nzchanty
backpacker
Posts: 12

#1 Posted: 5/3/2008 - 22:03


Sorry to have to post another question on Halong Bay as there seems to be so many.
We were thinking of going with either Trekking Travel or Sinh Cafe for our 3day/night junk cruise.
Has anyone got any good or bad reports?
Sinh Cafe seems to be offering their cruise with South Pacific travel is that normal?
Sinh Cafe is coming in at $92 for a deluxe cruise and Trekking Travel $85. Both seems realitively similar but you just never know!!
Thanks

rakhee2108
tourist
Posts: 55

#2 Posted: 6/3/2008 - 16:33


Hi, in June 2007, we used Trekking Travel for 3day/2night Halong bay tour. We booked at Et pumpkin in Hanoi but during the trip, we found out it's much cheaper to book the same trip at Kangaroo Cafe.

I really enjoyed the tour and Trekking Travel did actually stick to the itinerary, so you got everything you paid for. I have heard some other tour operators have a tendency to cut corners.

milou
newbie
Posts: 2

#3 Posted: 28/3/2008 - 14:52


Hi !
Sinh cafe dont have any boat so they have to buy the tour from South Pacific Travel for get to the Halong Phoenix Cruiser.
You can check direct to website of the boat: www.halongphoenixcruiser.com
Cheers,

CatBa
adventurer
Posts: 349

#4 Posted: 28/3/2008 - 18:20


It is always better to ask BEFORE putting your money down rather than after (like many do)!

Milou has the right idea (even if possibly a travel agent) - by from the source. Unfortunately too many 'travel agents' claim to own a boat, by using the term 'our', when in actuality they simply farm their passengers out until boats are filled.

Trekking Travel, an OpenTour bus operator, has a simply terrible reputation (based upon users comments in 7 or 8 chat rooms over the past 3 years) both for service and equipment.

Sinh (the REAL one) is one of the more honest and reliable operators - there are tens of copycat agencies in Ha Noi.

Tropical Sails < Tropical-Sails.com > has a fine reputation with a fleet of smaller boats (15 cabin) with female staff whereas the Emeraude sails larger boats < www.emeraude-cruises.com > with about 50 cabins.

Ha Long Bay is actually part of the sea and since this is a special destination an extra USD$10 is, IMHO, a worthwhile cost (around $100).

CatBa
adventurer
Posts: 349

#5 Posted: 30/3/2008 - 00:06


Update:

The REAL Sinh Cafe is at:
SINH CAFE - OPENTOUR
25 Hang Be, Ha Noi
Tel::+84-(0)-4-926-1288
E-m: sinhcafetour@hn.vnn.vn

Sinh Cafe (South Pacific) is NOT a Sinh outlet - it is a KNOCK OFF which might suggest what their business ethics are.

As for South Pacific, which one?
South Pacific Travel, 73 Ly Nam De, Ha Noi
or
South Pacific Travel, 52 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Dong Da District, Ha Noi

Trekking Travel, 108 Hang Bac, Ha Noi

Kangaroo Cafe is near Hoan Kiem Lake. The owner is an opinionated Australian.

And skip Tonkin Travel, too!

Now you might understand why Ha Noi travel agents have such a bad reputation.

Read < http://www.kangaroocafe.com/info/fake_kangaroos.htm > and < http://www.kangaroocafe.com/index.htm >.

milou
newbie
Posts: 2

#6 Posted: 31/3/2008 - 10:09


SOUTH PACIFIC TRAVEL
Head office:
73 Ly Nam De - Hoan Kiem District - Hanoi City - Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 7478006 - 2136688
Fax: (84-4) 7474575

Branch offices Hanoi:

Office 1: 16 Hang Hom
Tel: (84-4) 9289840

Office 2: 61 Hang Bo street
Tel: (84-4) 9233359.
http://www.southpacifictravel.com.vn

Halong bay boat.

Halong Phoenix Cruiser
E-mail: sales@halongphoenixcruiser.com
Website:http://www.halongphoenixcruiser.com

Emeraude
E-mail: sales@emeraude-cruises.com
http://www.emeraude-cruises.com/

Bhaya
http://www.bhayacruises.com
Email: sales@bhayacruises.com

CatBa
adventurer
Posts: 349

#7 Posted: 31/3/2008 - 16:56


Caution:
Milou is a Tout and works for South Pacific-Tours (e-mail: milou@southpacific-tours.com).

Check: < http://mondomoneo.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/the-boatmaster-prick/ >.

CatBa
adventurer
Posts: 349

#8 Posted: 6/4/2008 - 03:28


Another opinion:
< http://mondomoneo.wordpress.com/category/vietnam/ >

vietnamadventurer
newbie
Posts: 4

#9 Posted: 18/5/2008 - 22:07


To be honest, the Bhaya is not upto Indochina Sails boat (Valentine and Indochina Sails 1&2) and Halong Cruises boat (Ginger and Jasmine) standard. Indochina Sails and Halong Cruises boat focus on detials much more than the Bhaya. Also the pior and waiting facility is so much better than the Bhaya. They have their own pior. More over, the Bhaya finishes at 10 while the other are at 11h00. By the way, The Indochina Sails and Halong Cruises are two different companies but join venture with a boat operator in Halong Bay

More information at:

Indochina Sails
27A6 - Dam Trau Quarter - Hai Ba Trung Dist - Hanoi - Vietnam
Tel: 84 - 4 984 3262 - 243 4671 - 243 4672
Fax: 84 - 4 984 4150
Email: info@indochinasails.com - indochinasails@gmail.com
Website: www.indochinasails.com

cilipadi
newbie
Posts: 2

#10 Posted: 21/5/2008 - 18:23


After a few search in Google, I'm confuse again.
www.sinhcafe.com or www.sinhcafevn.com?

The Sinh Cafe I used in Apr 2008, is operated by
"Tran Dang Trading & Tourist Service Co. Ltd", Since 1993, where their website is www.sincafevn.com.
52 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hanoi.
Tel : (04) 9261568.
Email: info@sinhcafevn.com

Most tourist suggested the www.sincafevn.com, and most guidebook also mention this one.

Could CatBa respone on this, since he suggest the opposite?

cilipadi
newbie
Posts: 2

#11 Posted: 21/5/2008 - 18:26


www.sinhcafevn.com **
^ *with 'h', sorry for typo...

worldaha
newbie
Posts: 1

#12 Posted: 23/7/2008 - 21:55


My name is Tuan, I am sales manager of Trekking Travel in Vietnam, Please do not use this to blame any company if you are not a real traveller who has used services of Trekking Travel or use this to advertise your adress and contact details.
I am sorry if you are travellers! Best wishes!

kongxh
backpacker
Posts: 13

#13 Posted: 23/7/2008 - 23:16


I agree with rakhee2108. I bought with ET-Pumpkin and eventually the tour was with Trekking Travel.

But it wasn't too bad a tour for $45 (2D1N Halong Bay), but there were others on the same trip who got it cheaper around $39, so it pays to get from the source