halong tours_4"halong tours" Going to Vietnam for 3 weeks in Dec-Jan where should I go?
I am going to Vietnam for 3 weeks with 2 teens and 2 adults! I was wondering where to go? We won't budget- mid range prices. What is the best mid range cruise on Halong bay? Thinking of going to: Hanoi Halong Bay(overnight cruise) Sapa Hoi an Nha Thrang Saigon Mekong Delta home stay/ bicycle tour Any other places that I have missed! Thanks heaps and heaps!!! *****We want budget - mid range prices*********** sorry!
sorry, can't answer your question about ha long bay....
however, I will say that I dont' think that 3 weeks is enough time to properly see VN from north to south.
I would suggest that you see Hanoi and Ha long bay and then fly down to Nha Trang, Dalat, Saigon and then the Mekong Delta.
You will be doing A LOT of travel if you stop in all of those places on your list and you won't be relaxing very much.
I just returned from 3 weeks in VN and I skipped Hanoi and started in Nha Trang and made my way down south. There are lots of great hotels. I used hotels.com to book all of my hotels (except in Can Tho). I paid approximately $45 a night which I thought was fair enough for the room and included breakfast. There are some good basic hotels which cost a lot less though. In Can Tho my Vietnamese wife and I paid $15 for a basic room in a small hotel.
"Halong Bay" Mollyandrob's photos around Halong Bay, Vietnam (halong tours)
What do you think if you have an opportunity to dive deeply in the most beautiful Sea and Bay in the South East Asia???
Have you ever known HaLong Bay of Vietnam? Do you know that it is one of the most beautiful sites in Vietnam? Many Foreigner peoples have taken part in our cruises and they have had so much amazing and impression on many wonderful landscapes of Vietnam. Moreover, they have appreciated highly our services quality and knowledge's our employees.
You could visit here to seek more beautiful pictures of HaLong Bay and Travel information: Http://www.Huongviettravel.com
HaLong bay Introduction:
Ha Long Bay is a beautiful area with 1969 limestone islands jutting imposingly upon the skyline. Unfortunately the place is a tourist trap and the unique panorama is spoilt by a tremendous amount of "junks" which are in fact slimly disguised tourist boats that bear no resemblance to the authentic Chinese sailing vessels of the same name. These diesel-powered floating money-makers careen about the bay with casual indifference to safety as they bump and crunch against each other in a frenzy to drop their fares onto the obligatory island or floating shop before depositing the harried passengers back at Halong Bay dock feeling like they've been cheated out of their Dong, even if that isn't particularly true. The romantic setting is forever spoilt by the cattle-market mentality. Still... nice scenery.
HALONG DIVING TOUR (3 Days / 2 Nights)
Day 1: Hanoi - Halong Bay (-/L/D) 12h00: Board Halong Phoenix Cruiser after a short transfer by a tender. Lunch is served with a welcome drink while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape. You will see Dog Rock, Incense Burner Rock, as well as Fighting Cock Rock before heading to Sung Sot Cave (Cave of Surprises). Later we stop at a floating house owned by fishermen before kayaking to underwater cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay. After returning to the boat a fresh fruit platter will be served, and we will anchor in a safe and scenic location for swimming and our overnight stay. Dinner is served onboard and then you have free time to listen to music, join in Karaoke singing or relax.
Day 2: Halong Bay diving (B/L/D) 8h30: After breakfast aboard, boat picks you up at Halong Phoenix Cruiser to Bai Tu Long bay which is the most untouched and spectacular area to dive in 45 minutes (1 time lasted), discover the colorful coral reefs with lots of species of fish. Have lunch on boat while cruising to another diving site of Dao Chim (Bird Island). After lunch, you have time to relax, watch the scenic lagoon, the spectacular scenery and then start your last diving in Vung Ha within 45 minutes to discover more hidden charm of sea bottom. 16h00: Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or mint tea on the way back to Halong Phoenix Cruiser for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi(Brunch/-) 7h30: Breakfast will be served on the boat, before cruising to another part of Halong Bay where you will view more of the bays spectacular limestone scenery, such as Drum Cave, Man's Head Islet, Turtle Islet. The junk then heads to Van Gia fishing village- one of the oldest and largest floating villages in Halong Bay. You will have the opportunity to understand more about the fishermen's daily life, before cruising to a beautiful, secluded lagoon. 10h30: Have lunch aboard and enjoy the rest of the boat trip to the World Wonder. 11h30: Luggage is ready, crew see off and disembark.
Notes: - Discount US $ 5 for international-scuba diving license holder - Children under 10 years old are advised not to join - Children from 10 years old up are charged as adult fare - Tours must be cancelled in case of storm, fog, water temperature less than 16 degree Celsius.
Includes: - 2 nights on Deluxe Halong Phoenix Cruiser with twin-share basis - Meals as 3 lunches, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners - Entrance fee - Exclusive deluxe itinerary - Seasonal fruits - Kayaking in the first day (2 people per kayak with life jackets and pedals) - Boat cruise to diving sites - Insurance aboard - International-licensed scuba divers - International diving equipments - Instruction to use the diving equipments and safety regulations by diving experts - Inclusive full day diving itinerary - Mint tea or coffee - Hot/cool water for showering.
Excludes: - Visa, airfares, transfers and hotel accommodation. - Beverages. - Services that not clearly mentioned above.
What are the benefits of Halong tours? The spectacular beauty of Halong Bay has become known to the world through postcards at the beginning of 20th century. Upto now, Halong Bay is still a rare phenomenon of nature beauty and about 3 millions tourists have come to discover Halong Bay every year. To meet the need of luxury travel style, cruise was born based on elegance and luxury. Besides, The delicious food and great service on
Day 1: Hanoi - Halong
8:00 AM start at your hotel in Hanoi. Depart to Halong Bay, arrive at 12: 00 noon. Enjoy welcome drink and you are ready to experience Halong tours. 13:00 have great vietnamese lunch while Jasmine cruise is touring Halong bay through hundreds of sculpted limestone islands rising from the emerald water.
14: 45 Take a short walk to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails. Go swimming on a quite beach or sunbathing on sundeck. Continue your Halong tours to an interesting floating village. Amazing experience on the life of the locals. Back to Ms Jasmine for cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at restaurant for a lavish dinner. The first day of Halong tours end(Meals: L/D)
Day 2: untouched areas - unbelievable scenery
After breakfast, join in a day – trip boat with private crew. The boat tours Halong bay to most untouched areas with stunning beauty of thousand differently shaped limestone islands. Enjoy swimming on quiet beaches, visiting water tunnels, fishing villages or kayaking. Lunch is served on board by your private chef. Return to Jasmine cruise for the night. 19:30 Enjoy dinner. Join squid fishing with our crew. The second day of your Halong tours end(Meals: B/L/D)
Day 3: Halong - Hanoi
Enjoy coffee, tea and breakfast pastries in the dinning room. 7:00 Join Tai Chi class on sundeck for 30 minutes or relax onboard, see the sunrise over the bay. 8:00 Visit Surprising cave, one of the most beautiful cave in the world. 9:00 Back to Jasmine cruise. Freshen up and check out.
halong tours_3"halong tours" Best destination to visit in Vietnam?
We are planning for Vietnam tour and looking for Halong Bay cruises, is there any other best destination to visit in Vietnam? Please suggest Sif you know the best Vietnam travel company…
Halong Bay is an overcrowded absolute tourist trap! We all have to visit it but it is very off-putting as you arrive. Beautiful once out in the bay. Be very careful of the VERY HOT sun on the boat not only from above but reflected off the sea!
I guess you will arrive in Hanoi, very poverty stricken. Later when you get to the bottom of the country Saigon is a perfect foil/opposite.
When in Saigon go to the War Remnants museum. The damage caused to babies/adults is so terrible and distressing but essential viewing to understand the horrors of war! When in Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) take excursion to cuchtunnel.org.vn to see the Viet cong tunnels, and fire live rounds from M16/AK47.
We stayed at Hoian (by the sea) and visited the market! My wife had clothes made overnight in the market. Can't remember the price but it was peanuts, even at the "what they think" are rip off tourist prices!
One place not to miss and stay at. Hue City, La Residence Hotel and Spa. Used to be the French Ambassadors house - beautifully restored! See the Citadel and Forbidden City. Once again understand and see the terrible damage war does.
Before you go read up on the Vietnam war to understand what led up to it and the consequences. As you go down the country you can understand and interpret everything. Going through Da Nang you can still see the main US base.
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Whatever you do tack on a 2 or 3 night visit to Cambodia to stay at Sim Reap and visit Angor Wat which is mind blowing. If you can afford it take the helicopter ride around the area to appreciate what the dynasty must have been like. Don't do the economy ride on the balloon - not a patch on the chopper. You will be appalled at the sheer poverty next to your 5+ star hotel! Make sure you have lots of USD 1 dollar bills. everything is 1 or 2 dollars, for 5 dollars you could buy the country! Don't eat in the town cafes - food poisoning! Find the Red Piano restaurant (down the main street) where they use mineral water to cook with. They have a uniformed guard to keep the local pedlar's away from you. Hotel food is perfectly alright! When you see the town river (sewer!) you will understand my warning. The humidity is appalling!
