Getting there - Ha Long Bay - Quang Ninh province

Halong Bay's sister cities of Bai Chay and Hong Gai are about 165 kilometers northeast of Hanoi. The repaving of Highway 18 (and the redesign of Highway 5) has cut a full 90 minutes off what was formerly a 5-6 hour trip from Hanoi. Previously, the fastest way to Ha Long was via Haiphong along Highway 5. From this bustling port city, travelers then had to take a couple of ferries along Route 10. This is still the more interesting route but, again, more time-consuming. If you're really in a rush, skip the road and go by Russian-built MI-8 helicopter!

Minibus
The most expedient way of reaching Ha Long is to purchase an overnight trip from Hanoi-based Buffalo Tours. Better yet book one of their sea kayaking trips!

Car
Independent travelers can arrange their own transportation. For the round trip, expect to pay US$50-$100. You'll also have to book your own boat in Halong Bay.

Motorcycle
A more adventurous option is to hire a motorbike and cruise out to the bay yourself. Small motorbikes can be rented in Hanoi. Try the Memory Cafe (33b Tran Hung Dao Street; tel: 84-4-826-5854) or the Mai Linh Cafe (22 Cau Go; tel: 84-4-824-4554).

Helicopter
If you have more money than time, or prefer a double shot of adventure, go by helicopter. Helicopter service aboard Russian-built MI-8 or MI-17 helicopters is offered on Saturday only. You depart at 8 a.m. from Gialam heliport, about 15 km from center of Hanoi. Free transportation to Gialam heliport from the Metropole Hotel departs at 7:15 a.m. The return flight is at 3 p.m. the same day. A ticket will set you back US$175 round trip/US$90 one way. Children under 6 pay half.

A ground package to visit Halong Bay by boat is sold on behalf of Halong Tourist Company for US$20 per person. Package includes round-trip car transfer from Halong heliport to the boat, boat trip (4-5 hours), lunch, and guide.

Contact Northern Flight Services Company (182 Truong Chinh Road; tel: 84-4-852-3451 or at Gialam Airport, tel: 84-4-877-1410). There must be a minimum of 10 passengers to make the trip. Confirm your trip by the Wednesday prior.

Train
Train buffs can get to Haiphong by train in the morning, and then take the afternoon ferry to Bai Chay, or the ferry or hydrofoil to Cat Ba Island. From Haiphong, ferries depart for Hong Gai about three times a day. Schedules change constantly. The fare is about 15,000 dong one-way. Figure an entire day each way.

Author: vietnamadventures

Heritage HaLong

The hotel features 100 guest rooms, including 2 suites. This post-modern style hotel is designed to reflect Vietnams rich historical heritage and yet offers all the modern conveniences and facilities.

A variety of Asian, Western and local cuisine make our hotel an easy choice for you and your clients when it comes to dining and entertaining. You may choose from a casual yet lively atmosphere in our Le Cafe which opens round-the-clock or authentic seafood cuisine in our Dragon Palace. For relaxation, you may consider our executive lounge, Cheers Pub and KTV, swimming pool or outdoor cafe.

The hotel has 100 guest rooms of 78 Superior rooms, 20 Deluxe rooms and 2 Suites of various decor. Each room is fully air-conditioned, equipped with private bathroom, some with bathtub and standing shower.

Location

Centrally located at Bai Chay Beach, Halong City. Vietnams Halong Bay is located about 160km northeast of Hanoi. Halong Bay is a known natural tourist resource officially listed by UNESCO as a protected item of the world heritage with over 3,000 rock islets exposed as a rare painting of nature.

Hanoi Noi Bai Airport is about 220 kms from Halong City.

Facilities & Service

Air Conditioning
Banquet Facilities
Coffee Shop
Disco/Nightclub
Hotel Doctor
Laundry
Mini Bar
Restaurants
Satellite/Cable TV
Swimming (Outdoor)
Baby Sitting
Bar & Lounge
Conference Facilities
Foreign Exchange
In-Room Safe
Limousine
Parking
Room Service
Sauna/Spa
TV

Add: 88 Halong Road, Bai Chay Beach, Halong City, Vietnam

Author: vietnamhotels

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & VILLAS

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & VILLAS

Address : Ha Long St., Bai Chay, Ha Long City
Telephone : (84-33) 847209-844938
Fax : (84-33) 847148

- Rates shown are inclusive of all taxes, breakfast and service charges.
- Rates shown are only applied for bookings with this system.


- Royal International Hotel & Villas: offering 112 luxuriously appointed rooms overlooking the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay. All spacious rooms are surrounded by well-landscaped garden and exquisite and elegantly design amenities for the comfort and convenience for both frequent business travelers and tourist alike.
Restaurant :
- Vietnamese Restaurant: featuring an extensive selection of Asian, Western and Vietnamese Cuisine plus international buffet lunch and dinner. Especially, Vietnamese musical instrument will be performed during meal time
- In the coming time, a our new Restaurant on the "Reu" island will be opened (just
- Seafood Restaurant: Serving fresh seafood and steamboat food 5 minutes by boat far away from Tourist Boat Station

Royal International Gaming Clu
- With many gaming tables including Baccarat, American Roulette, Black Jack, Sic Bo, Pai Gow and Poker.

Royal Amusement Park :
- The unique entertainment site in Ha Long offering many excellent facilities such as Water puppet show, Vietnamese cultural show, museum etc.

Author: tnktravelvietnam.com

HƯƠNG GIANG HOTEL

Eye - Shape Pond

51 Le Loi Street
Hue City
Viet Nam
Tel: 84.54.822122-823958
Fax: 84.54.823102-845555
Email:hghotel@dng.vnn.vn
Website: huonggianghotel.com.vn.

Huong Giang Hotel was built on 1962 and operated as hotel since 1976. Now, under the management of Huong Giang Tourist Company based in Hue City, central of VietNam. Huong Giang Hotel is located in the center of Hue city, mirroring itself on the tranquil and poetic gleaming water of the Perfume River, amidst the tropical gardens blooming all year round. It is 02km away from the Hue Railway Station, 15 km from the Phu Bai Inter-Regional Tourist Airport and 12 km from the Seaport at Thuan An Beach. The Hotel is a superb place for tourists to contemplate the panorama of the beautiful city of Hue and visit the historical monuments, places of tourist interest, and beautiful landscapes of the Charming Hue Ancient Capital.

Author: www.huonggiangtourist.com

Halong Cruise 2 days ~ 'Be a part of the ocean magic'

Day 1: Hanoi – Halong

Depart, 8:00 am, from your hotel to Halong city in our private mini-van. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. Board your private boat, an authentic Chinese Junk and start your amazing cruise through this World Heritage Site. Lunch is served onboard, a selection of the freshest seafood. We visit "the amazing cave", followed by a swim in the tranquility of Halong Bay and its emerald water. We will cruise further into a quiet area where we will anchor and stay overnight. Dinner and relax as the sun sets. Then you are free to swim in the phosphorous water, retire to your cabin, or fall asleep under the stars amidst the magic of Halong on the top deck. (L,D)

Day 2: Halong – Hanoi

» more Halong pictures Wake up early in the morning for a great sunrise and a breath of fresh ocean air. Breakfast served on boat then we do a leisurely cruise through thousands of seemingly never ending islands. These are great opportunities to capture some amazing photographs. We stop to visit a floating fishing village and listen to some legendary stories of the fishermen's daily life. Take one last swim somewhere in the middle of the bay to refresh before cruising back to the Halong city pier. By noon we will be ashore and break for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we hit the road back to Hanoi. We arrive and finish our tour at your hotel by 5:00 pm. (B,L)

Prices ($US) & Book [?]
Your price when;	Standard								Superior	Deluxe
you are 2 persons:	270 / person								/ person	/ person
you are 4 persons:	162 / person								195 / person	214 / person
PS: Join-in group is not available. Please contact us if you need further information.

Included: E.S. guide, private transport, private junk, admission fees, meal as specified: B for Breakfast; L for Lunch; D for Dinner.
Excluded: Insurance, drinks, other personal expenses.
What to bring: Passport, towels, swimsuits, toiletries, change of clothes, sunblock, sunglasses & hat, insect repellent, flash lights.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Boat: Standard, Superior, Deluxe
• Best Time to Do: all year round, best from September to April of next year.
• Please Travel Responsibly: The small things you do will make a big difference!
• Booking Terms & Conditions: Tour itinerary and tour prices are subject to change without notice. Please click here for more information.

Halong Tourism Festival 2008 gets new features

26/02/08 (GMT+7)

Halong Tourism Festival 2008, with the theme “Halong – Towards a world natural wonder”, the Halong Tourism Festival 2008 will be organized as an undersea and roadshow carnival, from April 26 to May 1.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province Vietnam, Nhu Thi Hong Lien, revealed that the opening ceremony of the Halong Tourism Festival 2008 is arranged meticulously, with a floating stage on the sea and a procession of ship and barge models.

Major activities will take place at the Bai Chay bridge, Cua Luc bay and support events will be held at the Tra Co tourism centre, Van Don, Halong and Uong Bi Vietnam.

Many shows by domestic and international art troupes will be organised during the festival, including an art – fashion festival of northern provinces, unicorn-dragon dance show, a classical concert on Dau Go cave, a flag hoisting ceremony on Halong Bay Vietnam, Miss Halong pageant contest, an international beach volleyball contest, a bicycle procession, an international trade fair and a food festival.

Lien said Quang Ninh invests tens of billions VND in this events and the province is now ready for the festival.

Quang Ninh currently has 13,000 rooms, including 6,000 rooms of three star standard and up and 100 ships totalling 5,000 rooms of three star standards for tourists. The province expects to welcome 15,000 visitors to the Halong Tourism Festival 2008.

“All activities are to call for visitors to vote for Halong Bay as a world natural wonder. Visitors will be exempted 50% of sightseeing fees to the bay during the festival and up to 100% on the opening day of the festival,” Lien said.

The organizing board will place computers at hotels, tourist sites, wharves, etc. to serve tourists’ vote for Halong Bay Vietnam.

The bay is now in the top ten ranking of the selection of seven world natural wonders on website www.new7wonders.com of NewOpenWorld organization. On December 31, 2008, the top 21 sites will be chosen for the next round of selection.

(Source: VNE)

Quang Ninh tough against travel boats to save Halong Bay Vietnam

28/02/08 (GMT+7)

Travel boats to save Halong Bay, the northern province of Quang Ninh is taking drastic measures against tourist boats in Halong Bay to keep the world's natural heritage site from being spoiled by environmental pollution, a provincial leader said on Monday.

Vice chairwoman of the province Nhu Thi Hong Lien told the Daily that the province has just issued a temporary ban on the building of new tourist boats for navigating on the bay, and would also tightly supervise operational boats there.

"We are in the process to reject old and low-quality boats to protect the environment," lien told the Daily on the sidelines of a meeting in the Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (hotels in Ho Chi Minh) to promote the province's year of tourism festivals.

Halong Bay Vietnam covers 1,500 square kilometers with nearly 2,000 islands and islets, but just 10 islands of them are open for tourists' sightseeing. Last year, around 3.6mil tourists came to the province, and most of them visited the world heritage site.

Currently, hundreds of boats are taking thousands of tourists on sightseeing tours on the bay each day, and some 100 boats are also catering to tourists who want to stay overnight on the bay.

However, most of the boats lack waste treatment facilities, which coupled with the exhaust fumes from these boats are putting environment on the bay at risk.

"We've seen the danger and decided to take steps for environment protection along with activities to promote the beauty of the bay," Lien said.

From now on, those boats and ships chosen to cater to tourists' demand to stay overnight on Halong Bay must be high-quality ones meeting three-star standard to make sure that they are safe for Halong Bay's environment, she said.

"We want to develop this kind of the travel because it is attractive for tourists, especially for foreigners but we must be careful in adding new boats in the next time," lien said.

The province is also planning other methods to protect Halong Bay's environment.

"First, we will spend a big budget on environmental protection," she said.

According to Lien, the budget will come from the provincial government, from the sales of tickets to visit Halong Bay, and from entrepreneurs.

"For example, we call on entrepreneurs to collect rubbish, and tourist boats on the bay must pay for environment fees," she said.

Lien said that all activities are aimed to help achieve sustainable development for the tourism industry, now that Halong Bay Vietnam has been entered into a competition to be recognized as one of the world's seven wonders of nature.

In the meeting on Monday, Quang Ninh Province announced Halong Tourism Festival 2008, which will take place from April 25 to May 1 this year.

The main activities of the festival will include the Carnival Festival, art and culture performances, a trade and tourism fair, a food festival, sport activities, and activities to call on more people to vote for Halong as one of the world's seven wonders of nature.

These festivities will take place in Bai Chay Ferry wharf, Bai Chay Bridge, and Cua Luc Bay. Around ten cities from such countries as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and China will join art activities and the fair there.

The fair is expected to attract 200-300 booths of 150 companies.

(Source: SGT)

Dalat Vietnam Information

Da Lat, the flower's city

Dalat is located in Lam Dong province, approximately 200 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. At an elevation of 1,500 m, Dalat bears the look of an Old French city. It was founded in 1897 when Doctor Alexandre Yersin recommended that the area be developed as a resort town

Dalat has many natural and artificial lakes such as Ho Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Da Thien, and Tuyen Lam bordered by lines of pine trees, which are a well-known feature of Dalat Vietnam.

A trip to Dalat is not complete until one goes to the Dalat Flower Gardens. The temperate climate of Dalat is suitable for flowers such as orchids, roses, lilies, and camellias.

Nowadays, tourists not only limit themselves to Dalat; they also visit the area of Langbian Highland and the ethnic minorities. Langbian Mountain’s highest peak at 2,165 m is very tempting for climbers. From Lom Bieng Klo peak, one can see endless green mountains reflecting the silver rays of the sun. Many tours are organized in the area, including parachuting and climbing.

Author: www.footprintsvietnam.com

Halong Travel Agent - Tour Operators

(IDD Code: 84-33)

Quảng Ninh Tourism Company Add: Hạ Long Road, Bãi Cháy, Hạ Long City Tel: 846 350 Fax: 846 319

Quảng Ninh Youth Tourist Company Add: Hạ Long Road, Bãi Cháy, Hạ Long City Tel: 846 464 Fax: 845 739 Email: thanhnienqn@hn.vnn.vn

Quảng Ninh Shipchanco Company Add: 3 Hạ Long Road, Hạ Long City Tel: 846 835 Fax: 846 026

Quảng Ninh Import - Export Company Add: 86 Lê Thánh Tông, Hạ Long City Tel: 825 302 Fax: 829 668 Email: vpqunimx@hn.vnn.vn

Duyên Hải Quảng Ninh Tourist Add: Móng Cái Town Tel : 881 742 Fax: 881 742

Tùng Lâm Tourist Centre Add: 86 Lê Thánh Tông St., Hạ Long City Tel: 629 228 - 629828 - 629876 Fax: 829 668 Email: tunglamtour@hn.vnn.vn

Hạ Long Tourist Company Add: 1 Hạ Long Road, Bãi Cháy, Hạ Long City Tel: 846 284 - 846 329 Fax: 846 284 Email: ttdhhd.qn@hn.vnn.vn

Quảng Ninh Shipping Joint - Stock Company Add: 9 Bên Ðoan St., Hạ Long City Tel: 825 407 Fax: 825 022 Email: quinicohip@hn.vnn.vn

Hữu Nghị Tourist Service Company Add: 35 Nguyên Du St., Hạ Long City Tel: 826 378 Fax: 846 985 Email: dlhngquangninh@hn.vnn.vn

Hồng Gai Tourist & Service Company Add: 130 A Lê Thánh Tông, Hạ Long City Tel: 825 898 - 829 718 Fax: 828 537 Email: dlhongaihl@hn.vnn.vn

Móng Cái Tourist Company Add: 1 Hùng Vuong Road, Móng Cái Town Tel: 881 255 Fax :881 942

Quảng Ninh Trade Union Tourist & Service Company Add: Móng Cái Town, Quảng Ninh Tel: 881 165 Fax:882 141

Halong Travel Guide - Restaurants

In Halong, there is a wide range of restaurants including budget restaurants, seafood restaurants, as well as good European and Chinese restaurants. In the center of Baichay tourist area, superior restaurants are often located around the beach area and in the large hotels. Along Halong Street are many clean restaurants, offering seafood specialties and Vietnamese dishes.

• European restaurants:

1. Hoang Gia
In the area of the park, Halong Street, Baichay
Tel: 033.845.913

2. Heritage Halong Restaurant in the Heritage Hotel,
Halong Street, Baichay
Tel: 033.845.020

3. Halong Plaza Restaurant in the Halong Plaza Hotel
Tel: 033. 845.810

4. Halong Restaurant in the Halong Hotel
Tel: 033. 846.321

5. Bachdang Restaurant in the Bachdang Hotel
Tel: 033.846.330

• Chinese Restaurants: Quan Hai Lau
Next to Baichay Tourist Wharf
Tel: 033.847.037

The restaurant has 250 seats, (in different rooms,) it offers menu service with Chinese dishes and a Chinese chef.

• Seafood specialty restaurants:

1. Sea Food Restaurant in Halong Street, Baichay
Tel: 033.845.822

2. Thu Huong Restaurant, in Halong Street, Baichay
Tel: 033.845.142

3. Bin Bop Restaurant in group 10, zone 1, Tran Hung Dao Ward
Tel: 033.627.686

4. Noi Nho Restaurant, Tran Hung Dao Street
Tel: 033.825614

5. Bien Xanh Restaurant, No. 8 Le Thanh Tong Street
Tel: 033.825112

Apart from the restaurants on the mainland, customers can contact the floating restaurants if they want to have an appetizing meal on the sea:
Bien Mo floating Restaurants, No 1 and No 2, belong to Quangninh Marine Products Export Company.

Customer reception at 35 Bentau Road, Halong
Tel: 033.828951; 825196
Fax: 033. 826683
Visitors can also arrange with the tourist boat owners to have an appetizing meal aboard ship.

• Specialties: arca, oysters, shellfish

- "Shellfish supermarket" at Caidam area, 2km from Baichay Tourist Wharf. It is an attractive place for tourists in the evening.
- Next to Long Tien Pagoda (near Halong Market), open most of the night.

• Popular rice and noodle restaurants: (with seafood)

- On the lower part of Vuondao slope, near Baichay Post Office.

- Along Hangnoi Street, Bendoan area and LongTien Pagoda.

• Cafes:

Apart from bars and cafes in the larger hotels, there are many other cafes:

- Trung Nguyen Café No 1, Nguyen Van Cu Street, Halong City.

- Trung Nguyen café No 2, Cong Doan Hotel, Halong Street, Baichay.

- Thang Long Hotel: House on Stilts café, "ruou can" (rice wine drunk out of a jar through pipes).
Tel: 033.847276

- Noinho Café, 10 Tran Hung Dao Road, Halong City
Tel: 033.628027, 033.629128.

There are numerous cafés and refreshment locations in Halong Street (Baichay) and Le Thanh Tong Street (Hongai).

Seafood specialties:

Like other coastal areas of North Vietnam, Halong has a wide variety of seafood specialties. The most popular are:

- Arca: Lives under mud and has two shells, it is as big as a cup and it can be steamed, grilled or made into soup. "Ruou ngan" (arca wine) is a specialty of Halong, which is highly nutritious and simple to process.

- Sopuncuchlac (sa sung): are varieties of sea worm that live in the sand and are about 4 cm in long, with tiny veins running lengthwise. This species is peculiar to Halong. After processing the fresh sopuncuchlac it should be stir-fried with celery and leeks or grilled. It goes well with beer drinking, especially as a noodle consommé.

- Holothuriodiac: is referred to as sea ginseng. There are two kinds, black and white. It looks like a cucumber with a soft body. It is prepared with pork, chicken, and bamboo shoots and dried pigskin as a dinner dish.

- Sepia esculenta: is a kind of large cuttlefish weighing up to 2kg., which can be prepared with leeks, garlic leaves or boiled. The fresh Sepia esculenta can be dried, grilled or fried with sweet and sour source. It goes well with beer and is makes a good present for friends after a trip.

- "Blood" shellfish: has been a famous seafood specialty in Indochina for some years. It can be steamed with beer, fried or boiled and eaten with pepper-salt.

- Teredo: lives in the aegiceras and mangroves, mostly at the foot of the mountains. Opening two hard and sharp shells reveals the teredo's meat. It is prepared with egg and flour or used for soup and is a popular dish.

Besides these sea products, there are the usual seafood specialties such as: shrimp, crab, garruppa fish, pomfret fish, threadfin fish etc.

Some entertainment and relaxation centers in Halong City Area

The international tourist resort in TuanChau Island, Tel: 033.842115

- The International Royal Park: Halong Street, Baichay, Halong City,
Tel: 033.846658

- Quangninh Provincial Museum:
165 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Halong City, Tel: 033.825031.

- Viet Nam - Japan Cultural Center:
Le Thanh Tong Street, Halong City
Tel: 84.33.825431

- Halong Cinema: Le Thanh Tong Street, Halong City
Tel: 84.33.825383

- Quangninh Provincial Library:
174 Le Thanh Tong Street, Halong City
Tel: 84.33.825384

- Sports Center:
Nguyen Van Cu Street, Halong City
Tel: 84.33.823249

- Tennis courts: at the Children's Center, Le Thanh Tong Street,
Halong Hotel 1 and 2, Baichay, also next to the Halong Cinema.

- The Electronic Games Machine Club:
Halong Street, Baichay
Tel: 033.844878, Fax: 033.844879

- Dancing:
+ Heritage Hotel, 8 Halong Road, Baichay Tel: 033.845020
+Top Disco, Halong Road, Baichay Tel: 033.846000
+ Queen Vosa, 70 Le Thanh Tong Street, Halong Tel: 033. 826193

There are many discotheques in the hotels and restaurants.

Buying tickets for trips on the Bay

Every tourist needs at least one ticket to travel on the Bay. - A ticket for Tour 1 is valid for Thien Cung and other caves (except Sung Sot Cave). - A ticket for Tour 2 is valid for Sung Sot and other caves (except Thien Cung Grotto). * Table of ticket price: Pursuant to the Decision No. 561/QD-UB issued by Quang Ninh People Committee on February 18th 2005 regarding to the revision of Ha Long Bay excursion fee. The following price is stipulated the same rate between Vietnamese and foreigners: Kind of tourist Route 1 Route 2 Both routes Vietnamese and Foreigners Adults 30.000 VND 30.000 VND 60.000 VND Children 10.000 VND 10.000 VND 20.000 VND Tickets can be bought at the ticket office at Baichay tourist wharf (Tel: 033.846592) and at Hongai tourist wharf or at the entry to the caves, grottoes and visitor sites. Tickets are only valid for a specified time.

How to hire a boat

Types of tourist boats: There are over 300 boats permanently based at Baichay Tourist Wharf. Boats are classified by size as follows: * 10 – 15 seat, wooden boats: small size with a single deck. They travel slowly (8 – 13km per hour.) * 15 – 25 seat, wooden boats: These are larger boats and offer better viewing for tourists from their top deck. * 35 – 60 seat, wooden boats: these have enclosed passenger compartments with wind and rain proof glass windows with seats on the upper deck. Individual bunks are located in the hold. Their average speed is from 12 to 15km. per hour. * 60 – 80 seat, steel-hulled boats: these have been converted from military navigation vessels. * Speedboats: these are small with 10 – 15 seats only, but can travel at speeds of up to 40km. per hour. Boat hire prices as displayed at the ticket office Boat Capacity 4 hour tour 6 hour tour 8 hour tour Whole Boat One person Whole Boat One person Whole Boat One person 10 -15 seats 280.000 20.000 380.000 25.000 490.000 35.000 15 -25 seats 360.000 20.000 500.000> 25.000 630.000 35.000 25 - 35 seats 400.000 20.000 550.000 25.000 700.000 35.000 30 -60 seats 450.000 20.000 600.000 25.000 750.000 35.000 60 -80 seats 800.000 20.000 1.100.000 25.000 1.400.000 35.000 A list of fixed prices is displayed in the ticket office. However, prices rise sharply at peak times and may be discounted at off peak times. The cost of hire of the whole boat can be negotiated at the ticket office or directly with the boat’s captain at the tourist wharf. The main fleets of tourist boats -Halong Bay Service Center’s fleet managed by Halong Bay Management Department. Its representative office is in Baichay Tourist Wharf. Tel: 033.844631; Fax: 033.844234 - Hongai Tourist Company Fleet Head office: Halong Street, Baichay. Tel: 033.825898 - Haiau Company Ltd. Fleet Head office: Yetkieu Street, Halong Tel: 033. 824799 - Saomai Fleet: Tel: 033. 824799 - Hoanglong Fleet: Tel: 033.845.042 - Viet - Y Fleet: Tel: 0903.446.498 - Lanphuong Fleet: Tel: 033.845.679 - Huonghai Fleet: Tel: 033.845.042

Route 3: Tourist Wharf – Me Cung Cave – Sung Sot Grotto – Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).

Mecung Grotto

Situated on Lombo Island, it is 2km away from Sungsot Cave. Access to the entrance of the grotto is on the Catba – Haiphong sea passage. The exit leads to a ‘garden’ area outside the grotto. Mecung is one of grottoes containing archaeological remains of Halong Culture dating from 20,000 years ago. In the entrance, visitors can see, to a thickness of 2 –3 m, cultural deposits of ancient freshwater shells – evidence of the pre-historic people who used to live in the grotto.

Daunguoi Islet

Is 2km away from Sungsot Cave to the southeast and resembles the tall head of a giant, with a large nose, whose chin is pointing down to the water. A stunted grove grows on the top of islet, looking like a tuft of hair blown by the wind.

Trong and Trinhnu caves

These two caves are located on two sides of an arc of small islets, to the east of Bohon Island and are 700m apart through a small sea valley. The entrances of the caves face in opposite directions. Sounds reverberate from one to the other. Stalactites in the caves are strange and attractive and resemble different shapes.

Cuavan Fishing Village on Halong Bay

There are 4 fishing villages in the World Heritage site: Bahang, Cuavan, Vongvieng and Capla with a total of 287 households and 1,283 people of which Cuavan is the largest. This is a habitat that has maintained both a tangible and intangible marine culture. Visiting the village, tourists have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, who live in the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay. In the future, a Floating Cultural Center will be established in Cuavan fishing village, which will become an important interface between the Halong people and tourists.

Tienong Cave

Situated to the northwest of Trai Cave, it is 4 –5m above sea level. The entrance is 40m – 50m wide and 10m high. The floor covers 1,000sq. meters strewn with ancient freshwater shells - evidence of prehistoric habitation. Here are the thickest deposits of fresh water shells yet found in Vietnam from pre-historic times. The volume of shells runs to hundreds of cubic meters.

Baham Lake

Situated on Daube Island, 25km. away from Baichay Tourist Wharf in the southwest, the lake is famous for its attractive scenery. There are actually three lakes connected together. Tourists visit these lakes by bamboo boats through low vault like passages with stalactites hanging down. They can observe a diversity of flora and fauna. On the cliff at the entrance, tourists can observe some species of orchid. To paddle by bamboo boats to Baham Lakes takes about 45 minutes. Canoes can be hired (life jackets must be worn.)

Luon Cave

Located to the northeast of Bohon Island, it leads to a calm, blue, closed lake which only opens to the sea via a vault like stone passage, 60 meters long but only 2.5m to 4m high, depending on the level of the tide. It takes 20 minutes to paddle inside by bamboo boats.

Sungsot Cave

- Is located on Bohon Island where there is a group of famous caves, 15km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf. - Sungsot is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay and covers over 10,000sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. Each chamber has its own beauty which surprises tourists, especially the third chamber, which suddenly widens into a large, curved, vault like, monumental palace, with a variety of great sculptural works. In “Halong Tourism”, a book published in 1938 by the French, it was referred to as Surprise Cave’ (Grotto de Surprise).

Titov Island

About 13km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf, this beautiful island has a steep cliff on one side and a gentle sloping side, with an attractive sandy beach, on the other. Its old name was Catnang Island. President Ho Chi Minh and Russian Astronaut, Giecman Titov, visited Halong Bay and stayed on the island in 1962. To celebrate this trip and Viet – Russian friendship, Uncle Ho named this island Ti Tov. Visiting the island, tourists can enjoy a white sandy beach and look over the whole panorama of the Bay from the top of island. They can also take part in various recreational activities and enjoy quality service, for example: go swimming, hire rubber rings and bathing suits, use fresh water showers and purchase refreshments.

route2:Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet– Sung Sot Grotto– Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.

Sungsot Cave

- Is located on Bohon Island where there is a group of famous caves, 15km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf. - Sungsot is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay and covers over 10,000sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. Each chamber has its own beauty which surprises tourists, especially the third chamber, which suddenly widens into a large, curved, vault like, monumental palace, with a variety of great sculptural works. In “Halong Tourism”, a book published in 1938 by the French, it was referred to as Surprise Cave’ (Grotto de Surprise).

Titov Island

About 13km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf, this beautiful island has a steep cliff on one side and a gentle sloping side, with an attractive sandy beach, on the other. Its old name was Catnang Island. President Ho Chi Minh and Russian Astronaut, Giecman Titov, visited Halong Bay and stayed on the island in 1962. To celebrate this trip and Viet – Russian friendship, Uncle Ho named this island Ti Tov. Visiting the island, tourists can enjoy a white sandy beach and look over the whole panorama of the Bay from the top of island. They can also take part in various recreational activities and enjoy quality service, for example: go swimming, hire rubber rings and bathing suits, use fresh water showers and purchase refreshments.

Soisim Island

This is a land Island covering 87,000sq. meters, having two peaks, 100m high. Its side slopes in the southeast. There is a primeval forest containing valuable plants - a special terrain, located right in the center of a popular tourist area. Soisim will be targeted for eco-tourism, enabling tourists to experience interactive artistic and recreational activities. It will help visitors to take a new look at their responsibilities and the relationship that exists between people and nature, especially in this vulnerable environment. Presently the following services are available to tourists: a sandy beach, fresh water showers, bathing suit hire and the purchase of refreshments.

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.

Sungsot Cave

- Is located on Bohon Island where there is a group of famous caves, 15km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf. - Sungsot is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay and covers over 10,000sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. Each chamber has its own beauty which surprises tourists, especially the third chamber, which suddenly widens into a large, curved, vault like, monumental palace, with a variety of great sculptural works. In “Halong Tourism”, a book published in 1938 by the French, it was referred to as Surprise Cave’ (Grotto de Surprise).

Titov Island

About 13km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf, this beautiful island has a steep cliff on one side and a gentle sloping side, with an attractive sandy beach, on the other. Its old name was Catnang Island. President Ho Chi Minh and Russian Astronaut, Giecman Titov, visited Halong Bay and stayed on the island in 1962. To celebrate this trip and Viet – Russian friendship, Uncle Ho named this island Ti Tov. Visiting the island, tourists can enjoy a white sandy beach and look over the whole panorama of the Bay from the top of island. They can also take part in various recreational activities and enjoy quality service, for example: go swimming, hire rubber rings and bathing suits, use fresh water showers and purchase refreshments.

Soisim Island

This is a land Island covering 87,000sq. meters, having two peaks, 100m high. Its side slopes in the southeast. There is a primeval forest containing valuable plants - a special terrain, located right in the center of a popular tourist area. Soisim will be targeted for eco-tourism, enabling tourists to experience interactive artistic and recreational activities. It will help visitors to take a new look at their responsibilities and the relationship that exists between people and nature, especially in this vulnerable environment. Presently the following services are available to tourists: a sandy beach, fresh water showers, bathing suit hire and the purchase of refreshments.

Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet (3-4 hours)

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.