Patricia Music, from the U.S

28 July 2010
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d641475-r50110413-Classic_2_Hotel-Hanoi.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Come onboard The Paloma. Be charmed by her exquisite luxury, intimate setting and unrivalled home from home service. An unforgettable way to witness the serene, calm setting of Halong Bay’s exceptional natural beauty.

The Paloma is your home while you are in Halong Bay. Good service is key. Our crew consists of 20 dynamic, passionate and enthusiastic individuals who are committed to making your stay with us special and unforgettable.

Price

Our prices are quoted in USD based per person per cabin for accommodation and full board for 2 days 1 night

Items under cost exclusions will be quoted separately.

* Children Policy:

• Only one child under 4 can share the cabin with parents, free of charge.
• Children aged from 5 -11 will be charged 75% of adult price.
• Children from 12 years old will be charged as the same as adults.
• Baby cots available free of charge for every cabin – on request

* Terms and conditions about our family Suite (1 double bed, 1 single bed)

• 2 adults and child 4 years old or under. Child no charge
• 2 adults and child 5-11 years. Charge of 75% for child
• 2 adults and child over 12 years old. Child full cost

Transport – round trip Hanoi-Halong-Hanoi

Including:

• Full equipped luxury en-suite cabin with A/C, hot water
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary mineral water
• Complimentary morning tea and coffee
• Welcome drink
• Tai Chi
• Cookery demonstrations (on request)
• Entrance and sightseeing fees
• Kayaking
• Fishing equipment
• English speaking guide

Excluding:

• Mini bus per person round trip (see costs above)
• Private car (upon request)
• Beauty Spa and massage
• Additional drinks
• Tips and other personal expenses
• All other services not clearly mentioned ab

Our 3 days 2 nights itinerary is the perfect opportunity to really get to know this world heritage site.

Come onboard The Paloma. Be charmed by her exquisite luxury, intimate setting and unrivalled home from home service. An unforgettable way to witness the serene, calm setting of Halong Bay’s exceptional natural beauty.

The Paloma is your home while you are in Halong Bay. Good service is key. Our crew consists of 20 dynamic, passionate and enthusiastic individuals who are committed to making your stay with us special and unforgettable.

Price

Our prices are quoted in $USD based per person per cabin for accommodation and full board for 2 days 1 night

Items under cost exclusions will be quoted separately.

* Children Policy:

• Only one child under 4 can share the cabin with parents, free of charge.
• Children aged from 5 -11 will  be charged 75% of adult price.
• Children from 12 years old will be charged as the same as adults.
• Baby cots available free of charge for every cabin – on request

* Terms and conditions about our family Suite (1 double bed, 1 single bed)

• 2 adults and child 4 years old or under. Child no charge
• 2 adults and child 5-11 years. Charge of 75% for child
• 2 adults and child over 12 years old. Child full cost

Transport – round trip Hanoi-Halong-Hanoi

Including:

• Full equipped luxury en-suite cabin with A/C, hot water
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary mineral water
• Complimentary morning tea and coffee
• Welcome drink
• Tai Chi
• Cookery demonstrations (on request)
• Entrance and sightseeing fees
• Kayaking
• Fishing equipment
• English speaking guide

Excluding:

• Mini bus per person round trip (see costs above)
• Private car (upon request)
• Beauty Spa and massage
• Additional drinks
• Tips and other personal expenses
• All other services not clearly mentioned ab

It is reputedly the highest building in the Old Quarter. Located a few hundred metres from the lake and attractions such as the Water Puppets. Local shopping and markets all around. No shortage of restaurants.

Rooms are fairly basic but always clean. Mini bar, cable TV. Free internet in the lobby.

Good breakfast, have just changed to a buffet setup which is an improvement. Staff can book tours etc.

Take time to talk to the Canadian lady who has taken up residence, she was so impressed with the staff that she came back to stay.

All in all; Good location, nice staff, reasonable tariff.

joffa777, Wellington, Australia

You might also want to use the city as a base for excursions throughout the north to Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island, to the Ninh Binh area south of Hanoi and Tam Coc, the “Halong Bay in the rice fields,” or for a primate encounter at Cuc Phuong National Park. In addition, Hanoi is a jumping-off point for rugged travel in the highlands of the northwest, among hilltribes and along high passes lined with lush terraced rice farms in a loop that includes historic Dien Bien Phu and the old French holiday escape of Sapa, the most popular town in the north that is easily reached by overnight train from Hanoi.

Incuding

• Transportation
• Hanoi expert guide
• All entrance fees during guided time
• Lunch and cold water (in the Van)

* Deluxe tour: With water puppet show and better lunch.

Morining: Pick up from the hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, followed by a short walk to get to One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature – the first university in Vietnam. Head back to the old quarter of Hanoi to visit the busy 36 streets by riding riskshaw for 1 hour. Lunch.

Afternoon: Short drive to the outskirts of Hanoi to visit the Museum of Ethnology. After a briefing you have free time to explore around this biggest museum in Vietnam.

Head back to the centre of Hanoi via visiting  temple of Quan Thanh and the oldest pagoda in Vietnam, Tran Quoc. Take a relaxing walk along Thanh Nien street next to the famous West Lake. Transfer to your hotel.

The Perfume Pagoda, also known as Reach Chua Huong is surrounded by the beautiful Perfume Mountain. This is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Vietnam and the sight of a yearly pilgrimage between February and March following the Vietnamese New Year. The pilgrims pray for good health and prosperity in the coming year. Legend has it that the temple was built by a monk who was in search of enlightenment. Since then, the Perfume Pagoda has been the subject of poems, songs, stories and a backdrop to many paintings.

Your private guided Perfume Pagoda day trip will take you by road to the township of My Duc, approximately 2 hours from Hanoi. You”ll then take a small boat for approximately 1.5 hours along the scenic Yen River, through the limestone cliffs to the base of the mountain. There is a 4 kilometer up-hill hike to reach the main Pagoda. Good walking shoes are necessary as areas of the mountain path are steep and can often be slippery. If the walk gets too difficult, you can opt to take the cable car. (At own expense).

Vietnamese lunch will be served at one of the little food stalls near Thien Tru Pagoda. After lunch the boat will take you back to land for the drive back to Hanoi.

Tour Highlights

• Your own private English-speaking guided tour
• 1.5-hour cruise on the scenic Yen River
• Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims on your journey to Perfume Pagoda
• Enjoy a local Vietnamese lunch at a Thien Tru Pagoda food stall
• Hotel pickup and drop off by air-conditioned private car

Including

• Private guided tour
• Hotel pickup and drop off
• Air-conditioned transportation by private vehicle
• English speaking guide
• Cruise on the scenic Yen River
• Entrance fees
• Vietnamese lunch
• Drinking water will be provided during the trip

Excluding

• Gratuities (optional)

Additional Info:

Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Departure Point: Tour departs from selected Hanoi hotels

Departure Time: 8:00am

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, exact pickup time will be advised on reconfirmation.

Duration: 10 hours (approx.)

Returns to original departure point

The boat will be rowed, through three caves on the river, all created by wind and water from a legend time, while the sea had occupied this area. The tide-mark is still on the rock about 2m above the water, and in higher mountainwall the erosion have carved some strange shapes that now filled of green grass, delicious foods of the goats that local people breed everywhere. If you are lucky, sometimes you can see mischievous monkeys. The river trip is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops. The tourists often compare the place with Guilin – China, or more closely, to the limestone islets of Halong Bay in the Tonkin Gulf for their similar geological structures and shapes. Thus Tam Coc is also called Halong-Bay-On-Land.

Hoa Lu is very near to Tam Coc, is the relics of the ancient capital Hoa Lu – the remains are the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city. From time to time, archaeologists have excavated buried parts of this citadel with rusty weapons and ceramics. The temples are said to be built on the old foundation of their original palaces in 11-12th centuries and restored in 17th century. Though the temples are not maintained entirely some precious antiques are still preserved well like the whole-stone dragon thrones, wooden bas-relieves and lacquered statues of King Dinh, Kinh Le, Queen Duong Van Nga who in turn got married both of the kings, and the princes of the two dynastie.

Including

• English speaking guide
• Modern transportation: (Car or mini Van)
• Boat trip in Tam Coc
• Entrance fees
• Lunch as program

Excluding

• Beverage
• Any expenses of personal nature
• Tip
• Any services not specified hereinabove.

AM: Picking you up at hotel at 7h30 – 8h00 and take 2 hours and a half road trip to Hoa Lu temple, the ancient citadel of Vietnam in the 10th century. Enjoy the trek to the King Ding’s tomb on a terraced hillside and gaze down at the ancient capital in the beautiful Truong Yen valley below.  Have lunch at restaurant in Tam Coc. Board sampans at Tam Coc to ferry down the Boi river. The small boat goes through 3 cavernous limestone tunnels, offering a cool break and astounding view of the cave structure.

At 15h30 return Tam Coc and take minibus back Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at 18h00. Tour finishes.

Including

• Return train tickets (Hanoi – Laocai)
• Bus transfer
• English speaking guide; all meals
• Entrance fees; Twin sharing room

Admission fees and permits

Excluding

• Beverage
• Any expenses of personal nature
• Tip
• Any services not specified hereinabove

Incuding

• Return train tickets (Hanoi – Laocai);
• Bus transfer;
• English speaking guide; all meals;
• Entrance fees; Twin sharing room

Admission fees and permits

Excluding

• Beverage;
• Any expenses of personal nature;
• Tip;
• Any services not specified hereinabove.

Halong Bay covers an area of 1,500 square km. With more than a thousand limestone peaks rising up from its crystalline emerald waters this area is rightly viewed as one of the natural wonders of Vietnam and is one of five World Heritage-listed sites.

Here you can relax on the tanning deck, swim in the clear waters and enjoy the best cuisine available in the bay. All the while you will be looked after by our dedicated and attentive crew. There is also the option of exploring some of the bay’s most secluded lagoons using our fleet of modern easy-to-maneuver kayaks for some unforgettable scenery only accessible by kayak.

Whilst on board you will indulge in two seafood lunches, one dinner and one breakfast. Tan overnight tour of Halong Bay also provides the perfect opportunity to sit back and watch the sunset or to try a spot of night fishing.

Including

• Return transfer Hanoi – Halong by air-conditioned vehicle
• Boat cruise and kayaking as indicated within the itinerary
• English speaking customer service manager on board junk
• Accommodation in air-conditioned cabin with ensuite
• Meals on board (one lunch)

Admission fees and permits

Excluding

• Beverage;
• Any expenses of personal nature;
• Tip;
• Any services not specified hereinabove.