Posted by admin on February 15, 2011 under Halong Festivals, News | 
The annual Yen Tu Pagoda Spring Festival in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh opened with a ceremony on Feb. 12 (tenth day of the first lunar month).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan beat the drum to launch the start of the festival. Prominent guests at the ceremony were Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan, the Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, followers and visitors. All joined in offering incense to King Tran Nhan Tong, who reigned over the country from 1279 to 1293 and then renounced the throne to devote his life to Buddhism. All present also joined another ceremony to pray for peace for the country and the citizens.
According to the organizing committee, the weather this year has been so pleasantly conducive that a large number of visitors are being drawn to the Festival.
The Tung lam tour Company is making use of the cable car system to serve tourists who want to visit the Dong pagoda on Bach Van Son Mountain. Unfortunately, the 70 cable cars are still unable to meet the tourist rush and hundreds of tourists have to walk up to the Dong pagoda.
Yen Tu has so far welcomed over 20,000 visitors since the first day of the lunar year and the festival will last through spring for three months. Last year the festival recorded over 2.1 million visitors according to Vu Van Khoan, Vice Director of the Managing Board of Yen Tu pagoda.
Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50km from Ha Long City. The winding route of the pilgrimage from the foot of the mountain to its peak is almost 30km. On the highest peak sits the Dong Pagoda, which is more than a kilometer above sea level.
The area’s natural beauty and awe-inspiring landscape in its surrounding setting of ancient pagodas and hermitages is said to be the reason that King Tran Nhan Tong renounced his throne to devote his life to Buddhism on this majestic Mountain. He crowned his son as heir to his empire and after becoming a monk he founded the Truc Lam meditation sect which later gave Yen Tu the recognition as the country’s leading centre for Buddhism.
Source: SGGP
Posted by admin on February 14, 2011 under News |
MSN has ranked Halong Bay as one of the top ten places to rekindle romance on a romantic getaway this Valentine.
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango — and there’s no better place to practice your moves with your partner than on a romantic getaway to Buenos Aires, the birthplace of this incredibly sexy dance. Watching expert tango dancers spin around the dance floor at one of the local venues here is already hot stuff — women dress the part in fishnet stockings, heels, and high-slit dresses, while men don tailored suits and cravats — but taking to the floor with your honey can make the temperature go higher still. Play the voyeur at neighborhood spots like Bar Sur (www.bar-sur.com.ar), or, put on your dancing shoes and trot your stuff at Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso (www.torquatotasso.com.ar), which also offers lessons for first-timers. When you need to rest your feet, this Paris of South America has a lot more to tempt visiting lovebirds, from elegant turn-of-the-century mansions and tree-lined boulevards reminiscent of European cities like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, to cozy bistros in trendy neighborhoods where diners linger over long meals. Plus, with the peso so low nowadays, this city — which once rivaled Manhattan in terms of price — is extremely affordable.
2. Bora Bora
If there’s one destination to blow your savings on in the name of love, this tiny, pricey South Pacific island is it. Novelist James A. Michener described Bora Bora as, “the most beautiful island in the world” and visitors to this romantic getaway’s far-flung shores rarely disagree. So small that the island road is a mere 19 miles long, this Polynesian idyll sits 143 miles northwest of Tahiti and boasts the best that nature can offer: a high-mountain center cloaked in jungle, a superb cobalt lagoon, a colorful coral reef, and pristine stretches of bone-white sand dotted with fallen coconut husks. When you’re not discovering the many bounties of this island paradise, hang out at the local watering hole, Bloody Mary’s (www.boraboraisland.com/bloodymarys), where Pierce Brosnan has been known to woo his leading lady, or send off the sun with a sunset catamaran cruise. Come nightfall, few can resist bedding down at a lavishly appointed over-the-water bungalow.
3. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Couples in search of romance are flocking to this wondrous city on the southernmost stretch of Croatia’s coast, as enchanted by its beauty today as the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who once proclaimed, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.” The city has been magnificently restored to its former glory to emerge as one of the most fashionable vacation spots in all of Europe. Dubrovnik’s resurgent popularity should come as no surprise, however — this “jewel of the Adriatic,” as the coastal resort town is often referred to in tourist brochures, is breathtakingly beautiful and a magnet for dreamy-eyed lovers in search of a romantic getaway. The city’s fortified old town overlooks the dazzling Adriatic from a shelter of limestone cliffs and its marble-paved streets are lined with marvelously preserved churches, stately palaces, squares, and terracotta-roofed townhouses. Meanwhile, down below, along the seaside coast, fine beaches beckon — as do a slew of offshore islands — making Dubrovnik uniquely appealing to just about any taste.
4. Halong Bay, Vietnam
Now that you’ve found your knight in shining armor, put his dragon-slaying skills to the test in this ancient dragon’s lair near the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Indeed, “Ha Long” means “where the dragon descends into the sea” and, once you’re sailing the enchanting emerald-green waters here, you’ll easily understand why the bay is believed to have been formed by the thrashing of a dragon’s tail. It’s a sight that confirms this corner of Vietnam’s status as one of the most romantic getaways in Asia; undoubtedly the country’s most mesmerizing natural setting, this UNESCO-protected area is dotted with grottoes, some 3,000 limestone islets (only one of which is inhabited), and often shrouded in mist, which only adds to its mystique. While day trips are available, we strongly recommend booking an overnight Halong Bay cruise to experience the bay’s phenomenal sunset and sunrise, as well as more of its splendid landscapes.
5. Nevis
If you’re craving a Caribbean getaway that’s just as high on romance as it is on R & R, look no further than darling Nevis (pronounced n-EE-vis), the sister island of St. Kitts. A quiet, old-Caribbean charm reigns on this 36-square-mile patch of land that famously produced Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States. Nowadays, cocooning lovers can hole up on romantic getaways in converted plantation houses — rather than sterile high-rise beach resorts — where atmospheric verandahs, louvered windows, and four-poster beds guarantee your hours, if not days, will be spent canoodling. Should you decide to leave your room, the island’s scenery is equally entrancing: Disused stone sugar mills are now overgrown with vines, lush island paths invite hiking and horseback riding, and sugarcane fields lead to remarkable restaurants serving fine Creole fare. Add in the fact that Nevis is still relatively difficult to get to (you have to change planes in St. Maarten, Antigua, or Puerto Rico), and you’ll be looking at spending serious quality time with your sweetie — without having to share him or her with other vacationing sun worshipers.
6. Paris, France
Parisian culture seems inherently designed for romance, with countless settings tailor-made for those only-in-the-movies-type kisses: manicured gardens with perfect make-out benches lie around every corner; lamp-lit pedestrian quays along the Seine invite stolen smooches; and majestic plazas and tucked-away squares like Place des Vosges offer storybook backdrops for marriage proposals. A perch atop any of the city’s famous ponts (bridges) are also sure to get your heart racing: linger on Paris’s oldest bridge, Pont Neuf; check out the animated arts-and-music scene of Pont des Arts; or take in the phenomenal views of the Eiffel Tower from the elaborate Pont Alexandre III. Undoubtedly, for some, the height of a romantic getaway here can be found at the top of the Eiffel Tower itself; coordinate your viewing with one of Paris’s lovely sunsets, and the city will blush pink right along with you.
7. Quebec City, Canada
With its homegrown French language, colonial architecture, and horse-drawn carriages, Quebec City is inherently designed with romantic getaways in mind. Encircled by ancient stone ramparts, and speckled with lovely squares, quaint cafés, and striking historical buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also blessed with a phenomenal natural setting above the mighty St. Lawrence River, with plenty of vantage points from which to view the coursing waters. Each season brings its own special charms, too: While summers encourage late-night lingering over wine at outdoor cafés, the chilly winters give lovers all the more reason to snuggle up under a blanket in a horse-drawn caleche or get cozy with a delectable fondue for two at a first-rate French restaurant. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, stay in a quaint 17th-century auberge (inn), complete with wood-beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls to round out the otherwordly experience.
8. Santa Barbara, California
Bona fide beach town, the Santa Ynez wine-producing region next door, and loads of spa retreats within driving distance . . . it’s no wonder California’s Santa Barbara gets our nod in the romantic getaways department. Its splendid location, between palm-fringed Pacific beaches and the evergreen Santa Ynez Mountains, quaint Spanish- and Mediterranean-style architecture, gourmet fare, and posh hotels have attracted West Coast residents for quiet weekends for decades. And no wonder: From wine-tasting in one of the country’s largest wine-producing regions and supping on sublime organic foods, to enjoying massages for two and strolling barefoot on the beach at sunset, a visit here is an undeniably heady experience. Tack on an outing in a hot air balloon — a favorite local activity — and you’ll be guaranteed to swoon over the scenery, as well as your companion!
9. Santorini, Greece
Some may think island romance is overrated, but then they’ve probably never been to Santorini. The most visually stunning of all the Greek Cyclades, this beguiling honeymoon spot has all the trappings of a dream vacation: Postcard-perfect cliffside villages, exotic black-sand volcanic beaches, transcendent sunsets, luxurious cave-rock hotels, dramatic striated red-and-gray cliffs stretching to the sky, and the Aegean’s finest wineries. Built atop volcanic ashes — on the ruins of what some theorize to be the lost city of Atlantis — the resplendent whitewashed beauty’s remarkable physical characteristics — its jagged cliffs, dark volcanic rock, and crescent shape carved out by the sea — are manifestations of its eruptive history. These days, romantic getaways to Santorini are more likely to incite personal passions, whether on a visit to the enchanting cliff-side village of Oia, gazing at mesmerizing sunsets over the Aegean, or simply absorbing the best of Mediterranean romance in all its glory.
10. Venice, Italy
An extraordinary waterfront wonderland where ancient palazzi seemingly float above water, Venice manages to be both serene and seductive all at once. While its labyrinthine cobblestone streets certainly encourage lovers to stroll hand in hand, it’s the city’s iconic gondolas that really up the romantic ante. Picture yourself, a due, tucked in an intricate, hand-carved boat, and punted along dreamlike canals by a young Italian gondolier who serenades you as you glide under delicately arched bridges — the aptly-named Bridge of Sighs among them — and past flower-laden balconies. Other Venetian draws sure to set your heart aflutter include sipping Bellinis to the sounds of classical music in the majestic Piazza San Marco or catching a view of spires and rooftops from atop the Campanile di San Marco.
Source: MSN
Posted by admin on February 12, 2011 under Halong Bay Overview |
Considering the long periods of struggle the country had to withstand, Vietnam is almost instantly associated with war and conflict. However, in this tropical country, there’s a rare and unique paradise that has flourished over the last few centuries and continues to be one of the most fascinating and intriguing tourist spots on the planet.
A world in itself, Halong Bay is located in the Quang Ninh province. Spectacular rock formations, islets and stunning ecosystems that bring together a rare marine habitat and the tropical environment to give us a magical journey that leads us into a world of its own, the Halong Bay is a must when visiting Vietnam.
The legend has it that the spectacular and almost living islands were formed after a family of dragons was sent from the heavens to defend the country. They spewed jewels and jade, which ended up being the islands.
Of course, there is a very sound geographic theory as well for the formation of these rocks. The bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands with each and everyone of them resembling some spectacular form to the imaginative mind.
There are also many caves in the area with Dau Go Cave (Wooden stakes Cave) the largest of them all. The spooky and stunning caverns and intricate caves offer a rare and once in a lifetime glimpse into the depths that are adored by a series of stalactites and stalagmites along with some nineteenth century French graffiti.
The marine life in the Ha Long Bay is also pretty exciting with 200 species of fish and 450 species of mollusks around, along with tiny pockets of tropical forests on each island.
For food lovers, the Ha Long Bay is an absolute heaven as the 10 floating villages that reside here all rely on fishing for their livelihood, meaning you would be served some of the best marine cuisine in the world.
There are more than 989 amazing islands and islets to see and that will surely leave you pretty busy over a week or two, but make sure you don’t miss out on the Kissing Rocks, Voi Islet, Ga Choi Islet and Mai Nha Islet.
Tourism has had a negative impact on this delicate ecosystem while it has boosted the area’s economy. So if you happen to visit this tropical paradise, be sure you cause as little damage as possible to the fragile ecosystem, while you enjoy its natural wonders.
Author: Alex Ion
Posted by admin on February 11, 2011 under Tips for Halong tours |
Halong’s climate is humid and tropical. With a hot, humid summer and dry, cold winter; Halong’s temperature varies from 15ºC to 25ºC.
Annual rainfall is between 2000mm and 2200mm. Halong Bay has typical diurnal tide system (tide amplitude ranges from 3.5-4m). The salinity is from 31 to 34.5MT in dry season and lower in rainy season.
Photo by JR. Álvaro González
It is possible to visit Halong Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.
Posted by admin on February 10, 2011 under Halong Bay Cruises, Tips for Halong tours |
Halong Bay, about 100 miles east of Hanoi, is in the running for inclusion in the global campaign New7Wonders of Nature. What’s so special about Halong Bay? Not only does it have nearly 2,000 limestone islands, many of them are hollow, with massive caves. Several operators offer excursions on the bay, but Emeraude Classic Cruises says it offers something a little different: dinner.
Emeraude offers up a four-course dinner inside one of these caves during its annual Wine and Dine Cruise.
This year, the cruise departs May 14 and returns the next morning. The cruise’s $245-per-person price tag includes breakfast at Hanoi’s Press Club, champagne, a seafood buffet, and tapas and wine tasting before dinner in the cave.
“Halong Bay from the deck of the ship is an incredible sight,” said Kurt Walter, general manager of Emeraude. And “viewing it from the interior of Drum Cave is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Source: LA Times
Posted by admin on February 9, 2011 under News |
A photo contest on world heritages in Vietnam was launched in Hanoi recently. The contest, jointly organised by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, the National Cultural Heritage Department and Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, aims to popularise, preserve and develop the value of the nation’s 11 UNESCO-recognised, cultural intangible, tangible and natural heritages.
Halong Bay, one of Vietnam's world heritages
All Vietnamese citizens and foreigners are able to send colour or black and white photos to the organising board prior to July 4, with each entrant allowed to send up to 11 photos.
The awards ceremony and photo exhibition are planned to take place in Danang City on the occasion of the National Day, September 2 and in Hanoi on the occasion of the city’s liberation day, October 10.
The organising board will award one first prize, worth VND10 million, two second prizes, worth VND7 million each, three third prizes, valued at VND5 million each and 10 consolation prizes.
Source: VNA
Posted by admin on February 8, 2011 under Emeraude Cruise, Halong Bay Cruises |
Emeraude Classic Cruises invites guests to dine in style in one of Halong Bay’s most stunning caves.
Emeraude Classic Cruises
Just one month after news hit the headlines that explorers had discovered the world’s largest cave in north-central Vietnam, plans started falling into place for what might be the world’s most exquisite caving experience.
A team of experts recently entered and measured Son Doong Cave, now uncontestably confirmed as the world’s biggest. Situated just a few hundred kilometers north, Halong Bay is geographically very similar, thanks primarily to the hundreds of limestone karsts and cavernous caves that dot the water.
Emeraude Classic Cruises, Halong Bay’s preeminent tour operator, will be hosting its annual Wine & Dine Cruise in May, featuring a gourmet dinner inside one of the caves.
“It’s about being on the inside looking out,” said Kurt Walter, general manager of Emeraude Classic Cruises. “Halong Bay from the deck of the ship is an incredible sight. Viewing it from the interior of Drum Cave is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Add a five-star dinner and you have a unique event that you’ll remember forever.”
The sumptuous four-course meal takes place in an atmospheric grotto. The elegant tableware, international standard cuisine and carefully chosen wines lend an otherworldly touch by the craggy ceiling, shadowy, candlelit crevices, and stunning nighttime view of the bay through the cave entrance.
“Vietnam has tremendous natural beauty,” said Walter. “Like Son Doong Cave, though, it’s often hidden away awaiting discovery. We’re bringing our guests into the middle of the landscape, making them a part of the spectacular beauty of Halong Bay, and letting them explore one of those never-seen places.”
The cruise will depart Saturday May 14th, after a breakfast at Hanoi’s legendary Press Club. Once onboard the replica of a 19th century paddle steamer, guests will enjoy a day of champagne, seafood buffet, volleyball on the shore of one of the Bay’s islands, tapas and a wine tasting before disembarking and entering Drum Cave for dinner.
After the meal, guests return to the Emeraude for a Johnnie Walker Blue and Singleton single malt tasting on the sun deck, before retiring to one of the classically appointed cabins below. The paddle steamer returns to shore on Sunday morning. Tickets are all-inclusive starting from $245 per person based on double occupancy.
While this will be the seventh year for the Wine & Dine cruise, 2011 has already seen increased international attention paid to Halong Bay. Lonely Planet magazine called out Halong Bay as the world’s second-best spot to go boating; and the Bay is in the running for classification as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Collected by Vietnam Hotel
Posted by admin on February 7, 2011 under Halong Attractions |
Yen Tu Pagoda
Yen Tu Pagoda is situated 14km away from Uong Bi town of Quang Ninh. Yen Tu Pagoda complex comprises 10 pagodas among which Dong Pagoda (which is located on the top of Yen Tu mountain of 1 065 meters high) is the most prominent one. The area consists hundreds of shrines, towers, tombs, natural rock statues and caves and is surrounded by vast forest and mountains. This is the center of Buddhism and also the cradle of a Buddhist sect called Truc Lam which was established by King Tran Nhan Tong. Yen Tu is not only a historical and cultural vestige but also a tourist attraction. Annually, this site attracts millions of tourists who follow Buddhism and tourists who go for sightseeing. In spring (from the first to the third lunar month), a large number of people from many part of the country come here to go on pilgrimage and sightseeing. When visiting this solemn place, you will easily catch sight of old people sincerely climb up to Dong Pagoda without the support of hanging cable. They do so to show their respect and also to ask for health and luck since for Vietnamese, Yen Tu Pagoda is a sacred place. If you would like to join in the crowded atmosphere of Yen Tu Festival, come here during festival days. If you want to stay in the quietness and explore the surrounding landscape, come in other periods of time.
Long Tien Pagoda
Long Tien Pagoda lies right under Bai Tho Mountain in Ha Long city. This is the largest pagoda and also a well-known historical vestige of Ha Long. The Pagoda was built in 1941 with a special and unique architecture pattern. The sculpture style with formalized patterns and the layout style is somewhat the same as that of pagodas in the Nguyen Dynasty. The pagoda worships Thanh Mau, Tran Hung Dao and heroes of the Tran Dynasty. In the Pagoda, there are many sculpture products which reflect the sophisticated sculpturing skill. Visiting Long Tien Pagoda in the first lunar month or the second lunar month, you will have chance to take part in the Festival which attracts lots of tourists.
Cua Ong Temple
Cua Ong Temple is situated on a low mountain looking over Bai Tu Long Bay with wonderful landscape in Cua Ong ward, Cam Pha town, Quang Ninh. This temple worships Tran Quoc Tang and many well-known heros of the Tran Dynasty. The temple now comprises 34 statues of different sizes which are skillfully sculptured. This is also a beauty spot recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information. Cua Ong Temple has three main parts: Ha Temple, Trung Temple and Thuong Temple. From the temple, you can have an overall view of Bai Tu Long Bay and Cam Pha coal mining region. The temple has long been regarded as a very sacred one not only for Quang Ninh inhabitants, but also for people from other provinces. Cua Ong Temple Festival takes place annually from the 2nd of the first lunar month and last until the end of spring.
If you are interested in local culture, visit Quang Ninh in spring and participate in the pilgrimage which starts from Long Tien Pagoda, then move on to Yen Tu Pagoda before finally reaching Cua Ong Temple.
Source: Vietnam Hotel
