Elephant Race Festival, Dak Lak

If you have a chance to Dak Lak Province in springtime, you should not miss the Elephant Race Festival, normally celebrated in the third lunar month. Attending the festival, you will be lived in the boisterous atmosphere of the echo of gongs and the spectacular performances of the elephants from the Central Highlands forest. Vietnam travel

The Elephant Race Festival is usually held in Don Village or in forests near the Sevepoi River. In preparation for the festive day, people take their elephants to places where they can eat their fill. Apart from grass their food also includes bananas, papayas, sugar canes, corns, sweet potatoes. The elephants are free from hard work to preserve their strength. On the big day, elephants from different villages gather at Don Village. The race track is on even ground, preferably wide enough for ten elephants to stand simultaneously in a line with a length of one to two kilometres. People from near and far in their best and colourful costumes flock to the festival. 3 interesting activities in a Mekong Delta river cruise

Elephant Race Festival, Dak Lak

With the signal of of tu va (horns made into musical instruments), the mahouts command their elephants to go to the race track, standing in a row at the starting point. The leading elephant stands in front, whirling his trunk and nodding his head in greeting the spectators. Atop each elephant there are two handlers in traditional costumes for generals. The tu va signals the start of the race and the elephants rush ahead, excited by the sound of the drums, gongs, and cheering from the spectators. Upon seeing the first elephant dashing to the destination, the spectators shout boisterously amidst the echoing sound of drums and gongs. At the end of the race, the winning elephants lift their trunks above their heads to wave to the viewers, walk deliberately flapping their ears gently, gazing through half-closed eyes to receive sugarcane from their viewers. 3 outstanding features of Paradise Cruise Halong Bay
The winning elephant is given a laurel wreath. Like its owner, the elephant expresses its happiness and enjoy the sugar canes and bananas from the festival-goers. After this race, the elephants participate in the competition of swimming across the Serepok River, of tug-of-wars, or throwing balls and playing football. When the race comes to an end, the competing elephants bring back the atmosphere of the festival to their villages. Upon returning to their village, they receive warm welcome from the villagers. Very often, the elephants from Don Village win the prizes as the village has a tradition of training and tending elephants.

The elephant race is the biggest festival in the Central Highlands. Coming here, you will not only feel the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic people, who are very famous for their bravery and skill in hunting wild elephants, but also the magnificent landscape of the Central Highlands which further stresses the grandiose characters of this traditional festival.

Halong Ginger cruise

The Halong Ginger cruise is the perfect mix of classical and modern. It has three decks, that shine polished wood under its golden sails. With two bars, a restaurant, and a luxurious spa, this cruise are perfect to unwind and relax while taking in the beauty of the Halong Bay.

Watch the islands pass by the blue shimmering waters while you sail towards Cua Van, the oldest and largest fishing village in Halong Bay. There are a lot of good reasons to choose Halong Ginger for your cruise of Halong Bay, one of which being the exquisite beauty of the boat itself. Tours to Vietnam

Itinerary

After getting picked up in Hanoi, if you opted for that, you will be taken to Halong Bay where you will find the Halong Ginger in all its glory.

The ship will set sail as passengers are served a lunch. During the days you can cruise the bay and the beaches, or you always have the option of a massage and sunbathing. Along the bay you can go trekking or swimming at Soi Sim Island and then cruising to visit Hang Doi water tunnel with row boat.

• 5 reasons to have a Halong Bay overnight trip

There are plenty of caves and mountains to explore before you get back to the Halong Ginger for dinner. Then wake up the next day with Tai Chi ready to explore more of the beautiful the bay has to offer. Visit grottos and fishing villages all along the bay area. There are so many things to see that you certainly won't get bored on the three days and two night option.

Who this cruise is best for:

The Halong Ginger is a good choice for anyone who wants to see the beauty of Halong Bay and its islands. If you have a medical condition, I wouldn't suggest the trecking in the caves. If you are looking to relax, sight see, take in the sun, and do all of that in luxury, the Halong Ginger cruise might just be perfect for you and your family.

Get around Phu Quoc Island

Cycling

Most hotels offer bicycle rentals which start from US$1 per day, which can be a great way to adventure around the local area.

We recommend purchasing a face mask before you head off on these longer journeys and take plenty of water. The coastal strip surrounding Phu Quoc makes cycling relatively easy however the island heats up when you get move from the coast . Visit Phu Quoc with South Vietnam tours

Get around Phu Quoc Island

Motorbike Rental

Renting a motorbike is one of the cheapest ways to discover Phu Quoc Island and motorbikes also provide the best access if you are adventuring out to the more remote beaches and dirt roads beyond the main towns. Mekong & Phu Quoc island

Motorbikes can be rented at many of top end and mid range hotels, or you’ll find local owners outside the hotels and airport very keen to either rent their bikes or even adopt you and guide you around the island. Bikes rental rates will vary depending on the condition of the bike and your bargaining skills, here is guide to prices:

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Per hour, from around 30,000d

Per day, from US$6-10 dollars a day

Per week, around US$45-50 or less depending if you negotiate any discounts.


Note: since the end of 2007, it is now illegal to ride on a motorbike without wearing a helmet, however local police are generally lenient towards tourists. If you are concerned about your safety, insist on a helmet when renting a motorbike.


Walking / Hiking

The centre of Duong Dong is only a couple hundred meters from the airport, just turn right outside the airport gates and you’ll hit the central market in around 10 minutes. So if you don’t have much luggage, this is definitely the cheapest option. There are also some local hotels across the road from the airport terminal.

The coast surrounding Phu Quoc is relatively flat and allows visitors some very scenic walking.

The mountains on the island range from around 300-600 meters and provide far more strenuous trekking.The National Park in the northern part of Phu Quoc is as yet relatively undeveloped in terms of walking trails and forests can be quiet dense. There are plans to build a walking trail in future to Mount Chua (603m) the highest mountain on Phu Quoc Island.

Story about unique horse-drawn carriage in Bac Ha

Horse in Bac HaA horseman, deeply attached to the northern mountainous Lao Cai province’s Bac Ha Plateau, has expressed his love for the area as he carries tourists in a horse-drawn carriage.
Hoang Van Chu of the Nung ethnic sects, who lives in the province’s Na Hoi Nung Village of Na Hoi Commune, is the first admirer of the ‘White Plateau’ to build a horse carriage and earn his living by transporting tourists in the carriage. North Vietnam tours
“It’s easy for tourists to find a vehicle to travel everywhere on the Plateau, as there are modern vehicles in the area, including motorbikes and minibuses. However, anyone who is well-experienced in travelling will choose the horse carriage,” Chu said.
A carriage ride with a view of the imposing mountain landscape gives tourists the impression of being on vacation and makes them feel a bit like “royalty”. Hanoi & Sapa Homestay 6 days

Travelling the Bac Ha Plateau, tourists will be impressed with the colourful ethnic costumes, the horses’ neighs, and the screams of mountain pigs intermingled with the sounds of hammers on the fires of blacksmiths. In particular, tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy Tam Hoa plums, a tasty specialty of the area.
“Many tourists visiting the plateau shared with me that travelling by horse carriage helped them leisurely enjoy the area’s landscape and take souvenir photos,” Chu said.
He is skillful at shooting and horse straddling and a famed horseman in the area, having learnt how to ride a horse and fire a gun in early childhood.
Horse in Bac Ha 1“My parents told me there were many horse carriages in my hometown during the years of French colonialism, from 1857 to 1945. At that time, the horse carriage was one of the specific features of Bac Ha Plateau. Local residents mostly used horses for transport. Only the rich could ride in carriages,” Chu said.

Story about unique horse-drawn carriage in Bac Ha

However, such kinds of vehicles gradually fell into oblivion, and were changed over to modern vehicles. “There were no horse carriages on any roads in the area since the 1990s,” Chu said.
The sound ‘click clock click clock’ of horses’ hooves and the tinkling of the tintinnabula bells on their necks gradually faded in local residents’ memories, which saddened the horseman Chu.
After much searching of his heart, Chu decided to go to China and order a horse-drawn carriage from a Chinese worker, with the aim of bringing back a specific tradition of the plateau. “The Chinese man delivered a horse carriage on time. Yet, the carriage he made couldn’t satisfy me because it was not convenient for carrying tourists,” Chu said. Travel to Vietnam
Not giving up, Chu was determined to make a horse carriage on his own. The vehicle was completed and used as to serve tourists in the area, which surprised all local residents.
“Some of my neighbours sneered at me, and called me a ‘madman’. They thought that there would be no tourist to use a horse carriage on their trips. Yet, I ignored all the ridicule and continued making shoes and tintinnabula for my horse,” Chu said.
Horse in Bac Ha 2
At first, Chu carried tourists free of charge along the most beautiful destinations in the area, such as Hoang A Tuong edifice, Trung Do Temple and on misty paths, in a bid to build reputation for his service, as well as advertise the beauty of his hometown.
“Foreign visitors often called me a ‘cowboy’. Some of them told me that during their trips in Bac Ha Plateau, they loved most of all the sound of horses’ hooves on road and the tinkling bells on the horses’ neck, which made me so happy,” Chu said.
Chu is the only one in the area who provides tourists with horse-drawn carriage rides. “I had to spend all my savings, worth VND60 million (US$2,800), to make my carriage. No one in the area dared to spend the sum as I did,” Chu said.
Besides Chu’s horse providing rides for tourists, there are many horses in the area to carry goods. Riders of baggage horses often gather in front of Bac Ha Temple ready for hire to carry goods, which is one of the area’s oldest jobs.

Tips for safe dining of seafood in Halong

Halong, known as the world heritage city with thousands of caves and grottos, is also famous for its abundance of nutritious and delicious varieties of seafood like crab, prawn, fish, or sea-snail. Gourmets who come to Halong can hardy resist the taste of fresh seafood without the worry of gaining weight. However, there is always risk of food poisoning hidden in seafood. Below are some safety tips to avoid trouble with dining in Halong bay tours.

1. Avoid eating raw seafood in general

Raw seafood or unprocessed seafood may contain the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria which is harmful for the digestive system. Moreover, the bacteria can live under high temperature (more than 80oC). Although sushi and sashimi is very tempting, try not to eat too much, esepecially from the dubious dining places. Fresh seafood in Halong Bay

2. Never eat raw crab

Tips for safe dining of seafood in Halong

Inside unprocessed Ha Long’s crab is a very dangerous parasitic bacteria named lung fluke that may mess up your respiratory system with symptoms like lead to severe cough, coughing up blood, or even cerebral paralysis. It is highly recommended that crabs have to be fully cooked for at least 20-30 minutes. Travel to Halong with Vietnam tours

3. Seafood shopping tips

Buying your own seafood in a market to bring back to your hotel and ask the chefs to cook for you is a very enjoyable experience. However, remember to choose ones which are still alive and fresh, because dead sea-animals, especially one that has shells, contain much higher level of bacteria or poisons.

4. Avoid drinking excessive beer while eating seafood

Scientists say drinking beer while eating seafood increases the probability of having gout or arthritis disease. Therefore, it is recommended that you limit your alcohol consumption when being served seafood.

5. Avoid having fruits/tea after having seafood

The reason is that the acid inside sour fruits may negatively affect the process of absorbing protein from seafood into your body. Besides, tannin from fruits may react with calcium and protein from seafood to stimulate your digestive system that leads to stomach-ache and vomiting. Same thing happens if you drink tea after a seafood meal.

Kayak in Halong Bay

Halong Bay attracts thousands of passengers every month. Nearly five hundred cruises run every day and hundreds of passengers stay on board every night.

Halong Bay is famous for its natural beauty and thousands of limestone islands and islets.When you are on board, you admire the majestic beauty of the Bay but when you GET closer to the limestone islands, discover the beauty yourself, you admire its nature. But… how to get closer? The best way is joining kayaking activity. Halong bay tours

Kayak in Halong Bay?

• This is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.

How to use a kayak?

• Kayaking is generally assumed to be very safe in these calm waters of Halong Bay but there is still some areas and warning that you should avoid and listen to the tour guide. Kayaking is not difficult; however, to enjoy it completely, you need some tip: 

• Paradise Cruise

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Preparation do not skip this stage

• Suitable clothes: T-shirt and short, swimming suit in the summer; warm clothes in the winter; wet shoes, hat, sunglasses
• Necessary things: Water, sun cream, dry bag, camera, insect repellent
• Life vests

Medical box and food (for the long duration)

• Follow your tour guide: it is very important
• Listen to the route, time and rules
• Learn how to use the kayak even it is not your first time kayaking, wear the life vest and use the dry bag
• Strictly follow the leader (tour guide) about the moving rules
• Check with your tour guide the weather, tide and wind strength to have the best and safest route.
• Keep a suitable distance with the others, not too far, keep in sight with the others
• Keep away from the places which have strong flow, against the wind; take advantage of the wind strength and flow.

What about the children?

• Follow the tour guide and their parents
• Sit still in the kayak, do not move in front of or behind
• Wear the life vest
• Wear the hat and sun cream

Handle unexpected situations:

• Adjust the speed of the whole group if any of the member is out of sight
• In case the kayak capsizes, passengers need to swim a bit, and then take the water out of the kayak with the help of the tour guide. He will catch thekayak; take the water out by putting your kayak on his in the T- shape. After that, he will put the kayak back into the water; keep it still so that passengers can be on the kayak again.
• If there is an expected storm, find the safest place in the sheltered areas, beaches… to avoid the storm. In case passengers are in the middle of the sea and cannot find a safe place, passengers need to be gathered to make a raft
• If you are not sure about the route you are going, you should keep in touch with the others and paddle around the mountain, you will not be lost. Passengers should know for sure the route, search on the map.
• It is better if passengers have mobile phone, radio or any means of communication (often for professional kayakers)

How to get to Halong Bay

Thanks to its popularity, Halong Bay cruise is quite accessible from just anywhere in Vietnam and neighbouring countries. Many visit Halong Bay on a larger international cruise ship which dock in Cai Lan International Port (about 10 minutes from Halong Bay). Others choose to fly to Hanoi (180km) or Hai Phong (80km) airport and take a road trip to the Bay. 

By Car 
The most popular way to get to Halong Bay is by road, which follows Highway 18 that passes by Tuan Chau Island, Bai Chay Road and Hon Gai Bridge. If you travel from Hanoi, most cruise trips will arrange transfer from your hotel to the pier for you (either cruise bus or private car). An average trip without traffic will take at least 4 hours for one way. Read more: V’spirit crusie Halong bay

By Air 
From Danang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, you can fly either to Hanoi or Hai Phong Airport and get a car transfer to Halong Bay. From other Southeast Asia countries, you also need to fly into one of these two airports to get access to Halong Bay. 

How to get to Halong Bay

By Train 
There used to be a rail-line that connects Hanoi and Halong Bay in 2010, however, it has been discontinued and thus traveling by train to Halong Bay is not possible.  Read more: Travel to Vietnam

Other Means 
You can also travel to Halong Bay on helicopter which takes about 1.5 hour and it is only possible from Hanoi. This service is exclusively run by Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company and it is quite a costly option to reach Halong Bay.

Paradise Luxury cruise Halong bay

 Paradise cruise Halong bay - Luxury I, II, III & IV were built according to the traditional Vietnamese junk design and present a lavish outfit blending in subtle harmony with the natural environment. The 04 Paradise Luxury offer 68 luxurious cabins and suites as well as an exciting array of activities to be enjoyed while experiencing the spectacular scenery of the "Bay of Descending Dragons".

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 Each vessel features a stylish restaurant and bar for an exclusive dining experience on the third deck. The top deck serves as a perfect place to enjoy lingering in the sunshine and discovering the splendid beauty of Halong bay with a 360° view, thus promising unforgettable and thoroughly relaxing moments. Celebrated for being the only Cruise Halong Bay to provide complete spa facilities with dry sauna, Jacuzzi, massages and beauty treatments, Paradise luxury boats dispose of Spa facilities aiming at reviving your senses and nurturing your well-being. Paradise luxury fleet is committed to grant our guests a genuine yet prestigious experience: a Paradise cruising experience in Halong Bay. Read more: Violet cruise Halong bay, Indochina Sails cruise Halong bay CABINS Paradise Luxury boats all possess four types of accommodation (total 17 cabins per boat) featuring stylish design and cosy amenities. Built for you to enjoy the majestic viewings offered by the natural environment during the cruise, Paradise Luxury cabins are heavenly windows onto the beauties of Halong Bay.
DINING
Our restaurant and bar are places of discovery and sharing with others. They combine tradition and freshness of rich oriental cuisine with the latest culinary trends from around the world. Our menus are the result of a creative European and Vietnamese fusion that crosses traditional gastronomy boundaries. In an atmosphere of elegant luxury, you can enjoy sumptuous buffets and tasty menus served by a crew in traditional Vietnamese costumes – fine dining harmoniously combined with the aromas of the sea. A wide selection of the best vintages from around the world will complement fine fusion cuisine and creative Asian inspired flavours.