Yingda Travel Agency:: The Watery French Charm of Indochina:: Hanoi:: Halong Bay

Known as the "Ha Long Bay of the Sea," Halong Bay captivates the world with its grandeur of towering mountains and expansive waters, especially when viewed from the shore. As you drive closer, the range of Halong Bay comes into sight, with its limestone formations resembling fairy mountains rising from the sea, gently stretching across the water. The peaks connect one after another, layer upon layer, distinct from the vast flatness of the open sea and also unlike the scattered small islands dotting the surface. It’s truly breathtaking. Covering an area of over 1,500 square kilometers, Halong Bay was formed by the severe erosion of 1,696 limestone karsts with a history of 250 million years. Its spectacular scenery and unique geographical environment led to its recognition as a natural wonder by UNESCO in 1994, and it was listed as a World Heritage Site.

To explore Halong Bay, options include staying overnight on a traditional-style cruise ship or taking a small boat out to sea. The former usually offers comprehensive tours spanning two to three nights, while the latter provides essential highlight tours of varying durations—either 4 or 7 hours. Highlights of the itinerary include limestone caves such as Heaven Palace Cave and Hidden Wood Cave. Among them, Heaven Palace Cave (Dong Thien Cung) even features lighting designed by experts from Guilin, China. The cave earned its name because the limestone stalactites and stalagmites inside resemble heavenly pillars supporting a palace.

Aside from visiting the world’s most stunning scenery at Halong Bay, when in Vietnam, be sure to explore Hanoi. As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi resembles a gentle and reserved woman from northern Vietnam. She may not be as famous or as lively and upbeat as Ho Chi Minh City, but it is precisely this understated blend of Chinese, French, and Vietnamese influences that makes her so enchanting. For example, in this city—undeniably Vietnamese territory, inhabited by Vietnamese people—you’ll often come across Chinese characters. The Temple of Literature in the city is dedicated to Confucius, and its architecture is modeled after the original Temple of Literature in Qufu, Shandong. In front of the temple, there are also thought-provoking “dismounting steles.”

The gentleness of Hanoi might also be related to the abundance of “water” in the city. The Red River winds through Hanoi, and the urban area contains as many as 72 lakes of various sizes. The largest is Hoan Kiem Lake, rich in legendary stories, and West Lake, which is perfect for watching the sunset. Alternatively, you can take a leisurely stroll through the winding streets and alleys of the city. Whether it's the exotic architecture from the French colonial period or temples and ancestral halls marked with Chinese characters, the spectacular seascape of Halong Bay—the “Ha Long Bay of the Sea”—maintains its undisturbed tranquility, untouched by the modern world.


Yingda Travel Agency:: French Charm ~ Mysterious Halong Five-Day Tour [Vietnam Airlines]
 

Day 1
[Itinerary] Taipei → Hanoi → Halong Bay
[Accommodation] Novotel Ha Long Bay Hotel or Saigon Halong Hotel (Sea View Room)
[Lunch] Brothers Garden Buffet
[Dinner] Saigon Halong Hotel (Chinese Set Menu + Seafood Hot Pot)

Day 2
[Itinerary] Halong Bay → VIP Cruise (7 hours)
[Accommodation] Novotel Ha Long Bay Hotel or Saigon Halong Hotel (Sea View Room)
[Lunch] Onboard the VIP Cruise (One Flower Crab per Person)
[Dinner] Novotel Ha Long Bay Hotel Buffet

Day 3
[Itinerary] Halong Bay → Hanoi → Pottery Village → West Lake → Tran Quoc Pagoda → Temple of Literature → Hoan Kiem Lake → Ancient Street 36 → Paris Deli French Afternoon Tea (Includes Cake + Coffee or Tea) → Legendary Vietnamese Water Puppet Show
[Accommodation] Guaranteed Stay - Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake
[Lunch] Viet Kitchen Restaurant (Vietnamese Cuisine)
[Dinner] Green Tangerine Restaurant (French Romantic Dinner)

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Bat Trang
Bat Trang, located just a 40-minute drive from Hanoi, has been famous for producing pottery and porcelain since the 12th century. Around 1,500 households in the village are engaged in porcelain production, and their craftsmanship has been praised as top-quality since ancient times. Many of the traditional Vietnamese ceramic items known as "An Nam ceramics" seen in Hanoi actually come from this town. Here, you’ll find both large, multi-story specialty shops and small family-run stores. While styles are similar, they offer items including bowls and plates...Click to view all attraction information

★★★ Recommended Attraction = West Lake
This is the largest lake in Hanoi, adjacent to Truc Bach Lake, with the two connected. There are several popular legends about West Lake. One story goes that in the 11th century, a Vietnamese monk named Khong Lo cured a Chinese emperor and was rewarded with a large amount of bronze. The monk then cast the bronze into a giant bell. However, the sound of this enormous bell reached all the way to China, where a yellow ox mistook it for the call of a cow and ran all the way from China to the site of present-day West Lake, turning it into a large lake. In reality, West Lake was formed by years of flooding from the Red River. The prime time to visit the “Valley of Snow” is approximately from mid-April to the end of May. Note that temperatures range between zero and ten degrees Celsius, so bring enough warm clothing, such as snowsuits and non-slip shoes...Click to view all attraction information

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Tran Quoc Pagoda
Trấn Quốc Temple is one of the oldest temples in Vietnam, built between 541 and 548. The temple's introduction is as follows: 'Originating in the 6th century during the reign of King Lý Nam Đế of the Early Lý Dynasty, it was initially named Khai Quốc Temple and built on the land of An Hoa Village at the ferry crossing of the Red River (now within An Phú Ward). In 1440, it was renamed An Quốc Temple. During the reign of Emperor Lê Kính Tông of the Later Lê Dynasty in 1616, the temple was relocated to Kim Ngưu (Golden Fish) Islet. It was then renamed Trấn Quốc Temple (some believe the name 'Trấn Quốc' originated during the Lý and Trần Dynasties, after Chinese forces and local troops defeated northern invaders). In 1639, Lord Trịnh ordered the renovation of the temple’s gate tower and the construction of corridors on both sides. Since then, the temple has undergone multiple renovations and expansions, with the addition of summer retreat quarters and ancestral worship pavilions over the years, forming its current grand scale and beautiful scenery. Many eminent monks and notable figures from previous generations, such as Venerable Văn Phong, Master Quảng Nghiêm, Zen Master Ngô Chân Lưu, Zen Master Thảo Đường, Zen Master Thông Biện, Zen Master Viên Học, Zen Master Tĩnh Không...Click to view all attraction information

★★★Recommended Attraction = Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword) is an important landmark in the heart of Hanoi. Its legend is associated with Lê Lợi, the emperor of the Later Lê Dynasty, who was born in 1385 when Vietnam was an independent nation. In the early 15th century, the Ming Dynasty of China took advantage of internal strife in Vietnam to invade and occupy the country. Deeply dissatisfied with Ming rule, Lê Lợi launched a rebellion from his hometown in Lam Sơn. After ten years of resistance, he finally defeated the Ming army, restored Vietnam’s independence, and established the Later Lê Dynasty (1428–1789)...Click to view all attraction information