Halong Bay cruises | Halong Bay tours | Halong bay experience & stories, Vietnam » activetravelvietnam

“Halong Bay In My Eyes” – Photo Contest

activetravelvietnam — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:36:04 +0000

“Halong Bay In My Eyes” - Cuộc thi ảnh “Hạ Long trong mắt tôi”

Photo Competition sponsored by Indochina Sails, Halong Bay, Vietnam - Thể lệ:
The competition is intended to highlight the incredible beauty of Halong Bay and encourage more travellers to see the Bay for themselves. In addition, it is hoped that more people will become aware of the online “New Wonder of the World” competition and vote for Halong Bay. To participate in the contest please go to http://www.facebook.com/halongbay.indochinasails

Góp phần trong chiến dịch bình chọn cho vịnh Hạ Long trở thành di sản thiên nhiên thế giới và quảng bá hình ảnh Hạ Long đến với những người yêu thích du lịch trong nước và nước ngoài, du thuyền Indochina Sails tổ chức cuộc thi ảnh “Hạ Long trong mắt tôi”. Cuộc thi sẽ được tổ chức chính thức trên Facebook của Indochina Sails http://www.facebook.com/halongbay.indochinasails. Hình dự thi sẽ được đăng tải trực tiếp trên Facebook Indochina Sails.

Duration of contest - Thể lệ chấm giải:
Indochina Sails will choose the two winning photos from the websites top ten LIKE getters.
10 ảnh nhận được nhiều like nhất sẽ được vào vòng chung kết và các giải cụ thể sẽ do Ban tổ chức chấm giải từ danh sách 10 ảnh này.

Contest dates: 25/8/2011 to 5/10/2011
Cuộc thi diễn ra từ 25/8/2011 đến 5/10/2011

The prizes will be announced on 10/10/2011
Thời gian thông báo kết quả: 10/10/2011

Prizes - Giải thưởng:
First prize: Indochina Sails Premium Holiday package valued at 450 USD for 2 people all inclusive.
Giải đặc biệt – 01 giải, 1 chuyến du lịch trị giá 8 triệu cho 2 người trên du thuyền Indochina Sails – Hạ Long

Second prize: Indochina Sails Deluxe Holiday package valued at 350 USD for 2 people all inclusive.
Giải khuyến khích – 10 giải, 1 chuyến du lịch trị giá 6 triệu cho 2 người trên du thuyền Indochina Sails – Hạ Long

First five entrants will receive an Indochina Sails Souvenir T-shirt.
5 người gửi ảnh đầu tiên sẽ nhận được phần quà là áo T-shirt Indochina Sails.

Term and condition – Điều kiện & Ghi chú:
Prizes are non-transferrable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Các giải thưởng không có giá trị qui đổi thành tiền mặt và không có giá trị chuyển nhượng

Submitted photos must be the property of the contestant. Submitted photos cannot be prize winners of any previous photo competition.
Bài dự thi phải là tác phẩm của chính tác giả, chưa tham gia các cuộc thi và các giải thưởng khác.

Contestants are responsible for any copyright infringements or violations
Tác giả hoàn toàn chịu trách nhiệm về bản quyền ảnh tham gia dự thi.

Indochina Sails maintains the right to use submitted photos for publicity purposes.
Indochina Sails có quyền sử dụng bài dự thi vào mục đích quảng bá nhãn hiệu mà không cần thông báo trước.

Winners may be required to participate in publicity programs
Indochina Sails có quyền từ chối quyền tham dự cuộc thi của những hình ảnh có nội dung không lành mạnh, không phù hợp và có quyền từ chối trao giải nếu phát hiện bất cứ vi phạm nào từ người dự thi.

Indochina Sails confirms that overnight cruises on Halong Bay are safe.

activetravelvietnam — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:19:03 +0000

Indochina Sails is well known for providing the most luxurious and highest quality cruise ships on Halong Bay. As the first operator to offer overnight cruises on the Bay, Indochina Sails has over ten years experience hosting international travelers, and has consistently set the benchmark for luxury cruising on Halong Bay.

Indochina Sails has always maintained the highest level of safety standards as well.

With the recent addition of two new vessels our fleet now consists of six boats comprising a total of 74 cabins. With all of our boats safety has been and will continue to be an utmost priority.

All six boats in our fleet (Indochina Sails 1, 2, 3, Indochina Sails Premium, Valentine and Valentine Premium) have life vests in every cabin (1 per guest, including children). Additional life jackets for all guests are stored in public areas.
The boats are equipped with life buoys and life rafts with capacity for all guests and crew on board.
Each boat has a tender (also equipped with life jackets) to assist in any emergency or rescue operation.
All of our boats are under professional daily on-board technical supervision.
Our Captains possess long term experience and are extensively trained and fully licensed.
Our crews are fully trained with clear procedures as to how to deal with emergencies.
All guests are briefed and given safety procedures on board with clear instruction in case of emergency.
All boats are fitted with professional marine safety equipment: VHF, GPS, radar, walkie-talkies, water leakage alarm systems, water pump systems, fire alarm & fire extinguisher systems.
All boats undergo one-month extensive dry dock maintenance yearly and are fully checked by local marine registration authorities before and after leaving dry dock.
All boats are covered with maximum boat insurance and maximum passenger & crew insurance.

The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance. We provide safe passage for all our guests.

If you require any more information please feel free to contact our Hanoi office.

INDOCHINA SAILS
Hanoi Office
Add: 27 – A6 – Dam Trau Quarter – Hai Ba Trung District – Hanoi – Vietnam
Tel: +84 – 4- 39842362
Fax: +84 – 4 – 39844150
Email: info@indochinasails.com
Website: www.indochinasails.com

How to find safe travel in Halong Bay Vietnam

activetravelvietnam — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:43:09 +0000

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA would like to give out some advices about how to travel safely and enjoyably in Halong Bay. There are some something you should concern about as you plan your trip there.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

1. Overnight junk (vessel) or hotel?

When you travel you can stay in hotel anywhere, anytime and that is just so normal. If you want to have a unique travel experience in Halong Bay it worth spending a night aboard of an overnight vessel amongst thousands of islands and islets. Though the recently tragedy incident happened to an overnight vessel I still vote for it. The question now is how to minimize the risk.

2. How to choose a reliable overnight vessel?

Stick to popular names like Indochina Sails, Huong Hai Junk, Bai Tho Junk, Hai Long Junk,… there are many boat fleets recommended or not recommended on Trip Advisor by travelers. We all know that the big brand is likely a guarantee for the quality. In this case, it is so true. A wooden vessel of a big fleet after some year in operation would be sold to smaller fleet who is targeting at cheap services. These old wooden vessels are not reliable especially in bad weather.

When you book overnight vessel ask your travel consultant or reservation license of the vessel for doing its business. That can tell a lot how reliable your overnight vessel is.

3. What else a popular big vessel fleet can offer?

Their crew are better trained and more discipline. They concentrate on what they do better than crew of a small and unorganized fleet. The vessels are well maintained and safety equipments aboard are better equipped. There are many more things about quality and safety that a small and cheap fleet can not offer traveler since they just target at cheap services.

4. Already aboard, what you should concern?

There should be a hummer in your cabin which can be used to break the glass window in case of emergency. The hummer should be hang right on either sides of the window and you have locate it so you can have it when you need (hope not). If you do not find the hummer you should ask for one from the crew or you make something yourself for that purpose.

There should also be life-vest in your cabin. You have to be sure that you have them ready in case.

Scan the whole vessel for emergency escape way, fire extinguisher,… that would be useful in case of emergency

( Source: news.activetravelvietnam.com)

Indochina Sails attends Luxury Travel Market in France and International Travel Trade in Spain

activetravelvietnam — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:43:58 +0000

Indochina Sails announce to attend Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, France from Dec 6^th to 9^th2010 and International Travel Trade Fair in Madrid, Spain from Jan 19^th to 23^rd, 2011 to promote the newest and biggest luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay named Indochina Sails Premium. It is grand opening in Nov 2010.

Indochina Sails is the first and biggest company to offer luxury overnight cruises on the bay. Indochina Sails is now widely known as the number one choice for discerning travelers, operating a fleet of six luxurious built wooden junks and cruises. Two of them are newest additions in 2010, named Premium Valentine with 2 deluxe cabins and Indochina Sails Premium with 24 deluxe and suite cabins. They were designed in time-honored traditional style, with contemporary and luxurious cabins and facilities.

From December 6^th to 9^th 2010, the Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) is going to be held in Cannes, France. Indochina Sails aims to promote Luxury Cruises in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam in the luxury segment, which is addressed to people who want to live a unique experience, with personalized service, privacy, tranquility and simplicity about World Heritage in Vietnam.

ILTM Asia is a ‘by invitation only’ event, offering a tailor-made diary of one-to-one meetings, exclusive insight into luxury travel trends and developments, plus an enviable business and social networking calendar of events to help you engage with your luxury travel’s elite.

After this show, Indochina Sails is going to attend Fitur – the International Tourism Trade Fair, which celebrates its 31^st anniversary from January 19^th to 23^rd 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

Fitur is a meeting point for tourism professionals, an opportunity to establish lines of action, innovating to answer the changing demands of the market and to form strategies and business alliances to energize/consolidate the tourism business.

1. The Luxury Travel Market in Cannes (ILTM)

Attendee: Le Phuong Nhi – Director of Sales and Marketing

Stand number E181 – Asia Section

Email: dosm@indochinasails.com
Website: http://www.indochinasails.com

ILTM link: www.iltm.net

2. International Travel Trade Fair in Madrid (Fitur)

Attendee: Le Phuong Nhi – Director of Sales and Marketing

VietNam Booth – Asia Section

Email: dosm@indochinasails.com
Website: http://www.indochinasails.com

Fitur link: http://www.ifema.es/ferias/fitur/default_i.html

Indochina Sails, the unique Guide Awards’ Winner for Luxury Cruises in Halong bay Vietnam

activetravelvietnam — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:08:15 +0000

Indochina Sails (www.indochinasails.com ) has just won the Guide Awards 2010 for “the Year’s Best” products and services in the tourism sector in Vietnam in Furama Resort Danang, celebrating their award winning service.

The Guide Magazine has choosen 125 tour operators hotels and travel suppliers in Vietnam who make contribution to Vietnam Tourism such as protect travel environment, supply sustainable travel services and responsibility to local people. Besides, The guide Magazine have shown the beautiful pictures of landscapes and daily life in Vietnam

Indochina Sails is the first company to offer overnight cruises on the bay and now widely known as the number one choice for discerning travelers, operating a fleet of four newly built wooden junks designed in time-honored traditional style, with contemporary and luxurious cabins and facilities.

This award – winning luxury cruises are also offering terrific deals, to tempt travelers who travel with family members and are keeping their wallets tightly closed these days.

Ha Long Bay listed among the world’s most surreal landscapes

activetravelvietnam — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:30:31 +0000

The Telegraph has recently selected the world’s most surreal landscapes, including Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage recognised by the UNESCO.

Halong Bay, Vietnam: This stunning landscape features some 3,000 limestone pillars rising out of the emerald waters on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. Local legend has it that the islands were created by giant dragons, summoned by the gods to fight Chinese invaders.

Valley of Desolation, Dominica: This valley was a lush rainforest until a volcano erupted in 1880. Fauna is now reduced to lizards, ants and cockroaches while boiling mud and fumaroles dot the landscape.

Painted Desert, Arizona, USA: Vibrant reds, oranges, blues, greys and pinks decorate the sun-baked Painted Desert on a high plateau in Arizona. Home of the Hopi and the Navajo peoples, the latter known for their ceremonial sand paintings, it’s an utterly unique part of the planet.

Purnululu National Park, Australia: Until the release of aerial photos in the early 1980s, this remote area in Western Australia was all but unknown to the outside world. Traditionally used by Kija Aborigines during the wet season, the rugged web of gullies, cliffs, gorges, domes and ridges hold aboriginal works of art and burial sites.

Petrified Forest, Argentina: This flat arid land in Patagonia’s Santa Cruz province is strewn with the stumps of fossilised trees. Some 130 million years ago, during the Jurassic period, wet forests of giant araucaria trees covered the area. During the formation of the Andes, large-scale volcanic activity buried Patagonia in ash and these forests turned to stone.

Wadi Rum, Jordan: The forbidding beauty of Wadi Rum was the perfect backdrop for the 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia. This desert wilderness is certainly cinematic – sand valleys and dunes punctuated by a maze of monolithic rock, natural arches, slender canyons and fissures, beautifully moody colours at dawn and dusk, and night skies sprinkled with a multitude of stars.

Lake Myvatn, Iceland: The Apollo 11 crew were sent here to train for their moon walks. It is lined with craters, lava pillars and mud pits, while volcanic islets are scattered across the water. If not for all the ducks roaming the sandbars, it could well be on another planet.

Cappadocia, Turkey: So inhospitable is the landscape here in the heart of Turkey that early dwellers went underground, building churches and houses into the soft cliffs. Above ground, honeycomb cliffs and volcanic cones – known as ‘fairy chimneys’ create dramatic landscapes.

Lake Bogoria, Kenya: So shallow is the earth’s crust in this sinister landscape that the surface looks like a giant witch’s cauldron, with scorching springs and geysers. Rich in sodium salts and minerals, the lake has no life bar the blue-green algae, eagles flying overhead and the incredible number of flamingos that feed here.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia: Blindingly white and dizzyingly high, this vast salt flat near the crest of the Andes could easily be mistaken for a Salvador Dali painting. Eerie and otherworldly, Salar de Uyuni holds intensely blue skies, red and green lagoons, pink flamingos, smoking volcanoes, giant cacti, hot springs and spitting geysers.

Source: Telegraph

Two months in Southeast Asia – Travel Vietnam, Laos, Thailand

activetravelvietnam — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:58:50 +0000

Since my second backpacking trip through Europe, I wanted to journey to Southeast Asia.

I chose to visit Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and developed a loose itinerary, starting in Bangkok, Thailand.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Bangkok was everything I expected. The number of people everywhere was staggering, but before long I got used to the crowds, the heat and the food.
I visited many temples and shops, including the Grand Palace and the famed Khao San Road. The Grand Palace was amazing. Inside there were countless statues of Buddha. To my disappointment, Khao San was the typical tourist trap, with vendors selling T-shirts and bootlegged CDs.

After a few days I headed to Phuket, where I played beach bum for a few more days before flying to Saigon, Vietnam.

Scooting around Vietnam

Now, that was exactly what I pictured an Asian city to be – scooters everywhere! Crossing the street in Bangkok was like crossing a street in Des Moines compared to trying to cross the street in a Vietnamese city. The first time in Saigon was a big leap of faith. The trick is to just walk and keep your head turned to oncoming traffic.

I spent three weeks in Vietnam traveling from south to north. The highlights were eating the food in Hoi An, enjoying Hanoi’s famed Bia Hoi beer gardens and eating snake, and seeing the rock karsts of Halong Bay.

I had many choices of border crossings into Laos from Vietnam but I chose the crossing near Vinh in central Vietnam. This meant that I had an eight-hour bus ride from Hanoi to Vinh followed by a 14-hour bus ride to Phonsavan, Laos.

Phonsavan is famous for its “Plain of Jars” fields. These are fields of stone jars, each about 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide, scattered everywhere. Other jars are scattered in jungles surrounding Phonsavan.

Floating through Laos

After a day in Phonsavan I headed to Luang Prabang for a few days and then to Vang Vieng. My time in Vang Vieng was some of the best. There I went on a two-day trek that included hiking over mountains, spelunking through caves and kayaking the Nam Song River that runs through the town. The town has become a hotbed for young tourists who tube down the river. The river has a number of bars along its banks. Some have zip lines, bungee jumps and slides for the patrons to enjoy and all blare techno music.

Cambodia was the biggest surprise of the trip because I knew the least about it. The biggest draw to Cambodia is Siem Reap where Angkor Wat is located. Many people go only to see Angkor Wat but there are many more temples around Siem Reap and Cambodia. I felt like I was on another planet when I went to Angkor Wat to watch the sun rise over the temple.

I spent two months in Southeast Asia and there are still parts I didn’t see. I enjoyed every minute. Many people ask if I felt safe. I did.

Crystalline waters shine in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

activetravelvietnam — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:53:54 +0000

Last April, I finally had a chance to get a glimpse of the country where my maternal grandfather fought in the Vietnam War. Based on the stories my grandfather told me while I was growing up, I arrived in Vietnam expecting to see evidence of the war. Instead I was surprised to see how modern the country is.

Halong bay view

But honestly, the thing that really impressed me was the food, and the bakeries in particular. Although we have bakeries in Korea, the coffee and bread in the bakeries of Vietnam overwhelmed me with their flavors, a mix of tastes and textures from France and Asia, surely a remnant of the country’s colonial past.

I was in Vietnam at the invitation the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and Asia Europe Foundation to report on an Asia-Europe Meeting workshop that took place from April 28 to 29 in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province in the northeastern corner of Vietnam. At the workshop, ASEM workshop participants agreed to forge stronger ties through cultural diplomacy linking Asia and Europe.

On the last day of the workshop, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry took us on a cruise of Ha Long Bay, which covers 1,553 square kilometers (600 square miles) and has 1,969 islands. After the 10-minute ride from the Halong Plaza Hotel where we were staying we arrived at the pier and boarded a waiting cruise ship.

The other passengers and I sat down at tables set out on the deck and were treated to a feast that was a mixture of Western and Asian cuisine. Around us, thousands of limestone islets rose out of crystalline emerald waters that glistened in the sun.

Pham Sanh Chau, director general of the department for cultural relations and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, said Ha Long Bay is the first World Heritage Site in Vietnam. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and again in 2000 in recognition of its natural beauty and geological value.

“Ha Long Bay deserves to be named as one of the seven new wonders of nature because it’s like paradise. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world,” Chau said. “It’s not an area just for tourism. It also serves as buffer zone against climate change. It’s rich in marine biodiversity and many scientists say this should be a geological park.”

As we sat back with our plates full of food, fishing boats large and small passed us on their way to their next catch. People exclaimed in excitement when they saw a small tent set up on the waters of Ha Long Bay. The tent, we learned, had been built to accommodate fishermen in need of a break or a place to sleep.

Our trip around the bay was nothing if not idyllic, but our tour guide explained that tourists who visit the area usually take overnight cruises to Ha Long Bay. The cruise starts with lunch aboard the ship and continues with stops at various caves for kayaking and swimming. Guests then sleep on the boat that night.

Because of my tight schedule, I had to return to my hotel that night and wasn’t able to take advantage of what sounded like a lovely diversion, but before I did I took a tour of the boat’s lower deck, where the sleeping rooms are located. The rooms are cozy and designed to accommodate two people. Each one is fully furnished with a bed, sofa, shower booth and toilet, just like in a hotel.

Although my journey to Vietnam was short, I picked up a few tips for my next trip that I’d like to share. First, you don’t have to set an alarm because there is an endless stream of honking motorbikes whizzing by every morning in Hanoi and the noise is enough to force your eyes open. Most Vietnamese people start the day early and most offices open at 7:30 a.m.

Second, you need to be extremely brave when crossing the street. There are no street lights like the ones you find in other major cities. When you try to wade into the traffic that is rushing by, drivers of cars and motorcycles swerve around you without slowing down. On my first day in Hanoi, I stood on the street for 10 minutes waiting for the right time to cross when I finally found a group of Vietnamese women intent on jaywalking.

Third, although the traffic is insane, make sure you stroll around the city on foot. This is the best way to experience a typical day in the life of the Vietnamese people. Women balance poles laden with heavy baskets of vegetables and flowers on their shoulders, passing people who squat on the sidewalk or sit in plastic chairs, sipping tea and eating pho (beef noodle soup) at outdoor food stalls. This is where you can feel the energy of the people.

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, I recommend you go to Hanoi first, take a tour of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter and then take the overnight cruise of Ha Long Bay.

By Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]

Recommendation in Halong bay, Vietnam: Indochina Sails

Cruising Halong Bay, Vietnam on a Chinese Junk

activetravelvietnam — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:48:34 +0000

2 days and one night aboard a luxurious boat on Indochina Sails on Halong Bay

One of the must do’s if you are visiting Hanoi is a side trip to Halong Bay. I personally have done it twice – once on a bit of a budget and most recently in style on Indochina Sails. Indochina Sails presents a truly elegant cruising experience on its lacquered wood junk.

It all starts with a morning drive from Hanoi, which is about 3 hours – your boat can arrange transport from your hotel. Undoubtedly around the halfway point you will stop at some souvenir shops…these are usually prearranged with the driver (unbeknown st to the passenger) and we suspect he gets some sort of commission. You can either spend time here or go quickly. I will say on my more budget trip the caliber of the shop reflected the caliber of the trip. However on this one, we managed to stop off at a place where they were making pottery and statues, so for some of us, it was actually truly interesting to wander around the workshop and see the vases being hand painted and then kiln fired.

After we drove past the dock where I took off last time (full of backpackers standing around in a dusty parking lot and loading their own baggage), I was relieved to arrive at an entirely civilized departure point replete with coffee and gift shop. If you are traveling Indochina Sails a steward will meet you at the coffee shop and whisk away your luggage while you check in. After a short ride in a smaller boat, you board the junk and are immediately enveloped in old world elegance.

After checking in, lunch was served. We enjoyed (Sup Kem Bi Do) pumpkin soup;

(Nem Tuoi Cuon Phuc Vu Cung Nuoc) fresh spring rolls with fish sauce and green papaya salad;

(Tom He Ha Long Chien Xot Me) fried Halong shrimp with tamarind sauce;

(Ga Nuong Cung La Chanh Tuoi) grilled chicken with lemon leaves;

The pumpkin soup was really excellent – smooth and creamy. And the spring rolls were also a hit.
Overall, it should be noted that while the food is good, this is not a culinary cruise. In my book, the welcome lunch was probably the best. The other meals were buffet style, which is often not my preference. The dinner buffet did however feature some tasty steamed little neck clams. With that said, all food is included in your per person rate, it’s just wine, beer, coffee or tea you will pay extra for at mealtimes (excepting breakfast where the coffee / tea is complimentary.)

The real attraction however on this trip is the majestic scenery of the peridot green Halong Bay and the limestone rocks that make the view so dramatic and compelling. Halong Bay was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. As a result the waters and the land are well maintained and one can be sure that the beauty will be preserved.

And beyond the beauty that you can see there is lots of beauty that you cannot. This is where the ship’s excursions come in. On day one we visited Titop Island and hiked 400+ steps to the top for a panoramic view of the bay.

Also on offer was a 1 hour kayak trip (+$10 USD pp) or a visit to a local fishing village. We chose the kayak trip and so we set out with a guide to explore the bay. It was really fantastic being so close to the water after having admired it sparkling gem-like qualities from on high. I was really hoping it would be translucent, but it wasn’t. So instead we got a little arm and shoulder workout as we maneuvered underneath low hanging cave entrances and admired the limestone rock formations.

Once back on board, there was a wine tasting. Again, all drinks are a la carte, but if you do want to participate in an all you can drink wine tasting hour for $15USD the option is yours. The nice thing about Vietnam is given their French colonial heritage; they get a nice selection of French wines. I enjoyed a crisp Sauvignon Blanc on the upper deck with friends as we chatted about the day we had enjoyed and the day ahead. It was a perfect night, a bit crisp and breezy, and as I enjoyed my wine and conversation, the cares of the world melted away and I was in a rare state (for me anyway) of truly being 100% present in the moment.

Later that night, we slept quite comfortably in our cabin. The boat had docked for the night and was quite still in the placid waters of the bay. Paul was worried he wouldn’t be able to sleep on a boat, but his concerns melted away as he fell into a very deep sleep. In fact, in the morning we were both surprised how well we had slept – probably a combination of exercise, fresh air and good wine.

Day 2 started with an early morning trip to Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise Grotto) on Bon Hon Island where you can climb the 100 steps to the cave entrance and explore for about an hour. Inside the grotto, light illuminates the passage so you can see thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. It’s probably the only grotto of its kind that I have personally seen and so it lives large in my memory. I wish it was a little more rustic rather than tourist heavy, but in the end I am glad I visited.

After the morning excursion the boat heads back to the dock and it is time to head back to Hanoi. Another 3 hour drive, another stop at a souvenir shop. As we recounted the trip during our ride back, myself, Paul and the other 5 travelers who were with us agreed that Halong Bay was an absolutely spectacular thing to see and doing it aboard the Indochina Sails was time and money well spent.

Source: accidentalepicurean.com

Indochina Sails makes donation to Cua Van School in Halong bay , Vietnam

activetravelvietnam — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:32:24 +0000

On 12 March, 2010 the Staff and Management of Indochina Sails made a gift of twenty new desks and chairs, along with a large assortment of school supplies to the students of the Cua Van Floating Primary School. The school is located in the Cua Van Floating Fishing Village and has about 70 students aged from 6 to 14 years old. The village itself is home to about 600 people, who live there permanently, on about 130 floating houses.

Cua Van Primary School in Halong bay, Vietnam

The school is an important part of our daily itinerary. We visit the Fishing Village every afternoon and on days that school is in session our guests are allowed to visit. It is a fascinating experience, as you can see from the pictures. The schoolrooms and equipment are very basic, and the dedicated teachers do a fantastic job with limited resources.

In the past, Indochina Sails has made cash donations for the betterment of the village in general. However, recently, one of our staff suggested; “What if we collect some money ourselves and try to fix up the school somehow to make it better for the kids?”

So, the idea was born. Donations were collected from every member of our staff, and added to that was a donation from the company’s Management Team. We then asked the teachers how best we could use the money to help the students.

Mr. Jerry Bowes, the General Manager of Indochina Sails makes donation in Cua Van Primary School in Halong bay, Vietnam

If any guest coming to Ha Long Bay would like to help the young students of the Primary School we suggest you bring donations such as pens, pencils, markers, crayons or chalk. Also, coloring books for the younger students and notebooks for the older ones. And what kid wouldn’t like some sweets!

Indochina Sails

Add: 27, A6, Dam Trau Quarter, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 84-4-39842362
Fax:84-4-39844150
Email: info@indochinasails.com
Website: http://www.indochinasails.com