Xmas with a Halong cruise vacation

Hi everyone!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You are now thinking to spend this special occasion on Halong bay Vietnam but still wondering what the trip likes?? I come back with some descriptions that almost Halong cruise vacations offered by local tour operators features.

What is a Ha Long bay cruise like?

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site which has picked out 830 World Heritage sites around the world, chosen for their cultural and historical importance, and also for their geological uniqueness. Ha Long Bay offers signs of all three.

Created over millions of years, tectonic forces slowly thrust the limestone above the water-line. During this process waves lapping against the stone carved out a number of vast, striking caverns, as well as other geologically interesting formations, such as tunnel caves and uniquely shaped massifs. Unfortunately the geological forces at work were not too flash in the beach-making department, so most of the beaches tourists are taken to in the bay are man-made with the umbrellas and the sand in which they stand are all shipped in.

The primary purpose of a Ha Long Bay tour is to savors the tranquility and beauty of the water. But two or three days of utter tranquility can get a little too tranquil -- luckily the natural and cultural endowments of the bay provide activities -- in some cases with a heavy helping hand from the Vietnamese government.

They're slow

Boats ply the waters slowly and take scenic, circuitous routes. They often stop and put down their anchors while the passengers are eating lunch.

You may visit a floating village

Not all tours make a stop at a fishing village -- some just cruise by. If you do stop, you'll be able to view the seafood being farmed, have the opportunity to buy some, and have it prepared for you free-of-charge on the boat.

You'll get to swim

Every tour stops for a swim at least once a day. Sometimes these swims take place near local fishing villages, leading to jokes and apprehensions about the toilet situation on fishing villages. All tours also include a stop at one of the beaches.

You may get to kayak

All the boats bring kayaks and, weather and tides permitting; stop to let passengers paddle around. Sometimes the opportunity to kayak through one of the tunnel cave systems will present itself. Other times passengers are simply expected to paddle in circles around the boat -- not surprisingly the caves and tunnels are far more interesting.

You'll get to go caving

All tours include at least one cave visit in the price of the tour (admission on your own is 40,000 dong). The two most popular caves are the Dragon Cave, Heaven Palace cave and the Surprising Cave. You won't know beforehand which cave you will see -- that decision is made on the boat.

You may sleep over on the bay

Two and three-day tours always offer a night in a cabin. On any given night, about 80 boats are allowed to drop anchor in one of three designated areas -- that means each area is filled with 20 to 30 boats. Sometimes they anchor very close to one another, other times they'll find a more private spot away from other boats.

You may overnight on Cat Ba Island

Most two-day tours offer one night in a two-star hotel on Cat Ba Island. Activities including a hike in Cat Ba National Park, a kayaking trip through some offshore tunnel caves, and/or a lunchtime-visit to a local fish farm, where you catch your own fish before it is prepared for you, are usually offered as a part of the tour.

You'll be fed and transported

All tours offer three meals a day, starting with lunch on the first day and ending with lunch on the last day. The quality of the meals varies tremendously depending on the price of the tour as does the transport to and from Hanoi.

That is an “eye – bird” view on Halong bay boat trip, so why you not take one then get your own experience. Halong bay is always described as the most worth-to-visit site in Vietnam. Once again, best wishes in a new year coming and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

(By Liz Mai – Vietnam holiday now)

Tags: Vietnam holiday, Halong cruise vacation, halong bay cruises, luxury cruises on Halong, deluxe cruise Halong, Halong Ginger cruise, Halong Indochina Sails, Halong bay boat trip, Halong bay Junks and boats, Halong Emeraude cruise, Vietnam junks, Vietnam boat trips, Hanoi tour and excursion, Sapa discovery, Hanoi city tour, Sapa tours, Vietnam beach vacation. Mekong delta and excursion, Saigon city tour

NORTH VIETNAM IMPRESSION - Part 2: Hanoi in my eye

Hanoi, capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has emerged in the 21st century as a sophisticated, prosperous city, fueled by foreign investment and resurgence in tourism. But despite the overwhelming abundance of stylish coffee shops and designer jewelry, gift and clothing boutiques, the heart and soul of Hanoi is still the Old Quarter, with its lively alleyways selling everything from spices to gravestones.

My general impression is Hanoi is a physically easy city to encounter. The air is breathable, the noise bearable, the pollution minimal. The smell of baking bread, burning incense and fresh market produce permeates delightful alleyways, characterized by exotic Asian touches against a backdrop of French colonial splendors. Colorful shops, resplendent with silk, lanterns and lacquer ware are a dangerous temptation, while culinary delights beckon in every direction.

For an overall perspective of the Old Quarter, it’s advisable to start your shopping expedition on a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) – the drivers will take you on a loop of the main sights, allowing you to get your bearings and plan your attack. This leisurely view of the city also allows fantastic photo opportunities, as well as being a fun introduction to Vietnamese culture.

Dominating the streetscape of Hanoi are charming French colonial facades, the legacy of a 100 years of French rule. Above the ground-level shops soar three or four storey apartments with elegant balconies decorated with iron lace, distressed paintwork, plantation shutters and overflowing greenery; while on a grander scale, there is the magnificent Opera House and the classical white exterior of the Metropole Hotel, the smartest historic hotel in the city.

However, it is a building of a very different architecture style that has become the symbol of this northern city. Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum is a severe and imposing monument in true Soviet tradition, bleak and grey, surrounded by a vast, empty square. This building, which houses the body of Vietnam’s most beloved leader, has become a symbol of the national struggle for freedom. Locals consider it a place of pilgrimage, and often line up for hours to view the embalmed body of the great ‘Uncle Ho’, lying under lights with his peaceful, patrician expression on display for all eternity.

Foreigners keen to pay their respects are privileged with a separate (and faster) entry line to the locals. There is a strict code of conduct for anyone entering the mausoleum – no shorts, mini-skirts, hats or singlet tops, no photography, no hands in pockets and definitely no talking. Guards in crisp white uniforms are quick to chastise anyone breaking these rules, and the continuous line of visitors is ushered quickly past the embalmed body, with no opportunity to linger over the rather macabre sight.

Ironically, it was Ho’s request that he be cremated on his death, in keeping with his simple lifestyle. Proof of this is just a short walk from the mausoleum, where his charming wooden stilt house is located in parklands overlooking a peaceful lake. Ho lived here during the 10 years preceding his death, and it has been preserved exactly how he left it – with books, typewriter and traditional Vietnamese artifacts scattered around, the austerity and tastefulness standing in marked contrast to his final resting place.

Another peaceful enclave in bustling city surrounds is the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple dating back to 1070 AD. This was the country’s first university, a place of education for an elite minority lucky enough to be accepted into its hallowed halls. Students who achieved doctorates had their names displayed on 82 slabs set on the back of stone tortoises, which today are considered the most precious artifacts in the temple.

After a busy day shopping and sightseeing, there is no better way to recharge your batteries than in one of Hanoi’s fantastic restaurants and cafes. The culinary scene is varied, affordable and delectable, including traditional Vietnamese, French and international offerings. First-time visitors must try the Vietnamese staple, Pho (pronounced ‘fur’) – spicy, herby noodle soup, served freshly mixed with chilli and lemon – simply delicious!

If the exquisite gastronomy of Vietnam tantalizes your taste-buds, you may like to take the experience one step further at the Metropole Hotel’s Cooking School. A half-day course includes a visit to a local market to select fresh ingredients, followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch. Recipes include Vietnamese Spring Rolls, delicately wrapped in rice paper and served with fish sauce, chili and papaya; grilled chicken skewers wrapped in lemon leaves; and marinated pork grilled in bamboo. Satisfaction, a full stomach and a new zest for experimentation in the kitchen are guaranteed!

My overall impression on Hanoi is everything seems to be small and lovely. All programs offered by tour operators to Hanoi often last for half or one day, in my case was Vietnamholidaynow. This was easy and pleasant. I recommended that you should always spend some times for free – as so-called activity in ordinary tours - to get your own unique experience

(By Liz Mai – Yahoo ID: haiyen7585 / Skype: yen-mai)

Tags: Vietnam holiday, Hanoi tour and excursion. Hanoi city tours, tours to Hanoi, Travel to Hanoi. Hanoi cooking class, Hanoi and surroundings, Hanoi hotels, hotels in Hanoi, Hanoi luxury hotels, tours from Hanoi, Hanoi tours, Hanoi travels, Halong cruise vacation, Halong bay cruises, Halong luxury cruises, Mekong delta excursion, discovery Sapa, Sapa tours,Vietnam beach vacation

NORTH VIETNAM IMPRESSION: Part 1 – Impressed by Halong bay

Tai chi is known as the most graceful martial art, where the body functions smoothly and fluidly. It is a cleansing, meditative discipline, and best performed at dawn in a pristine environment. What better place to indulge in this ancient practice than on the deck of a boat in the middle of Halong Bay, Vietnam, surrounded by some of the most sublime scenery in the world?!

The sky is pastel pink, streaked with orange, softening to a duck-egg blue. The emerald sea mirrors the soaring limestone cliffs on the myriad of islands, mysterious grottos shrouded in the soft morning mist. A lone fisherwoman, bedecked in a conical hat, rows her longboat towards a floating village, her morning’s work complete. It is a setting worthy of the gods. But where is the co-ordination, the balance? A tai chi virgin, my feet feel like plodding size nines, my arms like leaden weights as I valiantly attempt to follow the master’s directions. “Your right arm is the eagle; your left is the cobra. Then sweep your right hand to your left, and bring them together like you are holding a soccer ball...” Only trouble is, my eagle is a seagull, my cobra a lizard and my ‘soccer’ resembles a watermelon. How do they make it look so easy?

Back to the city of Hanoi, Capital of Vietnam, I am faced with an even greater test of Tai Chi co-ordination (^^) – the simple act of crossing the road. Once again, I am all hands and feet, limbs and brain totally out of whack. I step, I withdraw, I stumble. There is an art to this, and, like tai chi, I must learn from the masters.

The trick to crossing the road in Vietnam is not to look. No “look left, look right, and look left again” – the old schoolyard adage will only leave you stranded permanently on the curb. The trick is to ignore your senses and every instinct – forget about the blasting horns, the motorbikes whooshing past, the sea of vehicles approaching – and simply step out into the fray in blind faith.

After a few false starts, I follow the lead of the locals, and simply walk. Straight. Across. I try not to look at the mayhem around me. I wince with every passing horn. But miraculously, the sea of traffic seems to part, as motorbikes, scooters, cyclos and bicycles anticipate my mission and make their way around me. I am just another obstacle on the road, one which they take in their stride. I make it safely to the other side and feel chuffed at the achievement.

A pleasant diversion from Hanoi’s crazy traffic and bustling markets, true serenity is found further field – at magical Halong Bay, 170 km east of Hanoi. With over 3000 islands rising up from clear emerald waters, this is truly a location worthy of its World Heritage listing, comparable in its beauty and mystery to Guilin or the limestone cliffs of Krabi. Most tourists choose at least an overnight boat-trip to experience the islands at their most captivating – at sunrise and sunset, when the calm waters mirror the soaring limestone outcrops.

According to legend, the islands, grottoes and cliffs were created by a giant dragon that lived in the mountains. As it ran towards the coast, its flailing tail carved out valleys and crevasses, which filled with water as the dragon plunged headlong into the sea. This creature is said to still inhabit the waters, a mythical beast known as the Tarasque, the local version of the Loch Ness Monster.

However, as our luxury steamer, The Emeraude, sat becalmed on the jeweled sea, it seemed impossible that any creature, great or small, could disturb the peace of this idyllic environment. A soft mist enveloped the fantastical rock formations; the glassy water was still, rippled only by the odd fishing boat setting off from colorful floating villages dotted along the shores of the islands. A cluster of red-sailed traditional junks, the overnight abode of backpackers and romantics, were moored across the bay, shining like lanterns in the morning sun. Grottoes, caves and beaches beckoned, to be explored at leisure in kayaks. And then there was the tai chi session on the top deck.

The Emeraude is a magnificent vessel, a replica paddle-steamer which encapsulates the traditions of seafaring of French Indochina. This is the most luxurious boat plying the bay, with comfortable air-conditioned cabins, first-class meals and gorgeous views from the canopied upper deck. Skippered by a gruff Aussie captain, it offers two day cruises of the Bay, including a visit to Sung Sot grotto and water activities including swimming off the back deck and kayak hire. This trip is not cheap, but it is certainly romantic and arguably the most comfortable way of experiencing this special place.

There is a popular saying: - “One has not been to Vietnam unless they’ve been to Halong Bay.” Combine that experience with a mouth-watering meal, a day exploring the markets of Old Hanoi, and the harmonious discipline of tai chi and you have a Vietnamese experience definitely worth savoring.

Enjoy trip on Halong bay with Emeraude, visit site: http://vietnamholidaynow.com/english/vietnam_tour_halong_Halong-Emeraude-Crui... or call: 84-43-6339577 / Yahoo ID: haiyen7585 / chienla77.

You can also choose a traditional wooden cruise instead, for instance: White Dolphin which is selling with special offer of free rounded transfer by modern 4seater car.

Next time I will come back with some writing on Hanoi in more detailed.