Czech
Ha Long Bay – Cruise along the Descending Dragon
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s must-visits, and the best way to do so is by taking a cruise. Ha Long Bay has been listed by UNESCO since 1994 and is about 90 minutes from Hanoi airport.
The name Ha Long means “descending dragon” and comes from the legend that tells of how a mother dragon and her children were sent to protect the country against foreign invaders.
ATF – TRAVEX delegates were offered various post-show tours to discover beautiful small islands over either one or two nights by the Heritage Line company.
The rooms on the boats offer balconies and private bathrooms, and some of them have a private jacuzzi. There are various cruise categories available, and you can choose whichever one corresponds to your needs and suits the type of group you are organising.
Ha Long Bay, which forms part of the Gulf of Tonkin, is one of the world’s new seven wonders. Lively and grandiose limestone islands that jut out of the ocean fill the area. There are around 1,969 of these islands.
The area is filled with pristine beaches, waterfalls, lakes, and caves and you can participate in many activities. The cruise incorporates a visit to one of the many caves that you can find here, with Sung Sot being the largest. The 10,000m2 cave is home to two vast caverns full of stalactites and stalagmites; these are the source of many local legends.
Another fascinating activity while on board is to visit a floating fishing village. Your group can learn more about the unique sea-culture of local fishers at Cua Van Floating Cultural Centre. On some islands, you can go trekking and walk all the way up to the top.
On board one of the Heritage Line cruises, you will taste great food, including seafood in particular, and you can also take a lesson and learn how to cook some Vietnamese specialities – a favourite being nem. The open-air barbecue, with the stars and islands in view, walking on the boat’s terrace with a glass of champagne can be an unforgettable experience for your group.
The staff are very friendly and helpful and if you are, for example, a vegetarian, or you have other special nutritional requests, they are very flexible and will accommodate your needs. For me, they served up Italian spaghetti with a Vietnamese touch, and the food was fantastic.
