Posted by admin on June 29, 2011 under Halong Attractions | 
Two kilometers south-west of Ti Top Beach is the Me Cung Grotto or Bewitching Grotto. It formed on Lom Bo Island, and seen from afar, the entrance is like the roof of a house denting the island’s side.
After a narrow crack only allowing one person through at a time, many partitions appear. These chambers are somewhat small and narrow, but very refined, and with many stalagmites and stalactites bearing beautiful forms.
Threading your way through narrow passages, you find a dim light from afar, which signals the exit of the grotto. On getting out of the grotto, climb up several rugged stone stairs and look down, you see a large round lake surrounded by the mountain. Its waters is blue all year round. The lake is home to many kinds of fish, shrimps, octopuses, algae, see weed, and coral. Lying adjacent to the lake there is an area of old trees popularly known as an alluring “royal garden”.
It is dry and well-ventilated, and features a thick layer of shells forming the foundation of the entrance. Formerly, this layer was 1.2-meter-thick and semi-fossilized. In the course of research, there was also a fossilized animal’s skeleton discovered in the interior. The Me Cung Grotto has been recognized by archaeologists as one of the vestiges of the pre-Ha Long new Stone Age culture, that existed between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Pushing into the grotto, tourists feel like walking in a palace of a Persian king. Hearing the murmur from out of nowhere, you think that Scheherazade is telling the stories of the Thousand and One Nights for her king.
On the island, there are many ancient trees casting long reflections on the water of the bay. They are home to many species of birds and animals (monkeys, chamois and varans).
Source: HalongbayVietnambeauty
Posted by admin on June 20, 2011 under Emeraude Cruise, Halong Bay Cruises |
The foundation myth of Vietnam’s
Halong Bay is one of blood and war, the countless limestone islets rising out of the water seeded by dragons sent from heaven to help the Vietnamese fight off an invading fleet from the north. Now, the bay embodies the very opposite of conflict, imparting to the visitor a supreme serenity.
In the early 1990s, the only tours of Halong Bay were in outboard motor-driven craft seating just a handful of visitors, amenities consisting of a barbecued lunch and a cooler full of beer — and the chance of a swim. Hardly a bad time, you might say, but a far cry from the luxury on offer in 2011, in the form of full-service overnight cruises aboard the replica French paddle steamer Emeraude.
When first glimpsed at the end of its dedicated pier, the Emeraude looks like it’s just arrived out of a time warp. Indeed, the original Emeraude and its sister ships were laid down around the turn of the last century, commissioned by an entrepreneurial French family to carry freight and pleasure cruisers around the bay. That vessel sank without loss of life in 1937, but its namesake — commissioned in 2003 — is a period masterpiece.
Painted white with deep green accents, the Emeraude forms a sharp counterpoint to the fake Chinese junks that make up the vast majority of the local tour boats. The illusion of French colonial splendor is maintained once on board, with period deck chairs, deeply polished wooden decks, brass fittings in all the interiors, and a crew turned out in perfect sailor white.
There is no doubt from the moment you step on board that the primary focus of an Emeraude cruise is comfort. No sooner have passengers made their way to the top deck to get their cabin keys than they find themselves with a fruit juice cocktail in hand — a small but welcome gesture after the two-hour ride from Hanoi. Luggage is whisked away to the small but immaculate cabins, each with a private washroom and beds so comfortable they’re hard to get out of.
Luckily, there are plenty of incentives to do just that. First of all, there’s the food. The cruise, which starts at about lunchtime and goes to late morning the following day, lays on three sumptuous meals in the second-deck dining room. Anyone expecting a private waiter and plates brought to tables under silver domes will be disappointed; this is not the White Star Line. What there is, however, is a buffet of magnificent proportions.
Often the image that comes to mind with the words “all you can eat buffet” is platters of greasy, lukewarm and heavily picked-over instant food. Emeraude meals are something else completely. The food is delicious, diverse and of gourmet caliber. Diners can go through several courses, mixing and matching Asian and Western foods every time without ever eating the same thing twice. And if the Chicken Cordon Bleu or giant prawns in tamarind sauce you were eyeing are gone by your second pass, have no fear; the stream of food from the kitchen is relentless.
If you’re looking for a little oomph in your mealtime drinks, the restaurant and two bars on board also offer a moderate selection of beers, wines and cocktails, though the prices are positively coma-inducing for anyone used to drinking out in Vietnam.
Of course, no-one gets on the Emeraude just to eat. This is a cruise of UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay, and it does not disappoint.
The ship makes its way out of Bai Chay and traces a slow course for a network of caves called Sung Sot, or the Surprise Grotto, in one of the towering islands. “Discovered” by the French during the colonial period, the voluminous grotto covers some 10,000 square meters. One of the Emeraude’s crew gives a short explanation of the cave’s history before visitors are left to explore at their own pace. The cave interior is truly striking, though the effect is marred somewhat by the garish coloured lights, which “destroy the natural and historic feel to the caves,” as German visitor Philipp Imbusch put it.
However, the cave remains impressive, and the trip ashore via one of the Emeraude’s tenders is worth it even if just for the views afforded by the path up to the cave mouth.
From the caves, the ship will then move on to its evening mooring, where it drifts gently about its anchorage. For anyone who wants a swim, this is the time to do it. Kayak lessons can also be had, though this unfortunately entails a hefty extra charge.
However, set aside the kayaks, the caves, the food and the period detail, these long hours at anchor make the real reason to burn two precious vacation days on an Emeraude cruise fully apparent.
That reason is comfort combined with time; time to lose yourself completely in the silent beauty of Halong Bay, time that belongs just to you. Other than the sound of swimmers’ laughs and splashes bouncing off the nearby cliffs, there is nothing to disturb a reverie, a good book, or simple appreciation of this unique place. The minutes go by, the water turns from late afternoon gold to sunset pink, and nothing more is needed.
The mooring outside the Surprise Grotto. The cave interior is impressive, though the effect is marred by garish lighting. (Mainichi)
Once the sun has found its own moorings below the horizon, passengers head back to the dining room. After the meal, you can choose a screening of Catherine Deneuve’s “Indochine” about a French woman in colonial Vietnam (this is a replica French steamer, after all), a place at the bar, or more private moments in your cabin or staring out over the dark water.
The next morning, after a big breakfast and, for the early risers among us, tai chi at dawn, it is almost with regret that you step back on to dry land. Looking back at the Emeraude, already poised to prepare for its next group of guests, you think: “That was something special. I have to come back here again.” (By Robert Irvine, Staff Writer)
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IF YOU GO:
The best time of year to go just about anywhere in Vietnam is December through April, and prices reflect the better conditions.
Late afternoon at the Emeraude’s overnight anchorage in Halong Bay. (Mainichi)
Bookings can be made though travel agents or directly through Emeraude Cruises. Cabin prices listed on the Emeraude Cruises website range from U.S. $265 for a superior twin, to $490 for one of three suites. However, better deals may be available if you call or e-mail the office directly. Staff are fluent in English. Furthermore, if the suites are still vacant once you’re on board, you can get a bottle of champagne and an upgrade for $50 per person. All major credit cards accepted both at the office and on board.
Emeraude Cruises offers a very pricey shuttle service from Hanoi to Bai Chay. However, transport to Halong Bay can be booked at just about any travel agent, and cheaper options are plentiful.
Source: Mainichi Daily News
Posted by admin on June 15, 2011 under Halong Attractions |
The pristine beauty of Quan Lan Beach has yet to be spoiled and is a mecca for tourists. The deep blue waters, strong waves and white sandy beaches span over several kilometres. Wild, green pines flank the beach, which adds charm to the pristine location.
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| Rockin’: The beautiful landscape of Bai Tu Long Bay as seen from Quan Lan Island. — File Photos |
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| All to yourself: Tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that has yet to be overdeveloped at Quan Lan Beach. |
The beach is on Quan Lan in Bai Tu Long Bay, which is 55km away from Ha Long City.
Stilted guest houses hide under the lush foliage of casuarinas. A brick-paved road leads tourists from their bungalows to Quan Lan Beach.
Among the network of inhabited islands, the beautiful isle of Quan Lan still remains largely unexplored. The undeveloped island and its gorgeous white sand beaches have been tagged by major investments that are aiming to expand its shaky tourist infrastructure.
The sand on Quan Lan Beach is stranger than the sand on other beaches I have visited. It’s white, tiny, pure and smooth. The transparent water allows my eyes to gaze at the bottom of the sea where I can watch fish swim around colourful coral.
Visitors can stay in bungalows on the beach or with locals in a quiet village. In the future, tourists are bound to discover the gorgeous shores of this island paradise, and its unsullied beaches are likely not to stay isolated for too much longer.
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been a centre along the commercial route. In the 12th century, Quan Lan was the first trading port of Viet Nam built under Ly dynasty.
In 1149, King Ly Anh Tong took this place to set up Van Don town and Van Don trading port in order to speed up commercial relationships between Viet Nam and South East Asian countries. Relics of former trading port have been discovered with traces of ancient architecture, well, and grazed terra-cotta of meters thick to prove that this place used to be a crowded urban.
During the fifth and sixth lunar months, the area annually celebrates religious ceremonies to remember the area’s former king, and residents also hold boat rowing festivals.
In 1288, the beach was also the site of the well-known defeat of invading Mongol troops, who were destroyed by General Tran Khanh Du’s army. Tourists in Quan Lan can visit a temple dedicated to the General, where they can learn about the history of the region and the achievements of the commander. The temple’s roof is hidden under pine canopies. Approximately 100 steps lead to the temple’s entrance that is halfway up a mountain.
Because Quan Lan is a strategically important seaport, the French built a lighthouse on its shores in the 19th century in order to protect the beach and to signal to passing merchant ships.
For tourists resting on the beach in evening, the illuminations from the lighthouse look like a twinkling star.
The dearth of post-midnight electricity makes night life a wee bit difficult to sustain in this town. During the evening hours, locals and a few tourists stroll along the village’s main street, where sugarcane juice vendors and a few cafes stay open. The only sounds that dare to disturb the island are the melodic vibrations of karaoke bursting from living rooms and local cafes.
Sa sung (kind of sea worm) is a speciality of the region. It’s used in cooking soup, which helps provide a wonderful taste and adds nutritional sustenance to dishes. Fishing for sa sung with the locals is a popular activity for tourists.
“While men in the village go fishing in the sea, we catch sa sung and sell them to tourists and businesses on the main land as our secondary job,” says a local woman.
There are no five-star hotels at Quan Lan Beach, but tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that has yet to be overdeveloped.
Source: DTI News
Posted by admin on June 13, 2011 under News |
The Vietnam Institute of Archeology in cooperation with Hạ Long Management Department has discovered a vestige of an ancient pottery port at Trinh Nu grotto, Halong Bay.
According to Associate Professor-Doctor Trình Năng Chung, some vestiges of a pottery port belong to the Van Don ancient commercial port system existing in this area between 14th and 18th century has been found in the area of Trinh Nu grotto.
Previously, archeologists, in 2000, also found the vestiges of pre-historic people of Ha Long culture at this grotto.
About 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach, the Trinh Nu Grotto or Virgin Grotto is situated on the island range of Bồ Hòn in the system comprising the Sung Sot Grotto, Dong Tien Lake and Luon Grotto. It is also an attractive destination for tourists to Halong Bay because of its beauty and romatic legend.
Source: QN Gov
Posted by admin on June 9, 2011 under News |
The Ha Long Bay Management Department in collaboration with the Fauna and Flora International (FFI) has opened an exhibition on the EcoBoat, an environmental education program on the bay’s Thien Cung Cave, reports VietnamPlus.
Thien Cung Cave
To showcase Ecoboat’s outstanding performance in the last six years, the exhibition displays poems and paintings featuring a wide range of activities launched by the program to help create a forever green, clean and beautiful bay.
Established in 2005 by the Ha Long Bay Management Department and the Fauna and Flora International (FFI), the EcoBoat serves as a floating school that educates children about the values of Ha Long Bay as well as a call to preserve the world heritage site.
Students join many practical activities such as exploring values and potentialities of Halong Bay, socio-economic development effects on ecological system, biological significance of the marine reserve, as well as joining in planting trees on mangrove forests, evaluating water quality or collecting garbage on the beach and having fun on the beach, swimming, fishing, making camp fires and cruising around the bay.
The program, funded by the UK’s Darwin Initiative, has carried out a total of 136 trips with the participation of over 4,000 members since April 2006.
The exhibition contributes to the campaign to garner votes for Ha Long Bay as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and raises public awareness about environmental protection of the world heritage site.
Source: Saigon Times
Posted by admin on June 6, 2011 under News |
The Vietnam Record Book Center (Vietkings) has sent the file of the Bronze Pagoda to the Asian Record Book Center to nominate it as the biggest bronze-made pagoda in Asia.
The pagoda was named in the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records as the biggest bronze-made pagoda in Vietnam.
The pagoda was built in Le Dynasty (1428-1527) in Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi City, Quảng Ninh Province, has long been an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination. It is situated on the peak of Yen Tu mountain at the height of over 1,086 meters.
With the total area of 20 square meters, the four meter high pagoda was cast in 60 tons of pure bronze, at a cost of VND 21.2 billion (US $1.32 million) by experienced artisans from the northern province of Nam Dịnh.
Located 130 km northwest of Hà Nội, Yen Tu has been an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since the 10th century. It used to be a center of Vietnamese Buddhism where the Truc Lam school of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism originated in the 13th century.
At the end of the 13th century, after defeating the Mongolian invaders, King Tran Nhan Tong abdicated in favour of his son and left for Yen Tu to live as a religious acetic, eventually founding the Zen Buddhist sect.
Source: QN Gov
Posted by admin on June 2, 2011 under News |
The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on May 30 asked universities and schools across the country to launch a plan on promoting Halong Bay‘s selections as one of the world’s new seven natural wonders.
Accordingly, these educational institutions will encourage their students to vote for Hạ Long Bay at the address www.travelandculture.vn or the mail address at icd-info@travel.vn in Vietnam or the official voting platform at www.new7wonders.com.
This is also one of the main activities that MOET will undertake in the summer of 2011.
In order to become one of the new 7 wonders of the world, the bay needs to collect 60 million votes. Thus, Quang Ninh province in particular and Vietnam in general have conducted a huge advertising campaign for the bay to attract as many votes as possible.
