Vietnam forum

Thanks for the information Bruce. I'm actually travelling by bus directly from Nanning China to Halnog Bay, then after the cruise I plan to go to Hanoi for a few days , then I'll be flying out from there.

; )

Tom

When you've completed the trip, let us all know how the booking process went.

Cheers

Hi Ash, we're heading out to Halong bay next week and hope to write something out here as soon as we're back. Won't it be late for you?

We're booked for the day after we arrive in Hanoi. So excited!

Rebecca

Just a quick post.

Did the 3 day Halong Bay trip in March and it was amazing. We booked ours the day before from Kangaroo Cafe in Hanoi. We managed to haggle it down quite a bit because it was late notice. Cost us about $70 for all transport, accommodation and food. This was one night on the boat and one night on either Cat Ba Island or Monkey Island. GO TO MONKEY ISLAND! It was beautiful (own private beach), the staff were amazing and we were the only people there. Whereas Cat Ba Island was a nasty Benidorm style 3* hotel.

Dont know if this helps at all

Smash

The Pinta Gold is a new boat, and was introduced after I enjoyed the Pinta.

My hunch is that being newer, the Pinta Gold will probably have a few more 'luxuries' - but what, I can't say.

My feeling is that the company are currently doing a good job, they take pax to quiet and enjoyable places, their food is really good, and there is a limit to the number of pax they take. They are probably not alone in achieving this result for pax.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part for me was that once I was in 'heaven' on the boat, the day 'excursion' became just a wonderful experience of pure hedonism.

As for booking, I wouldn't this far out.

The current great recession has a lot longer way to go. Who knows whether this firm is financially over-extended (hope not) and goes belly-up before you go.

Tourism numbers are down to VN, and likely to stay that way for some time. If you are planning for 2010, booking about 3 or 4 months prior would be my suggestion.

Cheers

Posted from within Vietnam.

Don't even bother to try and arrange a cruise from Halong Bay unless you know this city well and can speak fluent Vietnamese. I have now been in Halong Bay for 5 hours an have had no luck in arranging any cruises. In regards to arranging anything through the harbour office, no body knows of a harbour office (let alone can speak any English in this city), I even went on the back of a motor bike around the water front of both Hon Gai and Bai Chai to look for any thing that remotely resembles a habour office to no avail. I'm about to go back to my hotel and book a 2 night cruise which is more than double the price I would have paid in Hanoi (and have no idea of the quality of the boat), I'm tired hungry and pretty frustrated, coming to Halong Bay before securing a cruse (which I tried to do) was a BIG mistake. Looking forward to Thailand (at least they speak some English!)

Posted from within Vietnam.

Morning update:Out of a little desperation I emailed Saigoncafé Travel late in the evening and gave them my hotel details and to call me if there was still room on their boat (as originally arranged). They soon called back and I'm on their boat at midday (I hope). Given what I said in the previous post the language barrier is substantial here,and I'm sure that there is a harbour office somewhere in town, though as mentioned, with my lack of knowledge of this place and the language (and country), I was unable to locate it.

By the way all the negative press I heard about Vietnam on so many reviews, it so far seems a charming place and most of the people seem fairly helpful. (I just wish we could communicate a little better ; ) )

hi all,

is it worth it doing the 3day-cruise during the rain season? has anyone first hand experience? (i´m going in september)

also i´m travelling on my own. are there any boats with single sleeper cabins?

cheers,
axel

beucax,

The rainy season should start waining by September, I had some heavy rain but about 70% of the time it was fine with plenty of sunshine this was mid July. I shared a cabin with anoher guy, it was quite OK.

; )