Friday, February 28, 2014

CAT BA NATIONAL PARK

9:43 AM Posted by Unknown , , , No comments
Cat Ba National Park is a biological area on Cat Ba island of Hai Phong city. Cat Ba National Park is located 15 km north-west of Cat Ba town. Established since 1986, the park spans a total area of approximately more than 15200 ha, of which 9800 ha are forests and the remaining 4200 ha is seawater. Cat Ba National Park is well known to worldwide visitors as an ecosystem landscape which is home to abundant types of tropical fauna and flora. For the natural habitat and the ecological diversity, Cat Ba National Park has been recognized by the UNESSCO as the world biological reservoir and also become much more popular to travelers. The park is currently the favorite destination of so many cruises boating from Halong to Cat Ba island.
Catba National Park
The outstanding view of Catba National Park.

Exploring Cat Ba National Park
A group of travelers exploring Cat Ba National Park.
The bottom line that typically features Cat Ba National Park is its fabulous biodiversity values. All of the main island is majorly dominated by areas of karst limestone. Here you can also notice a number of waterfalls, caves and grottoes. Most of the rain water flows into caves and grottoes and follows underground streams to the sea. There are several small lakes and ponds in the hills with the largest one as Ech Lake- a permanent water body with an area of 3ha and a depth of about 50m. Suitably favored by the limestone forest, Cat Ba National Park is an ideal shelter for abundant snail fauna, which manage their life on a diversity of natural habitats, ranging from  forested hills, small freshwater lakes, freshwater swamp forest, mangroves, sandy beaches to coral reefs. However, due to the isolated nature of the island and  the high risk of hunting, the number of mammals in Cat Ba National park is quite low compared with other national park over the country.
Orchid in Cat Ba National Park
An orchid seen in Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba leopard gecko
Cat Ba leopard gecko
Not only for the ecological values, tourists on cruises to Cat Ba National Park can also study numerous about human history clues. Working stone tools and bones found within the area of the park suggest that man may have lived in caves and grottoes on this island  since between 6000 and 7000 years ago.
Nowadays, Cat Ba National Park is a sight to be seen on Cat Ba island, which is included in the Halong travel itinerary of any tour cruises. The most suitable time for an ideal visit to Cat Ba National Park is April and October when you can enjoy a comfortable weather to participate in some trekking journeys and explore the green nature after hours on cruises wandering the charming bay of Halong. Exploring Cat Ba, you will see one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam and the copious ecosystem. Other attractions such as limestone formations, numerous waterfalls, caves and grottoes are waiting for your arrival. Take the cruise, admire the illusory beauty of Halong caves and beaches then finish your wonderful trip with some hours in the World biological reservoir of Cat Ba National Park.
Diversified flora system at Cat Ba
Diversified flora system at Cat Ba National Park

Thursday, February 27, 2014

TUAN CHAU ISLAND

10:09 AM Posted by Unknown , 1 comment
Being one of the World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is well known for numerous big and small islands with abundant fabulous caves that capture the interest of a diverse number of tourists on cruises to Halong each year. Among thousands of these islands, Tuan Chau emerges as the only soil island of all. Tuan Chau is not only noted for its wonderful natural surroundings but also regarded as a destination of historical values.
Halong Paradise Suites
Halong Bay charming nature.
Tuan Chau is located about 4 kilometers far from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf to the southwest. The island is connected to the mainland by a 2-kilometer road built in 1998.  From the main road just before you reach Halong city, you will see a modern archway which serves as the main entrance to Tuan Chau Island. The drive in will take about 5 minutes over a man-made reclaimed road. Tuan Chau island originally covered a total area of 2.5 square kilometers but currently has spread the larger size of approximately 4 square kilometers. The weather on the island is comfortably cool around the year, creating an ideal destination for relaxing and refreshing your mind after long hours of bustle life. With 2 km2 of green pine forests and the long white sandy beach stretching 6 km, Tuan Chau island stands out from many other stunning ones in Halong and attracts a diverse array of worldwide tourists every year.
Halong Paradise Suites
The unique bridge linking Tuan Chau island to the mainland.
The name Tuan Chau originated from the combination of two single words: ‘linh tuan’ (the patrolman) and ‘tri chau’ (district chief) because in the feudal time,  a national guard station was set up here by the royal army to patrol and defend the borderland. Prior to 1999, Tuan Chau was still little known by any travelers and the local people here suffered a low standard living condition with no network, no clean water. However, gradually the potential of this only soil island on Halong bay has been woke up and inspired the booming tourism later then.
Nowadays, Tuan Chau is well known among various visitors as one of the most modern entertaining centre in Halong charming bay. Once you reach the main centre, you will be overwhelmed by the complex relaxing system, which can seat up to 2,000 people in dolphin and seal shows, a high tech water fountain with music, laser lighting and film showing on the water screen and an interesting crocodile show. Besides the aesthetic value, Tuan Chau Island also has historical value with many archaeological relics. Archaeologists found many stone tools and pottery which are the evidences of Halong Culture dating around 3.000 - 2.000 BC.
Recently together with the blooming of Halong tourism, the first hotel with the modern boutique concept – Halong Paradise Suites -  has opened in Tuan Chau last year, offering visitors a fresh unique experience in Halong. Not striking travelers by its great scale or overwhelming luxurious atmosphere, Paradise Suites Hotel highlights the coziness of accommodation, the dedication of hotel staff and the true satisfaction of customers.
The first boutique hotel in Halong Bay
The first boutique hotel in Halong Bay
Boutique hotel in Halong Bay
A cozy shelter for your stay.
Furthermore, a number of cruises operating on Halong Bay today also include Tuan Chau island as an ideal stop over for tourists to enjoy different kinds of entertaining services and feel the peacefulness among natural sea and sunshine.
Halong Bay luxury cruise
Halong outstanding onboard experiences.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

VUNG VIENG FISHING VILLAGE

12:59 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

Vung Vieng fishing village is located in the middle of Bai Tu Long Bay, just about more than 20 km from the tourist cruise port of Ha Long city. The floating village is nestled among outcrops of limestone peaks, which protect the entire community from ocean waves and strong wind of the sea.  Of 4 floating villages in Halong, Vung Vieng is the least popular ones and often off the beaten tracks of many cruises exploring Halong Heritage site. However, recently the village has gradually got its own name and more travelers pay a visit to Vung Vieng each year, creating a potential new tourist destination in Halong charming bay.
Bai Tu Long Bay corner
Vung Vieng fishing village is surrounded by a "forest of lime stone"
Vung Vieng fishing village has about 50 families, with the total population ranging from 200 to 300 residents, in which 100 are schooling children. These families have lived in the village through generations. All of daily activities of local community happen within the village. Local people in Vung Vieng village manage their living majorly by fishing and pearl farming. Disembarking the mother cruise, you will be transferred by rowing boats, tender boats, or doing kayaking to enter Vong Vieng fishing village. Passing the village gate, you find yourself among the atmosphere of a true local fishing village in Halong with all small wooden houses bobbing on the little waves. These floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc. There is one community house here where villagers come to have meetings. Visitors can also stop at a local small store where they can get some handmade souvenirs from seashells or imitative pearls.
Vung Vieng fishing village
The new flow of foreign tourists is promsing a better life for local people.
Vung Vieng fishing village is a utter typical image of daily working life of fishermen in Halong. Coming to the village, you can learn more about the real life of local people here and so touching as it may be to realize that among the stunning heavenly beauty of the nature still exist abundant difficulties of local people. Despite all of these challenges, you still find hopeful prospective for the tiny fishing village from the bustling scene of little children rowing small boats to their floating classes.
Children in Vung Vieng Village
In Vung Vieng, children learn to row before they learn to read and write
Nowadays, despite the isolated distance in comparison with other fishing village in Halong Bay, more and more cruises have included Vung vieng into their itineraries on Halong Bay, which provides greater chances for foreign tourists to feel the utter lovely peace of the nature and locals in Vung Vieng fishing village.
Sunrises on Vung Vieng Fishing Village
Sunrises on Vung Vieng Fishing Village

Sunday, February 23, 2014

THE VERY FIRST BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN HALONG

8:54 PM Posted by Unknown , , No comments
Seven years ago, together with the construction of the bridge linking Tuan Chau island to the main land, a very first luxury fleet of Paradise Cruises has been launched and gone into operation, offering passengers unique cruising experiences from the first private pier in Halong Bay. With the exceptional concept of blending Vietnamese traditions and multi-faceted culture with the highest standards of hospitality worthy from world-class grand hotels and thanks to unequalled customer services, Paradise Cruises has proved its outstanding position amongst various cruises operating in Halong Bay.
Luxury cruises in Halong Bay
A five-star cruise experience in Halong Bay
Time passing and from the first unique luxury vessel, Paradise currently has offered overwhelming services on 9 elegant cruises and a luxury boutique hotel in Tuan Chau but the concept from the very first early day  for perfecting the travel experiences has never changed and ose who value the best.
Luxurry hotel in Halong Bay
The first luxury boutique hotel on the shore of Halong Bay
To be the unique boutique hotel on the stunning shore of the World Wonder Heritage Site, Halong Paradise Suites Hotel defines the “boutique concept” in a unique outstanding way through its exceptional service culture, that establishes the guideline for all actions of every members in our organization.
WHO WE ARE
On pursuing the ambitious objectives of offering only experiences with unequalled quality, our hotel creates properties embed with superior concept and design and specially feature them with highly personalizes caring services from our people. Focusing on every single need of every single customer, we aim at providing you overwhelming in-land experiences during your Halong excursion.
Luxury restaurant in Halong hotel    Halong Bay luxury boutique suite
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Having operated in the hospitality service for continuously 7 years, we know by ourselves that customer satisfaction is the final goal and the magical motivation for every of our single activity. And also we believe that this aim can only be achieved by our team’s effective working together as well as respecting each other’s contribution and dignify.
Halong Bay friendly staff
All for your satisfaction
HOW WE SUCCEED
We succeed when our customers are able to enjoy the best from our hotel services. Every single need and special requirements – all are taken care of with great dedication with a view to overcoming any of your expectations. We work, hoping to achieve a fair reasonable profit and invest a large proportion of revenue back to the property and service to ensure our ultimate goal of guest’s satisfaction to be met.
Luxury bar in a Halong Bay hotel
Whiskey Gallery Bar at Paradise Suites Hotel
HOW WE BEHAVE
We are always seeking to share our beliefs of fair treatments in the way we deal with each other. In all our interactions with our customers, partners, and team mate, we treat with others in the manner we expect to be treated.