| Halong Bay cruises offer one of the best views in | | | | always warm and calm, so swimming there is a |
| Vietnam. Halong Bay is a beautiful setting filled | | | | treat. |
| with thousands of islets, crystal clear waters, and | | | | Included in the price of the luxury Halong Bay |
| faced by sheer cliffs. There are three types of | | | | cruises are: |
| cruises you can take on Halong Bay. | | | | - A private car with a driver |
| Junk Cruises | | | | - A luxury twin or double cabin with air |
| A junk boat is a wooden boat that is made in the | | | | conditioning |
| classic Asian style. It is fairly small, but it has room | | | | - Main meals and a cocktail when you arrive |
| for a restaurant, a lounge, a bar, a shop, and a | | | | onboard |
| library inside. There are perhaps a dozen or so | | | | - Fees that need to be paid to get into Halong |
| sleeping cabins on a junk boat. | | | | Bay |
| You can have Vietnamese foods in the | | | | - Tai Chi class |
| restaurant, see performances of Vietnamese | | | | Things you have to pay for are: |
| music, or participate in other cultural activities. | | | | - A private boat |
| Night fishing is a popular activity, as is kayaking | | | | - Extra drinks |
| during the day. There are many different junk | | | | - Tips |
| boats cruising the Halong Bay at any given time. | | | | - Massages |
| | | | - Guided tours |
| Luxury Cruises | | | | Charter Cruise |
| There are also luxury cruises on the Halong Bay. | | | | The third kind of Halong Bay cruises are the |
| One cruise ship is called the Emeraude. It is a | | | | chartered cruises. You can take either the Junk |
| historic single-wheeled paddle steamboat that was | | | | cruises or the luxury cruises on chartered tours. |
| built in Vietnam. The ship is only about 180 feet | | | | You choose the ship and have some say about |
| long, yet it has three decks and 39 cabins, | | | | the itinerary. |
| including one suite. The restaurant will hold 80 | | | | Most of the chartered cruises are three or four |
| people, and there are bars, shops, massage | | | | day trips, mainly because the area the ships sail is |
| rooms, and entertainment venues. | | | | not vast. Some of the cruises are only two day |
| There is a sun deck where you can relax, or take | | | | cruises. Sometimes people take small chartered |
| a Tai chi class in the morning. There is a | | | | junk boats out with as little as three people. This |
| swimming platform so that you can swim off the | | | | is a very intimate type of vacation. |
| side of the ship. The waters of the bay are | | | | |