2 kilometers along the road to Cat Ba town.
Trung Trang Cave (Hang Trong Tram)is easily accessible, but you will need to contact a ranger to make sure it is open. Bring a torch (flashlight) as it is gloomy inside.

There is a challenging 18km hike through the park and up to one of the mountain summits. Arrange a guide for this six-hour hike, and organize a bus or boat transport to the trailhead and a boat to get back to town of this can be easily organized with rangers at the national park headquarters or at the hotels in Cat Ba if you’re traveling independently. Many hikes end at Viet Hai, a remote minority village just outside the park boundary, from where boats shuttle to Cat Ba town (about 250,000d per boat) Don’t get stranded or you’ll get stiffed. Take proper hiking shoes, a raincoat and a generous supply of water for this hike. Independent hikers can buy basic snacks at the in Viet Hai, which is where many hiking groups stop for lunch. This is not an easy walk, and is much harder and more slippery after rain. There are shorter hiking options that are less hard core. If you’re planning to join an organized tour from Hanoi, check the trekking options before you book, as many of the cheaper trips don’t actually hike through the park at all.

To reach the national park headquarter at Trung Trang, take a minibus from one of the hotels in Cat Ba town (15,000d, 30 minutes). Another option is to hire a motorbike (one way 30,000d).

Beaches
The white-sand Cat Co beaches (simple Cat Co I, Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3) used great places to lounge around for the day. However, 1 and 3 have been taken off new resorts, leaving Cat Co 2 as the only sane and safe haven. There is also simple accommodation here. It is accessible via a wooden cliff side walkway around the mountain Cat Co 1.

On weekends the beaches fill up Vietnamese tourists and litter becomes a real blight, but during the week the crowds diminish.

The beaches are about 1 km southeast from Cat Ba town over a steep headland, can be reached on foot or by motorbike (about 10,000d).

Other beaches include Cai Vieng, Hong Xoai Be and Hong Xoai Lon.

Cat Ba Town
A sleepy fishing village just a decade ago, it is now the Costa del Cat Ba! Since being “discovered” by the Hanoi residents. Cat Ba has turned into a highly popular summer getaway, filling up on weekends and holidays, when the town is jumping. This has been a boon for the range of amenities available, from hotels to restaurants, but the downside is a boom in karaoke joints and the tuneless wailing they often emit. During the summer the town also fills up with cars, as Hanoi residents use the car ferries to come via Cat Hai. Weekdays are saner, as is just before or just after the peak summer season.

INFORMATION

Internet Access
There are now several internet cafés in Cat Ba. Price tend to be higher than the mainland, at 15,000d an hour or more, and the connections quiet slow. There are a couple of places to the southeast of the boat pier, plus one or two on “hotel alley”.

Money
Remarkably, there are still no banks on Cat Ba Island, but Vu Binh Jewellers (Tel: 888 641) can change cheques at 3% commission and does credit card cash advances at 5%. The nearest ATMs are in Haiphong or Halong City.

Post
The main post office (1-4 Str) is a one-stop-shop for postal needs and telephone calls.

Tourist Information
There is now an official Tourism Information & Development Centre (Tel: 688 215 – Add: 1-4 Str), located almost opposite the boat pier in Cat Ba town. The staff here can bring you up to speed on transport options in and around Cat Ba, plus it has Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve maps available.

Most guesthouses and hotels can ‘help’ with tourist information (booking you on their trips, in other words).

SLEEPING

Over the past few years the number of accommodation offerings in Cat Ba has risen

dramatically to keep pace with an ever-expanding tourist market. Look around, as the quality of hotels varies widely. There are now a couple of upmarket resorts in prime beachfront locations for those with the money to spend.

Most hotels are situated on the waterfront in Cat Ba town. The ones to the east, built right up against the hillside, tend to offer better cross-breezes and less of the karaoke call-girl scene. Most hotels have at least one staff member who speaks English.

Room rates fluctuate greatly. In the high- season summer months (May to September) you can expect to pay a minimum of US$15 per room. During the slower winter months (October to April) you can find decent rooms for US$10 or under. The rates given here are for low season, when there’s usually the opportunity for negotiation. It is impossible to quote high-season rates, as they tend to pick a number out of their head depending on demand.

EATING

Sumptuous seafood is the smart choice in Cat Ba town and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from along the seafront strip.

Huu Dung Restaurant
Add: Nui Ngoc Str - Dishes 10,000 - 50,000d
This place has always served up whole some food, but it’s best to eat early, as the Lan Song Xanh Disco is right across the road and cranks up the volume from 8pm or so. The house special is whole steamed fish with I lashings of garlic and soy sauce.

Hoang Y
Add: 1-4 Str - Dishes 15,000 - 50,000d
If you are in the market for fresh grilled shrimp or squid with garlic, this little seafront place is a popular option. As well as a solid selection of seafood dishes, there are also good vegetarian dishes on offer.

Dolphin Restaurant
Tel: 888 804 – Add: Nui Ngoc Str – Mains: 20,000-50,000d
This place is popular with travelers thanks to a selection of Western dishes to complement the reliable Vietnamese fare. Don’t worry, definitely no dolphin!

Green Mango
Tel: 887 151 – Add: 1-4 – Mains 50,000 - 100,OOOd
The restaurant of choice in Cat Ba, the chef here learnt his tricks at Bobby Chinn’s in Hanoi. The alluring menu includes a selection of smaller appetizers if you just can’t settle on one thing. The braised duck is superb but save some space for the delightful desserts. The interior is all drapes and candles, so customers often linger for cocktails.

DRINKING

One of the most enjoyable ways to spend time in the evening is to sit at tables on the water- front towards the eastern end of the harbor, order a drink from one of the stalls, and watch the world go by.

Noble House
Add: 888 363
As well as a popular restaurant downstairs, this spot has a great 2nd-floor bar. Comfy chairs and inspired decor help people settle in for the evening, plus there’s a free pool table, board games and plenty of drinks flowing.

Flightless Bird Cafe
Tel: 888 517 – Add: B 1-4 – Open: from 6.30pm
Little more than a hole in the wall, this small, welcoming place is a good option for those with their drinking boots on and as the night wears on, travelers gravitate. There is a breezy 2nd-floor balcony overlooking the harbor, plus a small book exchange.

Blue Note
Add: Nui Ngoc Str
The after-hours haunt in town, this is karaoke with kudos. The well- stocked bar stays open until the last person leaves and the song list includes indie anthems from Oasis and Radiohead. Plus there is a stage: perform at your peril.

GETTING THERE & AWAY

Cat Ba Island is 45km east of Haiphong and 20km south of Halong City. Be aware that there are several piers on Cat Ba Island. Most handy is the jetty directly in front of Cat Ba town from where the hydrofoils to Haiphong depart. A second popular one is at Ben Beo, about 2km from Cat Ba town where most of the tourist boats berth. The other pier is at Phu Long, 30km from Cat Ba, where boats from Cat Hai arrive. At Phu Long, motorbike rivers wait to whisk passengers from the ferries to town (or the 15km to Cat Ba National Park) for about 50,000. There is also a public bus that meets the boats, but this takes longer o get across the island.

The best option for independent travelers is the hydrofoils linking Cat Ba directly to Haiphong. These air-con rockets reduce the journey to just 45 minutes. There are several companies running the route, with three departures a day in the high summer season and just once a day the rest of the year. Summer season services depart between 10 am and 5 pm. Transtour (Tell: 888 314) runs the Mekong express (100,000d, 2.45pm departure), which is the safest and most comfortable option. Tahaco (Tel: 031-374 7055) has smaller hydrofoils, which are cheaper at 70,000d and depart at 3.15pm. There are no longer hydrofoils operating to Halong City.

The easiest way to get from Halong City to Cat Ba is to hop on the tourist boats (100,000d, Five hours) that leave several times a day. This is less organized going in the other direction to Halong City, but your guesthouse or hotel should be able to hook you up with a boat going that way.

There are also plenty of slow, chartered tourist boats making the run from Halong City to Cat Ba Island; check with the cafes and travel agencies in Hanoi about tour options. Such trips generally include all transport, accommodation, food and a guide, but double check to be sure. An alternative way to reach Cat Ba town is via the island of Cat Hai, which is closer to Haiphong.

A boat departs Haiphong and makes a brief stop in Cat Hai on the way to the port of Phu Long on Cat Ba Island. It is also possible to drive a motorbike or car to Haiphong, from where you can get the ferry to Cat Hai, then drive 15 minutes across the island to a pier from where you take a ferry to Phu Long. This accounts for all those sur- real traffic jams during the summer season. A bridge is under construction to Cat Hai which will make Cat Ba even easier to reach by vehicle. There are also direct buses from Hanoi to Cat Ba town. Hoang Long bus operates four services daily to Cat Ba (120,000d, four hours) from the Luong Yen bus station. However, it is just as easy to use the bus-hydrofoil combination via Haiphong.

GETTING AROUND

Rented bicycles are a great way to explore the island and many of the hotels can arrange Chinese mountain bikes (70,000d per day) There are also some tandems available for double the pedal power.

Minibuses with driver are easily arranged. Motorbike rentals (with or without a driver are available from most of the hotels (from US$5 without a driver). If you are heading out to the beaches or national park, pay the parking fee to ensure that the bike is still there when you return: there have been reports o theft and vandalism.

You’ll get plenty of offers to tour Cat Bi Harbor in a rowboat (around 30,000d), or you can hire a kayak from one of the hotels.

Tours of the island and national park, boat trips around Halong Bay and fishing trips an peddled by nearly every hotel and restaurant in Cat Ba. Cost depends on the number of people but typical prices are US$8 for day trips and US$20 for two-day, one-night trips.
source by halongngu

Indochina Sails donates to Cua Van School in Halong bay , Vietnam

On 12 March, 2010 the Staff and Management of Indochina Sails made a gift of twenty new desks and chairs, along with a large assortment of school supplies to the students of the Cua Van Floating Primary School. The school is located in the Cua Van Floating Fishing Village and has about 70 students aged from 6 to 14 years old. The village itself is home to about 600 people, who live there permanently, on about 130 floating houses.

Cua Van Primary School in Halong bay, Vietnam

The school is an important part of our daily itinerary. We visit the Fishing Village every afternoon and on days that school is in session our guests are allowed to visit. It is a fascinating experience, as you can see from the pictures. The schoolrooms and equipment are very basic, and the dedicated teachers do a fantastic job with limited resources.span id="more-390">

In the past, Indochina Sails has made cash donations for the betterment of the village in general. However, recently, one of our staff suggested; “What if we collect some money ourselves and try to fix up the school somehow to make it better for the kids?”

So, the idea was born. Donations were collected from every member of our staff, and added to that was a donation from the company’s Management Team. We then asked the teachers how best we could use the money to help the students.Mr. Jerry Bowes, the General Manager of Indochina Sails makes donation in Cua Van Primary School in Halong bay, Vietnam

If any guest coming to Ha Long Bay would like to help the young students of the Primary School we suggest you bring donations such as pens, pencils, markers, crayons or chalk. Also, coloring books for the younger students and notebooks for the older ones. And what kid wouldn’t like some sweets!
sourece by Indochina Sails

Indochina Sails

On 12 March, 2010 the Staff and Management of Indochina Sails made a gift of twenty new desks and chairs, along with a large assortment of school supplies to the students of the Cua Van Floating Primary School. The school is located in the Cua Van Floating Fishing Village and has about 70 students aged from 6 to 14 years old. The village itself is home to about 600 people, who live there permanently, on about 130 floating houses.
The school is an important part of our daily itinerary. We visit the Fishing Village every afternoon and on days that school is in session our guests are allowed to visit. It is a fascinating experience, as you can see from the pictures. The schoolrooms and equipment are very basic, and the dedicated teachers do a fantastic job with limited resources.

In the past, Indochina Sails has made cash donations for the betterment of the village in general. However, recently, one of our staff suggested; “What if we collect some money ourselves and try to fix up the school somehow to make it better for the kids?”
So, the idea was born. Donations were collected from every member of our staff, and added to that was a donation from the company’s Management Team. We then asked the teachers how best we could use the money to help the students.
Mr. Jerry Bowes, the General Manager of Indochina Sails makes donation in Cua Van Primary School in Halong bay, Vietnam
If any guest coming to Ha Long Bay would like to help the young students of the Primary School we suggest you bring donations such as pens, pencils, markers, crayons or chalk. Also, coloring books for the younger students and notebooks for the older ones. And what kid wouldn’t like some sweets!
source by indochinasails

Kayak Halong Bay 3 days

Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi, 3-day tour with 1.5-day kayaking and overnight on Chinese junk, Kayaking grade: Moderate, From US$ 299 per person

Highlights Amazing limestone formations Inclusive junk for overnight Beautiful and different kayaking route Support boat all the time All meals included

“Fantastic Kayaking and Cruise in Halong Bay” This tour offers you a great chance to discover Halong Bay, the wonderland of karst topography with 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets sprinkled over an area of 1,500 square km. The calm sea provides an ideal location for sea kayaking as we paddle through a maze of islets amid dramatic natural scenery. With our modern kayaking equipment, we are able to maximize on speed and maneuverability as we explore the open sea and the many hidden lagoons and stalagmite caves that are difficult to access by any other means. As with our other kayak tours, this tour offers flexibility in activity levels while still combining the best of sea kayaking. Designed with this in mind it is a good tour for both novice and experienced kayaker alike with a little more time to spare. Validity: 1May,2010 – 30Sep,2010 ATA blazing hot promotion offers great kayaking adventure into the majestic Ha Long Bay and also a glimpse into culture of the Vietnamese. - Free-of-charge 01 cooking class at Hidden Hanoi Restaurant (joined class) - Free-of-charge 01 Water Puppet Show - Free-of-charge silk sleeping bag

Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Transfer/kayaking Halong Bay
Day 2: Kayaking Halong Bay
Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi
TRIP NOTES
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Group size: 08 persons
Depart from: Hanoi
End at: Hanoi
When: Year round - best time is from Oct - Jun
Activities: Kayaking, Cruising
Kayaking grade: Moderate
Transportation: AC vehicle, Junk, support boat, kayak
Accommodation: 02 nights on junk
Tour guide: English or French speaking guide
Meals
- Day 1: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch
Food
All meals, which are indicated in the itinerary, are included in the price of this trip. Since we are in the sea our meals are mainly dominated by fresh seafood. Please inform us if you have any special dietary requirement.
The junk
The beautiful Chinese junk functions as a hotel and we would share it with other travelers. We will get twin shared cabin with AC and restroom.
The next day when we go kayaking a smaller wooden boat will support us the whole day.
ATV tour guide
The tour will be guided by one of our tour guides who are experienced in guiding kayaking tours in Halong Bay. He has been carefully trained in this field and is fully licensed in tour guiding by the government. In addition, he has been trained in first-aid by SOS International and he knows how to deal with difficult situations. You will have a great time traveling with him.
The kayak
On this trip we use hard-cell, tandem kayak. Paddle, life-jacket and dry bag are available
The kayaking day
A typical kayaking day starts at about 8.00 am after breakfast. Lunch will be served on support boat. At the end of a kayaking day, we would return to the junk by 5 pm or 5.30 pm.
What to bring
Sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses, rain coat, original passport,
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including weather conditions or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

Indochina Sails is proud to announce the launch of the newest addition to its fleet of luxury junks. The “Premium Valentine” will begin sailing the tranquil waters of Halong Bay in June 2010.
Following in the tradition of our entire fleet, the Premium Valentine offers luxurious accommodation, professional and friendly service, fine Vietnamese and Western cuisine and an itinerary designed to maximize your holiday pleasure.

Our junks are built to the highest standards, in a time-honoured style with first-class modern facilities. We have combined the best of Old World and New and the best of East and West to create a unique and memorable way to explore one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular creations Where the Premium Valentine differs from the rest of our fleet is in the amount of, and size of the cabins, with only two very spacious cabins at 22 square meters each. In addition to their generous size, all the cabins feature en-suite bathrooms, which not only contain a large shower with rainfall and handheld massage showers, but a full bath with Jacuzzi as well.
Onboard a boat with only two cabins you will enjoy a more intimate atmosphere, and with as many crew members as passengers we will pamper and spoil you while cruising one of the worlds’ most spectacular natural wonders.
Premium Valentine is the perfect choice for discerning travelers seeking an exclusive choice for their holiday in Halong Bay.
Enjoy our one or two night itineraries or charter the boat for as many nights as you like and customize the trip to your desires. The Premium Valentine is the perfect choice for small families or two couples and of course for honeymooners.
Our goal is to offer a soothing as well as stimulating experience that you will remember and cherish. Our dedicated and professional management and staff await you and look forward to serving you on magnificent Halong Bay.
source by halongbay

Indochina Sails is proud to announce the launch of the newest addition to its fleet of luxury junks. The “Premium Valentine” will begin sailing the tranquil waters of Halong Bay in June 2010.
Following in the tradition of our entire fleet, the Premium Valentine offers luxurious accommodation, professional and friendly service, fine Vietnamese and Western cuisine and an itinerary designed to maximize your holiday pleasure.

Our junks are built to the highest standards, in a time-honoured style with first-class modern facilities. We have combined the best of Old World and New and the best of East and West to create a unique and memorable way to explore one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular creations
Where the Premium Valentine differs from the rest of our fleet is in the amount of, and size of the cabins, with only two very spacious cabins at 22 square meters each. In addition to their generous size, all the cabins feature en-suite bathrooms, which not only contain a large shower with rainfall and handheld massage showers, but a full bath with Jacuzzi as well.
Onboard a boat with only two cabins you will enjoy a more intimate atmosphere, and with as many crew members as passengers we will pamper and spoil you while cruising one of the worlds’ most spectacular natural wonders.
Premium Valentine is the perfect choice for discerning travelers seeking an exclusive choice for their holiday in Halong Bay.
Enjoy our one or two night itineraries or charter the boat for as many nights as you like and customize the trip to your desires. The Premium Valentine is the perfect choice for small families or two couples and of course for honeymooners.
Our goal is to offer a soothing as well as stimulating experience that you will remember and cherish. Our dedicated and professional management and staff await you and look forward to serving you on magnificent Halong Bay.
source by halongbay

Ha Long Bay for backpackers

img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-228" src="http://www.kayakhalongbay.com/travelogue/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/image0013.jpg" title="image0013" width="425" height="150" />Ha Long Bay for backpackers
Two night/three day budget tour
Crammed into a jam-packed minivan, o
ur tour commenced with us circling the block a few times to avoid getting ticked by the cops for illegally stopping to pick up some of our passengers, but then we were away and our guide introduced himself. In his quite decent English, he explained that the 160km journey to Ha Long City would take three hours — apparently the slow going was due to the police — not to worry, if there were no cops around, we were assured, our driver would atte

mpt to speed whenever possible.
The trip included a 15-minute stop at a crafts centre set up for victims of Agent Orange and at 11:00 we reached Ha Long City. Once there our guide promptly got into a 15-minute argument with another guide, and we were eventually put into another minivan and driven to the pier at Bai Chay.


The pier was crammed with boats and after standing around for 30 minutes, our guide returned with tickets and we clamoured over three other boats to reach our (obviously badly parked) boat. As our group was generally agile the cross-boat-obstacle-course was no trouble, though there was trouble to come.
Upon booking we were promised a tour of no more than sixteen passengers, and were surprised to find 11 more people piling on to the boat with us — making for a total of 27 people. They were day-trippers, and those travelling to Cat Ba Island. When asked, we were advised that “they don’t count” as a part of our group because they aren’t on our three-day tour. Twenty-seven people on a sma
ll boat made for a tight fit.
Our boat, like many of the budget junks, had a large top-deck which featured hard, wooden sun-loungers that should have had cushions but didn’t. An epidemic problem on budget tours, we later learned. For an hour, we sat and waited to depart, and once underway, lunch appeared. A decidedly mediocre but
edible meal.
We visited one of the floating fishing villages, which was definitely a sight to see and some passengers bought seafood from the villagers — the staff on the boat cooked it up for them at no extra cost.
We stopped off at the Dragon Cave where we walked in file with one hundred other tourists, viewing the stalagmites, the stalactites, and paused to contemplate which was which. The cave was artificially decorated with coloured lights, man-made pools and fountains, and two red lights were fixed to where the ‘eyes’ should be in the rock formation that is said to look like a Dragon. Lovely.
Next was an unappealing beach for swimming and kayaking — there was only one kayak and it was never put in the water. Later we found out it had a leak. No worries — the weather was lousy, and no one wanted to kayak anyway.
Our first night was meant to be onboard, but the boat had somehow become “overbooked” and so we were shuffled into a hotel on Cat Ba Island. The two-star hotel was anything but remarkable and we got an equally mediocre dinner and breakfast. In the morning, we trekked through Cat Ba National Park — a challenging climb through beautiful mangrove forests, though lacking in any exceptional wildlife — we did spot goats though.
Thrown off schedule by being re-routed to the island, it wasn’t until late afternoon that we reboarded for our night at sea, and while we were supposed to stop off to swim, that somehow got lost in the shuffle. Dinner was much the same as the night before.
We cruised around for a while before eventually stopping at one of the three designated spots where tour boats are permitted to anchor. The night on the boat was memorable mostly for sitting on the top deck engaging in long, ranging conversations with other passengers over beers. It was a wonderfully relaxing evening, and the bay is a mysteriously beautiful place to be as the sun sets — despite the sound of karaoke drifting across the bay from some of the other boats.
When we retired, the cabins were clean, if somewhat dilapidated. While one passenger found himself chocking on exhaust fumes in his cabin and had to spend the night on the top deck, we were all kept up by the deafening noise from the cheap Chinese generator. In the morning, four-pieces of bread and a greasy omelette sustained us through the slow tour back to Ha Long City for the packed minivan back to Hanoi.

Cruising Halong Bay, Vietnam on a Chinese Junk

2 days and one night aboard a luxurious boat on Indochina Sails on Halong Bay<!--more

One of the must do’s if you are visiting Hanoi is a side trip to Halong Bay. I personally have done it twice – once on a bit of a budget and most recently in style on Indochina Sails. Indochina Sails presents a truly elegant cruising experience on its lacquered wood junk.
It all starts with a morning drive from Hanoi, which is about 3 hours – your boat can arrange transport from your hotel. Undoubtedly around the halfway point you will stop at some souvenir shops…these are usually prearranged with the driver (unbeknown st to the passenger) and we suspect he gets some sort of commission. You can either spend time here or go quickly. I will say on my more budget trip the caliber of the shop reflected the caliber of the trip. However on this one, we managed to stop off at a place where they were making pottery and statues, so for some of us, it was actually truly interesting to wander around the workshop and see the vases being hand painted and then kiln fired.

After we drove past the dock where I took off last time (full of backpackers standing around in a dusty parking lot and loading their own baggage), I was relieved to arrive at an entirely civilized departure point replete with coffee and gift shop. If you are traveling Indochina Sails a steward will meet you at the coffee shop and whisk away your luggage while you check in. After a short ride in a smaller boat, you board the junk and are immediately enveloped in old world elegance.

After checking in, lunch was served. We enjoyed (Sup Kem Bi Do) pumpkin soup;
<(Nem Tuoi Cuon Phuc Vu Cung Nuoc) fresh spring rolls with fish sauce and green papaya salad;(Ga Nuong Cung La Chanh Tuoi) grilled chicken with lemon leaves;The pumpkin soup was really excellent – smooth and creamy. And the spring rolls were also a hit.
Overall, it should be noted that while the food is good, this is not a culinary cruise. In my book, the welcome lunch was probably the best. The other meals were buffet style, which is often not my preference. The dinner buffet did however feature some tasty steamed little neck clams. With that said, all food is included in your per person rate, it’s just wine, beer, coffee or tea you will pay extra for at mealtimes (excepting breakfast where the coffee / tea is complimentary.)
The real attraction however on this trip is the majestic scenery of the peridot green Halong Bay and the limestone rocks that make the view so dramatic and compelling. Halong Bay was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. As a result the waters and the land are well maintained and one can be sure that the beauty will be preserved.
And beyond the beauty that you can see there is lots of beauty that you cannot. This is where the ship’s excursions come in. On day one we visited Titop Island and hiked 400+ steps to the top for a panoramic view of the bay.
Also on offer was a 1 hour kayak trip (+$10 USD pp) or a visit to a local fishing village. We chose the kayak trip and so we set out with a guide to explore the bay. It was really fantastic being so close to the water after having admired it sparkling gem-like qualities from on high. I was really hoping it would be translucent, but it wasn’t. So instead we got a little arm and shoulder workout as we maneuvered underneath low hanging cave entrances and admired the limestone rock formations.
Once back on board, there was a wine tasting. Again, all drinks are a la carte, but if you do want to participate in an all you can drink wine tasting hour for $15USD the option is yours. The nice thing about Vietnam is given their French colonial heritage; they get a nice selection of French wines. I enjoyed a crisp Sauvignon Blanc on the upper deck with friends as we chatted about the day we had enjoyed and the day ahead. It was a perfect night, a bit crisp and breezy, and as I enjoyed my wine and conversation, the cares of the world melted away and I was in a rare state (for me anyway) of truly being 100% present in the moment.
Later that night, we slept quite comfortably in our cabin. The boat had docked for the night and was quite still in the placid waters of the bay. Paul was worried he wouldn’t be able to sleep on a boat, but his concerns melted away as he fell into a very deep sleep. In fact, in the morning we were both surprised how well we had slept – probably a combination of exercise, fresh air and good wine.
Day 2 started with an early morning trip to Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise Grotto) on Bon Hon Island where you can climb the 100 steps to the cave entrance and explore for about an hour. Inside the grotto, light illuminates the passage so you can see thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. It’s probably the only grotto of its kind that I have personally seen and so it lives large in my memory. I wish it was a little more rustic rather than tourist heavy, but in the end I am glad I visited.
After the morning excursion the boat heads back to the dock and it is time to head back to Hanoi. Another 3 hour drive, another stop at a souvenir shop. As we recounted the trip during our ride back, myself, Paul and the other 5 travelers who were with us agreed that Halong Bay was an absolutely spectacular thing to see and doing it aboard the Indochina Sails was time and money well spent.source by halongngu.com

Crystalline waters shine in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Last April, I finally had a chance to get a glimpse of the country where my maternal grandfather fought in the Vietnam War. Based on the stories my grandfather told me while I was growing up, I arrived in Vietnam expecting to see evidence of the war. Instead I was surprised to see how modern the country is.

Halong bay view

But honestly, the thing that really impressed me was the food, and the bakeries in particular. Although we have bakeries in Korea, the coffee and bread in the bakeries of Vietnam overwhelmed me with their flavors, a mix of tastes and textures from France and Asia, surely a remnant of the country’s colonial past.

I was in Vietnam at the invitation the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and Asia Europe Foundation to report on an Asia-Europe Meeting workshop that took place from April 28 to 29 in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province in the northeastern corner of Vietnam. At the workshop, ASEM workshop participants agreed to forge stronger ties through cultural diplomacy linking Asia and Europe.
On the last day of the workshop, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry took us on a cruise of Ha Long Bay, which covers 1,553 square kilometers (600 square miles) and has 1,969 islands. After the 10-minute ride from the Halong Plaza Hotel where we were staying we arrived at the pier and boarded a waiting cruise ship.
The other passengers and I sat down at tables set out on the deck and were treated to a feast that was a mixture of Western and Asian cuisine. Around us, thousands of limestone islets rose out of crystalline emerald waters that glistened in the sun.
Pham Sanh Chau, director general of the department for cultural relations and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, said Ha Long Bay is the first World Heritage Site in Vietnam. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and again in 2000 in recognition of its natural beauty and geological value.
“Ha Long Bay deserves to be named as one of the seven new wonders of nature because it’s like paradise. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world,” Chau said. “It’s not an area just for tourism. It also serves as buffer zone against climate change. It’s rich in marine biodiversity and many scientists say this should be a geological park.”
As we sat back with our plates full of food, fishing boats large and small passed us on their way to their next catch. People exclaimed in excitement when they saw a small tent set up on the waters of Ha Long Bay. The tent, we learned, had been built to accommodate fishermen in need of a break or a place to sleep.
Our trip around the bay was nothing if not idyllic, but our tour guide explained that tourists who visit the area usually take overnight cruises to Ha Long Bay. The cruise starts with lunch aboard the ship and continues with stops at various caves for kayaking and swimming. Guests then sleep on the boat that night.
Because of my tight schedule, I had to return to my hotel that night and wasn’t able to take advantage of what sounded like a lovely diversion, but before I did I took a tour of the boat’s lower deck, where the sleeping rooms are located. The rooms are cozy and designed to accommodate two people. Each one is fully furnished with a bed, sofa, shower booth and toilet, just like in a hotel.
Although my journey to Vietnam was short, I picked up a few tips for my next trip that I’d like to share. First, you don’t have to set an alarm because there is an endless stream of honking motorbikes whizzing by every morning in Hanoi and the noise is enough to force your eyes open. Most Vietnamese people start the day early and most offices open at 7:30 a.m.
Second, you need to be extremely brave when crossing the street. There are no street lights like the ones you find in other major cities. When you try to wade into the traffic that is rushing by, drivers of cars and motorcycles swerve around you without slowing down. On my first day in Hanoi, I stood on the street for 10 minutes waiting for the right time to cross when I finally found a group of Vietnamese women intent on jaywalking.
Third, although the traffic is insane, make sure you stroll around the city on foot. This is the best way to experience a typical day in the life of the Vietnamese people. Women balance poles laden with heavy baskets of vegetables and flowers on their shoulders, passing people who squat on the sidewalk or sit in plastic chairs, sipping tea and eating pho (beef noodle soup) at outdoor food stalls. This is where you can feel the energy of the people.
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, I recommend you go to Hanoi first, take a tour of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter and then take the overnight cruise of Ha Long Bay.
source by indochina.com

Cruising Halong Bay, Vietnam on a Chinese Junk

2 days and one night aboard a luxurious boat on Indochina Sails on Halong Bay

One of the must do’s if you are visiting Hanoi is a side trip to Halong Bay. I personally have done it twice – once on a bit of a budget and most recently in style on Indochina Sails. Indochina Sails presents a truly elegant cruising experience on its lacquered wood junk.
It all starts with a morning drive from Hanoi, which is about 3 hours – your boat can arrange transport from your hotel. Undoubtedly around the halfway point you will stop at some souvenir shops…these are usually prearranged with the driver (unbeknown st to the passenger) and we suspect he gets some sort of commission. You can either spend time here or go quickly. I will say on my more budget trip the caliber of the shop reflected the caliber of the trip. However on this one, we managed to stop off at a place where they were making pottery and statues, so for some of us, it was actually truly interesting to wander around the workshop and see the vases being hand painted and then kiln fired.

After we drove past the dock where I took off last time (full of backpackers standing around in a dusty parking lot and loading their own baggage), I was relieved to arrive at an entirely civilized departure point replete with coffee and gift shop. If you are traveling Indochina Sails a steward will meet you at the coffee shop and whisk away your luggage while you check in. After a short ride in a smaller boat, you board the junk and are immediately enveloped in old world elegance.

After checking in, lunch was served. We enjoyed (Sup Kem Bi Do) pumpkin soup;

(Nem Tuoi Cuon Phuc Vu Cung Nuoc) fresh spring rolls with fish sauce and green papaya salad;

(Tom He Ha Long Chien Xot Me) fried Halong shrimp with tamarind sauce;

(Ga Nuong Cung La Chanh Tuoi) grilled chicken with lemon leaves;

The pumpkin soup was really excellent – smooth and creamy. And the spring rolls were also a hit.
Overall, it should be noted that while the food is good, this is not a culinary cruise. In my book, the welcome lunch was probably the best. The other meals were buffet style, which is often not my preference. The dinner buffet did however feature some tasty steamed little neck clams. With that said, all food is included in your per person rate, it’s just wine, beer, coffee or tea you will pay extra for at mealtimes (excepting breakfast where the coffee / tea is complimentary.)
The real attraction however on this trip is the majestic scenery of the peridot green Halong Bay and the limestone rocks that make the view so dramatic and compelling. Halong Bay was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. As a result the waters and the land are well maintained and one can be sure that the beauty will be preserved.
And beyond the beauty that you can see there is lots of beauty that you cannot. This is where the ship’s excursions come in. On day one we visited Titop Island and hiked 400+ steps to the top for a panoramic view of the bay.
Also on offer was a 1 hour kayak trip (+$10 USD pp) or a visit to a local fishing village. We chose the kayak trip and so we set out with a guide to explore the bay. It was really fantastic being so close to the water after having admired it sparkling gem-like qualities from on high. I was really hoping it would be translucent, but it wasn’t. So instead we got a little arm and shoulder workout as we maneuvered underneath low hanging cave entrances and admired the limestone rock formations.
Once back on board, there was a wine tasting. Again, all drinks are a la carte, but if you do want to participate in an all you can drink wine tasting hour for $15USD the option is yours. The nice thing about Vietnam is given their French colonial heritage; they get a nice selection of French wines. I enjoyed a crisp Sauvignon Blanc on the upper deck with friends as we chatted about the day we had enjoyed and the day ahead. It was a perfect night, a bit crisp and breezy, and as I enjoyed my wine and conversation, the cares of the world melted away and I was in a rare state (for me anyway) of truly being 100% present in the moment.
Later that night, we slept quite comfortably in our cabin. The boat had docked for the night and was quite still in the placid waters of the bay. Paul was worried he wouldn’t be able to sleep on a boat, but his concerns melted away as he fell into a very deep sleep. In fact, in the morning we were both surprised how well we had slept – probably a combination of exercise, fresh air and good wine.
Day 2 started with an early morning trip to Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise Grotto) on Bon Hon Island where you can climb the 100 steps to the cave entrance and explore for about an hour. Inside the grotto, light illuminates the passage so you can see thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. It’s probably the only grotto of its kind that I have personally seen and so it lives large in my memory. I wish it was a little more rustic rather than tourist heavy, but in the end I am glad I visited.
After the morning excursion the boat heads back to the dock and it is time to head back to Hanoi. Another 3 hour drive, another stop at a souvenir shop. As we recounted the trip during our ride back, myself, Paul and the other 5 travelers who were with us agreed that Halong Bay was an absolutely spectacular thing to see and doing it aboard the Indochina Sails was time and money well spent.

Ha Long Bay for flashpackers

Ha Long Bay for flashpackers
Two night/three day mid-range tour
As with the budget tour, we kicked off with a packed minivan, but unlike the previous tour the staff were better trained, spoke better English, and were more informative. Again we stopped off at thecrafts centre for the victims of Agent Orange, but were spared the confusion of any more stops and delivered straight to the pier.
Once there we still had to climb over several boats to get to ours, but when we did, we found a beautiful, new woo
den junk. There was no top deck, but there were decks fore and aft with sun-loungers that actually had cushions! And tables to sit around, and a big pagoda thingy on the bow to shield us from the sun. More importantly, the boat set sail with a compliment of eight passengers, without packing it full of day-trippers.

The cabins were a vast improvement on the previous tour — cozy, well-decorated, with tile bathrooms — a pint-sized version of a midrange hotel room. And the food was a definite notch up as well — more fresh seafood, better presentation, and the staff were eagre to please.
We saw the Surprising Cave this time, which was a bit more interesting than it’s cousin, the
Dragon. We won’t give away the surprise. The beach we visited was a bit better than on the budget tour and there were no last-minute changes — we spent the first night on the boat. The small compliment of passengers we wound up with weren’t nearly as social as the budget group, and there was no top-deck on the boat to lounge on, so we hit the sack early.
We arrived in Cat Ba early in the morning, checked into our hotel — a two-star place, no better or worse than the budget tour, then piled into a mini bus and ventured out to explore cave arches in the bay by kayak, and a cavern that had only been discovered five years ago — the best cave yet. Afterwards we fished for our lunch at a local fish farm and ate what we caught. Following lunch we were given ‘free time’ to stroll on Cat Ba’s seafront promenade or visit one of the beaches. Not a bad day, all told.
When we boarded the boat again in the morning, we found some extra passengers there that had just spent the night on it, for a one-night, two day cruise — but just a handful. Cruising back to Ha Long Bay in the morning, we would have stopped for a swim, but the weather was against us, so we continued to the pier. Again we had to crawl across four boats to get from ours to the pier and some of the older passengers had a pretty rough time of it. Then there was lunch at Ha Long City, and the van back to Hanoi.

Bai Tu Long Bay

There’s more to northeastern Vietnam than Halong Bay. The sinking limestone plateau which gave birth to the bay’s spectacular islands, continues for some 100 km to the Chinese border. The area immediately north of Halong Bay is part of Bai Tu Long National Park (Tel: 793 365).
Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as its famous neighbor. Indeed, in some ways beautiful, since it has scarcely seen any tourist development. This is good news and bad news. The bay is unpolluted and undeveloped, but there’s little tourism infrastructure. It’s pretty hard traveling around and staying here, and unless you speak Vietnamese, it’s difficult to get information.
Charter boats can be arranged to Bai Tu Long Bay from Halong Bay; boats range from 100,000d to 250,000d per hour depending size and amenities.The one-way trip take about five hours. A cheaper alternative is travel overland to Cai Rong and visit the out-lying islands by boat from here. Foreigners are almost always charged double the going rate on the ferries around Bai Tu Long Bay.

Van Don Island (Dao Cai Bau)
Van Don is the largest, most populated and most developed island in the archipelago. However, there remains only very limited tourism development here to date.
Cai Rong (pronounced Cai Zong) is the main I town on the island, which is about 30km in length and 15km across at the widest point Bai Dai (Long Beach) runs along much of the southern side of the island and is hard-packed sand with some mangroves. Just offshore, almost touching distance away, there are stunning rock fomations similar to those in Halong Bay. .
SLEEPING & EATING
The only hotels are at Cai Rong pier, about 8 km north of the new bridge to the mainland. Cai Rong is a colorful, busy area, with lots of fishing boats and passenger vessels and a background of limestone mountains in the bay. It’s also full of karaoke bars and motorbikes.You might want to get a room with air-con I to block out some of the noise. There’s no beach.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
There is a new bridge linking Van Don to the mainland, making it much more accessible from Halong Citv. Frequent buses run between Hon Gai (Halong City) and Cai Rong Bus station (20,000d, 1.5 hours). You’ll pass plenty of coal mines en route - your race (and lungs) will receive a fine coating of black coal before the journey is completed. Just pity the people who live here and have to breathe this in every day.
A good way to get to Van Don is with the Mui Ngoc hydrofoil (tel: 793 335) from Halong City (US$8, one hour) departing at 8am. In the other direction, it leave for Halong bay at 4 pm. There is also an irregular service to Mong Cai (US$10, two hours), departing Van Don at 8.30am and returning at 2 pm.
Note that these boat schedules may change and are dependent on the weather. Be prepared to hang around here a day or so. Several of the companies offering tours of Halong Bay also offer tours of Bai Tu Long Bay.
OTHER ISLANDS
Cai Rong Pier (Cai Rong Pha) is Just on the ease of Cai Rong town. This is tE;e place for boats to the outlying islands. Chartering a boat from here to Halong City cOts around US$10 per hour (the one-way journey takes five hours). Tourist boats can be chartered at Cai Rong to cruise the nearby islands for a few hours. Ask at the pier. The hourly rate is between Izo,000d and 150,000d, but the boats are basic compared with what*s on offer at Halong.
Quan Lan Island (Dao Canh Cuoc)
The main attraction here is a beautiful, 1km - long white-sand beach shaped like a crescent moon, The water is clear blue and the waves are suitable for surfing. However, there is no shortage of blissful beaches on the eastern seaboard, so take a hike. The best time to play in the water is from about May to October - winter is a bit chilly.
The northeastern part of the island has some battered ruins of the old Van Don Trading Port. There is little to show that this was once part of a major trading route between Vietnam and China. Deep-water ports, such as Haiphong and Hon Gai, long ago superseded these islands in importance.
The rowing-boat festival Hoi Cheo Boi is held here from the 16th to the 18th day of the sixth Iunar month. It’s the biggest festival in the bay area, and thousands of people turn out to see it.
Tra Ban Island (Dao Tra Ban)
One of the largest islands in Bai Tu Long Bay, Tra Ban borders Bai Tu Long National Park and offers some of the most dramatic karst scenery in the bay. The southern part of the island is blanketed in thick jungle like Cat Ba and provides a habitat for many colourful butterflies. There are boats to and from Van Don Island at 7am and 2pm (20,000d, 90 minutes).
Ngoc Vung Island (Dao Ngoc Vung)
This island is one of the most southerly in Bai Tu Long Bay, bordering on Halong Bay, and offers scenery every bit as good as the more famous World Heritage site. There is some accommodation available here in some basic beach houses (150,000d). There are daily boats between Cai Rong (1pm) and Ngoc Vung (6am), costing 50,000d for foreigners and taking three hours.
Co To Island (Dao Co To)
In the northeast, Co To Island is the furthest inhabited island from the mainland. Its highest peak reaches a respectable 170m. There are numerous other hills, and a large lighthouse atop one of them. The coastline is mostly cliffs and large rocks, but there’s at least one fine sandy beach. Fishing boats usually anchor just of here, and you can walk to some of the boats during low tide. There is a small and very basic guesthouse on the island.
Ferries bound for Co To Island depart Van Don Island on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at unspecified times - check the schedule in Cai Rong. They return from Co To Island on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The one-way fare is 50,000d and the journey takes about five hours, depending on the winds.

Ha Long Bay for flashpackers

Ha Long Bay for flashpackers
Two night/three day mid-range tour
As with the budget tour, we kicked off with a packed minivan, but unlike the previous tour the staff were better trained, spoke better English, and were more informative. Again we stopped off at the crafts centre for the victims of Agent Orange, but were spared the confusion of any more stops and delivered straight to the pier.

Once there we still had to climb over several boats to get to ours, but when we did, we found a beautiful, new woo
den junk. There was no top deck, but there were decks fore and aft with sun-loungers that actually had cushions! And tables to sit around, and a big pagoda thingy on the bow to shield us from the sun. More importantly, the boat set sail with a compliment of eight passengers, without packing it full of day-trippers.

The cabins were a vast improvement on the previous tour — cozy, well-decorated, with tile bathrooms — a pint-sized version of a midrange hotel room. And the food was a definite notch up as well — more fresh seafood, better presentation, and the staff were eagre to please.
We saw the Surprising Cave this time, which was a bit more interesting than it’s cousin, the
Dragon. We won’t give away the surprise. The beach we visited was a bit better than on the budget tour and there were no last-minute changes — we spent the first night on the boat. The small compliment of passengers we wound up with weren’t nearly as social as the budget group, and there was no top-deck on the boat to lounge on, so we hit the sack early.
We arrived in Cat Ba early in the morning, checked into our hotel — a two-star place, no better or worse than the budget tour, then piled into a mini bus and ventured out to explore cave arches in the bay by kayak, and a cavern that had only been discovered five years ago — the best cave yet. Afterwards we fished for our lunch at a local fish farm and ate what we caught. Following lunch we were given ‘free time’ to stroll on Cat Ba’s seafront promenade or visit one of the beaches. Not a bad day, all told.
When we boarded the boat again in the morning, we found some extra passengers there that had just spent the night on it, for a one-night, two day cruise — but just a handful. Cruising back to Ha Long Bay in the morning, we would have stopped for a swim, but the weather was against us, so we continued to the pier. Again we had to crawl across four boats to get from ours to the pier and some of the older passengers had a pretty rough time of it. Then there was lunch at Ha Long City, and the van back to Hanoi.

Bai Tu Long Bay

There’s more to northeastern Vietnam than Halong Bay. The sinking limestone plateau which gave birth to the bay’s spectacular islands, continues for some 100 km to the Chinese border. The area immediately north of Halong Bay is part of Bai Tu Long National Park (Tel: 793 365).

Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as its famous neighbor. Indeed, in some ways beautiful, since it has scarcely seen any tourist development. This is good news and bad news. The bay is unpolluted and undeveloped, but there’s little tourism infrastructure. It’s pretty hard traveling around and staying here, and unless you speak Vietnamese, it’s difficult to get information.
Charter boats can be arranged to Bai Tu Long Bay from Halong Bay; boats range from 100,000d to 250,000d per hour depending size and amenities.The one-way trip take about five hours. A cheaper alternative is travel overland to Cai Rong and visit the out-lying islands by boat from here. Foreigners are almost always charged double the going rate on the ferries around Bai Tu Long Bay.

Van Don Island (Dao Cai Bau)
Van Don is the largest, most populated and most developed island in the archipelago. However, there remains only very limited tourism development here to date.
Cai Rong (pronounced Cai Zong) is the main I town on the island, which is about 30km in length and 15km across at the widest point Bai Dai (Long Beach) runs along much of the southern side of the island and is hard-packed sand with some mangroves. Just offshore, almost touching distance away, there are stunning rock fomations similar to those in Halong Bay. .
SLEEPING & EATING
The only hotels are at Cai Rong pier, about 8 km north of the new bridge to the mainland. Cai Rong is a colorful, busy area, with lots of fishing boats and passenger vessels and a background of limestone mountains in the bay. It’s also full of karaoke bars and motorbikes.You might want to get a room with air-con I to block out some of the noise. There’s no beach.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
There is a new bridge linking Van Don to the mainland, making it much more accessible from Halong Citv. Frequent buses run between Hon Gai (Halong City) and Cai Rong Bus station (20,000d, 1.5 hours). You’ll pass plenty of coal mines en route - your race (and lungs) will receive a fine coating of black coal before the journey is completed. Just pity the people who live here and have to breathe this in every day.
A good way to get to Van Don is with the Mui Ngoc hydrofoil (tel: 793 335) from Halong City (US$8, one hour) departing at 8am. In the other direction, it leave for Halong bay at 4 pm. There is also an irregular service to Mong Cai (US$10, two hours), departing Van Don at 8.30am and returning at 2 pm.
Note that these boat schedules may change and are dependent on the weather. Be prepared to hang around here a day or so. Several of the companies offering tours of Halong Bay also offer tours of Bai Tu Long Bay.
OTHER ISLANDS
Cai Rong Pier (Cai Rong Pha) is Just on the ease of Cai Rong town. This is tE;e place for boats to the outlying islands. Chartering a boat from here to Halong City cOts around US$10 per hour (the one-way journey takes five hours). Tourist boats can be chartered at Cai Rong to cruise the nearby islands for a few hours. Ask at the pier. The hourly rate is between Izo,000d and 150,000d, but the boats are basic compared with what*s on offer at Halong.
Quan Lan Island (Dao Canh Cuoc)
The main attraction here is a beautiful, 1km - long white-sand beach shaped like a crescent moon, The water is clear blue and the waves are suitable for surfing. However, there is no shortage of blissful beaches on the eastern seaboard, so take a hike. The best time to play in the water is from about May to October - winter is a bit chilly.
The northeastern part of the island has some battered ruins of the old Van Don Trading Port. There is little to show that this was once part of a major trading route between Vietnam and China. Deep-water ports, such as Haiphong and Hon Gai, long ago superseded these islands in importance.
The rowing-boat festival Hoi Cheo Boi is held here from the 16th to the 18th day of the sixth Iunar month. It’s the biggest festival in the bay area, and thousands of people turn out to see it.
Tra Ban Island (Dao Tra Ban)
One of the largest islands in Bai Tu Long Bay, Tra Ban borders Bai Tu Long National Park and offers some of the most dramatic karst scenery in the bay. The southern part of the island is blanketed in thick jungle like Cat Ba and provides a habitat for many colourful butterflies. There are boats to and from Van Don Island at 7am and 2pm (20,000d, 90 minutes).
Ngoc Vung Island (Dao Ngoc Vung)
This island is one of the most southerly in Bai Tu Long Bay, bordering on Halong Bay, and offers scenery every bit as good as the more famous World Heritage site. There is some accommodation available here in some basic beach houses (150,000d). There are daily boats between Cai Rong (1pm) and Ngoc Vung (6am), costing 50,000d for foreigners and taking three hours.
Co To Island (Dao Co To)
In the northeast, Co To Island is the furthest inhabited island from the mainland. Its highest peak reaches a respectable 170m. There are numerous other hills, and a large lighthouse atop one of them. The coastline is mostly cliffs and large rocks, but there’s at least one fine sandy beach. Fishing boats usually anchor just of here, and you can walk to some of the boats during low tide. There is a small and very basic guesthouse on the island.
Ferries bound for Co To Island depart Van Don Island on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at unspecified times - check the schedule in Cai Rong. They return from Co To Island on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The one-way fare is 50,000d and the journey takes about five hours, depending on the winds.
source by halongngu

Halong Bay: The World’s Nature Heritage of Vietnam

Ha Long Bay (also “Halong Bay”) is in northern Vietnam, 170 km east of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic rock formations
If you thought the hideout in the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” was spectacular, imagine a place where there are 3,000 such limestone islands clustered together in the East Sea of Halong Bay. Paddle through caves into secret lagoons, drift down channels surrounded by cliffs and forest and sail out into the open sea. Relax on the deck of our luxurious double-sailed junk and look forward to seafood bought straight from passing fishing craft. Swim alone amongst the limestone islets under the stars and take a breather at a floating village hidden amongst the islands. Our fiber glass sea kayaks make for satisfying travel, whether you are an Olympic champion or first time enthusiast.
GETTING THERE The best way to get to Ha Long Bay is to rent a car from Hanoi from a tour opganizer as ActiveTravelVietnam (ATV). It costs approximately US$100-US$120 return. There is also a tourist open bus service offered by travel agencies around the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Cost is around US$8 net/person/way.
Public buses leave from Long Bien Station to the Bai Chay Station (other side of Red River, 5km from Hoan Kiem Lake) every 30 minutes from 6AM to 6PM and cost 50,000 dong/person each way. This is not recommended for foreign travelers, as these buses are often crowded, slow and unsafe.
THE POPULAR TRAIL (starting from Hanoi)
Day 1: You leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am with a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City you will board a Chinese-style wooden boat (locals call it “Junk”) for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to one cave. After a short exploration of the cave you start the kayak exploration of the bay, paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets, passing a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. End of the first with dinner and overnight in AC, private junk’s cabin.
Day 2: This kayaking day starts from Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. You can also explore some other caves nearby. After lunch you paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Then continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong Bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches.
Day 3: Breakfast is served on the junk and you will enjoy the sundeck while the Junk navigates amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch on the junk before heading back to Hanoi by bus.
WHEN TO KAYAK
You can do kayaking on the bay all year around but great time is between October and June. A typical kayaking day starts at about 8.00 am after breakfast. Lunch will be served on support boat. At the end of a kayaking day, we would return to the junk by 5 pm or 5.30 pm.
TRAVEL GEARS
On this trip ATV use hard-cell, tandem kayak. Paddle, life-jacket and dry bag are available. We recommend you to bring some extra gears such as Sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses, rain coat. The kayak tour with well-trained and experienced tour guide is always recommended for a best exploration.
source by halongngu

Ha Long Bay

Halong bay view

On December 14th 1994, at the 18th session of the World Heritage Commission in Phuket-Thailand, Ha Long Bay was inscribed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO. The decision to recognize Ha Long Bay as a World Heritage area confirmed the exceptional and universal value of its landscape.
For Vietnamese people Ha Long Bay is not only a great landscape but it is also a sacred and long-standing symbol of the country. In the Vietnamese people’s consciousness the stone islands in Ha Long Bay are not only limestone but biotic. When the Nation was in danger a Mother Dragon and her children descended from the sky to create Ha Long Bay and stayed forever to defend the country.

In Vietnamese the bay is called Vinh Ha Long (Where the Dragon Descended to the Sea). The Bay is situated on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Tonkin, near the city of Hong Gai, in Quang Ninh province, in northern Vietnam. It is 102 miles (164 km) southeast of Hanoi. The 580-square-mile (1,500-square-kilometre) area contains some 3,000 rocky and earthen islands, typically in the form of jagged limestone pillars jutting out from the sea, and several caves and grottoes. The system of grottos in the islands of Ha Long Bay are considered heavenly palaces in the world. The most impressive of the grottoes is Hang Dau Go, a huge cave of three chambers, while the Thien Cung Caves are also very impressive.
Visiting travelers can see the impact left by primitive people from the last 20,000 years. Three famous prehistoric cultures continuously developed in this landscape from the late Paleolithic age to the early Metal age. They are the Soi Nhu culture, Cai Beo culture and Ha Long culture.
Taking a tour of the bay is the main activity here; most book a tour at a cafe or hotel in Hanoi. If you want to arrange things independently, be ready for lots of hard sell from touts in Ha Long City. To see a lot, choose a fast boat. If you want a romantic experience but with the risk of getting hardly anywhere, look for one of the old junks. You have to charter the whole boat, but there are usually enough travelers around to make up a party and keep costs down.
The main town in the region is Ha Long City, which is split in two halves, bisected by a very modern bridge over the bay. Bai Chay (the western part) is the more scenic and has the most hotels, restaurants and persistent touts. Hon Gai (the eastern part) is connected to Haiphong by a ferry. Masochists might try seeing the bay on a day-trip from Hanoi. Another option is to travel to Cat Ba Island, where you can arrange a tour of the bay with less hassles.
The name Ha Long Bay is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons.” Prior to the 19th century, this name was not recorded in any document or archive. When mentioning the present-day Quang Ninh Sea or Ha Long Bay, old historical books often referred to them as the seas of Giao Chau, Luc Chau, Luc Thuy, Van Don, Hai Dong or An Bang. Not until in the late 19th century did the name of Ha Long Bay appear on the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf chart or in press articles in French and in Vietnamese.
A legend has been handed down in the local area relating to the name Ha Long Bay, which says: Long ago, in the first founding days, the Viet people were attacked by foreign aggressors. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and a herd of Child Dragons to help the Viet fight the invaders. While the enemy vessels were launching massive attacks against the mainland, the dragons descended in flocks from the sky. They spat out innumerable pearls which, in a moment, were changed into innumerable jade stone islands linked together into firm citadels that checked the enemy’s advance and smashed their vessels into pieces. The Viet won at last.
After the invaders were driven out, the Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, right at the place where the battle occurred. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed was Ha Long, and where the Child Dragons came down was Bai Tu Long. The place where their tails violently wagged was called Long Vi, the present-day Tra Co Peninsula with its soft sandy beach stretching dozens of kilometers.
source by halongbay