Posted by admin on May 31, 2011 under Halong Culinary, Tips for Halong tours | 
If you have a chance to see the living Tu Hài (Snout Otter Clams) with your own eyes, you won’t be surprised by its strange name. An Snout Otter Clam looks like an oyster when its two shells are closed, but its shells rarely close because its long snout is always waggling between them.
Snout Otter Clam
Snout Otter Clam are a special marine species found on Van Don island in Bai Tu Long Bay, Quang Ninh. It takes two to three hours to reach the clam growing area by boat from Bai Chay beach. Bai Tu Long bay has pure and clean water so the habitat is suitable for this special species. Otter snout clam meat is fragrant, delicious and rich in protein. Its price ranges from VND 200,000 – VND 500,000/kg.
Before cooking, snout otter clam shells should be removed and washed before the meat can be made into tasty dishes as follows:
Grilled Snout Otter Clams
Fry some dried onion with chicken oil until it releases a scent. Cover the otter snout clams with this oil and then grill. You can also add peanuts, coriander, pepper and chilli oil to enhance the flavour.
Raw Snout Otter Clams
After cleaning, the snout otter clam meat is kept in its shell. Before serving, squeeze on some lemon juice and add some chilli sauce or wasabi. This dish can be eaten with red caviar.
Snout otter clams can also be fried, steamed, or roasted with cheese and fresh milk. Its unique fragrance enchants both tourists and the locals in Quang Ninh, and it has become the signature dish to be served at Quang Ninh parties in recent years.
Source: Halongbay Vietnambeauty
Posted by admin on May 25, 2011 under News |
Ha Long, Vietnam’s world natural heritage, gained the highest growth in votes in the poll for the seven new world natural wonders on www.new7wonders.com last month.
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| Ha Long Bay |
The bay currently takes the lead in the poll, followed by South Korea’s Jeju Island.
On www.new7wonders.com, Ha Long Bay always took the lead in the last several days.
In May, Vietnam promoted its advertisement and canvas for the bay with many activities held in Vietnam and abroad.
Vietnam and South Korea have joined hands to vote for Ha Long Bay and Jeju Island. On website http://www.jeju-halong.com, the Vietnamese page, there are over 2,500 votes for the two landscapes.
The poll for the new seven world natural wonders is now in the last stage, with 28 candidates. The winners will be announced on November 11, 2011.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistoric human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago.
In 1962, the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism designated Ha Long Bay a ‘Renowned National Landscape Monument’.
Ha Long Bay was first listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, in recognition of its outstanding, universal aesthetic value. In 2000 the World Heritage Committee additionally recognised Ha Long Bay for its outstanding geological and geomorphological value, and its World Heritage Listing was updated.
In 2009, the New 7 Wonders Foundation, which runs the New Seven Wonders of the World programme, including Halong Bay on its list of nominations as one the World’s 7 Natural Wonders.
Source: DTI News
Posted by admin on May 23, 2011 under News |
 The ships cruise on Halong Bay in Quang Ninh Province Photo: Derek Milroy |
There are some places in planet earth you have to pinch yourself to realize you are not watching some fascinating David Attenborough documentary but are actually really witnessing such amazing beauty and then there is…… Halong Bay.
On my first visit to Vietnam, I apologize for my ignorance but I had never even heard of it but on a holiday to Hanoi, I was told I just had to go by the local hotel manager in the French Quarter.
Okay, why not I thought. Granted the rocky bus journey from the capital city was not your five-star luxury coach trip but then you get what you pay for US$100 for a 36-hour trip cannot be sniffed at.
Once we arrived at the port in Quang Ninh Province, it was the usual tourist hang out but nothing I think can prepare you for this fairytale voyage.
The caves and island of Thailand are world famous but with Vietnam just a recent tourist destination to most westerners it is a blessing. Overkill can ruin these places of beauty.
Once we set sail, it was straight to the dinner table with my friend John Carney and our 10 ship mates. Lunchtime saw us have the most beautiful sea food I’d ever experienced at that time and washed down with a few wines before we looked out in wonder at never-ending mountainous islands that have to be seen to be believed.
It was like make belief as you think you are being dragged into some fantasy movie set. I had never seen anything like it before or since. It is on course to be named one of the new wonders of the world, which will be richly deserved. There was even a spot of rain which ensured the mist added to the beauty and mystery of this newfound land, to me anyway.
After looking it up I discovered the bay’s limestone monolithic islands that are covered with jungle vegetation total 1,969. Some of the islands feature caves, grottos, lakes and secluded beaches and wildlife including monkeys and lizards.
After late lunch it was back to the dinner table for more delicious local cuisine and a few drinks. I’ve never had such a peaceful experience. It was the perfect way to escape from your stressed-out existence and appreciate the wonders of nature.
The next morning it was time for more food, you certainly didn’t go hungry on our little boat. All the food was included in the price with only drinks to be paid for.
And then it was onto the Thien Cung and Dau Go caves a short distance away and their amazing bright colors and beautiful shapes and a good walk to sweat out all the booze from the day before. When we reached the caves though we knew this was the beginning of the end and we had the aherm comfortable bus trip back to Hanoi to look forward.
The rocky bus trip aside, I have to be honest and admit that although I’ve been around a bit Halong Bay has to be the most magical place I’ve ever seen. Wonder of the world? Rubber-stamp it now people.
By Derek Milroy
Source: The Saigon Times
Let’s vote for Halong Bay at http://www.new7wonders.com/community/en/new7wonders/new7wonders_of_nature/voting
Posted by admin on May 19, 2011 under News |
A website to vote for Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea (RoK) as two of the seven new natural wonders of the world was launched on May 12 in Hanoi.
The website, http://www.jeju-halong.com, has been established by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in co-operation with the Cultural Centre of theRepublic of Korea (RoK) in Vietnam. The website provides information on the two destinations and guidelines for voting in English, Vietnamese and Korean.
The voting sites are located at the Daewoo and Grand Plaza Hotels in Hanoi. According to Keum Gi Hyung, the director of the RoK Culture Centre, the website is expected to attract votes from more than 10 million Korean and Vietnamese people.
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| Vietnamese and RoK officials launching online voting at Daewoo Hotel |
Speaking at the ceremony, the new Republic of Korea Ambassador toVietnam, Ha Chan Ho, called on people in both countries to vote for the two destinations because “they are not only the national pride of both the RoK andVietnam, but also the pride of Asia, and this will contribute to protecting the world’s environment.”
“If Jeju Island and Ha Long Bay become two of the seven new natural wonders of the world, it will help develop the economy of both countries by increasing the number of foreign tourists,” confirmed the RoK ambassador.
“The event also shows the development of close ties between the two countries in all fields,” he added.
At the ceremony, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai said “the website’s launch is very significant as it expresses the friendship, honour and cultural values of both nations.”
“This co-operation is significant for making the destinations two of the seven new natural wonders of the world.”
Source: VNA
Posted by admin on May 17, 2011 under News |
“Promote our Asian Pride! Jeju Island, Ha Long Bay!” That’s the joint slogan of two of the 28 Official Finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.
It’s also the motto of an interactive, international platform that Korea’s Jeju Island and Vietnam’s Halong Bay have created to energize voters in both countries and around the world in the run up to 11 November, when the names of the seven winners will be announced.
With its English, Korean and Vietnamese interfaces, the tri-lingual website – “Promote our Asian Pride! Jeju Island, Ha Long Bay!” – encourages users to vote for the two candidates and highlights the respective beauty of each. After voting, participants can print the confirmation e-mail that will allow them to get free entrance tickets to the main sites in Jeju Island and Halong Bay.
Jeju is a volcanic island, 130 km off the southern coast of Korea. Its central feature is Mount Hallasan, the tallest peak in South Korea and a dormant volcano, which rises 1,950 m above sea level.
Halong Bay contains thousands of limestone islands of various sizes and shapes. Several of them are hollow, some with enormous caves, others with tiny enclosed lakes.
Source: Travel Weekly Asia
Posted by admin on May 11, 2011 under News |
The Trip Advisor listed Vietnam’s Halong Bay as 16th in Asia’s top 25 destinations in 2011. The list of the 25 best destinations has been chosen by travelers all over the world.
In its introduction, the Trip Advisor says travelers visit Hạ Long Bay for an up-close look at its amazing and breathtaking limestone islands, rock formations and caves which have been whittled away over centuries by wind and water.
The magazine also advises travelers to rent a kayak or a junk boat, or take a tour to explore the beauty of the famous bay.
Hoi An ancient street (Quang Nam province) is listed as 20th in the top 25 destinations.
Defeating 440 competitors in the vote for the seven natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay has been voted in the list of 28 and expected to win in the list of new seven wonders. The final voting result will be informed in November 2011.
Source: QN News
Posted by admin on May 9, 2011 under News |
About 550 thousand tourists visited Halong bay during the Halong Carnival Week 2011 held from April 29 to May 2, showing an 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year, reported the Department of Culture Sports and Tourism.
Halong Carnival 2011
There was a 3-fold increase in the number of travelers visiting Halong bay on April 30 and May 1 in comparison with normal days.
On this occasion, the site received an additional 1,500 online votes for Hạ Long Bay to become one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Halong Bay is now one of the 28 finalists in the vote launched by New Open World and it needs to have 60 million votes to win the title.
Halong Carnival Week 2011 features a wide range of culture sports and tourism activities such as a carnival festival, a seminar on voting campaign for Halong Bay to become one of the seven natural wonders of the world, contest of the best MC on the Bay, music and poetry night on Halong, gastronomy festival, international beach volleyball final round, Open Quang Ninh Tennis Tournament, Quang Ninh international trade fair, etc.
Source: QN News
Posted by admin on May 7, 2011 under Halong Festivals, News |
A laser, sound and water performance titled “Hạ Long by night” was held for the first time on May 2, 2011 in Cột 3 area, Hạ Long city.
The 90-minute performance included four chapters namely the legend of descending dragon, developing Hạ Long – growing Quảng Ninh, the natural wonder of Hạ Long and colorful Quảng Ninh – Hạ Long.
The magic legend of Hạ Long bay as well as the site’s process of development into a tourist attraction were presented via a laser, sound and water performance combining with a sparkling aerial firework show.
Together with twinkling laser effects, many songs about love and the beauty of Hạ Long and joyful dances were performed by many Vietnamese famous singers and some arts delegations from China.
The show is regarded as a special “party” of light and color which left a really deep and lasting impression on thousands of tourists and locals.
Source: QN Gov
Posted by admin on May 4, 2011 under Halong Festivals, News |
Tens of thousands of foreign and local tourists rushed out onto the streets for days of joyous parades and festivities in Carnival Ha Long 2011 starting from May 1 in Ha Long city of the Quang Ninh northern Province.
Addressing the ceremony, Nhu Thi Hong Lien, deputy chairwoman of Quang Ninh People Committee called on everyone to join together to preserve and honor UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay in a bid to collect votes for the Bay to be recognized as one of the world’s new 7 Wonders in this year’s November.
Actors with colorful costumes performed joyous street parades at Carnival Ha Long 2011
The beauty of dancers at Carnival Ha Long 2011
Dancers from the Philippines put on elaborate traditional costumes
An impressive performance by dancers from Hainan, China
Male dancers burned themselves at the street celebrations at Carnival Ha Long 2011
A foreign couple gave each other a passionate kiss, which were witnessed and cheered on by many people around
Tens of thousands of tourists have flocked to Carnival Ha Long 2011 to enjoy the festive atmosphere
At this year’s festival themed The Ha Long Sparkling with Colors, foreign tourists joined local people to dance and sing in the celebrations at the foot of Bai Chay Bridge.
At last night’s opening ceremony, in addition to the dazzling firework, music and poetry night on Ha Long were extravagant processions namely “World Heritage”, “Sea Island Economy”, and “Spiritual Culture and Festivities” led by beautiful dancers amid enthusiastic applause from a huge number of visitors.
The festival was attended by foreign art troupes and around 100 local officials in the province as an evidence of international solidarity.
Meanwhile, more than 100 cruise ships with colorful decorations like sails and flower flags carrying tourists traveled in beautiful formation at the venue.
The tourism week is expected to attract around 500,000 tourists to the bay, accounting for eight to ten per cent of the average annual visitors to the province, said local officials.
Ha Long Bay, comprising some 1,600 islands and islets forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is a famous tourist site in Vietnam.
Source: Tuoi Tre
