The mythical deluxe dragon cruise 2days - Hotels in Hanoi

THE MYTHICAL DELUXE DRAGON CRUISE 2DAYS
(1 night onboard)

DAY 1: HA NOI - HA LONG (L,D)
     7:45 - 8:30 Meet our tour guide then take 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long city. Have a break 20 minutes half way to stretch your legs.
     12:15 Board Dragon Cruise, receive a cruise briefing, enjoy welcome drinks and check-in your cabin.
     13:00 Have Vietnamese lunch on board while passing Ha Long bay symbol, a "Fighting Cocks" rock.
     14:30 Visit Sung Sot “amazing” cave with numerous stalactites and stalagmites of attractive forms and shapes.
     15:30 Do kayaking around islands, islets and Bo Nau cave to discover mysterious beauty of Ha Long.
     16:30 Visit Ti Top Island one hour for swimming, sun-bathing or hiking up to the top for photo hunt.
     17:30 Get back aboard and take a rest on the sundeck to enjoy snack party of local wine and fruits.
     19:00 Enjoy a delicious sea food dinner in cozy restaurant of Dragon Cruise in the middle of Ha Long.
     20:00 Relax with free foot massage within 10 to 15 minutes. Entertain your evening by squid-fishing or karaoke singing. Overnight on Ha Long Dragon Cruise.

DAY 2: HA LONG – HANOI (B,L)
     7:00 Wake-up call by crew members, you get a chance to hunt nice pictures of Ha Long Bay at dawn.
     7:30 Have breakfast then continue the trip to visit a Pearl farm where you witness how people breed pearls in Ha Long and see real pearl products.
     9:30 Check out your cabin. Relax on the top deck for sun-bathing, photo hunting or socializing with other fellow guests while sailing back.
     11:30 Leave Dragon Cruise, have a short rest and take a bus drive to a local restaurant for lunch.
     13:30 Say goodbye to Ha Long bay then return to Hanoi. Have a rest half-way to stretch your legs.
     17:30 Arrive in Hanoi. Tour ends.

Price: US$ 129 per person

Special Note:
    2 people share one cabin.
    Single supplement onboard: extra $ 35USD (If you travel alone and require a private cabin).
Children Policy:
    Under 5 years old: Free of charge, sharing room with parents.

    From 5 up to 8 years old: charge 50% of the adult price (one child sharing room with parents) ; charge 75%  of the adult price (two children in private room)

    From 9 years old up: charge adult price.

Tour includes:
    15 minutes foot massage.
    1 glass of local wine, fresh fruit on board in the afternoon.
    Pick up and drop off at your hotel with air-conditioned bus.
    Experienced driver and enthusiastic English speaking guide.
    Kayaking, entrance fees, activities on board, meals as per itinerary (Buffet, set-menu).

Tour excludes:  
    Drinks, travel insurance.                                                                
    Tips and others not clearly mentioned above.

Things you should take:     
    Passport with valid visa.
    Insect repellent, hat or umbrella, swimsuits, sunglasses, Vietnamese Dong.

Things you should not take:     Heavy luggage.

General Shopping Tips - Hotels in Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam, the new paradise for shopping. If you look at the surface, you will be disappointed by the large number of made-in-China items in just any cities. If you dare to search, you will be caught in a complete surprise: Vietnam has every shopping scene that can match popular names such as SoHo in Manhattan, Kensington Market in Toronto, Chapel Street in Melbourne and Chatuchak in Bangkok. Here are a few tips before you begin your exploration:  

Bargaining

Yes, unfortunately, you will have to bargain most of the time to get the price right (see tips on bargaining). Unless you plan to go to shopping mall or supermarket where price is printed on the product. It is not an intimidating task like it seems, and once you will get used to it, you will miss the bargaining scene found in Vietnam and in most of Asia.

 Sale

Vietnam does not have a sale culture like many other countries. What are on sale are usually products that can no longer be attractive enough or they might have many defects. Here and there in big cities you will catch sight of a local crowd surrounding a sign “Đại Hạ Giá” but don’t bother to join unless you want to sweat or to give your bag to some pickpockets. In shopping malls, there are price marked down but do not expect it to go below 30%. The good news is, most items are affordable even without sale.

Have it tailored

You are in Vietnam, and why bother looking for Nike and Louis Vuiton? You can have your clothes, shoes and apparels made to your size and preferred colors and styles at significantly lower costs. What you will have is unique, and it’s time to show off your special taste as well. Hoi An is a great place to start for tailor-made clothing items. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you will have to go out of your way but the quality is worth all the effort.

Price matters

Do not buy things just because it is cheap. There are inexpensive items that will catch your eyes and cost you a dollar. And the next thing you know it is out of order. This mostly applies to garment products in green markets or electronic goods at certain stores in big cities. On the other hand, expensive does not equal top quality, since you might be ripped off or they are just not worth all the currencies. It is good to start with recommended places and you will develop an instinct how shopping works in Vietnam. 

Don’t overload

You have only so much space in your luggage. Unless you want to send some home over post, try to avoid heavy and massive items. Many stores offer free shipping service so check for your convenience.  Shopping in Vietnam is a culture, a ritual and a lot of fun. It is rewarding for those who really take it more seriously than just getting some souvenirs off the shelf. Whatever reason you come to Vietnam for, make sure shopping is one of the bullet points in your travel agenda.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Local Crafts: Want to buy clothes, get theme here - Hotels in Hanoi

You will see alot of shops selling silk within Old Quarter, apart from silk, the shops sell other things too, like handicraft, lacquer ware etc. Those shops are targetted at the pockets of tourists.

In contrast, N Silk sells one and only item - clothings. The quality of silk is good. And the price I was quoted is much lesser than other shops, in fact, it was what I paid in the end. Save your effort of trying to bargain for 50% of the quoted price like in other shops.

A humble shopfront with a friendly and honest shopowner, Hoa (she calls herself Flower too) who speaks good English. She is only in the shop from 830am-7pm, from 7pm -9pm it will her dad manning the shop.

When I was at the shop, I met a lady from UK who said she visited this shop 3 years ago and is here again. I saw her paying Hoa hundred of Euros to tailor make 2 tops and 2 bottoms.

This is definitely a shop I will visit again.

What to buy: Silk Clothing, ethnic flavoured clothings.

What to pay: I bought two tops for 100,000VND each and 200,000VND for a silk jacket.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

The Book Street - Hotels in Hanoi

Trang Tien street at the lower end of Ho Hoan Kiem is the best place in Hanoi to purchase books. There are several bookstores that sell English books, although their choice is somewhat limited.

For travel guides, check out the dark, dirty and narrow lane at the upper end of the street: There are some people who sell copied travel guides (mostly Lonely Planet). If you barter well, you may obtain them for VND 40-60000. Sometimes, you'll run into these booksellers in the Old Town, too. For whatever reason their prices are much higher there and are not as easily to be forced down.

Another place to buy overprized books are some of the tourist cafes around the cathedral.

What to buy: If you plan to visit other countries in South East Asia I would recommend to buy travel guides for them in Hanoi. It may be cheaper.

What to pay: Depending on your bartering skills - $5 for a copied travel guide is enough!

Address: Trang Tien street

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Trang Tien Plaza - Hotels in Hanoi

This is Trang Tien Plaza. Located just across from Hoan Kiem Lake (on the south eastern corner), it's one of the more 'flashy' shopping places in Hanoi.

There are a number of floors (5 or 6 if i remember correctly). Located on the first floor are watches (quite a few well known brands) and also electronic equipment (cameras, etc) with a supermarket and other places to buy food located on the top floor.
The first floor is quite nice, but i don't think much of the somewhat bland top floor. It's a bit tacky, really.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Hang Da market - Hotels in hanoi

An eclectic array of stalls fills the three-storey Hang Da market located in the heart of Hanoi’s central business district. Smaller than Dong Xuan and offering a more select product range, this is the place to come for imported wine, flowers, second-hand clothes and fabrics.

The outside of the building is also very picturesque with its white multi-perforated façade and it’s expected that the whole interior may one day change from market stalls to boutique outlets.

Hang Da is a great place to pick up one-off clothing items including skirts, dresses and coats and some of the best buys are stylish second-hand clothes which are pretty much all in perfect condition.

The market is best visited first thing in the morning when the traders are unpacking for the day and best avoided over weekends or during the midday heat. Take a break when you shop on the first floor where you can buy some freshly cooked Vietnamese snacks.

Hang Da Market Highlights

Stepping in off the street you’ll discover fresh produce including plenty of fruit and vegetables and cooked meat, most of which is imported. The second and third floors are packed with a superb selection of clothes and fabrics with ceramic and pottery stalls dotted throughout. The clothes on offer surprisingly come in all sizes because the most of the clothes here are imported from across the globe including Japan, Europe, Korea and even the US; so you are pretty much guaranteed to find something you to suit. Look for clothes that are already hanging as these are usually the newest ones.

Traditional long Vietnamese dresses known as Ao Dais are a particularly good buy at Hang Da; rummage for ones with embroidery or intricate weaving made from real silk. Artistic rice paper products are also a great purchase, transformed into table lamps, notebooks, paintings and cards.

Good to Know about Hang Da Market

Bargaining is not only advised but absolutely expected when shopping at Hang Da. As a rule, start at around 50% of the starting price but do not accept any lower than 25%. Hang Da is located on 1 Pho Hang Da at the intersection with Yen Thai. There is also a large shop lined with bamboo cages which are filled with exotic birds on the north corner where Hang Da meets Hang Dieu, which is also worth a look.

The area was once the main stretch for pipe and tobacco sellers so you keep an eye out for the remaining stores dating back aeons located just north on Hand Dieu Street. Don’t forget to take a camera as Hang Da is worth a visit just to capture the elegant architecture of the market building.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Dong Xuan Market, a busy trade center in Hanoi - Hotels in Hanoi

The renowned Dong Xuan Market in downtown Hanoi has long been a favorite, a busy trade center that attracted buyers from many other places ...

Dong Xuan Market, or Cho Dong Xuan, is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It is located at Dong Xuan Street, at the end of Hang Dao Street, on the northern part of the Old Quarters. The original building was constructed in 1889, on the site of one of Hanoi's lakes. It is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters, occupying half of the street. Approximately fifty businesses are operating the forty stands selling food, artifacts, souvenirs and tour packages among others.

If you want to shop and at the same time peeping into the corridors of history, then Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi is the place for you. This large multi- storied market sells anything and everything. From fresh foods to home appliances, you will have it all here. But, what is more fascinating about this market is its historical significance which you still can experience if you visit this place. It witnessed fierce battle between the Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Dong Xuan Market is also a historical place where there was a combat of soldiers of “Quyết tử quân” (“Deciding to die”) against the French attack to the heroic zone I, in February 1947. Being the biggest market and locating in the downtown, Dong Xuan Market is a crowded and bustling exchanging, tracsaction, business place of the capital.

It was built in 1889, in the basis of combination and removal of two markets, Cau Dong and Bach Ma on the shore of To River. It was positioned in area of Dong Xuan Ward with 5 vault-like roofs, steel frames; each frame is 52m long, 19m high supplying area for hundreds of goods.

Typical characteristics

Unlike other Hanoi night markets selling agricultural products in Long Bien and Quang Ba, Dong Xuan Market has been mainly created for tourists. With its eleven stalls, the brightly-lit food zone is the most animated, serving late night guests until early morning. There are numerous kinds of goods and products selling in the market. The crowded and dense situation of Dong Xuan Market was highly praised in many old folk song of Hanoi. This large three-story market to the north of Hanoi's Old Quarter offers a varied cornucopia of goods of all sorts. Hundreds of stalls, with thousands of workers, trade extremely fresh produce, dried foods, household goods, appliances and more. The market has an interesting history. It saw fierce fighting between Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Later, in 1994, the market was destroyed in a fire that resulted in the death of five people and the loss of an estimated USD4.5 million in stock.

River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan Market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia.

You might have your curiosity and appetite titillated as you try to choose from a wide selection of exotic Hanoi dishes: fried frog or fish meat pastes, rice and duck meat soup, fried rice, tiet canh (duck blood uncooked, only if you have a brave heart and strong stomach!), rice vermicelli and beef cooked in the south Vietnamese style and even just beefsteak and bread. Here you can find real Hanoi food, as favored by true-blue Hanoians. The dishes might cost a little more than elsewhere but, you have to taste it to believe it, they are truly delicious, such as a steamy hot dish of pho cuon  (beef wrapped in long wispy strips of rice vermicelli, served with aromatic herbs and spicy sweet-sour fish sauce).

In artifact shops on Dong Xuan Street you will find traditional Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics. Binh Da embroideries and laces, and sand paintings, the new craze of Hanoi’s young people. For a modest sum, you can choose one of those ‘raw’ pictures with different designs and patterns.

The trend...

Like other markets such as Sapa’s Cho Tinh, Nam Dinh’s Cho Vieng, Lang Son’s Cho Ky Lua and Can Tho’s Cho Tay Do, Dong Xuan Market has been set up to meet the needs of locals and tourists. With the advantage of having long history of culture, traditions and being located in the community of ancient quarter of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Market is one of attractive tourist destinations of the capital and is the only one of Hanoi’ s many efforts to develop tourism and attract international visitors.

To advertise the image of Dong Xuan Market, creating favorable conditions for citizens to sell and buy products (consumer products and handicrafts), Dong Xuan JSC is now organizing to exploit tours at the market. Currently, Dong Xuan travel is now establishing tours to exploit potentials of tourism of the market to develop the tourism of culture, research for development of tourist products. From 2010 on wards, the company will build up Dong Xuan Market to archive the standards of tourist destination of the city; research development of services and accommodations of visitors.

How to get to Dong Xuan Market
From the north bank of the Ho Hoan Kiem, take Hang Dao Street. Along the way, it changes name to Hang Ngang Steet and then Hang Duong Street. Eventually it becomes Dong Xuan Street. You will see Dong Xuan Market on the right side of the road. The distance is about 400 meters.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Halong bay tour on 3days 2nights on ALOVA Gold Cruise

3 day tour with be featured by a full day kayaking, swimming and barbecue lunch. You will have a rare chance to discover the furthest islands of Halong bay. Staying 2 nights on Alova Gold Cruises provide you an unforgettable experience..


Tour Highlight:
- Special lunch with Vietnamese Traditional Dishes
- 3 day tour with be featured by a full day kayaking, swimming and barbecue lunch.
- You will have a rare chance to discover the furthest islands of Halong bay.

Brief itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Alova Gold Cruise
Day 2: Alova Gold Cruise – Lan Ha Bay   (Full day Kayaking)
Day 3: Alova Gold Cruise – Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi

Itinerary :

Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Alova Gold Cruise
7h45 – 8h15: Alova Gold Cruise’s bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel & start the 3 hour and a half drive to Halong Bay.
12h00 – 12h30: Board Alova Gold Cruise at the Bai Chay port, enjoy welcome drink, crew briefing before checking in cabin. Start cruising and enjoy a Special lunch with Vietnamese Traditional Dishes while the boat slowly slides on romantic waves of the sea to the legendary fishing village
14h00: Spend one hour Kayaking on emerald water of the world heritage
15h00: Set sails to head to the sandy beach where emotional feeling erupts at one of the most splendid water world; you can swim and enjoy the seascapes with photos shooting.
18h00: Return to the vessel for your own leisure at room or on Sun deck, boat anchors at Sung Sot area – the safest place for overnight.
18h30: Attend the Cooking Demonstration together with our Chief.
19h30: Enjoy dinner (designed only on Alova Gold) with Vietnamese typical foods.
21h00:   Intermingle with activities on board such as Cuttle fish fishing, games on board, socializing with others. Our bartender serves you the best drink at bar, overnight on boat.


Day 2:  Alova Gold Cruise – Lan Ha Bay   (Full day Kayaking)
When the Sea Deities wake up, it’s time for the natural Symphony of Halong Bay to please you!
6h00:  Wake up for swimming or photos hunt at dawn
7h30: Have sunrise breakfast in the absolutely quiet lagoon.
8h30: Be transferred (by another boat) to Lan Ha for visiting Van Gia fishing village. Then you kayak through the Light cave to explore the vivid Coral Reef under the sea water.
12h00: Relax on board & enjoy the Barbecue lunch.
14h00: Visit Pearl Farm area to know how the local people do Pearl Farming.
Note: If the weather is good, you can swim at Three Peach Beach in Lan Ha bay
Continue the journey of discovering the hidden charm of the Water world of Halong Bay by Kayaking or Swimming.
16h00: Recheck in Alova Gold Cruise, take time to relax on sundeck and enjoy drinks
18h00: Return to the vessel for your own leisure at room or on Sun deck. Our staff serves you fresh fruit and beverage under Sunset, boat anchors at Sung Sot area – the safest place for overnight.
18h.30: Attend the Cooking Demonstration together with our Chief.
19h30: Enjoy dinner (designed only on Alova Gold) with Vietnamese typical foods.
21h00: Intermingle with activities on board such as Cuttle fish fishing, games on board, socializing with others. Our bartender serves you the best drink at bar, overnight on boat


Day 3:   Alova Gold Cruise – Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi
When the Dawn appears, a new day comes to bring you strange experience!
6h00:  Wake up for swimming or photos hunt at dawn
7h30: Have sunrise breakfast in the absolutely quiet lagoon.
8h30: Climb up the mountain to explore one of the most superb & beautiful Sung Sot cave.
9h15:  Return to the Vessel, check out and settle the bill, take time to relax while the Vessel is cruising back to Bai Chay Port, leave your words in the Memory Book and have lunch.
12h30: Say goodbye to Halong bay and take shuttle bus back to Hanoi.
16h30: Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends.

 Enjoy group tour: 205 USD/Pax

Please book now to save 15% price

Price Included

    +  Pick-up and transfer by A/C modern bus Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi
    +  2 bottles of water/person/2 ways
    +  Welcome drink
    +  Fully furnished deluxe en-suite cabin with A/C and hot water
    +  Complementary bottled water in cabin
    +  English speaking tour guide from and to Hanoi.
    +  All entrance fees to sites indicated in itinerary
    +  Meals as: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner (Set menu Vietnamese Style)
    +  Complimentary morning tea and coffee
    +  Kayaking or Rowing boat (one hour)
    +  Cooking demonstration
    +  Fishing equipments
    +  On board insurance, service charge

Price Excluded

    +  Beverages and tobacos
    +  Tips and personal expenses
    +  Hotel in Hanoi and Halong bay harbor
    +  Others not clearly mentioned above

Halong bay Tour on Alova Gold Cruise 2days 1night

Discover the mysterious Halong Bay 2 days 1 night on Alova Gold Cruise  – a Vessel consists of 9 deluxe cabins decorated in classic Asian style. The difference of Alova Gold is quality of food and bevarage.On this cruise tour you will have great meals and exciting night with an international standard bar.. This journey will take you into the legendary world with various activities that will truly provide an unforgettable impression.

Tour will be included transfer from Hanoi to Halong and vs, all meals, and many activities such as kayaking, cave visiting, swimming, Ti Top island climbing, especially free cooking class and flower caving.

Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Alova Gold Cruise
Day 2:   Alova Gold Cruise – Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi

Itinerary :

Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Alova Gold Cruise

7h45 – 8h15: Alova Gold Cruise’s bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel & start the 3 hour and a half drive to Halong Bay.

12h00 – 12h30: Board Alova Gold Cruise at the Bai Chay port, enjoy welcome drink, crew briefing before checking in cabin. Start cruising and enjoy a Special lunch with Vietnamese Traditional Dishes while the boat slowly slides on romantic waves of the sea to the legendary fishing village

14h00: Spend one hour Kayaking on emerald water of the world heritage.

15h00: Set sails to head to the sandy beach where emotional feeling erupts at one of the most splendid water world; you can swim and enjoy the seascapes with photos shooting.

18h00: Return to the vessel for your own leisure at room or on Sun deck, boat anchors at Sung Sot area – the safest place for overnight.

18h30: Attend the Cooking Demonstration together with our Chief.

19h30: Enjoy dinner (designed only on Alova Gold) with Vietnamese typical foods.

21h00:   Intermingle with activities on board such as Cuttle fish fishing, games on board, socializing with others. Our bartender serves you the best drink at bar, overnight on boat.

Day 2:   Alova Gold Cruise – Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi

When the Dawn appears, a new day comes to bring you strange experience!

6h00:  Wake up for swimming or photos hunt at dawn

7h30: Have sunrise breakfast in the absolutely quiet lagoon.

8h30: Climb up the mountain to explore one of the most superb & beautiful Sung Sot cave.

9h15:  Return to the Vessel, check out and settle the bill, take time to relax while the Vessel is cruising back to Bai Chay Port, leave your words in the Memory Book and have lunch

12h30: Say goodbye to Halong bay and take shuttle bus back to Hanoi

16h30: Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends.

Enjoy group tour: 125 USD/Pax

Please book now to save 15% price

Price Included

    +  Pick-up and transfer by A/C modern bus Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi
    +  2 bottles of water/person/2 ways
    +  Welcome drink
    +  Fully furnished deluxe en-suite cabin with A/C and hot water
    +  Complementary bottled water in cabin
    +  English speaking tour guide from and to Hanoi.
    +  All entrance fees to sites indicated in itinerary
    +  Meals as: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner (Set menu Vietnamese Style)
    +  Complimentary morning tea and coffee
    +  Kayaking or Rowing boat (one hour)
    +  Cooking demonstration
    +  Fishing equipments
    +  On board insurance, service charge

Price Excluded

    +  Beverages and tobacos
    +  Tips and personal expenses
    +  Hotel in Hanoi and Halong bay harbor
    +  Others not clearly mentioned above

Hanoi in Konni and Matt blog.

Bracing for category-3 typhoon Son-Tinh which struck Vietnam’s coast at about 09:00 GMT on 28 October 2012 with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of around 100 knots or 180 km/h, with considerably higher gusts plus torrential downpours (data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center suggested that the point of landfall would be near N 20° E 106°, only 100 km SE of Hanoi), learning that it quite suddenly changed its course towards NE thus missing Hanoi only by a whisker and celebrating our “survival” with pint after pint of cool bia hoi (fresh draft beer, VND 5,000.- or US$ 0.25 per glass) at our favourite beer garden located at the junction of Pho Ta Hien and Pho Luong Ngoc Quyen aka “Bia Hoi Corner”.

Making camp and delving into the maze-like lanes of the Old Quarter, Hanoi’s historic heart (“steeped in history, pulsating with life, bubbling with commerce, buzzing with motorbikes and rich in exotic scents”), with its chaotic Dong Xuan Market where we discovered the best Vietnamese coffee (VND 15,000.- or US$ 0.70) at Cafe Pho +84438284070, a friendly and relaxed island, with wifi, in a stormy sea (Bernard Moitessier: “I hate storms, but calms undermine my spirits”) of used and new clothes, natural and synthetic cosmetics, fake and genuine sunglasses, luxury and cat food, acoustic and electronic musical instruments, quality and junk plumbing supplies, religious offerings and communist propaganda posters, and so on and so forth - you name it!

Feasting repeatedly on Vietnamese/Hanoian (pescetarian and vegetarian) traditional cuisine at our favourite food joint in the Old Quarter, the simply brilliant New Day Restaurant +84438280315 and washing it down with bottles of excellent Vietnamese red wine from Dalat (headache-free Vang Dankia Dalat  with 15 % alcohol, for VND 50,000.- or US$ 2.40 per bottle from any of the Old Quarter’s mercenary bottle stores).

Meeting Uncle Ho’s perky and not-so communist great granddaughters-turned-models, clad in their beautiful traditional ao dai, in the vicinity of the surreal Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the holiest of the holies for both the hard-liners and many of their subjects, and having loads of fun during an extended photo shoot with these enthusiastic beauties.

Exploring the shores of Hanoi’s West Lake aka Tay Ho, the city’s largest lake, and thereafter staring into the indefinable gaze of hundreds of white Bodhisattvas at the atmospheric Tran Qoc Pagoda, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam.

Chasing after god and photo models at Hanoi’s religio-touristy places of interest thus (i) studying the Confucian desire for order and symmetry as well as harmony between heaven and earth at the peaceful Temple of Literature (admission: VND 20,000.- or US$ 0.95 per person) where Vietnam’s first university was established in 1076 CE, (ii) climbing the delicate 1049 CE One Pillar Pagoda, built of wood on a single stone pillar and designed to resemble a lotus blossom, the symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow, and (iii) eyeballing the ramshackle Turtle Tower aka Thap Rua which is falling into ruin on an islet near the southern end of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Matt: Throwing Konni’s caution to the wind and buying from our hotel’s travel desk one of those infamous bus/boat package tours (2days/1night, all-inclusive for a fair US$ 45.- per person, excluding drinks) to Halong Bay, both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a profitable traffic bottleneck in Southeast Asia’s Banana Pancake Trail, thus enjoying tremendously (i) the stimulating company and great camaraderie of international backpackers from far and wide (hello there, congenial Miriam and Tina), (ii) the breathtaking beauty of 2,000 plus karst islets rising amidst hundreds of tourist boats from the polluted waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and (iii) his unscathed survival as innocent bystander of an ugly fist/knife fight between some ambitious crew members and their paying guests - don’t say nobody warned you!

Foraging for history among the crumbling leftovers of the once-great Imperial Citadel of Hanoi, the former residence of Vietnamese monarchs dating back to Đại Việt, when the city was known as Thăng Long, and enjoying many enchanting encounters with Vietnam’s enthusiastic future professionals.

Laundering our dirty linen for VND 20,000.- or US$ 0.95 per kg (washed and dried) at one of the many convenient no-name neighbourhood laundries and learning that Vietnam’s GDP per capita is only US$ 3,400.- per annum (rank no. 166 in the world, at least according to the well-fed pointy-heads of the CIA).

Purchasing tourist visas for Red China and Thailand and being rendered speechless by the polite and professional work flow (neither wait nor bribe) at both (i) the Chinese Embassy +84438453736 (single-entry 30-day tourist-and-family-visit visas [L-visas], processed within four working days, requirements: one passport photo, confirmed hotel reservation, return ticket and US$ 30.- per person in cash) and (ii) the Royal Thai Embassy +84438235095 (single-entry 60-day tourist visas [TR-visas], processed within 36 hours, requirements: one passport photo, return ticket and US$ 40.- per person in cash).

Taking the northbound LC 3 train of the hundred-year-old Kunming-Haiphong Railway from Hanoi’s Tran Quy Cap Station (situated on the W side of Ga Ha Noi, Hanoi's main railway station) along the murky Red River to the border town of Lao Cai (c. 380 km, 10 ¾ hours, VND 111,000.- or US$ 5.30 per person for “hard seat non air-con”), a non-descript but bustling spot situated in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains aka the Tonkinese Alps, fuelled by growing cross-border trade with the archenemy Red China.
Copy and paste from http://konniandmatt.blogspot.com

Trang Tien Plaza - Hotels in Hanoi

This is Trang Tien Plaza. Located just across from Hoan Kiem Lake (on the south eastern corner), it's one of the more 'flashy' shopping places in Hanoi.

There are a number of floors (5 or 6 if i remember correctly). Located on the first floor are watches (quite a few well known brands) and also electronic equipment (cameras, etc) with a supermarket and other places to buy food located on the top floor.
The first floor is quite nice, but i don't think much of the somewhat bland top floor. It's a bit tacky, really.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Hang Da market - Hotels in Hanoi

An eclectic array of stalls fills the three-storey Hang Da market located in the heart of Hanoi’s central business district. Smaller than Dong Xuan and offering a more select product range, this is the place to come for imported wine, flowers, second-hand clothes and fabrics.

The outside of the building is also very picturesque with its white multi-perforated façade and it’s expected that the whole interior may one day change from market stalls to boutique outlets.

Hang Da is a great place to pick up one-off clothing items including skirts, dresses and coats and some of the best buys are stylish second-hand clothes which are pretty much all in perfect condition.

The market is best visited first thing in the morning when the traders are unpacking for the day and best avoided over weekends or during the midday heat. Take a break when you shop on the first floor where you can buy some freshly cooked Vietnamese snacks.

Hang Da Market Highlights

Stepping in off the street you’ll discover fresh produce including plenty of fruit and vegetables and cooked meat, most of which is imported. The second and third floors are packed with a superb selection of clothes and fabrics with ceramic and pottery stalls dotted throughout. The clothes on offer surprisingly come in all sizes because the most of the clothes here are imported from across the globe including Japan, Europe, Korea and even the US; so you are pretty much guaranteed to find something you to suit. Look for clothes that are already hanging as these are usually the newest ones.

Traditional long Vietnamese dresses known as Ao Dais are a particularly good buy at Hang Da; rummage for ones with embroidery or intricate weaving made from real silk. Artistic rice paper products are also a great purchase, transformed into table lamps, notebooks, paintings and cards.

Good to Know about Hang Da Market

Bargaining is not only advised but absolutely expected when shopping at Hang Da. As a rule, start at around 50% of the starting price but do not accept any lower than 25%. Hang Da is located on 1 Pho Hang Da at the intersection with Yen Thai. There is also a large shop lined with bamboo cages which are filled with exotic birds on the north corner where Hang Da meets Hang Dieu, which is also worth a look.

The area was once the main stretch for pipe and tobacco sellers so you keep an eye out for the remaining stores dating back aeons located just north on Hand Dieu Street. Don’t forget to take a camera as Hang Da is worth a visit just to capture the elegant architecture of the market building.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Dong Xuan Market, a busy trade center in Hanoi - Hotels in Hanoi

The renowned Dong Xuan Market in downtown Hanoi has long been a favorite, a busy trade center that attracted buyers from many other places ...

Dong Xuan Market, or Cho Dong Xuan, is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It is located at Dong Xuan Street, at the end of Hang Dao Street, on the northern part of the Old Quarters. The original building was constructed in 1889, on the site of one of Hanoi's lakes. It is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters, occupying half of the street. Approximately fifty businesses are operating the forty stands selling food, artifacts, souvenirs and tour packages among others.

If you want to shop and at the same time peeping into the corridors of history, then Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi is the place for you. This large multi- storied market sells anything and everything. From fresh foods to home appliances, you will have it all here. But, what is more fascinating about this market is its historical significance which you still can experience if you visit this place. It witnessed fierce battle between the Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Dong Xuan Market is also a historical place where there was a combat of soldiers of “Quyết tử quân” (“Deciding to die”) against the French attack to the heroic zone I, in February 1947. Being the biggest market and locating in the downtown, Dong Xuan Market is a crowded and bustling exchanging, tracsaction, business place of the capital.

It was built in 1889, in the basis of combination and removal of two markets, Cau Dong and Bach Ma on the shore of To River. It was positioned in area of Dong Xuan Ward with 5 vault-like roofs, steel frames; each frame is 52m long, 19m high supplying area for hundreds of goods.

Typical characteristics

Unlike other Hanoi night markets selling agricultural products in Long Bien and Quang Ba, Dong Xuan Market has been mainly created for tourists. With its eleven stalls, the brightly-lit food zone is the most animated, serving late night guests until early morning. There are numerous kinds of goods and products selling in the market. The crowded and dense situation of Dong Xuan Market was highly praised in many old folk song of Hanoi. This large three-story market to the north of Hanoi's Old Quarter offers a varied cornucopia of goods of all sorts. Hundreds of stalls, with thousands of workers, trade extremely fresh produce, dried foods, household goods, appliances and more. The market has an interesting history. It saw fierce fighting between Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Later, in 1994, the market was destroyed in a fire that resulted in the death of five people and the loss of an estimated USD4.5 million in stock.

River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan Market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia.

You might have your curiosity and appetite titillated as you try to choose from a wide selection of exotic Hanoi dishes: fried frog or fish meat pastes, rice and duck meat soup, fried rice, tiet canh (duck blood uncooked, only if you have a brave heart and strong stomach!), rice vermicelli and beef cooked in the south Vietnamese style and even just beefsteak and bread. Here you can find real Hanoi food, as favored by true-blue Hanoians. The dishes might cost a little more than elsewhere but, you have to taste it to believe it, they are truly delicious, such as a steamy hot dish of pho cuon  (beef wrapped in long wispy strips of rice vermicelli, served with aromatic herbs and spicy sweet-sour fish sauce).

In artifact shops on Dong Xuan Street you will find traditional Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics. Binh Da embroideries and laces, and sand paintings, the new craze of Hanoi’s young people. For a modest sum, you can choose one of those ‘raw’ pictures with different designs and patterns.

The trend...

Like other markets such as Sapa’s Cho Tinh, Nam Dinh’s Cho Vieng, Lang Son’s Cho Ky Lua and Can Tho’s Cho Tay Do, Dong Xuan Market has been set up to meet the needs of locals and tourists. With the advantage of having long history of culture, traditions and being located in the community of ancient quarter of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Market is one of attractive tourist destinations of the capital and is the only one of Hanoi’ s many efforts to develop tourism and attract international visitors.

To advertise the image of Dong Xuan Market, creating favorable conditions for citizens to sell and buy products (consumer products and handicrafts), Dong Xuan JSC is now organizing to exploit tours at the market. Currently, Dong Xuan travel is now establishing tours to exploit potentials of tourism of the market to develop the tourism of culture, research for development of tourist products. From 2010 on wards, the company will build up Dong Xuan Market to archive the standards of tourist destination of the city; research development of services and accommodations of visitors.

How to get to Dong Xuan Market
From the north bank of the Ho Hoan Kiem, take Hang Dao Street. Along the way, it changes name to Hang Ngang Steet and then Hang Duong Street. Eventually it becomes Dong Xuan Street. You will see Dong Xuan Market on the right side of the road. The distance is about 400 meters.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.

HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Tombstone Street - Hotels in Hanoi

The streets in the Old Quarter was originally named after what was sold there. Hang means merchandise, so the street names are like Hang Gai for Hemp Street (now known as Silk Street), Hang Mam for Fish Sauce Street, Hang Be for Bamboo Raft Street... and so on. Hang Bac is the Silver Street, but it is also here you find the tombstone carvers. The tombstones are made really detailed with pictures and everything. To attract some attention to his shop, one carver came up with the wicked idea to make a tombstone for Britney Spears.

Recently the picture of Britney has been replaced with one of Michael Jackson, which actually makes more sense.

Address: Hang Bac and Hang Mam street

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Street vendors - Hotels in Hanoi

Anything that can be load on a bicycle or in a basket are sold in the streets of Hanoi - and it can seems that most things can be. Clothes, fruit, flowers and vegetables are flying by, hanging from both ends of a bamboo pole balanced on the shoulder of a rushing vendor. Whole bicycles are covered in baskets, household items and even heavy ceramic jars are carefully pushed to the streets, all the while the dense traffic flows past untroubled.

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi

Railway walk - Hotels in Hanoi

Hanoi's main train station is right in the center, meaning the train tracks go straight through the city. The section leading to Long Bien Bridge pass by the Old Quarter, a dense residential area. Here houses stand so close to the tracks, that residents will get smack by any passing train, if they stick their head out at the wrong time. Luckily there are not that many trains heading this direction during the day, so people use the tracks as their backyard, which it pretty much also is. Laundry is hanged for drying, food is prepared and neighbours sit on the rails chatting. To take in this odd piece of ordinary Hanoi life, walk along the train tracks from Hanoi main train station towards the Long Bien Bridge (north).

Where to stay

Hanoi Victory hotel is your best choice. Hanoi Victory Hotel is one of the greatest three stars hotels in Hanoi which is hightly  appreciated for the comfort and luxury. If you are going to Hanoi Vietnam in order to find out about Hanoi beauty, culture values,  or simply want to have a happy and useful Hanoi tour – Welcome to Hanoi Victory hotel, the best hotel in hanoi, where you can rest most comfortably with perfect services.
HANOI VICTORY HOTEL INFORMATION

Address: 3 Hang Quat street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 3938 2666
Website: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryhotelhanoi
Blog: http://www.hanoivictoryhotel.blogspot.com
Google map: Hanoi Victory Hotel - hotel in hanoi