Posted by admin on March 19, 2011 under News | 
The New Open World Corporation released a new voting method for the New Seven Wonders of the World – including Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay – via telephone from March 9, according to an official announcement on its website http://www.new7wonder.com.
The international telephone line is available 24 hours a day for voting. To vote for Ha Long Bay, please dial one of these international telephone numbers:
+23 9220 1055
+1 869 760 5990
+1 649 339 8080
+44 758 900 1290
(+ is the symbol for international access code. At the end of the message, after the tone, insert the code 7712 for Ha Long Bay. When you hear the thank you message, you are all done – you have voted for Halong Bay by telephone.)
At present, Ha Long is placed fourth in the New 7 Wonders of the World voting among 28 natural wonders, behind the Amazon Rainforest, the Dead Sea and the Grand Canyon.
The New Open World will announce the final list of the world’s new natural wonders on November 11.
Source: VOV
Posted by admin on March 17, 2011 under Halong Culinary |
This alcohol is processed from special kind of glutinous rice, a specialty of Hoanh Bo.
It is not pounded, but boiled and then fermented. After achieving a degree of ripeness, it is soaked with certain forest leaves, becoming alcohol. It has both a sweet and sour taste, excites the appetite and is a good refreshing drink, especially during the summer.
Another strong point is that, according to locals, if you get drunk off of it you’ll wake up the next morning without a hangover and want to drink more.
Posted by admin on March 16, 2011 under Halong Bay Cruises, Indochina Sails Programs |
With the recent addition of two new vessels our fleet now consists of six boats comprising a total of 74 cabins. With all of our boats safety has been and will continue to be an utmost priority.
Indochina Sails is well known for providing the most luxurious and highest quality cruise ships on Halong Bay. As the first operator to offer overnight cruises on the Bay, Indochina Sails has over ten years experience hosting international travelers, and has consistently set the benchmark for luxury cruising on Halong Bay.
Indochina Sails has always maintained the highest level of safety standards as well.
With the recent addition of two new vessels our fleet now consists of six boats comprising a total of 74 cabins. With all of our boats safety has been and will continue to be an utmost priority.
1. All six boats in our fleet (Indochina Sails 1, 2, 3, Indochina Sails Premium, Valentine and Valentine Premium) have life vests in every cabin (1 per guest, including children). Additionallife jackets for all guests are stored in public areas.
2. The boats are equipped with life buoys and life rafts with capacity for all guests and crew on board.
3. Each boat has a tender (also equipped with life jackets) to assist in any emergency or rescue operation.
4. All of our boats are under professional daily on-board technical supervision.
5. Our Captains possess long term experience and are extensively trained and fully licensed.
6. Our crews are fully trained with clear procedures as to how to deal with emergencies.
7. All guests are briefed and given safety procedures on board with clear instruction in case of emergency.
8. All boats are fitted with professional marine safety equipment: VHF, GPS, radar, walkie-talkies, water leakage alarm systems, water pump systems, fire alarm & fire extinguisher systems.
9. All boats undergo one-month extensive dry dock maintenance yearly and are fully checked by local marine registration authorities before and after leaving dry dock.
10. All boats are covered with maximum boat insurance and maximum passenger & crew insurance.
The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance. We provide safe passage for all our guests.
Posted by admin on March 15, 2011 under Tips for Halong tours |
How about seasick on boat?
If you look on Vietnam map, you will see Halong lies on the Tonkin Gulf with lots of island that made up Halong Bay. With its calm water, Halong Bay really acts as a shield that stops all the violent wave, so it’s hard to get sea sick in Halong Bay.
Only some of the routes that the junks cruise can be close to open sea that the junk was swinging up and down. But once the junk was surrounded by Halong Bay unique limestone islands, it became stable again.
Tip: When the junk gets swinging, do not walk around on boat to avoid seasick.
Where does the boat anchor at night time?
Afternoon cruise to see the hidden wonders of Halong Bay, Origin ’s captain will find a suitable place (within the allowance areas) to anchor for the night, this place is normally inside the very calm bay surrounded by the islands.
Tip: Before we drop the anchor for the night, you will probably see the sunset so get your camera ready to take these wonderful moments.
Can we sleep outside on the top deck of the boat?
Yes, it is very nice to sleep outside there on the top-deck but please check this with our tour guide or the junk’s captain if the weather is fine to sleep outside. To note that we have very fine cabins designed with comforts of everything needed for a good sleep: natural rubber mattress, blanket, feather pillows and mosquito net and we can not bring this outside for you.
Tip: That night we all stayed up drinking talking about home and watching the shooting stars from the top deck. It was a wonderful time!
Posted by admin on March 14, 2011 under News |
Russian press circles have confirmed Vietnam as the most popular choice in recent times for Russian tourists, with an increase of 68 percent year on year to over 51,000 arrivals in 2010.
The Voice of Russia quoted National League of Travel authorities as saying that Vietnam joined the group of countries with the largest numbers of Russian arrivals in 2010.
The league’s press secretary, Irina Tiurina, highlighted low costs as one of the reasons that have made Vietnam the choice for Russian tourists instead of Thailand.
The number of Russian arrivals is not so big but demonstrates Vietnam’s success, she said.
Other factors that have made the hospitality industry successful are comfortable and safe services, while it’s a good time all the year round to travel in Vietnam. Beaches in the southern central cities of Phan Thiet and Nha Trang are the most attractive to Russian tourists.
Photographer Sergei Kovalchuk said Vietnam’s friendly environment, convenient transport and cheap transport charges were the first to make the country attractive to tourists. It also offers foreign tourists convenient trips to neighbouring Laos and Cambodia, he pointed out.
Journalist and India specialist Nina Rukavishnikova expressed her deep impression on Vietnam’s superb long coastline.
Positive feedback from Russian tourists has backed Vietnam’s high ranking in services, especially Hanoi, which was rated top in the “price-quality” index for excellent hotel services.
Source: VN+
Posted by admin on March 12, 2011 under Tips for Halong tours |
Can we travel from Hai Phong to Halong?
Yes, you can! If you are already there in Hai Phong, you can call Originvietnam to have a car and guide pick you up from there and drive to , which should be less than 1,5 hours.
Or you can plan a trip with Origin from Hanoi to Hai Phong city, do the sightseeing, spend the night there then move onto Halong on the next morning.
Tip: There is a good road linking Hai Phong and Cat Ba island (South of Halong Bay), you could also travel via this way, then have our junk welcome you on Cat Ba port to visit Lan Ha bay and Halong Bay.
Do you have life jackets on boat?
Yes, that is one requirement for any boat/junk in Halong Bay.
Tip: If you do not see this when boarding the junk, please ask for the instruction from the crew member or our captain.
What do we have to bring with us to the boat?
Yes you do have to bring it with you on boat and please provide us your full names, gender, passport number, visa expire date before your departure to Halong Bay.
Tip: Each boat/junk has it own safety box, please do leave your valuable belongings in this safety box so that you can have more fun visiting cave, swimming…
What kind of food on boat in Halong Bay?
Most of the meals offered with seafood as Halong Bay specialty is seafood; there is lots of sea dishes combined with traditional Vietnamese food, I’m sure you will like the food on boat, if you are allergic with seafood, please inform your meal preference to our tour operator before your departure to Halong Bay.
Posted by admin on March 11, 2011 under Tips for Halong tours |
How far is that from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
HaLong Bay is located 170 km away from Hanoi, this would take you about 3 – 3.5 hours on bus transfer to Halong city, bus trip normally leaves Hanoi by 8.30 am.
We will be hitting the road for Halong Bay through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.
What do we have to bring with us to the boat?
Passport
Sun cream, insect repellent
Small changes for buying drinks on boat
Swim-suit and changes
Your own towels (though we have towels available)
Good camera with lots of films or memory space
A sense of adventures
When is the best time to visit Halong?
Summer is a good time to cruise on Halong Bay but the best time of year is during the spring or fall. Because the bay is situated in the northern part of the country, it can get colder in the fall and winter, and though you won’t see extremes such as blizzards, it’s still a lousy place to be when it gets cold.
Tip: You should bring a swim suit with you, night’s swim in the phosphorescent water is also very nice (must be before your drinks)
Is one day trip to Halong Bay worth to visit?
Halong Bay is so beautiful that one could not miss; though 3 hours drive each way is a bit long for somebody. You will get about 4 hours on Original cruise, which is just enough for you to get an overview of what is Halong. We suggest that you drive to Halong city and sleep in the hotel the night before, so you would have a longer time on the Bay, more cruise, more caves, and more swimming.
Posted by admin on March 10, 2011 under News |
 A boat launched by Life Heritage Resort in Ha Long Bay |
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Life Heritage Resort Halong Bay under Life Resorts Management Co. has launched four private deluxe boats in Halong Bay.
The boats, specially decorated with the history and local culture of the bay in mind, are built and operated to Certified Marine Standards and equipped with modern maritime safety features and equipment.
Each boat has a spacious 32 square meter cabin with an upper deck, a dining terrace and sun deck. Cabin facilities feature a separate living area with panoramic windows, swim deck, en-suite bathroom and shower, comfortable queen size beds, air conditioning and heating, and sun beds on the upper deck.
All the boats carry on board kayaks, swimming ladders, snorkel, masks and fins as well as rod and hand reel fishing equipment. Customers can design their own itinerary of the bay’s sights, limestone caves, islands and secluded beaches.
Six hour cruises cost US$220 for two persons, including set lunch. Additional persons up to a maximum of four are charged at US$65 each.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Hanoi or Hai Phong is available. The boats launch at midday everyday.
Source: SGT
Posted by admin on March 9, 2011 under News |
Up to 885,200 tourists flocked to the northern province of Quang Ninh during February this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 8%. Of the figure 186,800 were foreigners.
In total, Quang Ninh received more than 1 million visitors in the first two months this year, earning over VND500 billion.
In early March, over 2,400 tourists aboard the international cruise ships namely the Seabourn Sojourrne cruise liner of the US, the Amazara Quest (Pahamas) and the Costa Classica (Italy) arrived in the province’s Halong Bay.
Quang Ninh is in a hurry to complete the Halong Tourism Festival 2011 programme, which will be kicked off in April this year to lure more visitors.
Source: VNA
Posted by admin on March 8, 2011 under News, Tips for Halong tours |
Today, you can explore Ha Long Bay from unprecedented heights by going on a helicopter tour.
Ha Long Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s tourism crown, a stunning geological formation that captivates even the most travel weary and jaded of visitors.
Most people usually take a cruise around the bay. You can choose one or two night trips to enjoy the mesmerising scenery and discover wonderful coves and islets or simply enjoy the views from the top deck of your boat.
As a repeat visitor I wouldn’t say I’m tired of Ha Long, but I was certainly eager to discover another side of the UNESCO World Heritage Site when a friend told me about the Luxury Travel Company’s helicopter tour.
This would be a great opportunity to fly over the bay and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the limestone karst islets which, according to legend are the shards of diamond and jade, that were spat out by a family of dragons sent from heaven to help protect Vietnam from foreign invaders.
I was so excited at the prospect of climbing into a helicopter, I could hardly sleep the night before. But as the morning drew closer I started to get increasingly nervous. What if, I am scared of heights? Having never scaled any cliff faces, or jumped out of an airplane, how would I know?
Morning departure
I begin to suffer vertigo even before I arrive at Gia Lam Airport, 5km from downtown Hanoi, where I am to meet my tour guide and the helicopter crew. The flight departs at 8.30am. Still slightly anxious, I reassure myself that by flying to Halong Bay I’m at least avoiding the long, rather dangerous road from Hanoi to Hai Phong. Ha Long is normally more than a three-hour drive but via helicopter we expect to arrive in 45 minutes.
Our guide informs us that the Russian MI-17 helicopter seats 24 people and will reach an altitude of 300m. We are also in luck; the sky is clear and blue, a perfect day for flying. We set off and everyone is immediately glued to the windows and we see vast, beautiful rice fields pass below us.
The Red River looks like a long snake winding its way through a terracotta garden. Tran Van Huong, the captain, informs us that because a helicopter flies slower and lower than a jet, there is less chance that people will feel sick while taking off or landing. The helicopter is quite large and comfortable, but being a military chopper, there is no air- conditioning, just fans.
We are told we can visit the cockpit and talk with the four-member crew or, rather, shout at the crew –it is hard to make yourself heard above the throbbing engines!
The whole package
The Northern Serviced Flight Company, who operate the helicopter, also offer trips to Sapa in Lao Cai province and Dien Bien Phu, but tourists currently seem to prefer Ha Long Bay. The whole tour with Luxury Travel includes a cruise on a junk as well as a helicopter tour over the bay, plus transfer from Hanoi and back by chopper.
Ha Long Bay is certainly spectacular from the helicopter – it’s as perfect as a painting: the white sandy coves, the thick green forest, the rugged mountains and the jagged karsts jutting out of the emerald water.
I snap as many pictures as I can before the chopper lands at a heliport on General Giap Hill (named after General Vo Nguyen Giap as you might guess) Who knows when I will be 200m above Ha Long Bay again?
The chopper lands smoothly and we are back down on earth. Everyone is buzzing after the trip and I almost feel sad it’s over.
We are driven from the heliport to Bai Chay harbour, where boats and junks have gathered to meet the hundreds of tourists arriving from Hanoi. I can’t help but swagger a little smugly past the tired looking tourists clambering out of the buses and mini-vans thinking, I came by helicopter and I feel great! Coming by chopper I got to sleep in longer and had plenty of room on board.
For once, I am actually refreshed and energised as we set off to explore the caves and beaches around Ha Long. Later on we grab kayaks and paddle around, visiting floating aquaculture farms and beaches. On previous trips I was often slumped in a chair, too tired and stiff to do anything else, but today I am up for everything.
We enjoy a lavish seafood lunch on board and everyone is still in high spirits, reflecting on the amazing trip. It’s a little clichéd to say “this was unforgettable” but that’s how we felt!
After lunch the junk returns to port before we again climb on board the helicopter and set off for the capital where we arrive at 2.30pm. It’s hard to believe we still have the whole afternoon ahead of us!
Source: VOV
