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Home●Tours and routings●East
of Ha Noi - the detail |
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East
of Ha Noi |
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This is one of
two destinations that WomPom suggests a Tour Operator be used. The reasons are
that whilst transportation links abound, their routing range direct to
circuitous, or of such varied reliability that leaving it to a local
professional Tour Operator whose prices are equal to or less than you could
achieve is worth it.
There are various types of transportation that can be used to reach either Hai
Phong or Ha Long City (as the twinned-cities of Bai Chai and Hong Guy are now
called).
These include road, rail - two routes dependent upon destination - and water.
WomPom recommends that the most expedient way to arrange visiting this area is
through a Ha Noi Tour Operator who can
make all the arrangements at a price that you would find hard to beat making the
trip independently. |
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Hai Phong |
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Hai Phong is VietNams third largest city and VietNams third largest port and is
set to grow even bigger and more significant as Belgium has pledged to invest
$60-million to make the port into a deep-sea port. This would mean that imports
and exports would no longer have to go via Singapore where the ships are
changed, and the price is doubled.
Hai Phong is not visited by many tourists but is home to an ever-increasing
number of expats working on overseas funded projects.
They see Hai Phong as a growing city which should soon reap the economic benefit
of being one of VietNam’s four designated ‘first-class urban centres’.
Exploration of Hai Phong reveals the legacy of trading evidenced by the range of
food from different countries on offer in the city.
There are also a number of interesting pagodas and temples to be explored and
the city is en route from HaNoi by train to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba National Park
additionally it is where hydrofoil boats - similar to Greek 'flying fish' boats
depart directly for Cat Ba Island. |
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Ha Long City (Bai Chay - west, Hon Gai
- east) |
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Long separated by the channel leading to the Hon Gai docks, these two cities are
being joined by a bridge near the point where ferry boats plied.
These two cities not only were divided by the water but also in their
characteristics with Bai Chay more is Traveller oriented with beaches and
hotels, whilst Hon Gai was the business side with a bank, docklands,
long-distance ferry boat service.
The rail line that terminates in Hon Gai travels there via Bai Chay from the
rail intersection at Kep - north of HaNoi.
From a Travellers perspective Bay Chai has sufficient services for their
short-term needs, after all the destinations of interest aare Ha Long Bay and
Cat Ba Island together with its 'shadow' islands of Quan Lan - with its secluded
beaches - and Co To Island for its scenic beauty and low population density.
For the independent, non-tour, Traveller more in formation can be found in the
regions, provinces and cities links above, right. |
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Cat Ba Island |
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Cat Ba Island is a National Park so designated because of its many unique
features both on the island and in surrounding the waters.
Since 1998 it has enjoyed modern amenities when it was joined to the electrical
power grid. With this has come air-con, satellite TV, hot water and karaoke -
with its attendant problems of noise,
The island is very Traveller friendly with a number of economic hotels and
restaurants in the only developed are, Cat Ba Town, and an established hiking
trail across the island or by way of water to the National Park on the west of
the island.
A request. When on Cat Ba Island, please use restaurants and other facilities
other than those recommended by the Tour Operators.
Firstly, since you have paid for your Tour you are not obligated to use their
'preferred' suppliers - who may or may not show their 'appreciation by giving
benefits to the Tour Ops - and secondly, by spreading your money wider, you
ensure that a variety of restaurants and other shops remain on the island
providing competition and keeping prices low - for the others to follow in your
footsteps.
Any of the island’s hotels can organise transport to the National Park and a
guide.
Hiring a guide is recommended if a Traveller wishes to see more than just forest
although a guide doesn't guarantee to see any examples of the vast numbers of
animal species which live among the tropical vegetation.
You can get bitten by snakes, though, so some care should be exercised - and
wear decent walking/hiking footwear.
Make sure you have plenty of film and get it developed upon your return to
HaNoi. |
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