Halong bay “4 reason to visit halong bay”

Administrative Division: Halong City, Quang Ninh Province

Area: 1553km2 and 120km coastline; covering over 3000 islets with water body

Population: about 1600 people living in floating fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau & Vong Vieng

Recognition:

- 1962: 'Renowned National Landscape Monument' by Vietnam Tourism Authority. 

- 1994: UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO

- 2012: New 7 Wonders by New 7 Wonders Foundation

- Member of Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World

 

Although the name Halong Bay has made it to the world thanks to its world heritage title and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, not many people know about the mystery beneath that name. In ancient Vietnamese, Halong literally means “descending dragon” and it is originated from a legend of this ancient land.The legend says that during the old time when the country was newly formed, Vietnamese had to fight against fierce invaders coming from the North through the sea.

1.       SCENERY

When it comes to scenery, halong bay can just be describe as a “amazing” known for its thousands of rocks and caves emerging out of emerald water, halong bay has won numerous world recognitions as well as charmed million of visitor throughour the years. As you slowly explore the bay you will go from one surprise to another one cannot stop asking himself/herself how could nature have gifted human such a wonder. The most popular activity in Halong City is kayaking and is generally provided by luxurious cruises in the bay. This might not be as mysterious and dangerous as real adventure trips, but you can still have plenty of fun. While some just want to kayak around their cruise, others prefer to explore deep caves in the rock islands.

 

2.     CULTURE

In Vietnam culture is something that is always there to impress you, and halong bay is no acception, taking a trip to halong bay and you will fell a part of vietnamese’s northem coastal life which significantly different from it is in center and the soulth some make a living on the floating villages others serve delicious fresh seafood which they just caught from the sea.

 

3.       FOOD

Halong is famous for its seafood, but in there many variety of food likes; Ngan "ngan" that means one kind of duck). You can find this bivalve molluscs only in Quang Ninh province. It looks like a clam but much bigger, and is claimed to be good for a person's circulatory system. The locals drink it with wine, or cook in porridge or soup.  

 

Tu Hai “Tu Hai” is the speciality of Van Don Island district, some other places call it snail spout. It is a type of shellfish, but it is rare and valuable. You can cook soup or salad with “tu hai” or you can steam or bake it. Steamed “tu hai” is sweet and cool, and is meat mixed with spice.  

Gat Gu “Gat Gu” cake is similar with steamed rolled rice pancake. It is made from rice flour. When making this kind of cake, the maker have a secret to make it more delicious by adding cold rice. In VietNam, “gat gu” means nodding repeatedly, so that the name of this cake is “gat gu”. There is a custom that when eating Gat Gu cake, each one will nod repeatedly three time before eating to greet their visitors, and visitor also repeat it to show their thanks. “Gat gu” cake is quite special and delicious. 

1.       CRUISE TOUR

It is said that the perfect way to discover and enjoy the world natural wonder is to jump on to a traditional junk sailing to the far-most corners where there are hidden lagoons, unexploited beaches and exotic grottoes that can be found nowhere else in the world. There are two popular kinds of cruise itineraries in Halong Bay, day cruise and overnight cruise. Day cruises are created for travellers who just have enough time to soak up the atmosphere and take short glimpse over the must-sees of Halong Bay. Though they are quite short, they include visits to tourist attractions and well-cooked seafood dinner, swimming in the emerald water, kayaking to lagoons of the bay. Overnight cruises which are referred to both one night cruises and two night cruise are designed for travellers who have more time. A typical, one night Halong Bay Cruise includes activities such as visits to cave, Islands, Kayaking, funny team building games on beaches, sunset watching with a cocktail party, and night actitvities on board. A a two night cruise consists of all the activities of one night cruise and an extra day of further visits the far, untouched corner of the bay on smaller boat with a beach barbeque. Both one night cruise and two night cruise are inclusive apart from drinks. Both one night cruise and two night cruise are inclusive apart from drinks. 

• Halong Bay Cruises (Halong-Bay-Cruises), 6 Nguyen Quang Bich St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi, [1]. 139 USD/pax from Hanoi to Halong Bay on 2 days with 2 ways private car or shuttle bus from Hanoi
• Amazing Halong bay Cruises, [2]. From US$75/person for one night with 2 way shuttle bus from Hanoi.  
• Halong luxury Cruise (Go to Halong Bay), 06A-C2, 87 Lane, Lang Ha St., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, [3]. 168 USD/pax from Hanoi - Halong Bay on 2 days/1 night.
• Cruise The Gulf of Tonkin (Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay) (The Au Co - Halong Luxury Cruise), 47 Phan Chu Trinh, Ha Noi, Vietnam, [4]. 3 days. From US$414/adult for 3 days 2 nights
• Bhaya Classic Halong Cruise (Bhaya Cruises), [5]. 2 days. From US$179/adult for 2 days 1 night.
• Private/ Charter Halong Bay Cruise (The Legend Halong), [6].  
• Eco Cruise Halong Bay- Once in a lifetime experience (Hanoi Eco Tour). 3 days. Only from US$279/per person for 3 days two nights.
• Budget overnight Cruises (Wooden Junk Cruises). From US$79/person for one night itinerary and from US$175/person for two night itinerary, all include shuttle bus transfer.  
• Luxury overnight Cruises (Violet Cruise), [7]. From US$600/2 persons for one night itinerary, these may include shuttle bus transfer or private car transfer from and back to Hanoi.
• Wooden cruise (Wooden Cruises), [8]. 2 days. (Their website quote at US$248 per cabin for one night) From US$248/person for 2 days one night and from US$ 205/person for 3 days two night itinerary and many action on cruises.
• Halong FantaSea Adventures (Halong FantaSea Adventures), [9]. 2 days. From US$799/person for 2 days one night and from US$ 1110/person for 3 days two night itinerary.Very good value for money..  
• Private Boat with Personal Crew to serve (Life Heritage Resort Halong Bay Cruises), [10]. From US$450/per cabin (2 people) for 2 days one night and from US$ 45/person for 4-hour itinerary (min 4 pax).  
• Halong bay Packages (Halong Sapa Packages Offer a wide range of Halong bay cruise packages from Hanoi ( possibly combined with Sapa trekking tours ) with best rates, services guaranteed.), Sale office at 44 Dao Duy Tu, Hanoi, Vietnam, ☎ +84-4-66831010 (booking@halongsapapackages.com), [11]. 2 days. Starting from US$180/per room (2 people) for 2 days one night.  
• Cruise off the beaten Track Halong Bay (Dragon's Pearl Junk - Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises), [12]. 2 days. Only US$249/per cabin (2 people) for 2 days one night

(http://wikitravel.org/en/Ha_Long_Bay)

How to get there

There are 4 main ways to transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay :

1.       MINI BUS

from Gia Lam (Hanoi) to Bai Chay (Ha Long). Tickets are bought at the ticket counter for 120,000 dong ($6 USD). The journey takes 4 to 5 hour with the bus stopping to pick up passengers along the way From My Dinh Bus Station (Hanoi) there are buses travelling to Bai Chay for 100,000 dong. They are faster and more comfortable than the "mini bus" from Gia Lam. City bus 34 goes to My Dinh bus station as well.

2.       TAXI

• From Bai Chay to Ha Long City/Tourist Wharf a motorbike taxi should cost 10,000 to 20,000 dong.
• From Bai Chay to Tuan Chau Wharf a motorbike taxi should cost 20,000 to 30,000 dong.
• From Ha Long City to Tuan Chau Wharf a motorbike taxi should cost 20,000 to 30,000 dong.
• A taxi to any of these locations could be more than double.
• From Bai Chay bus station City bus 03 stops near Vuon Dao street where most of the budget hotels are located  By open bus: $15 USD one way, pick up & drop off at Bus Station By shuttle bus: Pick up & drop off passengers in the Ha Noi old quarter. 4-6 hours pending on how many stops en route the driver makes to pick up/drop off passengers. Fare is about US$10 each way.

3.       TRAIN

 take cargo train from Hanoi to Yen Vien (Gia Lam) and then to Quang Ninh. The train starts at 4.30 am and arrives at 11am. The terminal at Ha Long City is near the Bai Chay bus station and about 5 km away from the harbour. Expect train delays and cancellations without notice. Hard sleeper only, $10 USD one way.(not recommend this transport) 

4.       PRIVAT CAR

take a car from Noibai,or from Hanoi centre to Halong bay. It costs $85 USD per car, per trip or $150 USD for a 2 days, 1 night. Travelling by private car considers the best choice as its flexibility, safety, quality and valuable rates. It also seem be uniquely way to reach Ha Long bay from Noi Bai airport despite the taxi collection as it is indeed unsafe enough because of old age, careless drivers and non-competitive price.