Xmas with a Halong cruise vacation December 22, 2008

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

What is a Ha Long bay cruise like?

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

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

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

They're slow

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

You may visit a floating village

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

You'll get to swim

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

You may get to kayak

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

You'll get to go caving

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

You may sleep over on the bay

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

You may overnight on Cat Ba Island

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

You'll be fed and transported

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

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

(By Liz Mai – Vietnam holiday now)

Official Website: http://vietnamholidaynow.com/english