Step 1: Select your preferred tour or services

• Halong Bay Tours offers a wide range of cruises, tours and travel related services. Simply browse to the specific product you wish to book. Cruises are grouped based on duration at “Daily Cruises” and attached with each junk in “Junk Collections”
• Each of our products is clearly stated with details of prices and inclusion for its quotation, open tab “Price” to see all the types of cabins/tours we offer.
• If you are happy with the price and would like to book it, just click on the “Check Availability” button to make sure that your booking is available then click on “Book” to take it. If the statute of the booking is “Unavailable” (due to departure date is too close the time of booking or the cruise you are intending to book is full), feel free to let us know at soonest via chat window at “Live Chat” section on the top of the website then we will support you to solve your problem.

Step 2: Provide us details of your booking.

• Each product requires specific information to complete the form of booking. Please read them carefully and choose exactly the services as well as the quantity you want to take. Please note that all the missing fields are required and they will help our system record and make the payment correctly.
• After filling all the blanks, check “Book” button and confirm the information provided.
• If is there something wrong, please role back and edit your information. If all are right, choose the payment method you prefer. Currently, we offer our clients 2 ways to pay for the tour: Paypal and Bank transfer.

Step 3: After all have been done, you can pay for your booking.

Pay via Paypal:

• If you have a paypal account, just click on the “Paypal” then “Book now” button and follow the instruction to complete your payment.
• Please note that a surcharge at 3.5% of total booking and an extra of 0.5 US$/booking will be paid by clients for Paypal and included in total cost of your booking.

Pay via Bank transfer:

• If you choose this payment method, just click on “Bank Transfer” then “Book now” and kindly follow our instruction to settle your payment:

- Our bank account details are:

• Account name: Nguyen Ngoc Hoan (Mr)
• Account number: 98897249
• Bank Name: ACB – Asia Commercial Bank
• Bank address: 10B Trang Thi str., Hoan Kiem dist., Hanoi
• SWIFT Code: ASCB – VNVX
• Website: http://www.acb.com.vn/en/

Note:

• Halong Bay Tours requires full payment for the tour prior departure.
• Vietnam Package Travel Ltd is the official representative of Halong Bay Tours and also the beneficiary for all booking with Halong Bay Tours.
• Please send an e-mail to request your bank to accept the amount of payment for Vietnam Package Travel Ltd as indicated in the attached invoice. Reason: “Full payment for the tour” and please kindly co- send us a copy of the e-mail.
• After the payment already made by bank transfer, please confirm us by phone: (+84-4) 6256 7799 or email us: info@halong-bay-tours.com
• When the money above has been received at our bank account, a voucher will be sent to you via email in 2 days.
• A surcharge for bank transfer will be applied and paid by client.

Pay via Western Union:

• Sometimes, customers of Halong Bay Tours get trouble in settling the payment via PayPal/Bank transfer. An alternative payment available is Western Union (http://www.westernunion.com.vn/en/how_to_send.php). You can do it online or go to the nearest bank which is an agent of Western Union.
• The total amount you have to pay us is the total tour price (the same as bank transfer payment, there is no fee added as the transaction fee will be paid by you when making the transfer).
• Please make the payment for your service to our sales manager’s personal info as below:
• Full name: Tran Thi Huyen (in the order of first/mid/last name)
• Title: Miss
• Identification Number: 162874572
• Nationality: Vietnam
• After the transfer is done, kindly provide us The Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) so that we can get it from the bank.
• A voucher will be sent to you shortly once the payment is made.

Step 4: Confirmation

• After all steps are finished, our system will notify client that the booking has already made successfully.
• Within 24 working hours later, our staff will contact you to reconfirm your booking with all details provided. Double check and make sure that your declaration is true and accurate.
• Finally, a travel voucher will be issued as a proof that you have booked services with Vietnam Package Travel when we receive your money paid for booking and then make it through for you.

Notes:

• If you face any trouble in booking and paying, feel free to let us support you via our hotline +84 972 257 228 and 24/7 email: info@halong-bay-tours.com
• Your booking can be revised before departure date. All the amendment should be made in written form and be informed as soon as possible and the extra cost for the change will be paid by clients. Details are clearly stated in our terms and conditions section, drop us a line if you need further assistance.

Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.

After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn’t return Heaven but stayed on earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is nowadays Hạ Long Bay and where Child Dragons descended is now Bai Tu Long. The dragons’ tails waving the water created Long Vĩ (present Trà Cổ peninsula) and formed a fine sand beach over ten kilometers long.

In 1994 it was designated a World Heritage site. Visitors can’t help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to Guilin in Ch
ina and Krabi in southern Thailand, but in reality Halong Bay is more spectacular. These tiny islands are dotted with beaches and grottoes created by wind and waves, and have sparsely forested slopes ringing with birdsong.

Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay, visitors to Halong come to explore the caves – some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists – and to hike in Cat Ba National Park. There are few real beaches in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha Bay (off the coast of Cat Ba Island) has more than 100 sandy strips.

Halong City is the gateway to Halong Bay but not the ideal introduction to this incredible World Heritage site. Developers have not been kind to the city and most visitors sensibly opt for tours that include sleeping on a boat in the bay. In short, Halong Bay is the attraction; Halong City is not.

As the number-one tourist attraction in the northeast, Halong Bay draws a steady stream of visitors year-round. From February to April the weather in this region is often cool and drizzly. The ensuing fog can make visibility low, but this adds an ethereal air to the place and the temperature rarely falls below 10°C. During the summer months tropical storms are frequent, and tourist boats may have to alter their itineraries, depending on the weather.

Halong Bay is the stuff of myths and naturally the Vietnamese have concocted one. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’. Legend has it that the islands of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys and crevasses. When it finally plunged into the sea, the area filled with water, leaving only the pinnacles visible.

Dragons aside, the biggest threat to the bay may be from souvenir-hunting tourists. Rare corals and seashells are rapidly being stripped from the sea floor, and stalactites and stalagmites are being broken off from the caves. These items get turned into key rings, paperweights and ashtrays, which are on sale in the local souvenir shops. Obviously the fewer people buy, the less the local people will take to sell, so don’t encourage the trade.

One of the popular and cool things to do is a guided jungle trek in the national park of Cat Ba island. It sounds quite an innocent and safe activity, but it is not and in fact can be quite dangerous.The guides usually offer two treks, an easier one lasting a few hours and a second more difficult one lasting at least 6 hours and far more demanding than the former. If you are not experienced, go for the first. If you do not have a reasonable level of fitness, don’t go at all.Make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a good grip on the ground and clothing that does not leave any skin exposed. If possible, have a first aid box with you.

Quick Tips:

Take back with you memories or photographs, not pieces of corals or stalactites, some of which are sold as souvenirs in a converted “key holder” or other artifact form. If you decide to go for the jungle trek, make sure you have a reasonably good level of fitness, a good pair of non-slippery shoes (either climbing or trainers) with a very good grip on slippery soil, and a first aid box.

 Make sure you have no exposed parts of your body, as any fall on the ground will automatically result in abrasions and lacerations from the razor-sharp rocks on the ground, and I would suggest a first-aid box as well. Sample the sea food in the local restaurants in Cat Ba and don’t stick on the “all inclusive” cheap hotel meal arranged by your agent. Spend the few extra and try the superb local cuisine.

Trekking Starter Guides

Can You Handle It?

 If you can walk, you can hike, but start with beginner-rated trails of a mile or less and then work your way up to longer, more difficult hikes. You can usually find a sign at the trailhead that lists the length of the route; remember, though, that the posted mileage is typically one-way, so gauge your time and effort accordingly.

The difficulty of any trek or walk depends on daily mileage, hilliness of the terrain, and altitude. Most walking trips, tailored for moderately active people, cover gentle terrain at low altitudes, and many have optional shorter routes. If you need a break, you can always skip a day and lounge around at the hotel or lodge. But on a trek, you have no choice but to make it to the day’s destination. Altitudes above 14,000 feet or vertical gains of more than 2,000 feet per day demand excellent physical fitness. Most outfitters can assess your fitness level. If in doubt, be conservative, especially when it comes to the dizziness and shortness of breath associated with high altitudes.

Essential Skills:

Skills needed for hiking apply to any outdoor sport. A course in basic first aid wouldn’t hurt, but at least know how to bandage a wound, apply moleskin, and detect the signs of dehydration, heatstroke, and hypothermia. Learn how to read clouds; knowing a nimbus from a cumulus can be the difference between a waterlogged hike and a merely cloudy one.

Gear Up

Everyone needs a day pack; choose one with multiple pockets, padded shoulder straps, and large zipper closure. And make sure it’s the right size: When properly adjusted, the base should sit on your hips and the top should be at least one hand-width below the base of your neck. Footwear designed specifically for hiking offers better support and traction. Choose a pair that’s a half-size larger than your street shoes to allow for some swelling as you walk and to accommodate heavier hiking socks. Wear thick wool or synthetic blend socks designed to wick moisture away from the feet, as wet feet is the primary cause of blisters. Some things to keep in your day pack: first-aid kit; water bottle; Swiss Army knife; topographic map; compass; space blanket; and sweater.

 Speak the Language

Hot spot: That little tingle of friction you feel on your foot before you get a blister. Don’t ignore the feeling: Take off your boot and wrap your foot in moleskin before that tingling evolves into a full-fledged blister.

Loop trail: A trail that starts at point A and circles back to the same point without repeating any section of the trail.

Scree slope: A challenging slope of loose rock and shale.

Saddle: A trail stretched over the lowest point between two peaks, resembling a saddle.

Aiming off: Intentionally erring about 5 degrees off-course when using a compass bearing and heading toward your target destination. The benefit of aiming off is you’ll know exactly which way to turn to get to your destination when you reach the baseline.

Check it out and join us today!

Terms and conditions of promotions:

• This promotion is applied to new bookings that booked and paid online from March 15th  only.
• The promotional rates are valid for bookings which have staying-date from May 01st 2011 to Sep 30th 2011 only.
• The promotional rates are not applicable in conjunction with any other promotions, or discount.
• Each booking gains maximum one promotion at the time of booking.
• Full payment before tour departure date is required with all bookings.

Tip: You should bring a swim suit with you, night’s swim in the phosphorescent water is also very nice (must be before your drinks)

Passport
Sun cream, insect repellent
Small changes for buying drinks on boat
Swim-suit and changes
Your own towels (though we have towels available)
Good camera with lots of films or memory space
A sense of adventures

Join our staff in some late night cuttle fishing and we run cookery demonstrations for those interested in learning the art of Vietnamese cooking.

Water sport facilities and activities

Swimming

Swim as you like we always care for you. Our Cruise captain with his experience will let you know the area which is safe for swimming. The water should be clear and the temperature be appropriate. Besides, you will always have a helping hand from our staff for even a day long swimming!

 Kayaking

You can do kayaking on the bay all year around but great time is between October and June. That is an excellent way to explore the tranquil waters of Ha Long Bay, giving access to the thousands of islands and outcroppings that make up Ha Long’s unique limestone karts geology.

Cave visit

We will embark on the boat for a cruise amongst the islands and islets of this stunning Halong bay. We will visit one cave on our 1 or 2 day trip, however, if you wish to visit more than one cave, we have to plan this well prior to departure so that our captain know where to go and please be informed an extra fee for each additional cave you plan to see.

Note: If the weather turns bad, we all have to follow the captain’s instruction, cave visit or extra cruise can be canceled without prior notice.

Bamboo rowing boats

The baskets in the far north in Halong Bay, graceful oval baskets before they’re outfitted for work, carry a heavy rectangular wooden deck and quite a bit of wooden framing to support their engines and provide a little covered stowage. Even the smaller Halong Bay baskets have at least a pair of wood or bamboo gunnels added and stanchions to carry the oars.

Cooking classes – a special activity in Aquarena Cruise trips

Cruising on Halong Bay, you can join our cooking demonstration. The chef shows you how to prepare some traditional Vietnamese dishes.

Vietnamis very proud to get more of the recognition it deserves in the world for its cuisine, with fresh ingredients and imaginative flavors, and one of the best experience of any trip toVietnamis the food. Even if you do not expect to do much Vietnamese cooking, a cooking class is a fun and interesting way to learn and understand the local Vietnamese ingredients and how to make some of the popular dishes.

Generally, most cooking classes are half-day classes starting in the morning with a trip to the local market followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch where you can eat the dishes that were prepared.

Join the staff to go night cuttle fishing in the evening

“There are many cuttle-fish down there. However, it is not easy to catch one if you have no experience. You should drop the line into the half-light. It is place where cuttle-fish often pass by to seek bait. If you do that, you will definitely catch at least one, just do follow the instruction added to  a bit more of patience, you are able to catch some cuttle-fish” said one of the boat’s staff

Test your vocal chords with some karaoke