Junks In Halong Bay

Sung Sot – one of most beautiful caves in the world

2012-02-21T20:40:00.001-08:00

Sung Sot (Amazing) cave, one of the largest caves in Ha Long Bay, has been selected as one of the world’s ten most beautiful caves by the Association of Tourism Offices and Brokers in the Czech Republic.

According to the Association, Sung Sot cave is blessed with the natural beauty of stalactites and stalagmites that have created a wonderful world.

The cave, divided into two main chambers like big opera houses, was discovered by French visitors in 1901.

Other world-famous caves included in the list are Skocjan cave in Slovenia, Patagons ice cave in Argentina, and Lehaman Nevada cave in the US.

Source: vov

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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

Halong Bay – A Impressive Holiday Experience

2012-02-15T23:13:00.000-08:00

Halong Bay is a very popular travel and leisure destination.

It’s location is in the Quang Ninh province of Vietnam and is also acknowledged as being a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a body of ocean of roughly one thousand five hundred square kilometres in Northern Vietnam. It incorporates a 120 km’s of shoreline around the Gulf of Tonkin Gulf close to the border of China. The gulf is largely clustered with 3000 limestone islands. The alluring splendor of them climbing out of the sea is amazing. The development of the limestone karst has taken place over many millions of years. Actually one will discover absolutely nothing such as this {any where} on the planet, it’s a collection of absolute beauty and natural wonder.

According to historical analysis there is evidence of prehistoric people there 1000′s of years ago. Praise and popularity have been awarded over many years, documented dating back five-hundred years. It was then praised “the rock wonder in the sky”, in a verse by Nguyen Trai. In 1962 Halong Bay was also recorded in the National Relics and Landscapes publication, along with the 1994 UNESCO listing as a World Heritage site.

Regional legend will tell you that fabled gods sent mythical beasts to Vietnam to enable them to battle the Chinese. As ammunition the mythical beasts started spitting out jade and jewels. This formed into the islets and the islands that are scattered along the bay. All these connected together creating a wall of sorts for defense.

Halong Bay is also a location of extreme biological diversity. With tropical forests, coral reefs and literally thousands of species of animals and plants. There is a population of around 1600 most living in floating homes and fishing being the mainstay here. However with over 200 kinds of fish and over 450 varieties of mollusks there is fishing a plenty.

If you are planning on going to Halong Bay, generally there are a lot of ways to do this. When arriving at Noi Bai International air-port you then want to go to Hanoi. From Hanoi you actually have a several different choices to get to Halong Bay. Helicopter is 1 way to go and definitely the most exceptional method to get there. Other methods to get there might be by public bus, which can be really an adventure as it takes 5 to 6 hours based on traffic. By private car is the very best way to go. Normally takes around 3.5 hours and you have a car driver that knows exactly where to go, well worth the price.

Kayaking Halong Bay, Vietnam

Now when in Halong Bay there are several opportunities for one to go on the many Halong bay tours . A lot of tourists desire to come from Hanoi for the day to tour and other people arrange to take longer. No matter of the timeframe it’s a trip you will undoubtedly want to do. You will discover no better magnificence then sailing down the emerald seas and seeing the stunning islands, mountains and islets, it is truly spectacular and a once in a lifetime encounter.

There are numerous Halong Bay tours, cruises and junk boats. You can decide on to go as a group or opt to do it privately. This particular way you can have more convenience and your tour guide is all yours. The duration of your trip is up to you, yet to do it justice at the very least three or more days and nights or more is advised. Be ready for the Halong Bay tours of your life, you will discover you have never really witnessed something so awesome.

Source:discounttraveltips

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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

The stunning Halong Bay

2012-02-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

Luxury cruising through the stunning Halong Bay, swimming in turquoise waters, lazing on island beaches, kayaking through caves, cocktails on deck - for me anyway - and amazing 6 course meals.... such has been our lot for the last few days. It's a hard life!

As north Vietnam is our last stop in what have been an incredible six months in SE Asia, we decided to treat ourselves to a bit of luxury and see Halong Bay in style. A decision we did not regret. Our three days cruising with Indochina Sails around the beautiful Halong Bay were perfect - a memorable experience and a definite highlight of the trip. Luca loved every minute of it and joined in every activity - from captaining the ship, to jumping off the boat for a swim, to owl spotting in caves and even kayaking. His energy never ceases to amaze.

From Halong Bay, we returned to Hanoi for a brief 24 hours, and then headed to Sapa on the overnight train. Again we decided to spoil ourselves with a few luxurious nights in Topas Ecolodge, a peaceful bungalow resort set amidst the misty, ethereally beautiful rice terraces. But, rice liquor awaits me, so more on Sapa anon....

Source: aroundtheworldwithluca

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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

Fantastic cruise service on Halong Bay

2012-01-30T19:02:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed Indochina Sails during my visit with family over the Christmas holidays. We weren't sure how Christmas on a junk would turn out, but I was blown away. We all agreed that the crew made it one of the most memorable Christmas' for us with the holiday decorations, wonderful service, cheerful music, and fantastic food.

If your cruising experience is limited to the megaships sailing around the carribean, be prepared for a treat. The cabins on these ships compare with a 5 star hotel, with full sized bathrooms. The dining room is refined so each travel group gets an accomodating table, and the common area is filled with windows and light if you prefer to curl with a book indoors rather than tanning on the sundeck above.

Regarding service - being vegetarian usually means I am forced to accomdate subpar options while travelling. However, upon understanding my dietary restrictions, the staff and the chef went to work to serve me a five course vegetarian feast that really went above expectations. The staff speaks perfect English and is very friendly.

The crew lined up several good activities to keep us busy on our 2 day 1 night trip, including hiking up a hill to get 360 views of the Bay from a pagoda, learning to make Vietnamese Spring rolls, and exploring a huge set of caves. Christmas feast was also a wonderful experience for me to share with family.

In general, a tour to Halong Bay from Hanoi is a journey that lasts for about 3 hours by car. This is if you can keep your driver from taking you to one of the many tourist shops selling overpriced marble statues and hand woven pictures along the way. You can get less expensive souveniors in central Vietnam or even HCM. Halong Bay was the crown jewel of my Vietnam experience - in December, the Bay can be chilly, so hitting the sundeck to enjoy outdoor views while sailing might require a few layers. When you go on hikes in mid day, however, you'll have no need for the jackets.

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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

There be dragons – Halong Bay

2012-01-17T19:46:00.000-08:00

The legend goes that the islands of Halong Bay were formed by dragons who spit out jade and jewels into the sea to help the Vietnamese build a barrier to defend against would be invaders. After attempts to conquer the area were thwarted, the dragons fell in love with the bay and took eternal residence there. One look at these giant, limestone karsts, and I couldn’t help but be overtaken with the sense that we were sailing among the sleeping beasts.

Traveling three hours east of Hanoi, we arrived in Halong City and boarded a traditional Vietnamese junk for a three day, two night tour of Halong Bay. Words can’t described how ethereal the bay is – emerald waters… giant, jungle topped islands… ancient boats… it was a different world.

Off the boat, we got to explore the bay and travel to island caves by kayak. Our main boat pulled into a small sheltered “lagoon” between the karsts that served as protection for some floating homes that had kayaks available for us.

Swimming in the Pacific, on the other side of the world, proved absolutely magical. Splashing around in Halong Bay, I couldn’t get it out of my head that I was swimming on the other side of the world.

And that I was swimming with dragons. Words really can’t explain how out-of-this-world it was. And the salinity of the water was so strong that you couldn’t sink if you tried (and I tried… so much so that I got a double ear infection – but prepared travelers that we were, the antibiotics we brought cleared them right up).

The second day had us heading off to a different section of the bay for more exploration inkayaks. Halong Bay is huge, and we would just as easily run across a small fishing boat as we would a globe trotting cargo ship. Being in the middle of it made the current tensions that are arising that much more real. Still, it was easier to turn off the current events and just enjoy being in this different world.

We toured secluded lagoons that were straight out of a “best-of” tourism book. One can really see why Halong Bay was recently voted one of the “new seven wonders of nature.” I am so grateful that we got to experience it firsthand. And as if that wasn’t enough, we spent the rest of the day on a secluded island, complete with a view of the bay, and a white sandy beach to lounge upon. Then we still had the sunset to enjoy back on the boat.

Our final day on the bay was spent visiting a floating village. Four villages dot the area, totaling about 1600 residents that sustain themselves on fishing, and now with a boon from the tourism industry (the government subsidizes the villages, and our floating village tour guides were employees of the national park system).

Though we were less than a week into our trip, I had an inkling at the time that Halong Bay was to be my favorite part of Vietnam. Reflecting upon, and writing about, the entire experience now, Halong Bay really was my favorite part of the trip. Though I have yet to tell, all of our amazing adventures, Halong really set my spirit right. It turned out to be a really deep connection to something that was beyond imagination that I, personally, needed.

Source: saypdx.wordpress.com

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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

The Perfect Love Cruise

2012-01-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

The Indochina Sails is the perfect cruise to Halong Bay.

The staff is friendly. It is always nice to chat with the locals to know them and Vietnam better.

The food is delicious and in abundance. When you are travelling with 3 growing teenagers, it is important that they serve a lot of food! Indochina Sails' cooking staff cooked delicious food and we always look forward to have a meal in the dining room.

The bedrooms are 5 star standard. It is a full bathroom , with marble top basin counter and shower cubicle. The room decoration is beautiful and comfortable.

The itinerary is very well planned for a 2 night stay package. Lots of activities for the 3 day stay, to keep all of us occupied. The visit to the fishing village , the climb up to TipTop Island, the kayaking activities to the caves, the swim on the beach , are all executed professionally.

Will definitely recommend Indochina Sails to all who is thinking of visitng Halong Bay. It is a bit more expensive, but definitely value for money.

Visited December 2011

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Backed by over ten years experience hosting international guests on the tranquil waters of Halong Bay, Indochina Sails has set a new standard for luxury cruising. The first company to offer overnight cruises on the bay, we are now widely known as the number one choice for discerning travelers. Our fleet of six newly built wooden junks are designed in time-honored traditional style, with contemporary and luxurious cabins and facilities. What better way to experience the natural beauty and spectacular seascape of this UNESCO World Heritage site than on board an Indochina Sails junk!

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

Experience of a lifetime

2012-01-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

It is hard to choose a cruise for Halong Bay - there are so many, and there is very little to differentiate between the companies. I chose to book with Indochina Sails because of their mention of adequate life jackets etc (which is important to know when traveling in SE Asia!), but I am glad that we did.

The rooms are beautiful, the program is great, food is delicious (although if you dislike seafood like me, the set lunches can be a challenge, although the chefs are quite willing to cook you something different) and the staff are cheerful, attentive and professional. Drink prices are reasonable and we received a complimentary bottle of wine as well, which we drank with dinner one night. The bathroom is amazing!

I would highly recommend this trip.

I would highly recommend taking the extra time for the three day-two night option, as the day trip on day two is wonderful.

Visited December 2011
Soure: Tripadvisor
Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Backed by over ten years experience hosting international guests on the tranquil waters of Halong Bay, Indochina Sails has set a new standard for luxury cruising. The first company to offer overnight cruises on the bay, we are now widely known as the number one choice for discerning travelers. Our fleet of six newly built wooden junks are designed in time-honored traditional style, with contemporary and luxurious cabins and facilities. What better way to experience the natural beauty and spectacular seascape of this UNESCO World Heritage site than on board an Indochina Sails junk!

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

“Fantastic and attentive crew and serenity at its best.”

2011-12-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

This is my first experience on board a junk and I must say, it leaves me wanting more.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful. The place is so tranquil that you really at peace with the world.
The crew is fantastic too. Our cruise manager, Mr Le Xuan Hoang was vey attentive to each and everyone in my family. He made our one-night stay most enjoyable. He was affectionately called Mr Reliable by my family.
The rooms on board were comfortable. The towels and bed linen were clean and toiletries were even provided.

Thoroughly enjoyed myself at Halong Bay.

Visited December 2011
Soure: Tripadvisor
Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Backed by over ten years experience hosting international guests on the tranquil waters of Halong Bay, Indochina Sails has set a new standard for luxury cruising. The first company to offer overnight cruises on the bay, we are now widely known as the number one choice for discerning travelers. Our fleet of six newly built wooden junks are designed in time-honored traditional style, with contemporary and luxurious cabins and facilities. What better way to experience the natural beauty and spectacular seascape of this UNESCO World Heritage site than on board an Indochina Sails junk!

"Great Cruise"

2011-12-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Just got off the Indochina Sails - spent 2 nights on it.

Everything is exceptional from the food to the service to the rooms. There is nothing we can fault. It is definitely worth doing the 2night, the people who only did the 1 night regretted it as soon as they saw how beautiful the place and Indochina Sails is.

Our tour guide called 'lucky' made the trip special. He was brilliant. A very nice person and would do anything for you. He made us laugh the whole trip.

If you plan a trip to along bay, use Indochina Sails - they won't disappoint.

Thank you Indochina Sails for a great trip.

Visited December 2011

Source: tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

"romantic, sublime, beautiful, awe inspiring..."

2011-12-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Words cannot do justice to the beauty and tranquility of Halong Bay...

We could not have been happier picking Indochina Sails for our 2 day, 1 night trip - the staff was AWESOME, the level of service was just amazing, the food incredible irregardless of it being served on a boat or not, the itinerary balanced just right between having activities and time just to soak up the natural beauty all around... finally, the junk itself was not too large so as to make it feel not intimate and not too small that you can't find a quiet spot and it was very very very well appointed... our room felt luxurious with a jacuzzi tub with a view of the karsts and a little balcony...

Quan (spelling ?) our guide was funny and knowledgeable and through talking with him, we learned what life was like for a local Vietnamese... he made sure everyone's needs were met...

I can't swim so sleeping on a boat makes me a wee bit nervous but the staff and the condition of the junk, including the little boat that they use to transport people to and from points of interest, were all confidence inspiring...

I was reading forums and having trouble picking tour operators but from the hotel pick up service to the welcome briefing to the activities and whatnot, this was a first rate and luxurious cruise...

I am sure there are more luxurious cruises on ha long bay but for this price you cannot beat Indochina Sails...

Visited November 2011
Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Review Indochina Sails

Indochina Sails Announces New Itinerary on Halong Bay

2011-12-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

It’s time for a change! In order to adjust to the increasing traffic on the Bay and to choose the optimum routes and locales to ensure the very best Ha Long Bay experience for our guests, Indochina Sails launches a new itinerary as of 10 December 2011.

The new route on the first day will take us through beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay before reaching our first destination in Ha Long Bay – Luon Cave. At Luon Cave we depart the boat and journey past such popular sites as “Đầu Người” Head Island, “Con Rùa” Turtle Island and “Cổng Trời” Heaven’s Gate Island on the way to the cave. The journey will continue through the cave and surrounding waters on sampans or kayaks (passengers’ choice). From Luon Cave we will continue on to Titop Island in the late afternoon when the island is less crowded for a more relaxed visit.

We are confident the changes will provide the best possible Ha Long Bay journey for our guests. For more information at Indochina Sails - Halong Bay New Itineraries

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

A dream journey in stunning surroundings

2011-11-27T18:54:00.000-08:00

We travelled on the beautiful Indochina Sails junk on Halong Bay.

Overall well organised, staff go the extra mile (like retrieving a fellow travellers camera bag left in another tour bus after an initial mix up on the drive to Halong City).

The boat facilities are top notch, food and drinks were excellent and staff get exactly the right balance between making sure you everything runs on schedule, without spoiling their guests experience.

While 2 days/one night is surely enough, would consider staying 2 nights next time to make it even more relaxing.

Highly recommend going kayaking (US$10 extra pp but well worth it), much enjoyed the Tai Chi instruction in the morning.

While quite visible touristy, as other reviewers have stated, words can't describe the beauty of Halong Bay. A must see stop if travelling in Vietnam.

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Indochina Sails - Luxurious

2011-11-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were in Halong Bay in September. Our tour operator, Haivenu booked us on a 2 day/ 1night cruise on Indochina Sails Premium.

The boat was luxurious, the bedroom and en-suite bathroom were luxurious. The bedding and towels felt luxurious. The dining room was wonderful, the meals were delicious. The entire staff was friendly and courteous. The scenery was a bonus - just joking.

Halong Bay is spectacular, well worth the long drive from Hanoi. The activities included swimming off the beach, climbing a hill for a view of the Bay's beautiful seascape, visiting a fishing village, and taking a tour of one of the caves. Just lounging on the top deck with a book with the view of the karst mountains in Halong Bay was relaxing.

There was nothing we didn't like and we would recommend Indochina Sails.

Visited September 2011

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Halong Bay – a wonder of the creator

2011-11-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

Located in Quang Ninh Province, Ha Long Bay includes the sea areas of Ha Long City, Cam Pha Town and a part of Van Don island district. With the admirable natural beauty and multiform, special values, Ha Long has become the must-see destination in Viet Nam for domestic and international visitors.

The legend has it that, once upon a time, soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to the earth to help the Viet people fight against their enemy. When the dragons landed down on the earth, invaders' boats were rushing to the shore.

The dragons immediately 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 broke into pieces. After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn't return the heaven but stayed on the earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is present Ha Long Bay and Child Dragons landed is present Bai Tu Long Bay. The dragons' tails waving the water created Bach Long Vi (present Tra Co Peninsula).

Ha Long Bay covers the area of 1,553km² and encompasses 1,969 islands of various sizes which are mainly limestone islands with tectonic age from 250 million to 280 million years. The process of long geological evolution created the unique Ha Long Bay in the world with thousands of islands which look like fantastic sculptural and artistic works of various graceful shapes such as Canh Buom (Sail) Islet, Trong Mai (Cock and Hen) Islet, Lu Huong (Incense Burner) Islet… All of them are vivid and soulful.

Inside the stone islands in Ha Long are various caves considered as magnificent palaces on the earth such as Thien Cung (Heaven Palace), Dau Go (Driftwood), Sung Sot (Surprise), Trinh Nu (Virgin)... Many people from all over the world to Ha Long have felt puzzled as their vocabulary is not rich enough to depict the splendor of this place.

Ha Long is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove forest, tropical forest, coral... These eco-systems are where thousands of fauna and flora species concentrates. Some species are particularly rare and can’t be found at any where else.

In addition, Ha Long Bay is also attached to glorious historical pages of Viet Nam country with famous sites such as Van Don – the busy trade port in the 12th century, Bai Tho Mountain – where preserve autography of kings and celebrities and Bach Dang River – witness for two famous naval battles of Vietnamese people against invaders. Also, Ha Long is considered as one of the cradles of human kind with the glorious Ha Long culture in the late Neolithic age through archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu and Thoi Gieng...

Up to this time, some floating fishing villages have still existed in the sea area of Ha Long Bay such as Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vong Vieng, Cap La. Many special tangible and intangible culture values of the coastal area have been preserved in these fishing villages, especially Cua Van fishermen’s dual love songs, dum songs, wedding songs … Visiting these fishing villages, visitors will have chance to study the fishermen’s daily activities as well as typical traditional culture in Ha Long Bay.

In 1994 and 2000, Ha Long Bay has recognized by UNESCO as world natural heritage for its outstanding aesthetic and geographical, geomorphologic values. The UNESCO-recognized zone has the area of 434km². It looks like a giant triangle with Dau Go Island (in the west), Ba Ham Lake (in the south) and Cong Tay Island (in the east) as its three angle points.

In the global vote for new 7 wonders of nature mobilized by New Open World organization, Ha Long Bay has been listed in 28 official finalist candidates. Viet Nam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism; provinces and cities nationwide have carried out many activities to promote Ha Long Bay, especially voting campaigns which have attracted participations of individuals, organizations as well as international visitors.

The vote for new 7 wonders of nature will last until November 11, 2011 and the New Open World organization will officially announce 7 place-names with the highest number of votes. Hoping that with incessant promotion endeavours and supports of the people nationwide and the international visitors, Ha Long Bay will be one of new 7 wonders of nature.

Source: Vietnamtourism

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Just a great experience

2011-10-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

We (5) booked on their Red Dragon junk through our hotel in Hanoi.

The Red Dragon junks are smaller than their other junks with only 7 on board. Everything was great: the bus down and back was safely driven; the staff and crew were delightful, gracious and charming.

Our tour guide was Thinh who was fun and courteous. The activities: swimming off the beach and kayaking around an island and visit to a limestone cave made for an enjoyable afternoon. The food was superb. It was my wife's birthday a d they has a decorated cake with candles and the crew came up on deck and sang happy birthday. The next day"s trip being rowed around the floating fishing village was fun.

Visited September 2011

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

That is what we want!

2011-10-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

We just spent a sweet holiday in Halong bay with Indochina Sails cruise.

This was also our 2nd anniversary so I needed a perfect and special place for us. It was useful to visit Trip Advisor because I found a long list of cruises instead of being lost with other online search engines. We decided to pick Indochina Sails cruise in the end after a variety of offers from the cruise tour company HalongLuxurytravel. It was a right decision because things turned to be so wonderful for us at the beginning of the trip.

The road from Hanoi to Halong was long but peaceful with the mountains, countryside landscapes and green fields all along the way. Our room on Indochina cruise was luxurious but friendly. The staff and the services are two-thumbs-up. We felt like staying in a second home. The trip was a great pleasure with the spectacular sights of Halong bay. We have known this place is being considered to be a world’s new wonder but didn’t know it was this beautiful. Thanks to Indochina Sails crews for a smooth and memorable anniversary and HalongLuxurytravel company for offering us the best price we could find.

Visited September 2011
Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Magical Halong Bay

2011-10-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

Our destination may still be a few hours away but I’m already tingling with anticipation for a night on Vietnam’s mythical Halong Bay.
The karsts (limestone pillars) that jut out from the waters of the bay may date back nearly 500 million years, but the myth attached to them arose in the past two millennium. The Vietnamese believe a dragon and his brethren were sent to earth to aid the Vietnamese in repelling invaders from the north. As the dragons descended, they spit out jewels and jade which – upon hitting the water – turned into the rock formations so prevalent today.

It’s obvious that Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s busiest tourist destinations from the moment we pull up to the port. The quays are a mess of tour groups, junks, trawlers and boat vendors, the beauty of the bay barely visible through the haze. But once on our ship, we glide away from the cacophony and out into the karsts dotted landscape.

: Halong-Bay-sunset

Most boats follow a predictable circuit – a visit to a fishing village on stilts, a stop at Surprise Cave perched high above the water, and a chance to kayak the turquoise waters. Other boats are always near but, in one of those blesses cases of traveler’s blindness, I suddenly cease to see them. They become part of the scenery as I stare in wonder at the panorama from the mouth of Surprise Cave; they become delicate silhouettes as the sun sinks behind the horizon, bathing us all in its fiery farewell. My kayak cuts through them as I paddle towards shore but I’m too entranced by the rest of the scene.

: Cruising on Halong Bay

I’m lucky to spend the night on the bay, waking to the sunrise and the graceful movements of tai chi on the upper deck of our boat. As the sun climbs higher in the cloud-flecked sky, we leave the “crowds” behind and circle quiet karsts islands in a part of the bay seemingly untouched by day trippers. Eventually, our boat heads once again for shore and civilization and we brave the long dusty ride back to Hanoi. But that night and for many to come, I fall asleep imagining the roll of the sea as it caresses our ship in a starry bay.

Visited :September 2011
Source : asiainsider.asia360travel

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

“Indochina Sails - Halong Bay - fantastic”

2011-09-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

Like many others it was hard to choose and book before we left Australia out of the many on offer, but we couldn't have picked better - we sailed on the Indochina Sails 1, absolutely tip-top in every way - food was excellent, staff were great, cabins spotless, comfy and best of all one wall was all window, at night draw back the curtains and watch the thunderstorm light up the beauty of the area! We did the one night, two days with a long drive from Hanoi, I wished I'd done the two nights, but hubbie thought one night was fine. I don't know if we went to quieter places or it was a quiet time for tourists but hardly saw any other boats and certainly none of the rubbish mentioned in other reviews, it was just a stunning area. It did rain heaps, but not a lot you can do about that, though I think Indochina would have if they could! When we first boarded we were given a full safety talk too, which was excellent, all cabins and communal areas have lifejackets, fire extinguishers, rubber mallet to bash out the window, and the windows are safety glass. This was followed by a 6 course (small) tasty lunch - perfect and it just got better!

Visited September 2011

Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

“Well worth paying the extra for a Deluxe Cruise”

2011-09-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Myself and my girlfriend have just come back from a 3 day, 2 night Indochina Sails Deluxe Junk cruise and we both have to say it was one of the best things we have done on any of our holidays! The boat itself was fantastic and well worth paying the little extra for an upgrade as we did get to see the basic boats on our transfer back to Halong Bay. We especially chose these cruise as it seemed to be more chilled out than the other cruises on offer and this proved to be the case as we got plenty of time to relax rather than being shipped from one place to the next and having no time to juts take the beauty of the place in.

: Indochina Sails

My girlfriend is a vegetarian so we were a little worried about what she would be able to eat with the itinerary saying the menu would be predominantly seafood. Even before we told the staff of this there was easily enough choice for her however the chef also prepared her at least two extra dishes every meal we had which was fantastic.

: Indochina-Sails-Dining-room

Really the whole experience could not have been better from the staff to the food, to the itinerary the whole experience really was top notch!

Visited August 2011
Source: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

“Halong Bay In My Eyes”-Photo Competition sponsored by Indochina Sails, Halong Bay, Vietnam

2011-09-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

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
Prizes
First prize: Indochina Sails Premium Holiday package valued at 450 USD for 2 people all inclusive
Second prize: Indochina Sails Deluxe Holiday package valued at 350 USD for 2 people all inclusive
First five entrants will receive an Indochina Sails Souvenir T-shirt
Duration of contest
Indochina Sails will choose the two winning photos from the websites top ten LIKE getters
Contest dates: 25/8/2011 to 5/10/2011
The prizes will be announced on 10/10/2011
Term and condition
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash
- Submitted photos must be the property of the contestant
- Submitted photos cannot be prize winners of any previous photo competition
- Contestants are responsible for any copyright infringements or violations
- Indochina Sails maintains the right to use submitted photos for publicity purposes
- Winners may be required to participate in publicity programs

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Sunset at Halong Bay, Vietnam

2011-08-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in my flat in Berlin (pretend I’m British for a moment, will you?), I can’t help but remember that just two months ago I was on a boat trip in Halong Bay, Vietnam. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be here even if a European summer isn’t quite as sunny or warm as I would’ve expected. Regardless, looking back on my three and a half months in Southeast Asia there are more than handful of things that I can’t help but miss. Notably: the sun, especially seeing the sun set nearly every day, almost always dramatically.

: Halong-Bay-sunset1

I saw the sunset on any number of beaches (not just in Asia, but all over the world) and I’ve probably got hundreds if not thousands of sunset photos that look like just about everyone else’s. But I don’t care; the sunset I saw at Halong Bay on my overnight tour on a boat was truly beautiful. Maybe it was all the cheap beer, or the people I was with, but that was one hell of a good night.

: Halong-Bay-sunset2

Source: travelsofadam

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Indochina Sails - “Much more than we expected”

2011-08-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

We went on the 2 day, 1 night trip on Halong Bay with Indochina Sails on the premium junk. Our trip was organized as part of a tour of Vietnam so we really didn’t know what to expect, but it was fantastic from start to finish. We were welcomed on board with a cool flannel and drink and after a short talk we went to our rooms. It was lovely, the bed was comfy, air conditioner worked well and the bathroom was well appointed with a great roomy shower. We had a nice little balcony as well and apart from seeing the water everywhere we would not have known that we were on a boat, so for those concerned about sea sickness don’t worry!! Food was plentiful and we had a huge range of all types of Vietnamese and Western foods. We did a couple of little tours on surrounding islands which was also interesting. Congratulations to all of the staff on board, they were very friendly and helpful and also spoke English well. Only thing was we should have booked a longer trip!

: Indochina Sails-Sunset

Sourse: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Indochina Sails - “Amazing! A Must Do! 2 Nights”

2011-08-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

Halong Bay is an absolute must. I have been traveling through South East Asia for a month now and this is by far my favorite spot/attraction. Secondly I have to totally disagree with the last review. I also did the 2 nights cruise and I would suggest that EVERYONE does the 2 night. In my opinion one night would not be enough. We were also lucky in the second day we were the only guests staying the 2 nights and when we transferred to the day boat we had it ALL to ourselves. Yes there is no AC on the boat but there were at least 8 fans going all day inside. During out private second day cruise we didn't see 1 other tourist boat and truly felt that we were all alone in the bay! It was AMAZING! We got to Kayak, swim, cave, visit an oyster farm and have time to read and enjoy the scenery.
Mr. T was the man in charge and was helpful, informative and friendly the entire journey.
The food is AMAZING each day there we had a 6 course lunch and dinner was a buffet that consisted of pork, beef, chicken, squid, mussels and prawns. We were stuffed!

Rooms were comfortable and needless to say the view out you window was amazing!!
Yes this cruise might cost more than others but you get what you pay for and when you see the other boats sailing by you will be very happy you chose Indochina Sails. I for one will be back!
Sourse: Tripadvisor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Halong Bay Viet Nam : A Earth Of Mystery Awaits You

2011-07-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

When you were to go to sleep and wake in an Asian brushstroke landscape, Halong Bay Viet nam might be where you’d probably find yourself. Majestic and mysterious, Vietnam’s Halong Bay is actually a breathtaking location with over 2000 extraordinary jagged islands and islets increasing in the emerald waters of your Gulf of Tonkin. This superb panorama of limestone peaks enshrouded in mist, tumbling to the gently lapping sea and enclosing inside of its folds striking hidden caves is often a UNESCO Globe Heritage Web page.

Halong Bay

The near-perpendicular pinnacles conceal the remains of numerous grottos and caverns, produced through millions of years ago via a complex course of action of erosion whereby water trickled by means of limestone cracks enlarging them to produce magnificent caves and resulting within the distinctive towers noticed these days.

Lime stone crack
About a 3 hour experience south of Hanoi, Halong Bay Vietnam draws a gradual stream of travelers year-round. Past the spectacular seascapes using a boat vacation as a result of the bay, an amazing array of venture travel possibilities are on offer you: Vacationers to Halong come to discover the impressive caves, among them the remarkable “Surprise Cave” with its three huge caverns, the place illuminated stalactites expand down to the touch the climbing stalagmites; to kayak; to experience a person of Vietnam’s most fascinating cultural capabilities – the floating villages, nestling inside sheltered bays, where homes are set atop barges and calendar year circular, inhabitants catch and cultivate fish.

Kayaing
Halong Bay’s amazing splendor, monumental scale and exceptional geomorphology allow it to be a person of Vietnam’s most spectacular experiences.
Source: Traveltips.infor

Supported by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

Indochina Sails celebrates International Children's Day

2011-07-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

On the occasion of International Children's Day, June 1, 2011, Indochina Sails once again hosted a special party and made a donation to the Primary School of the Cua Van floating fishing village. The village is the largest on Halong Bay with a population of about 600 people. The primary school (floating, of course) comprises three small buildings where about 75 children are taught by 5 teachers.

In addition to organizing a party for the children, gifts including books, pens, school supplies and toys were also donated.

Indochina Sails has a long tradition of making donations of cash and equipment for the school. Last year, prompted by a staff member who asked: “What if we collect some money ourselves and try to fix up the school somehow to make it better for the kids?”, donations from all staff and the management of Indochina Sails were collected and new desks and chairs, along with a large assortment of school supplies were purchased and delivered to the school.

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!

Source: by Indochina Sails - The most luxury and safest cruises in Halong Bay

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