Included:
Welcome
cocktail on cruise
Entrance
and sightseeing fees
Visit to
fishing village by rowing boat
Air-conditioned
Deluxe Cabin
Visit to Sung Sot Cave
Buffet
lunch; Set-dinner; Buffet brunch
7 seats van air-conditioned – Private Point to Point
(Hanoi–Halong-Hanoi)
Tour price from: USD265.00nett per paxs (minimum 4 paxs)
Excluded:
All
airfares, transfers, hotels & visa arrangements
Travel
insurance
Kayak,
beverages, spa and personal expenses
All
services not clearly mentioned in the inclusion list
Itinerary:
Day 1:
08:00AM 7
seats van pick up clients in Hanoi hotel, then transfer to Halong.
12:00 – 12:30
Check-in at Bhaya Café, Halong City.
Embark on Bhaya Classic for a Welcome Cocktail followed by a
cruise briefing.
13:00 – 15:30
Savor a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch as Bhaya Classic
heads to Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns
of Hon Gai and Cam
Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat
Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot)
Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.
15:30 – 17:00
Visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour)
then return to the vessel for free time at your leisure or join one of the
following optional activities: Kayak into the village or swim near the boat;
Optional onboard activities: Sunbathing, traditional
massage, etc.;
17:00-19:00
Bhaya Classic cruises through the Bay to its overnight
anchorage near Ho Dong Tien.
Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck.
Happy hour on sundeck
19:30
Sumptuous Seafood Set-dinner on board.
21:00
Retire to your cabin or join the fishing program.
Overnight onboard Bhaya Classic – Deluxe Cabin
Day 2:
06:15
Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while
complimentary tea & coffee are served.
07:00
Light breakfast
Bhaya Classic weighs anchor to cruise through the Bay
passing beautiful spots like Trong (Drum), Trinh
Nu (Virgin) and Me Cung Caves, Coc
Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc.
08:30
Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot).
09:30
Return to Bhaya Classic. Buffet brunch is served onboard.
The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor.
11:00AM Disembark at Bhaya
Café, Halong City.
7 seats van
pick up clients then transfer back to Hanoi hotel. End of tour.
*The above itinerary / information are for reference only and in subject to any necessary in accordance to local requirement / suggestions / unforeseen circumstances before / after confirmations. * ASPEN HOLIDAYS SDN BHD (ASPEN PENANG) Terms & Conditions apply*.
Why Bhaya
Bhaya is more than just a cruise, it is an experience.
Everything from the natural beauty of the seascape in the Bay to the smallest
attention to detail combine to make the Bhaya experience the ultimate in Halong Bay cruises.
·
More Cruising, Less Crowding
Unlike most Halong
Bay cruises, all Bhaya cruise routes follow courses carefully plotted by our
passionate experts. Such meticulous planning means our cruises last 2 hours
longer than any other. This gives you more time to see and visit all the
highlights of the Bay and cruise to less crowded areas as far away as Vung Vieng floating fishing
village.
·
Value For Money
Bhaya cruises combine first-class accommodation and gourmet
cuisine with fantastic excursions and activities at very attractive rates. For
even greater convenience, Bhaya travel consultants can arrange your visa to
Vietnam, airport transfers and hotels in Hanoi. All you need to do is to pack
and prepare for a hassle-free trip. We take care of the details so you return
home relaxed and enriched with wonderful memories.
Gourmet Cuisine in Sumptuous Splendor
Food is a Bhaya cruise treat. The Dining Room, on the 3rd
level Lounge Deck, delivers both amazing dishes and vistas. The Chef's menus
feature a variety of Vietnamese-Western fusion dishes to suite every palate:
from a three-course gourmet dinner to sumptuous buffet combining Vietnamese
specialties (Tu hài, Nem) with
Western delicacies and seafood.
Warm Hospitality with Superior Service
Our experienced European management team have implemented
ongoing, proprietary training programs for all staff to ensure we always
provide levels of service you would expect from a fine hotel. Our Cruise
Directors and almost all onboard staff speak English. The Staff are at your
service around-the-clock to make your Halong
Bay cruise an experience not to be forgotten.
Responsible Cruising
We are actively engaged in practicing and promoting
sustainable cruising which minimizes the negative social and environmental
impact on the local Halong
Bay communities while delivering the maximum economic benefits possible. We are
committed to using local suppliers from these communities and providing
employment opportunities. We take Responsible Cruising seriously and trust our
Guests will support us in these endeavors.
Cultural Enrichment
Our carefully chosen cruise routes are designed to offer not
only the natural beauty of Halong Bay,
but also opportunities to mingle with the locals and experience the local
Vietnamese culture. Visits to Vung Vieng
floating village, Vietnamese cooking demonstrations, Tai Chi exercises on the
Sundeck and cycling on Cat Ba
Island are just some of the cultural activities you can enjoy
Comfortable Accommodation
Each Bhaya Classic vessel has just 20 cabins/suites to
ensure intimate privacy and comfort for all guests. Each cabin boasts a picture
window designed to frame the amazing vistas of the Bay. Hotel-style beds with
European linen and duvets can be arranged in either twin or double-bed
configurations. Home away from home!
About Halong Bay
Halong Bay is one
of Mother Earth’s most amazing natural wonders and one of Vietnam’s most prized
treasures. A comfortable 3 hours drive from Hanoi, Halong Bay is in
Northeastern Vietnam on the shores of the Gulf of Tonkin. The bay is dominated
by more than 1,600 limestone karsts and islets which rise out of the waters of
the bay to heights of up to 100 meters (330 feet) and the numerous caves and
grottos spread throughout the bay. Abundant scenic beauty, archeological and
geological significance, cultural and historical connections, fresh seafood and
proximity to international gateways make Halong Bay one of Vietnam’s most
popular places to visit. Such is the significance of Halong Bay that in 1994,
UNESCO recognized the heart of Halong Bay as being a site of natural World
Heritage and stated that "Apart from Halong Bay there is
no equivalent sites on the World Heritage List..."
Geographical Location/Distribution
Halong Bay is located on the Western side of the Gulf of Tonkin in Northeastern Vietnam. The bay is approximately 35 km (21 miles) Northeast of the port city of Hai Phong and approximately 170 km (105 miles) by road from the capital Hanoi. The town of Halong is situated on the coast to the North of the bay. The journey from Hanoi to Halong takes approximately 3.5 hours. Halong Bay is formed by Cat Ba island to the South, Ngoc Hung and Van Canh islands to the East and the Vietnamese coastline to the North and West. The bay covers a total area of 1,553 square kilometers (600 square miles). Occupying the heart of the bay between Halong town and Cat Ba island, the central World Heritage area stretches for 434 square kilometers (167 square miles).
Natural Features
[Islands
and Karsts]
The most outstanding feature of Halong Bay and undoubtedly its greatest attraction
are the 1,696 islands, islets and rocky karst outcrops. 989 of these islets and
rocky outcrops have been been given imaginative names by the locals over the
years. These have been derived from their perceived shapes and include names
such as Man’s Head, Fighting Cocks, Wading Ox and Wallowing Buffalo.
With heights ranging from 50-100 meters (160-330 feet) and a
height-to-width ratio of about 6:1, the majority of these karst pinnacles and
islets have sheer, vertical cliffs. They are uninhabited and unaffected by
human activities. The pure size and numbers of these outcrops provide a
stunning contrast and backdrop to the turquoise waters of the bay when viewed
from sea level.
Caves and Grottos
Another exceptional geological feature of Halong Bay is the number of
limestone islands which have caves and grottoes within them. The total number
of caves has never been determined and there are almost certainly more which
are yet to be discovered. In order to preserve the natural state and integrity
of the large number of caves and grottos in the World Heritage Area, only some
are open to visitors. The most commonly visited are Thien Cung
(Heavenly Palace) cave, Dau Go (Wood Tip) grotto, Sung
Sot (Surprise) cave and Trinh Nu (Virgin) grotto.
The shapes and formations on the sides and rooves of the
caves, many now being part of local folklore and legends, bear witness to the
different stages of formation over the ages. Some cave features, such as
calcified shell-beds, are the direct result of ancient human activity.
Sea and Lakes
The lower chambers of some caves and grottos are below sea
level. Due to the porous nature of limestone, these chambers are often
partially filled to form tidal lakes and pools. Although most of these are
shallow, the depths of some have never been determined. The geomorphology of Halong Bay indicates that
it is almost certain that there are undiscovered and fully entombed lakes
within many of the islands. Dau Be (Goat’s Head island)
alone has 6 different tidal lakes.
The sea in Halong Bay is generally
less than 10 meters (33 feet) deep and boasts a rich biodiversity of about
1,000 species of marine animals. Over 160 species of coral have been identified.
Coral reefs make up 30% of the seabed and in some areas as much as 80% of the
seabed is covered in coral reefs. Most coral reefs are at a depth of 4-6
meters.
Flora/Fauna
The majority smaller islets and karsts are capped with a low
shrubby ’crown’ The larger islands are home to dense tropical forests featuring
abundant bird life. The island of Cat Ba on the
Southern flank of Halong Bay is a rich
treasure trove for nature lovers. The National Park which occupies much of the
island, and some of the surrounding waters, ranges in diversity from
double-tiered primeval tropical rainforest on the slopes of the hills, down to
tidal mangrove forests and inshore coral reefs. The island is home to several
plant and tree species highly prized for their medicinal properties, and one of
the rarest primate species on earth, the Cat Ba
(Golden-headed) Langur. There may be as few as 50 of these animals between here
and extinction.
Culture/History
[Human History]
Archeological evidence suggests humans may have inhabited
the area in and around Halong Bay for as long as
18,000 years. Some of these are distinctly different enough to have been given
their own names, such as the Soi Nhu from the Mesolithic age
and the Halong culture
from the Neolithic age. Van Don in the Southeast of the
bay was once one of the most important trading ports in Vietnamese ancient
history.
[Folklore]
There is perhaps a greater number of myths, legends and
folklore surrounding Halong Bay than any other
area in Vietnam. The current name of the bay (Descending Dragon) is itself a
mystery. Some say it can be attributed to the French in the late 1890’s, others
say it comes from a famous Vietnamese folk tale.
Myths and folklore surround many of the caves and grottos.
Tales of life’s love lost; of forbidden love forever together cast in stone;
wedding celebrations of truly celestial splendor; of poverty and power, and
more.
Other legends have at least some bases in fact. Some of the
famous exploits of Vietnamese warriors from history, such as national heroes Ngo
Quyen and Tran Hung Dao have become legends
involving Ha Long Bay and the surrounding areas. Ngo
Quyen is most famous for finally defeating the Chinese after 1,000
years of occupation. Tran Hung Dao is remembered for
bringing those same guerilla tactics back to life 300 years later.
The following tale is recounted to serve as an illustration
of the connections Halong Bay has to
Vietnamese history and why the bay is so deeply entrenched in the Vietnamese
national psyche.
[Tran Hung Dao
and his Battle of the Bach Dang River]
After being driven out of Vietnam by Ngo
Quyen in 938, the Chinese repeatedly attempted to regain their
former serfdom for several hundred years more. In 1288 another Han fleet
appeared off the coast to make invasion preparations. The Vietnamese fleet
under the command of Generals Tran Hung Dao and Tran
Khanh Du was vastly outsized, outnumbered and outgunned ... but not
overawed. They made their own preparations.
Using Ngo Quyen’s example from 300 years
earlier, Tran Hung Dao ordered that wooden stakes be cut and
sharpened. It is said some of these were moved into a forward staging area in a
cave on an island in Halong Bay . We know this
cave today as Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stake Cave) on the island with the same
name.
Under cover of darkness the Vietnamese drove the stakes into
the bed of the upper reaches of the Bach Dang river mouth (near
present day Hai Phong) until the tips of the stakes were hidden just
below the surface of the water at low tide.
The shallow draft Vietnamese ships continued to move about,
positioning themselves for battle, feinting attacks and creating diversions.
When preparations were complete, Tran Hung Dao waited for
favorable wind and tide conditions. Late in the year 1288, the conditions were
right.
The Vietnamese forces assembled in battle formation and set
out to engage the Han fleet. After ensuring the
Chinese fleet was fully engaged, the Vietnamese ships turned against the ebbing
tide and fled back into the Bach Dang river. The Chinese
followed in hot pursuit, growing ever more certain of victory.
As the tide reached its full ebb, the deeper draught Chinese
ships became impaled on the stakes. The smaller, nimbler Vietnamese fleet then
picked off each impaled ship one-by-one, like lions might harass and harangue a
much larger wounded elephant ... until the final demise.
Undoubtedly Halong Bay’s greatest
attraction is its natural scenery. The towering limestone outcrops jutting
skywards from the emerald-blue waters. The sheer numbers and size of the
islands, islets and karsts within the bay serve to humble even the most jaded
traveler.
Swimming, kayaking, hiking and of course photography are favorite pastimes for visitors to Halong Bay - one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Vietnam. Abundant fresh local seafood is another delight.
Swimming, kayaking, hiking and of course photography are favorite pastimes for visitors to Halong Bay - one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Vietnam. Abundant fresh local seafood is another delight.
Floating fishing villages are the most popular human attraction. Entire village populations live, work and die on these ’floating islands’ in Halong Bay. The villagers are mainly fisherfolk and ply the waters around their villages selling their fresh produce to the passing tourist trade.
Source from
http://www.bhayacruises.com
