Posted by admin on January 30, 2011 under Halong Attractions | 
Located 22km from south of Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches) is a famous tourist attraction with three nice fairy beaches and romantic landscape.
This island consists of three small mountains with the height of 23m. It features three small sand beaches embracing small islands. Seen from afar, these islands resemble three peaches.
The island connects to a legend of about the romantic love between a youngest fairy, who was very pretty with a young and poor fisherman. Because of feeling in love with him, she stole three peaches from Heaven for him, which if he ate, would give him eternal life, allowing them to live together forever.
The King of the Heavens got angry when discovering the robbery and turned the peaches into three stone islands. Chastised, the young fairy had to return the heaven and could never meet the fisherman again.
Despite of its sad love story, thousands of travelers, especially lovers, visit this island each year because of its fairy and quiet natural beauty.
Source: TW
Posted by admin on January 29, 2011 under Halong Culinary, Halong Festivals, News |
The opening ceremony of the Halong Spring trade fair 2011 was held by the Department of Industry and Trade on 25 January.
Accordingly, the Spring Trade fair in this year has about 80 local enterprises to participate with 120 stalls. There is a wide range of products such as food and drink, garment, household appliances, etc.
Particularly, the fair showcases lots of specialties of different districts and cities across the province namely Binh Lieu vermicelli, Dong Trieu rice, etc.
The annual Halong Spring trade fair aims to satisfy the locals and tourists’ demand for trading beside Tet holiday as well as create a good chance for local enterprises to seek for business partners.
The Hạ Long Spring trade fair 2011 will last until Jannuary 30.
In addition, the Halong Spring Flower Fair has also been held from Jannuary 25-30 at Hong Gai ward, Halong city with many foreign and domestic bonsais, flowers, plants, stones and birds.
Source: TW
Posted by admin on January 28, 2011 under News |
It is said that the peach flower is the symbol of Tet in the north, then the yellow apricot flower is its counterpart in the south. But today, the apricot is no longer unique to the south. A rare kind of apricot was discovered on Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh province.
The yellow apricot trees blossoms on the height of 1,000 metres above sea level. In 2007, some of locals and tourists accidentally discovered this precious species of apricot trees while visiting Yen Tu Mountain. They called them “Yen Tu yellow apricot flowers” to distinguish with the apricot flowers in the south.
According to several scientists, the Yen Tu apricot trees and other species of apricot trees in the South have the same origin: they belong to Ochna integerrima (Lour. Merr.) It is questioned whether the Yen Tu apricot trees or apricot trees in the south appeared earlier.
Up to now, there is no research about the time of appearance of these apricot trees. A theory says that apricot trees at Yen Tu Mountain were transferred from the south of Vietnam and they grow until today. Other theory says that the apricot trees at Yen Tu Mountain travelled from the mountain of southwest China then they went to the south of Vietnam and other Indochinese countries.
Source: TW
Posted by admin on January 27, 2011 under Tips for Halong tours |
In Halong there are souvenirs of a diverse variety: local arts and crafts from coal, wood, horn items, brocade and embroidered items, glassware, porcelain and sea products (pearls, sea shells etc.) as well as electrical and photographic accessories, and post cards. Traditional souvenirs of Quang ninh are porcelain, ceramics, embroidery and arts and crafts from coal, wood and other natural products.
A souvenir shop in Halong
Souvenir shops in Halong Bay:
Kiosks, shops, drinks and other services are available at the visitor sites, such as: at the entry of Thien cung Grotto, Dau go Cave, Titov Beach, Soisim Island and Sung sot Cave. Similar services may be available on tourist boats.
There are also shops in Baichay, such as:
- Thanh Nien Mart, by the three-way crossroads near Baichay Post Office:
- Vuondao Commercial Center in Vuondao Street, Bai Chay.
- Halong Supermarket in Le Thanh Tong Street (Hon gai – Halong)
- Halong Market in Bachdang ward, Hongai. The market is open everyday, including Saturday and Sunday, until 10 pm.
- Baichay Night Market opens every night from 6 pm till 11 pm in the Thanhnien Tourism Company area.
- Fair Market is open on Tuesdays every week from 6.00hrs till 14.00hrs in the Halong Hotel area (mainly to serve package tours from tourist ships.)
Apart from the above shops, there are kiosks and souvenir shops available, along Baichay Street, Vuondao Street and in Halong hotels.
Posted by admin on January 26, 2011 under Halong Culinary |
Like other coastal areas of North Vietnam, Halong has a wide variety of seafood specialties. The most popular are:
- Arca: Lives under mud and has two shells, it is as big as a cup and it can be steamed, grilled or made into soup. “Ruou ngan” (arca wine) is a specialty of Halong, which is highly nutritious and simple to process.
Steamed arca
- Sopuncuchlac (sai sung): are varieties of sea worm that live in the sand and are about 4 cm in long, with tiny veins running lengthwise. This species is peculiar to Halong. After processing the fresh sopuncuchlac it should be stir-fried with celery and leeks or grilled. It goes well with beer drinking, especially as a noodle consommé.
Roasted Sai Sung
- Holothuriodea (hai sam): is referred to as sea ginseng. There are two kinds, black and white. It looks like a cucumber with a soft body. It is prepared with pork, chicken, and bamboo shoots and dried pigskin as a dinner dish.
White holothuroidea
- Sepia esculenta (squid): is a kind of large cuttlefish weighing up to 2kg, which can be prepared with leeks, garlic leaves or boiled. The fresh Sepia esculenta can be dried, grilled or fried with sweet and sour source. It goes well with beer and is makes a good present for friends after a trip.
Fried squid
- “Blood” shellfish: has been a famous seafood specialty in Indochina for some years. It can be steamed with beer, fried or boiled and eaten with pepper-salt.
Fried blood sheelfish
- Teredo: lives in the aegiceras and mangroves, mostly at the foot of the mountains. Opening two hard and sharp shells reveals the teredo’s meat. It is prepared with egg and flour or used for soup and is a popular dish.
Besides these sea products, there are the usual seafood specialties such as: shrimp, crab, garruppa fish, pomfret fish, threadfin fish etc.
Posted by admin on January 25, 2011 under Halong Festivals |
Place: At Thập Cửu Tiên Công Temple (Temple of the 19 Founding Fathers) in Cẩm La Commune on Hà Nam Island, Yên Hưng District.
Time: Every year, the village starts the festivities on the seventh day of the first lunar month.
Significance: In commemorating the 19 founding fathers who built dykes, created the populated island of today.
Legend: the festival opening day was the day founding fathers discovered an underground fresh water on the island, more than 500 years ago.
At Tiên Công Temple, dignitaries present themselves to the founding fathers, then choose four elderly men to assist them in the ritual of ground-breaking.
On the seventh day, the senior men of the village (all older than 70 years old), along with their children and grandchildren, arrive at the temple. The young people carry offerings (include betel and areca, wine, steamed glutinous rice, chicken or the head of a pig) on their heads to the decorative cult tables. The elderly men follow them, if need be, aided by their offspring. Every family makes its own procession. All processions join together near the temple make a jubilant and animated atmosphere but still sacred. The old men present offerings and worship Tiên Công, the ceremony generally ends at noon.
Then, comes the ground-breaking ritual: the four chosen men pick four balls of earth and build a mock dyke in front of the incense table of the founding fathers. They then perform acts of wrestling to represent the “struggle against nature”. This is to continue the cause of those who built dykes on the sea to protect the villages and hamlets of the island.
Collected by Vietnam Hotel Network
Posted by admin on January 24, 2011 under Halong Bay Overview |
Quang Ninh’s climate is symbolic of the climate of North Vietnam; featuring all four seasons. In summer, it’s hot, humid and rainy, while monsoons flourish. In winter, it’s cold, dry, and sees little rainfall.
The average heat radiating during a year is 115.4 Kcal/sq. cm. The average temperature is over 21oC, while the average humidity is 84%. Annual rainfall totals between 1,700 and 2,400 mm, and there can be between 90 to 170 rainy days in a year. These are mainly concentrated in the summer (more than 85%), and especially in the months of July and August. In winter, rainfall only reaches between 150 and 400 mm.
In comparison to other provinces in the north, Quang Ninh has been more under the influences of north-eastern monsoons. The wind blows strongly and the temperature drops to between 1 and 3ºC. During a north-eastern monsoon, high mountainous regions such as Bình Liêu and Hải Hà, Ðầm Hà sometimes see the temperature drop below 0ºC.
Storms have a large influence on the province, mainly in June, July and August. The intensity can be extremely strong, especially in island and coastal regions.
Due to differences in terrain, the climate of sub-regions vary. The border area of the Móng Cái District is colder and rainy, with an average temperature of around 22ºC and rainfall reaching 2,751 mm. In the Yên Hưng District, the most southern area, the average temperature is 24ºC and sees an average rainfall of 1,700 mm. The high mountainous region of Hoành Bồ, and Ba Chẽ districts, is victim to 20 days of frost a year, and is subject to little rainfall. In the Bình Liêu District there is heavy rain (2,400 mm) and winter lasts for six months. The offshore island region is not the wettest area, with only 1,700 to 1,800 mm of rainfall per year, but winter is often accompanied by thick mists.
Collected by Vietnam Hotel
Posted by admin on January 21, 2011 under Halong Attractions, Halong Bay Cruises, Halong Bay Overview, Halong Culinary, Tips for Halong tours |
Almost every traveler who visits Southeast Asia makes it a point to visit Halong Bay: a picturesque bay set amidst emerald waters and craggy limestone cliffs. Next to Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay is right up the list of must-see destinations for travelers in the region.
Flickr photo by qureyoon
So what can one do around Halong Bay besides taking that once-in-a-lifetime cruise into the UNESCO World Heritage site here? Fear no more as I had one extra day around Halong City when I visited Halong Bay, Vietnam recently. So here are 5 things you can do around Halong Bay if you have time to kill waiting for your junk boat cruise.
Bai Chay Tourist Wharf and Jetty
Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. It is here that most of the travelers will arrive at before heading out on the Halong Bay Overnight Cruise. Depending on your departure time, you may or may not have time to explore the area.
Vietnamese Coffee
Try some Vietnamese Coffee the Cafe 555 opposite the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. Well, you need to walk about 100 meters to your right if you exit Bai Chay. The cafe is located in between a row of shops by the main road. They serve some potent coffee here so if you are a coffee lover, you hit jackpot here. If you don’t drink coffee, they have other drinks there too.
Karaoke anytime of the day
Try the Cafe Kinh Moi Karaoke just further down the road from Cafe 555. Start your karaoke sessions early if you must here. Singing is inside but if you so desire to do it outside, by all means.
Halong Market
Take a taxi to Halong City and visit the Halong Market. This market is right in the heart of Halong City and you cannot walk there unless you have a few hours to spare. Best would be to take a taxi there. Once here, explore the dry and wet market. A number of interesting items can be seen here while it would be wise to stock up on snacks and drinks for your Halong Bay Cruise.
Vietnamese Snacks and Herbal Drinks
Indulge in the local Vietnamese food and drinks at Halong City. In and around the Halong Market, there are quite a number of exotic foods available if you are up to it. One of the must-try items are the Squid Cakes which are similar to Thai Fish Cakes, these are sold in the open area behind Halong Market.
A number of stalls sell them and they are reasonably cheap and quite tasty. If you walk around the wet market area, you will come across various local foods and delicacies. One of them, the deep fried mini crabs sold cooked or raw. Also, if you have an iron stomach, try some of the local mixed rice dishes and finally wash it down with some local Vietnamese Herbal Drinks. Don’t forget to buy some local fruits for your Halong Bay Overnight Cruise trip.
Halong Bay Casino
Take a walk to the Halong Bay Casino (Royal International Casino). This super small and only casino in Halong Bay can be seen just located by the main road to Bai Chay. Walking here can take you about 10-15 minutes from the wharf. Foreigners need to show your passport to enter and there is no deposit required.
A coffee lounge with slot machines on the ground floor is open to all while there are two gambling halls, one on the ground floor which is closed on weekdays while the main hall is up on the first floor. So small that I walked round it in less than two minutes. So if you’re feeling lucky, head on to the Halong Bay Casino.
Author: 
David Jr
Posted by admin on January 20, 2011 under Halong Bay Cruises, News |
Travel experts have revealed their tips for the year on The Australian. Halong Bay in Vietnam is regarded as one of top spots for those on the fly.
Neil Rodgers, head of marketing, Adventure World
A Halong Bay Cruise
“The best-value destination is Vietnam. Adventure World has already seen an increase of 36 per cent on last year’s booking numbers. Halong Bay cruises start from only $230 for two days. Fast-growing value-for-money destinations include Burma and The Philippines.”
Susanne Cawthray, manager/owner Harvey World Travel, Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Qantas Airline
“The US is selling well and the reason is twofold: the strengthening of the Australian dollar and because the airfares are so much cheaper. You can go to the US for about $1400; it used to be about $2400. With the introduction of V Australia and other carriers on the route, Qantas has become more competitive. Phuket is also popular and Thai Airways International will reintroduce direct flights from Melbourne to Phuket in April.”
David Goldman, general manager, Goldman Travel Corporation, Sydney
Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii
“Hawaii is enjoying a renaissance for family travel. We’ve had a lot of bookings there, especially for Easter 2011. For honeymooners, French Polynesia is exceptional — everyone wants an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora lagoon. Canal and river cruises in Europe are also very popular. For adventure travel, Egypt is the winner. And Cambodia is wonderful, like liquid gold.”
Kate Tate, national marketing manager, Trafalgar Tours
Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy
“Italy remains a perennial favourite and our Italian regional itineraries are the most popular. We are also seeing a spike in popularity for eastern European destinations, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia.”
Andrew Yell, general manager product, sales and marketing, Creative Holidays
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, U.S.A
“The US consistently rates as one of Creative Holidays’ top-performing destinations. With the strength of the dollar, it has peaked further.”
Lorraine Sharp, managing director, Insight Vacations
Edith Lake in Jasper National Park, Canada
“Holidays to the US and Canada are on the rise and many of the tours in our 2011 program have decreased in price. The eastern Mediterranean — Turkey, Egypt, Greece and Jordan – is also attracting a lot of attention.”
Nicole Moy, managing director, Contiki Holidays
Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
“Contiki caters exclusively for the 18-35s market, which is unlike any other demographic, and Europe remains a rite of passage for young travelers. The biggest trend we’ve seen recently is travelers booking longer tours to make the most of their money and their time abroad.”
Lisa Ferrari, travel.com.au general manager – brand
A farmland in New Zealand
“Los Angeles – with the strong dollar and airfares under $1000, the US is no longer an expensive destination. New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations for 2011 and Brazil is a bucket-list destination for many travelers. The Philippines for untapped beaches and great shopping bargains, and India, where interest has been growing for a number of years.”
John Molinaro, general manager, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: “The all-inclusive nature of a river cruise means once a guest pays for their holiday and steps aboard, they will not need to put their hand in their pocket again.”
Barry Mayo, chairman of TravelManagers and former chief executive of Harvey World Travel
Bali
“Bali, Fiji, Phuket, Vanuatu and New Zealand will continue to appeal and perform even more strongly. The ‘in’ destination for Asia in 2011 will be Vietnam; like Bali and Phuket, it is both inexpensive and excellent value. The Philippines is a sleeper destination: cheap and good value, but suffering from an absence of promotion. The US and Canada will do well but early indications are that the big winner in 2011 will be Europe, with river cruising in particularly high demand. Britain, Ireland, France and Italy will all continue to perform strongly, with increasing interest in Spain.”
Source: The Australian
Posted by admin on January 19, 2011 under News |
The northern province of Quang Ninh has approved a Japanese-funded project on protection of the environment of the world heritage Ha Long Bay for the 2011-2013 period.
The project has a capital of over VND70 billion (US$3.5 million) borne by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under its technical assistance scheme.
The project aims to preserve the site’s environment, enhance capacity for environmental and natural management for sustainable tourism development.
A Halong Bay Cruise
Besides, the project will work out measures for the effective use of mainland, sea and islands in the Ha Long area to strike a balance between environmental protection and development.
A seminar on developing biogas-run electric generator was held in Hanoi on January 14 by the Centre for Research in Energy and the Environment (RCEE).
This is part of a cooperative programme between the RCEE and Toyota Group that aims to raise people’s awareness about biogas-run electric generator in Vietnam’s rural areas. The event attracted many scientists and businesses’ representatives.
The project was carried out in 2009-2010 in four provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Hung Yen and Hanoi.
The aim was to promote sustainable use of biogas for environment protection, poverty reduction, improving productivity, and raising the production capacity of small-sized enterprises.
So far, the project has trained technicians, performed the test operations of the generator, provided instruction on how to use the generator, and held several seminars on the technology, application and the benefits of the generator.
Participants at the seminar voiced their concerns about the technology and the use of generator in Vietnam; the strategy to develop the market as well as how to promote biogas technology in Vietnam.
Source: VNN
