As you are all probably aware guide books like the LP and the Rough Guide often warn you of particular scams or problematic services on local tours etc. Well, one of the ones they strongly warn about in Vietnam are the overnight tours to Halong Bay. The tours can range from $25 to $200 per person and often have no guarantee that people who paid the minimum vs those who paid the maximum have any different an experience!

We of course wanted to see Halong bay and equally we wanted to get our money’s worth so we headed to a travel agent recommended by one of the guidebooks. It’s called the Kangaroo Cafe and is owned and run by some Aussies. While we were happy to spend our money there, the reviews for them were a bit mixed online and the major factor that put us off was their insistence that they were the only “western managed” outfit in Hanoi – this seemed to be some sort of guarantee of their dependability and level of service! And in the process of course implying that the local owned ones did not provide the same service as they are local owned and thus just don’t understand the expectations of the high and mighty westerners! Arghhhhhhh….you can see how this would make me mad!

Anyway, in the end we decided not to risk it with any of the tours and instead make our own way to Cat Ba Island which being the biggest island in the area, is the main centre for tours into Halong and Lan Ha Bay.

This turned out to be a great decision as the bus-boat-bus service there was really convenient and cost-effective, we found a great hotel on the island for cheap and then proceeded to spend all our money on kayaking and cruising around the bays with a local outfit run by British and American expats – minus any of the nonsense of we are the best because we are westerners! The outfit is called Slo Pony and they get the biggest thumbs-up from us. They do adventure activities so P got to go climbing and we had a fabulous time kayaking to go see small caves in the bay and cruised around on a very comfortable boat.

We met an Austrian family on the way to Cat Ba and spent a lot of time with them and really fell in love with their two year old who would talk to us in German and then periodically say “ya ya okay ya!” I taught him to say namaste and every time he saw me he would join his palms together and do a proper namaste!

Thanks to having travelled independently we had a lot of flexibility in how long we stayed in the area and what activities we did so it was a nice relaxing time. We didn’t spend a night on a boat partly because of how cold it was and partly because we only heard bad stories of these overnight boats with everyone demanding their money back at the end of the trip and of course getting nothing – not even an apology in return!

We did, however, spend a day going around the island along with Harold, Mina and Leon. It included a drive around the scenic routes, a stop at a cave hospital and a climb up a very rusty tower indeed! The last of these was in the Cat Ba National Park and was reached after a 30 minute trek scrambling over rocks. The watch tower made of steel was entirely rusted and rattled every time a strong breeze blew! The hospital cave was once a hospital in a cave (!) – build by the North Vietnamese during the war. It had a swimming pool, excercise area and Cinema theatre in addition to the expected operation theatres and clinics.

If you ever find yourself in this part of the world we strongly recommend doing Halong bay independently and basing yourself in Cat Ba thereby guaranteeing that your visit is heaven and not hell!

At 07:00 we pick up you at the hotel, we transfer to Gia Lam Heliport for a 50-minute flight by helicopter to Ha Long Bay. (Each helicopter can carry from 20 to 24 passengers.)

Arrive at Ha Long Heliport and transfer to the Ha Long Harbor. We will board our private boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area.

As we cruise our boat staff will serve you a sumptuous local seafood lunch on boat.

Transfer back to Ha Long Heliport and board the helicopters for a different but just as spectacular view of the bay. After a 45-minute fly over the bay head back to Hanoi. Transfer to the hotel on arrival at Gia Lam Heliport.

via A day-tour to Halong bay by helicopter | Vietnam Luxury Travel.

Day 01: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

8.30am pick up you at your hotel in Hanoi. Travel to Ha Long city for about 3 hours drive. Upon arrival, transfer to a junk for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. Passing Dog Island, Incense Urn Island, Ga Choi Island, Finger Island, Hoa Cuong Island, and visit Surprise cave and short swim at Titov beach (if weather permitted). Have dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing (optional) and later over night on board.

Day 02: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

In the morning, cruising to Bai Tu long bay, Fire Island, Bo Nau Island, fishing village. Having lunch on boat and arrive at Ha long wharf about 12.00 noon. Return to Hanoi by private car, arrive in Hanoi about 16.00pm.

Hanoi, 20 Oct 2009 – Bhaya Cruises, the premier cruise operator in Halong Bay Vietnam, has announced the winter cruise promotion. All guests will be offering one night stay for free of charge at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake hotel when they book 2 days luxury cruise in Halong Bay aboard Bhaya Classic vessels.

The promotion package is US$ 209 net/person, including:

• 2 days luxury cruise in Halong Bay aboard Bhaya Classic
• 1 night stay in deluxe cabin (twin sharing)
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Lunch, Dinner and Brunch onboard
• On-shore excursions, sightseeing and insurance fees
• 1 night stay in standard room (twin sharing) at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake hotel with buffet breakfast

The offer is valid till 31 December 2009 and applied to all online bookings made via Bhaya Cruises official website: www.bhayacruises.com.

More detail information on this promotion can be found at: http://www.bhayacruises.com/Promotions

Hanoi, 8 Oct 2009 – On the occasion of Full Moon Festival, Bhaya Cruises organized a Full Moon party for poor children in Halong Bay. Over 100 kids of Vung Vieng and Van Gia fishing villages participated in the party aboard Bhaya cruise vessels.

During the party, Bhaya Cruises’s associates and travelers presented gifts including basic school supplies to the kids. Allan P. Tuppil, Bhaya Cruises’ General Manager, said “By giving basic school supplies to the poor children in Halong Bay, we strongly believe that those children will have a better learning opportunity for a brighter future. They should have deserved something better, a good life…”. He also committed that Bhaya Cruises continues to support the poor children in Halong Bay in the near future.

]]> http://bhayacruises.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/team-retreat-cruise/ Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:04:42 +0000 Bhaya Cruises http://bhayacruises.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/team-retreat-cruise/

A cruise on Halong Bay provides for an extraordinary teambuilding experience. In collaboration with Goodwill, a leading teambuilding solution provider in Vietnam, Bhaya Cruises now offers corporate team retreat cruises on Halong Bay. Participants undertake a number of teambuilding activities to promote bonding, team spirit and cooperation while enjoying the Halong Bay cruise experience aboard a Bhaya Classic vessel.

Activities are facilitated by the Goodwill team using tactExchange teambuilding solutions, developed by Maximize in Singapore, which have been taken up by leading corporations in over 20 countries worldwide.

The new, private charter Bhaya Legend I joined the Bhaya fleet in June 2009. The vessel features a single deck design with one grand Bhaya Suite. The 20m2 suite is furnished with a king-size bed, ensuite bathroom with shower, air-conditioning and 14-inch LCD TV. The vessel’s facilities include a semi-covered dining area with panoramic views and lounge chairs on the foredeck.
Overnight cruises aboard Bhaya Legend I include free-flow soft drinks, coffee and tea, lunch, dinner and brunch. The crew of four, captain, hostess, chef and deckhand, are at your service to deliver the most enjoyable private Halong Bay cruise experience possible.

Cat Ba island, Vietnam’s Pearl Island, a surprising heavenly landscape!

Belonging to Cat Ba Archipelago, which includes 367 islands, in the south of Ha Long bay, Cat Ba Island is only 30 km from Hai Phong city centre and 25 km from Ha Long city.
Not at all is it a random thing when Cat Ba is also called Pearl Island (Dao Ngoc in Vietnamese). With a 70m altitude, and the post to overlook Lan Ha lagoon, Cat Ba lures tourists by its heavenly captivation. With an area of 140 km2 and population of 9000 people, it is proud to be the biggest island among the 1,969 islands in Ha Long bay. If you are considering a fresh-air and beautiful place to travel, just pack your stuff, stand up and fly to this magic land of blue Sky and Sea!

The Biosphere reserve of the world!

The archipelago has a global significance thanks to its plentiful species found nowhere else. It is home to the golden-headed langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), one of the top ten rare primates in the world due.
Besides, visitors can find several precious habitat types here, including fringing coral reefs, mangrove forest, sea grass beds, willow swamp forest and tropical limestone forest. Many of those are fiercely endangered.
With a major coastal fishing zone, and a karst seascape of outstanding beauty, a tremendous potential for agri-aqua culture and tourism is open to the area. Thanks to the special values, Cat Ba was acknowledged as the World Biosphere Reserve in 2004. So, are you curious to go? Then…

… Take a visit to its caves and grottos, now?

Cat Ba boasts many beautiful caves and grottos such as Trung Trang, Quan Y and Thien Long…

Trung Trang is the largest valley in Cat Ba Island with the total area of 300 ha, from 10-30 meter lower than the sea level, which is 15km northwest of the island. It is about 300 m walk. Beautiful with glistening stalactite & stalagmite it is! Visiting Trung Trang, one has learnt that it is deeply a thousand-year great work of Nature!

Quan Y grotto. “Quan Y” means “Army medical care”. This special name derives from the Wartime against American Air force, when Vietnamese people built a hospital with hundreds of beds inside this grotto. Today, visitors can easily reach it as Quan Y Grotto is on the main way along the Island, only about 13 km from the Island’s centre.

About 2 hours traveling by boat from Phu Long wharf is Thien Long grotto. It has just been discovered since 1997. This is one of the most beautiful caves and grottos in Ha Long bay. As wide and deep with miraculously various shaped & colorful stalactites and stalagmites, and tree roots from the mount to the bottom, Thien Long grotto is admired by any tourist stepping inside. One even said: “It looks like a pretty and peaceful fairy land on the sea..!” after her tour here. Also, people can feel free to contemplate the coral system, salty lakes and ponds in and around, which are definitely rich of marine bio-diversity.

Go swimming & entertain yourself, or you might regret!

A peak mountain in the shape of a turtle divides the beach into 2 small beaches, Cat Co One and Cat Co Two. On the right hand is fabricated rock mountain, while on the left hand is the clear and blue sea water, white and smooth sand. The beauty of the beach has been changing side by side with the flying time. Yet, never would it lose the natural luring power.
In the morning, after enjoying the sunrise on the sea, tourists will visit Monkey Island, conquering Hai Thanh mount, Hon Thot mount or Hon Guoc mount, and swimming in the pure sea as much as you can to feel how fresh a “heaven” can be!
In the afternoon, you may discover the area’s original beauty by renting a kayak to paddle to the bay. Then, should you are still well enough, perhaps we join some sports on the beach, such as valley ball, boat racing, and so forth. When night falls, the whole team would lie down in the cottages near by the beach to relax for a while, listening to the sound of rough sea waves. A romantic & relaxation experience!

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha bay is situated in the southeast of Cat Ba Island. It takes about 30 minutes to go there from Cat Ba by boat. The bay is large with arched shore. Getting inside, a number of islands and beaches are welcoming tourists.
Not only is it famous for beautiful beaches, but also for the imposing caves and ideal place for fishing. A lot of visitors who are fond of fishing do not want to come back once staying here for a while!

Viet Hai village

To switch into a new atmospheric space, tourists should now get to Viet Hai Village. It captures attentions by the precious retained hundreds-year traditional cultural values of Cat Ba. Viet Hai people still live in the simple house, built in bamboo, wood, leaves and soil.

If it gets late, we may stay overnight in the village in a simple and guest house at very reasonable price. You might be surprised as being treated in a friendly way, and served with special local cuisine seafood by the honest and hospitable local people. Believe me, you may not want to go back soon!

How to reach Cat Ba Island?

Visitors can reach Cat Ba Island by two ways. One, by ferry from Hai Phong city, Binh ferry station or Dinh Vu ferry station. And two, from Ha Long bay. After visiting this Natural World Heritage Site, visitors can keep staying on boat and getting to the Island.