Vietnam Holidays - Halong Bay Junk Cruise
An Overnight Trip on a Halong Junk is the Best Price Cruise Around.
Jan 25, 2009
The presence of the other fifty tourist-laden junks can't spoil the magic of Halong Bay. Somehow, operators spread out and disappear among the towering limestone karsts that stud the emerald waters like worn bristles on a giant brush.
While most tourists take a day trip to gaze at the staggering scenery, the overnight deal is best value. Imagine relaxing on deck in the dark of night, fanned by a gentle sea breeze, as you watch the myriad tiny lights of other boats, winking like fireflies in a giant cavern.
Halong Bay Junk Tours – what to expect
Most tour companies operating out of Hanoi offer a remarkably similar package:
Day 1:
The tourist is picked up from his/her Hanoi hotel for the three-hour hair-raising drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
Mid-way, the mini-bus makes a comfort stop at the Sao Dao Center, where disabled children produce quality handcrafts which are hard to resist.
An English-speaking tour guide will ferry the party through the bewildering maze of buses, boats and tourists, and see them safely on board the right vessel.
The group is served lunch (usually seafood and time-honored Vietnamese dishes), as the traditional junk hoists sail and makes its way out of the crowded harbour.
After an hour’s sailing through this UNESCO World Heritage site, the party will be set down on one of the pretty islands – perhaps Titop with its cliff-top pagoda and sandy beach for swimming.
Later, the tour group may be taken to visit fascinating sea caves. At sunset, the boat will anchor for the night.
Dinner will be a multi-course seafood affair with a choice of wines and beers. The tired tourists will probably retire early to their small cabins with western-style en suites.
However, tourists should be wary of the deluxe cabin at the stern featuring its own private balcony. Sounds romantic? Yes, but it’s the cabin closest to the generator, which thumps long into the night and emits diesel fumes.
Day Two
Many participants start with a swim in the clear warm waters beside the boat, before a leisurely breakfast.
Most boats visit the Vong Vieng floating village en route to one of the rocky islands that house great limestone caverns – for example, the spectacular Sung Sot Caves.
Lunch will be served as the junk cruises back to base.
The boat docks precisely on time, and the bus will be waiting on the chaotically busy wharf to take the group back to Hanoi. ... with a second stop at Sao Dao Center, in case anyone forgot to buy something last time.
The Halong Bay Luxury Trip
For those who want a taste of Vietnam luxury travel, a few new operators have targeted the super-luxury market with prices to match - up to $250 pp.
Even average-range operators are starting to offer a wider range of extras. It is possible to select cruises which allow participants to fish from the boat, go kayaking, attend Vietnamese cooking classes, do early morning Tai Chi, fly a kite or have a relaxing massage.
Overnight Halong Junk Tour - your Best Price Cruise Option
By Western standards for cruises, prices are ludicrously low. This delightful overnight experience could cost as little as $50 US, although $100 - $150 US is a more common range. This compares very favorablywith a Rhine cruise or British barge holiday!
The reader can be assured that the dozens of mid-range operators offer excellent value for money - just Google their websites and select carefully, as quality varies. Visit a number of reputable travel sites such as Tripadvisor, Travelfish , Travbuddy or Expedia, and be guided by the feedback left by previous happy (or unhappy) tour clients.
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