Ha Long Favorites

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Favorite thing: The view from the top is very nice.

When deciding which tour/junk for your daylong/overnight cruise of the Ha Long Bay, please make sure they have a stop over at Ti Top Island (also referred to as Dao Ti Top, or Titov Island).

We were there in August 2011. Our junk (Bai Tho) stopped for a little over 30 minutes. You have the option to swim/play near/on the beach, or admire the view from the top of the hill.

There are almost 400 steps up to the top. View from steps up to the top, as well as from the top was very nice. It rains in August, so you might want to carry something to protect your camera.

I have posted several photos on my photoblog, http://bit.ly/sIIbVj

Fondest memory: 360 degree view of the amazing Ha Long bay

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Favorite thing: Here are a few practical tips in getting the most of your Halong Bay holiday:
1) Day tours are a no-no: don't even consider taking a day tour of Halong Bay. This enchanting place is best enjoyed at sunset and at sunrise when a thick misty fog envelopes the karsts. Better even with your favorite cocktail on hand (at sunset), or with a cup of freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee (at sunrise).

2) Spend a little bit more: at the time of my visit, I paid about 100+ dollars for an overnight trip. This is inclusive of cabin accommodation in a well-maintained, clean boat, meals (but not drinks) and tickets to the various sites in the bay. Cheap tours are always an option, but you don't want rats running around the boat or suffering from a bad case of food poisoning, do you? I have included a separate tip on the tour operator under accommodation tips.

3) Watch those valuables: we've been told by the operator to take care of our valuables while on board. The boats could easily be accessed from smaller boats that ply the bay, so better keep your valuables locked inside your cabin.

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Favorite thing: Es compañera de la bahía de Santander , pero aqui vereis algunas fotos para ver las diferencias

It is a colleague of Santander Bay in the most beautiful bays of the world , but here we will show you some photos in order that you see the differences

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Favorite thing: Los pescadores viven en casas flotantes en el mar y tienen unos viveros donde mantienen el pescado vivo

Fishermen live in houseboats on the sea and they have fish farms where they keep the fish alive

Favorite thing: I think it will not be too cold to swim in November if you belong to Frigit Zone
Honestly, I don't like Annam Junk because of 2 reason. First, It has a bad apperance regarless of what inside it. From the outside it looks dusty and uncomfortable. Second, Its name recalls the country's humiliating past. Annam {An: no rising; Nam: The South(vietnam)} was once the name that Chinese Dynasties used to refer to Vietnam with one wish that Vietnamese people would never have power to fight again them to regain the independence and would be china's colony forever. All Vietnamese people hate and want to clear that name(Annam) in their mind but the owners of Annam Junk!

Favorite thing: I have been to Ha Long for 2 days so I agree with you about day 1 and 4 in Hanoi, and days 2&3 in Ha Long. Because on 2 days, you can enjoy all of sightseeings in Ha Long. I recommend you traveling Ha Long by a Junk, you can see the beautiful sightseeings at the top of Junk. At that time I booked Ha Long Bay Package tour in traveltovietnam.cc service. I think that the price 110$ is reasonable for 2 days include room and food. It is the good choice to go to Ha Long in December because the weather is cool and windy.
I hope you have good time in Ha Long.
Bye

Favorite thing: While in the Sung Sot Caves, your tour guide will show you many interesting shaped rocks inside the caves e.g. dragon, snake, tortoise, buddha, elephant etc. There is one interesting protruding rock glowing in red colour in this photo which resembles a part of the human body, can you guess what is it (hee hee)?

Favorite thing: My guide at Halong Bay managed to catch a few small fishes while waiting for us at Soi Sim Beach. He showed us the fishes (see photo) and told us that this type of fish is a delicacy at Halong Bay even though it is quite small and colourful. Very interesting indeed.

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Favorite thing: If you have time at Halong City harbour, you can go to the roadside just outside the harbour and there will be some people selling tropical fruits there as well as canned beverages, biscuits, mineral water etc.

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Favorite thing: While you are cruising at Halong Bay, you will come across many local men and women in small boats loaded with souvenirs and other stuff which they will try to sell to tourists by approaching their junk boats. I was observing them on the top deck of my boat, and it is really tough job because they have to paddle their small boats which move very slowly in the water. Also, there are not many tourists which will buy from them, I guess the family members must have divided themselves whereby some of them are fishermen, pearl farmers etc while others are involved in selling such stuff to tourists on small boats.