Vietnam Tailor Made Tours, Tailor Made Tours in VietNam

Vietnam Tailor Made Tours, Tailor Made Tours in VietNam

Red Crane Travel offers tailor made tours throughout Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We focus on the most authentic experiences in each destination. Our team is passionate about private adventures and we are happy to share our expertise in designing a unique journey to suit your needs and budget. You will get a highest quality of services and personalized care. Enjoy the planning, touring and learning experiences with us.

Ideas for tailor made tours
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Son La - Dien Bien - Lai Chau - Sapa
The Northwest of Vietnam is still relatively untouched by the outside world. With possibly some of the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam, visitors to this region will be greatly rewarded. Famous sightseeing places include the former French hill station of Sapa, battlefields in Dien Bien Phu, Son La prison and picturesque landscape in Mai Chau. Take a jeep and travel along stunning mountains, journey through fertile valleys, see incredible rice terraces and visit colorful ethnic-minority markets.
Length: from 4 to 5 days for an approximate of 300$ per person in a private tour

Hanoi - Sapa
This old French was built within tropical forests, emerald terraced rice fields, and colorful hill tribes. Sapa trekking is a great adventure to experience. Visitors will embrace life of such ethnic groups as Dzao, Dzay, H’mong, and other tribes. The reward is what you will learn to live, farm, play and shop in the vibrant markets in Sapa and its surrounding villages. Lao Chai and Ta Van is the most popular trekking tour through the village of H’mong and Dzao people.
Length: from 3 to 4 days for an approximate of 250$ per person in a private tour

Hanoi - Mai Chau
Only a 3-hour drive from Hanoi, this beautiful region is characterized by karst fangs, stunning mountains and fertile terraced rice fields. Mai Chau is perfectly suitable for those visitors with little time to embrace ethnic life style, yet want to discover the beauty and exotic cultures of the country’s highlands. A lot of things are there to do in this town, including spending a home-stay night with a hill tribe family; trek through the rolling countryside, or immersing yourself in the festivals of tribes.
Length: from 2 to 3 days for an approximate of 150$ per person in a private tour

Hanoi - Halong Bay
Come to discover the 8th World Wonder of Halong Bay, which was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. Enjoy a luxury cruise and get and eternal impression of limestone mountains, grottos, fishing villages and stunning sunrise or sunset. You have to come to believe it.
Length: from 2 to 3 days for an approximate of 200$ per person in a shared cruise.


Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An
This is a journey to discover Vietnam's insights of Halong bay, Hue, Hoian, which are known as World Heritages Sites. Start in the elegant capital of Hanoi and end in Da Nang. These places are already must see places in all guide books world wide. Come before it is too late.
Length: from 10 days to 2 weeks for an approximate of 500$ per person in a private tour.


Cambodia - Vietnam
Visit two countries in one tour, starting in Siem Reap and ending in Hanoi. The journey takes you to the magical Angkor temples, before heading south across the wildlife-rich Tonlé Sap Lake to Phnom Penh. Then take a cruise crossing the border of Cambodia and Vietnam, through the maze of waterways that make up the Mekong Delta. Take a well-deserved break on the stunning beaches of Phu Quoc island, before exploring the vibrant city of Saigon. Take a train to Nha Trang and enjoy the scuba diving in one of the best preserved marine protection island before heading to the central region. A three days is worthwhile in Hoi An and My Son Holy land before taking a car to Hue. Explore the Feudal Royal Tombs and complex of monuments in the Forbidden purple city. In Hanoi, explore the soul and spirit of Vietnam through the Temple of Literature, one pillared pagoda and the Sword Lake. Halong bay cruise should be next, for 2 days, before returning to Hanoi for the flight home.
Length: 2 weeks for an approximate of 1200$ per person in a private tour.

Author: Duong Van Hung

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Some of you just love the idea of self exploring Hanoi, its museums, parks, key sightseeing places without depending on tours and tailor made travel packages. Renting a car with a driver can be an idea in some of cold and rainy days in Hanoi. Sitting back and enjoy the elegance and charm of Hanoi in a comfortable car while the total cost is relatively as much as booking a tour is not a bad idea at all.
Our fleet of new and modern car for rents in Hanoi can offer a great price for one or two day rents with and without a driver. Look at the following cars and give us a call today.

  3 luxurious 4 seater: Toyota Camry

-          4 comfortable and brand new 7 seat cars for private day trips: Toyota Innova

-          3 brand new 16 seat vans for small group excursions: Ford Transit and Mercedes Benz


All is inclusive as indicated below: 
-          All bridge tolls, parking fees, taxes, surcharges, fuels and repairs.
-          Call this number to get 24/7 customer support at 098 362 9088
-          Car and passenger insurance for long trips
-          Feeding and housing the driver on trips out of town.
-          A car which meets all of your specific requirements
-          Free support to liaison on your behalf with your partners, local authorities, universities or companies.
-          An experienced, helpful, English speaking driver to accompany you unless you want to drive in crazy streets of Vietnam.

Above all, we offer free travel advice to make your holiday in Vietnam as sweet and comfortable as possible. Take this service at no cost at all to plan for a great trip in our capital. Do not hesitate to call, email or chat with our experienced sales team. We love to support you and your family, and it is definitively our commitment to higher standard in this industry.

Looking for other travel services?
-          Booking a Halong bay cruise can be difficult, as thousands of travel agents do provide this service. Let us inspire your thought on comfort, itinerary, facilities, safety standard and above all costs for two days one night program, or three days two nights program. It isn’t always too late to consult us for a free halong bay cruise advice.

-          Trekking in Cat Ba Island is a great idea for explorers and nature lovers. Fun, excitement you will get there. However let us give you a hint in choosing the best hotel or inn in this charming island.

-          Sapa is a must visit place to embrace cultures and traditions of Vietnam and its ethnic groups. Take the night train in a comfortable cabin on a private luxurious carriage, but first consider the cost for sapa train ticket and transfer from Lao Cai Station to Sapa (30km).

-          Booking a hotel in Sapa with a mountain view should be done soon enough while you are in Hanoi, or you will get doubled price while you are there. A standard mountain-view room with double bed including a breakfast will be around 35$ for a three star hotel.

Author: Duong Van Hung

Ban Gioc Waterfalls

Ban Gioc Waterfalls or Thác Bản Giốc and Thác Đức Thiên are 2 waterfalls on the Quây Sơn River between Vietnam-China border. The waterfalls are located in the Karst hills of Daxin County in the Chongzuo prefecture-level city of Guangxi Province, on the Chinese side, and in the district of Trung Khanh District, Cao Bằng province on the Vietnamese side. It is around 300 km north of Hanoi.

What to see

The sight in Ban Gioc Waterfall bears a poetic, fresh, quiet beauty of water, forest and cloud area mixed with village atmosphere of mountainous ethnic minorities. As the falls have three levels, which creates a sort of giant staircase, and there’s enough water any time, throughout the year, it will make your trip worthwhile. At the same time, enjoy walking across paddy fields to reach the base of the falls. Or enjoy its famous  fish named “tram huong”. In the early 1920s, French people started building cottages on the river banks. They would come here to relax, fish for “tram huong”, and hunt deer.

Tourist facilities

There’s been some development of tourist facilities in recent years, but almost nothing except a bamboo footbridge and a couple of bamboo rafts on the Vietnamese side. At the moment, Saigontourist is building a four-star Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, covering a total of 31.15 hectares. It will consist of two main sections, with one adjacent to Provincial Road 206 and the other facing Ban Gioc Waterfalls. The resort will have 60 hotel rooms, 24 bungalows with 29 rooms, a 200-seat restaurant, a 200-seat meeting room, sport and entertainment facilities, spa and areas for picnicking and other outdoor activities.

How to get to Cao Bang

Hai Van open bus is the best one, offering sleeping berth running daily at 20h30PM between Hanoi (My Dinh bus centre) and Cao Bang town.

My Dinh - Tel: 3722 3588

Cao Bang – Tel: 01686.242424

Tailor made tour idea

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake

In the morning, tour guide and driver will pick you up at your Hanoi hotel around 7:30 – 8:00 and drive to Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan province (250km). Stop over for visiting the Tay minority. Arrival in Ba Be, take a boat on the Nang River, visit Ba Be Lake, Puong Grotto, Dau Dang waterfall, Window Island and Pac Ngoi Village (Tay minority). Overnight home-stay in Pac Ngoi Village

Day 2: Ba Be – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc

After breakfast, depart for Cao Bang (110km). Arrive in Cao Bang, visit Phuoc Sen village of Nung people, a small village famous for producing farming tools. Then transfer to Ban Gioc Waterfall (85km). Arrive in Ban Gioc waterfall, at leisure for relaxing, taking photos and enjoying the most beautiful waterfall of Vietnam. Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 3: Cao Bang – Hanoi

Leave Cao Bang and transfer back to Hanoi (300km) in the morning. On the way back, stop for visiting the village where tobacco is produced. Visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen. Lunch en route and drop off at your hotel upon arrival.

Cost Estimate: 240 USD per person.

Sapa train tickets

Any day a journey by train to Sapa is the most comfortable of all, which is not only economic and but also covers a lot of breathtaking beauty for travelers to enjoy. The purpose of travelling could vary from business to pleasure but the areas covered on each journey remains immensely beautiful for all travelers. You have the pleasure of meeting very intellectual and enthusiastic passengers who could become your good friend by the end of the journey. Or, if you have booked train tickets for a group of passengers it would be extremely interesting to have fun along the way, playing simple games and relaxing while you travel.

Best Sapa trains for 2012

There are three night trains and one day train every day between Hanoi and Lao Cai. The vast majority of guests book the night train because it saves on the cost of a night of accommodation. The day train offers only hard and soft seats for domestic passengers. Soft sleeper is the most comfortable class and comes with surprisingly soft beds in a four-bed configuration, with or without air-con. Unlike hard sleepers, these compartments do have a door so are considerably more secure. At the present time, there are 14 different private train carriages on the night trains run to Lao Cai. All these privatised carriages provide comfortable, air conditioned sleeping berths and clean Western toilets.

Prices are various according to both the type of seat purchased and the season during which you are travelling. The times around Vietnamese holidays are very expensive and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible. Travellers are highly recommended to purchase a berth in a soft or hard sleeper car, though the trip in soft seat class is not too bad. For a bed, expect to pay in the area of 430,000VND ($20,5)-525,000VND($25)(one-way). For a soft seat, expect to pay 220,000VND ($10,5) for one-way (May 2012). There is usually a dining car serving good, surprisingly affordable noodles about 10,000 VND ($0,5) and rice porridge about 10,000 VND ($0,5), but it's always wise to bring your own snacks and drinks as well.

These are some highly- recommended train carriages from Hanoi to Sapa and back for tourists to choose. Here are some of them.

The Victoria Express: is a good deal above any of the others which can accommodate 48 passengers with comfortable seating, a dining carriage and two luxurious sleeping carriages. Each sleeping carriage has 6 superior cabins (4 berths) and 2 deluxe cabins (2 berths), all are air-conditioned, wood panelled, with individual reading lights, baggage storage, toilets and oversized windows. The Victoria Express Train is exclusively reserved for Victoria Sapa Resort's in-house guests only.

Tulico Train offers comfortable, air-conditioned soft sleepers. While this is not a luxurious train, it offers good alternative transportation to Sapa from Hanoi. It has soft sleepers, A/C and clean four-berth cabins. You will be provided with one bottle of water, a small snack and a napkin.

Sapa Royal Train is operated by Viet Hung Company.  To serve tourist requirements, the Royal Train is also part of a regular train with 2 carriages in SP1 and SP2 which offers A/C, soft-sleepers and clean two- berth and four-berth cabins.

Pumpkin Train, like the Tulico train, is not a separate train, but offers soft sleepers, A/C and clean four-berth cabins in 2 carriages which go with local trains (LC5 and LC6) between Hanoi and Lao Cai. Pumpkin train is one of the best choices for tourists to Sapa.

Fansipan Express Train has air-conditioned wood paneled, individual reading lights, baggage storage, toilets and over side window. Each passenger will be served with food and drink such as fruit juice, tea and snack. Fansipan Express has a tool providing cold and hot water. Fansipan Express has a mini bar on the corner of each carriage offering Vietnamese and western delights, snack and drinks. If need, please press the ring in the cabin.

King Express Deluxe Cabin features with 26 berths including 2 berths and 4 berths cabin, accompanied by the hospitality of King express train staff. The enchanting luxury, the comfort facilities of the wood-paneled cabins will make your stay in these carriages memorable. The King Express train name the firm aim at "Serving you as serving the King & the Queen on board".

Livitrans Deluxe Train is considered one of the most luxurious trains in Vietnam with its equipment equivalent to a high-class hotel. The train is a joint venture between Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industry Corporation and Vietnam Railway Corporation which officially starts its operation on 1st September 2007. Livitrans Express Train, which comprises of 9 wooden carriages and one electricity generation compartment, is expected to expand to 15 carriages to be able to accommodate 420 passengers in the near future. The train will feature sleeping carriage with 2 berths, 4 berths and 6 berths, a bar, toilets, LCD television sets on board, etc of aviation standards. Passengers will be also offered drinks, confectionery and newspapers for free.

Frequently asked questions
What is the name of the train from Hanoi to Sapa and back to Hanoi?
We trust in The Victoria Express Train, Tulico train, Sapa Royal Train, Pumpkin Train, Fansipan Express Train, King Express Deluxe Cabin, Livitrans Deluxe Train. These are ones of the best trains in Vietnam.
What is the type of the train cabin?
The train cabins we offer are 4 berth cabins. The facilities:
4 berths
Air conditioner
Wooden wall
Magazine and soft drinks are included
How is a 4-berth-cabin used?
There’re 4 passenger stay in a 4 berth shared cabin. If you are a group of 4 persons is great. But if not, you or some of you will stay in a shared cabin with other passengers.
I want a private cabin, how much does it cost?
The train ticket for a 4 berth cabin is $40. Two ways ticket costs $80. Almost our tour packages include 1 two-way-ticket. So if you would like to charter a cabin, just pay the extra total cost of the total other berth.
How do I buy tickets for my Children?
After you choose your route, you will have to fill the number of adults and children (if any). Children prices of children's ticket follow these rules:
Under 2 years: free.
From 2 to under 5 years old (and shorter than 1.3m): 50% of adult price for the North - South routes and vice versa. But on Hanoi - Sapa routes and vice versa, the children will have to pay full price like adults.
Over 5 years old: 100% of adult price.
I purchased your train tickets, but I can’t get the train at my booking date. What are the refund regulations for train in Vietnam?
Cancellation policies depend on the type of the ticket booking, the time of the year, and the reason for cancellation. The rules for cancellation, amendment & refund after the tickets have been issued below:
20% cost of ticket will be charged in case of cancellation or amendment after 30 days departure.
25% cost of ticket will be charged in case of cancellation or amendment from 15 – 30 days before departure.
35% cost of ticket will be charged in case of cancellation or amendment from 7 – 14 days before departure.
50% cost of ticket will be charged in case of cancellation or amendment from 2 – 6 days before departure.
100% cost of ticket will be charged in case of cancellation or amendment within 24 hours before departure.

The Great Wall of Vietnam

Most people know the Great Wall of China; however, it’s unlikely that you have heard of the Great Wall of Vietnam which was only explored recently in spite of being the longest monument in Southeast Asia.

Often referred to as the long wall of Quang Ngai, it was first explored in 2005 by a group of archeologists of France and Vietnam. The wall was fully discovered after some five years of work, and in 2010, full documents were published.

Many ceramic artifacts which were discovered during excavations at some sections of the wall prove that the wall was built in the 16th century, not the 19^th. It was used to boost the close trading relationships that existed between Vietnamese Kinh peoples and the indigenous ethnic minorities such as H'Re, Ka Dong, Xo Dang, and the Ba Na.

The wall is nestled in the mountain foothills of remote provinces in central Vietnam. This is one of Vietnam's most important archaeological discoveries in a century. The wall stretches almost 130 kms from northern Quang Ngai Province just some 80kms from Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, South into the province of Binh Dinh, some 120 kms to Nha Trang. It winds through mountains and valleys, is 4-5m high and 6m wide at its base.

The wall is very large and diverse, made of stone in some places in order to protect it from landslides on high slopes and mountainous areas. These parts are a testament to the remarkable rock arrangement skills of the indigenous H'Re people. It was believed that the wall was constructed mostly by the Kinh people and soldiers of the Nguyen Dynasty. The rampart’s stones arrangement techniques which is various in different sections and terrains can be seen in structures on Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai Province.

Historians and archeologists believe that the long wall of Quang Ngai is the greatest engineering feat of the Nguyen Dynasty. This great wall was constructed both for protection and military purposes and to facilitate trade. Along the wall, the sections which are interrupted by many rivers and streams are the mini-forts, guarded by soldiers, to ensure and create a safe environment for the Kinh and H'Re ethnic people to do business. Each of the forts was an open gate which facilitated travel and trade. The H’re people bought salt from Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese people bought rice, cinnamon and forest products from the H’re.

Many researchers also say that there are also many evidences that it was not just built by the Vietnamese Kinh people, but also by the Thai and the Muong people from Provinces of Thanh Hoa and Hoa Binh who were part of the migration from the north to the south during the 18th century.
During the Vietnam War, the rampart sections in Duc Pho and Hoai Nhon districts in Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces respectively were also used as a branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to transport weapons and food from the north to the south of the country.

The long wall of Quang Ngai (Trường Lũy in Vietnamese) was officially recognized as a national heritage site by the Vietnamese government in 2011. The national recognition opened a long road to international recognition, more funding, and greater protection. This Long Wall presents a new kind of tourism in Vietnam: historical ecotourism and adventures. The mixture of unique historical context and the monument itself, together with an amazing landscape and diverse ethnic population has incredible potential for sustainable tourism.

Tourism and travel arrangements to the wall are underdeveloped. Yet, hiking this wall is an awesome experience. Moreover, there are a huge number of other attractions to offer tourists. You can relax on the numerous and fantastic beaches, or discover jungles and tea plantations and multi-cultures of ethnic minorities in Quang Ngai province.

It is necessary to make sure that visitors attain travel insurance for such a discovery trip because whilst safe, jungle walks are intrinsically unpredictable. Therefore, it’s always advisable to buy travel insurance when taking an adventure to this long wall.

Author: Duong Van Hung

Dong Van Karst Plateau

Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized as official member of the Global Geo-parks Network (GGN) on October 3, 2010, in Lesvos (Greece) for its prominent values on landscape, palaeobiology, geology, geomorphology and local culture. It has become the first geo-park of Viet Nam and the second one in Southeast Asia (after Langkawi Geo-park in Malaysia).

Located on an altitude of 1,000m-1,600m, the 2,350 square km Dong Van Karst Plateau is one of Viet Nam's special limestone areas which house prominent imprints depicting the development of the earth's crust. 80% of the karst formations of Dong Van Plateau are limestone created by environment conditions and different development stages of nature.

Vietnamese scientists have improved that many relics which produced a stir in the world geology sector. The milestone seams here with the thick of up to 4,000 meters have not ever been found in any region in Southeast Asia. The found fossils showed the appearance of organism on the plateau 500 million years ago. According to these scientists, there are only five moments when species were extinct, two of them were found on ancient fossils in Dong Van plateau. These discoveries are very important for researching of shaping process of the earth’s crust. The scientific information will bring in wonderful surprises for tourists on the travel to explore the stone plateau besides natural beauties and geomorphic sceneries.

What to see:
1.     Rock Gardens: Owing to weather changes and Dong Van's geo-diversity, the karst evolution has formed "rock gardens" and "rock forests" of diverse forms in the area. The Khau Vai rock garden (Meo Vac) is just stunning, tourists can contemplate the peaks of rocks in the shape of various kinds of flowers.  Lung Pu rock garden (Meo Vac) has animal-shaped rocks such as tiger and dragon; Van Chai rock garden (Dong Van) contains round flagstones arranged like thousands of black sea lions.

2.     Terraced rice fields: Tourists will find a common thing here which is the ranges of mountains running one after another to form pyramids heading up to skies. All of them are now dotted with green corn fields and golden rice fields as a result of hard work of ethnic minority groups. In addition, a large number of caves and grottos found in the Dong Van Plateau provide a proof of the evolution of karst. Rong Cave in Sang Tung (Dong Van), Kho My Cave in Tung Vai (Quan Ba), En Grotto in Van Chai (Dong Van) are all great destinations in the area.

3.     Ethnic groups: In addition to geological, geomorphology and scenic values, Dong Van Karst Plateau reflects traditional cultural richness of 17 ethnic minority groups who have lived with the rocks for thousands of years. These groups include H’mong, Dao, Lo Lo, Tay, Nung, etc. Moreover, Pho Bang, Dong Van, Lung Cu, Sa Phin markets which are coupled with time-honored ethnic festivals, rituals, customs and culture of local people all enhance the unique charm of this plateau.

4.     Amazing topography: Visiting Dong Van District, tourists will be amazed by the uniqueness of the stone plateau such as the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass that is 2,000 meters high than the sea level. It is the border area between Dong Van district and Meo Vac district. Standing on the pass, tourists can physically touch clouds flying over it. Down the valley, terraced fields spread out with colors of grass-green and citrine, like hugging each mountain. In the distance there are some houses with rock fence, cows grazing and roads like huge pythons linking villages together.


How to get there:
From Hanoi, tourists take a local bus to Ha Giang City along the National Road No. 2. Then, from Ha Giang City, tourists travel on National Highway 4C for 43km to Quan Ba District through Can Ty Pass. There are stunning pine forests, steep drops, deep ravines, and razor sharp turns along the way before tourists reach to the karst plateau. This place is both mysterious and majestic with treacherous paths.

How To Save Money On Your Vietnam Family Tours

How To Save Money On Your Vietnam Family Tours

Most visitors say Vietnam is a child friendly destination for a family tour, and that is the reason the country attracts thousands of families to come and discover its land and people every year. And if your family is planning for a Vietnam tour and are wondering how to save money, these points are what you need to think about!

See the best tours in Vietnam: - A Taste of Vietnam - The Best of Coastal Central Region

Firstly, it may sound obvious, but the earlier you book, the better deal you will get, especially if you book for off-peak periods. Western holiday season in Vietnam is December till March, and Vietnam holiday season is around May to July. The most cost effective season is probably around April and May and August to November. If you have a sound plan, you will save nearly one third of a tour price. The off-peak season usually has great discounts for domestic airfares and land costs. By booking early you will have lots of time to make a decision instead of having to choose under pressure. Most families often book one year in advance. This strategy is likely to save you money in the long run.
Transfer the risk is a great strategy you can apply. The inflation rate in Vietnam is almost 10 per cent each year, and this means you will likely lose that 10 per cent if you book late. Instead of holding your money, why not transfer the risk to Vietnamese travel companies and let them take care of it. Travel costs usually account for 50% of tour prices, and tend to increase yearly. Hotel accommodation is just 10 to 15% higher year after year.
Book online is not a bad idea at all. As competition is getting tough, you will have a good chance for a good discount or offer. There are nowadays many Vietnam companies that offer different schemes and discounts on different domestic as well as on regional tours. You should take advantage of such schemes and discounts in a tour which can help save some money.
Furthermore, by only choosing the first tour you find, you will miss out on some really great deals. If you look at different websites (there are millions of websites that provides Vietnam family tours) you can compare the prices, the different services that are on offer. Comparing prices is definitely an intelligent move that you must make. So our advice is that you shop around and see if you can choose a suitable Vietnam family tour for a better price.
Booking in groups will save lots of money. The larger the group is, the more bucks you will save. Talk to your friends, relatives to know their Vietnam travel plan.  Consider to stay with them or share with them a tour. This will help you to save money in travel cost, accommodation and food. In addition, your family can spend fun time with your friends and relatives.
A packaged tour is usually less costly than semi-packaged tours. You will just do not have to worry about anything else, from travel costs, hotels, food to sightseeing fees. You will know your total costs and thus can manage spending in Vietnam. If you select a half board option, it is likely that you will spend more money on foods and other things. Things in Vietnam are cheap and shopping temptation is quite strong.
Shopping can be quite costly in big cities in Vietnam, and you just cannot stop buying lots of things as the prices are so affordable. The low costs mean you are seduced to buy and buy all along the sightseeing places! Therefore when going on a Vietnam holiday, you should limit yourselves in shopping in order to save money. Some things are available at cheaper rate in some places than the other places or you can buy it at home such as specially snacks or drink.
By just following some simple tips you can save money in these expensive family trips with a large variety of transportation costs, accommodation costs, eating expenses and other miscellaneous expenses such as sightseeing, shopping etc. The right timing and planning of the family vacation can shave off precious dollars from your travel budget. More importantly, when you employ the right money saving strategy, you ensure that you get products and services without sacrificing their quality.

Author: Duong Van Hung

Victory Star Cruise

Inspired by traditional and classic beauty of old cruise on Ha Long Bay, Victory Star Cruise was designed by combination of traditional features with modern and luxury style.

It is spacious on board. Parents and kids will admire an open space with bay view along the journey on the cruise. About 99 percentages of cabins have private balcony, each cabin has glass window view for you to enjoy the marvelous senses on Ha Long. All large corridor on the cruise make you feel comfortable, cabin area is 32 square meters in wide and all stairs connecting between floors allocated very rationally for going up and down.

Victory Star Cruise offers many options for your family to choose from. All cabins are allocated based on the position, dimension and the length of the cruise. Every cabin has its thrilled features and it looks like a paradise to welcome your own group to come after long days at work.

The itinerary enhances your interaction with the Bay. Swimming and rowing kayak can add more interesting things for your journey. To be wallowed in the blue water, you and your children can find very special feelings that you have never got at any other seas. You can explore some caves and discover some new things around you. In evening, you will be wallowed in music pleasures that can make you forget all tiredness you have had in a day. Furthermore, you can show your skills to catch fish, squids and enjoy them if you want. Parents or adults can join Taichi class in early morning in order to recharge yourself again for the next journey.

Highlights
-          Experiencing the luxurious Halong Bay family holiday in spacious cabins and cosy amenities
-          Off the beaten track itineraries that run in the Bay, caves, pristine beaches and lagoons
-          Enjoying an array of spas and health services aboard
-          Menus including seafood and authentic Vietnamese dishes
-          Taking part in music party, games and social activities on sundeck
-          Learning some amateur cooking skills at Vietnamese cooking demonstration
-          Visiting  a fishing village and learning about traditional customs and traditions
-          Attending a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn

Vietnam Family Vacations with Small Children

This trip is designed for families who have short time for Vietnam. We start in Hanoi and on day one we try to get a brief understanding of its rich history, cultures and traditions. The Museum of Ethnology is the place of interest to explore all ethnic groups which are currently living in Vietnam. Their daily practices, cultural and costumes displayed there give us an idea of their life. Kids will love to play in sample huts and the large gardens outside. The Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will add more to your learning program for the day. We then head to Nha Trang which is the best beach in the country. Your family will stay in a beach front villa together. During the stay here, we also visit some well-known places including Tam Island, Mun Island, mud bath or Vinpearl park. We leave these options open for your decision. The next day will visit Ninh Thuan province, some 80kms to the south of Nha Trang and close to the airport. We spend the morning in the silk village and learn processes of making silk products. We then visit a famous local tower which worships King Po Klaung Garai of the past Champa Empire. Heading to Saigon, we see key attractions in the city centre before a one day visit to Cu Chi tunnels. This used to be the stronghold of Vietnam forces to fight back American forces. Your kids will love to act like Vietnamese guerrillas in the tunnel.

Highlights
-       Getting to know Hanoi’s rich cultural and historical values: its past and presence
-       Enjoying a paradise on Nha Trang beach, taking a scuba diving and snorkeling
-       Shopping in the finest silk production village in Vietnam
-       Visiting a famous tower which worships King Po Klaung Garai
-       Getting a glimpse of Saigon by visiting Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the central Post Office.
-       Crawling like guerrillas in Cu Chi Tunnel

The Long Wall of Quang Ngai

The Long Wall of Quang Ngai

Our trip starts in elegant and beautiful Hanoi City. We visit its key historic sites including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda. The capital city will enrich your experiences with its rich history, busy shopping streets and cultural places. We take a cruise boat in the spectacular Halong Bay, where the Limestone Mountains and caves combine to make up one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. Sapa and its mountains, valleys and waterfall are full of colors from flowers, costumes and terraced rice fields of ethnic communities. We take the opportunity to explore their traditions and simple lifestyles. We also visit the ancient town of Hoi An to see traditional communal houses, museums and halls which have been well preserved for centuries before heading to My Son Sanctuary, the World Heritage of Vietnam. The highlight of the trip is the long wall of Quang Ngai, the longest monument in Southeast Asia made of stones and earth along the existing paths some centuries ago. We explore some of its key sites which are intact and unspoiled. Heading to Nha Trang, we enjoy a paradise on the beach, visit a marine protected island to enjoy a snorkeling and to discover colorful coral reefs. We enjoy a river boat cruise through densely connected network of rivers and canals in the Mekong Delta, passing through colourful floating markets and orchards. A home stay in an island is also a trip highlight. Saigon is a bustling city, the major economic centre of Vietnam. Yet it has a distinctive history which is revealed in our visit to its historical sites. We then try to explore the stronghold of Cu Chi tunnel, crawling through tiny path to experience a guerrilla life.  

Highlights
-       Exploring Vietnam at the Museum of Ethnology displaying cultures of 54 ethnic minorities
-       The elegance and charm of Hanoi, its colonial buildings and historic sites
-       Getting excited about water puppet show
-       Enjoying the best cruise at Halong bay, a great swim and kayaking through limestone mountains
-       Seeing the magnificence of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and ethnic communities in Sapa
-       Riding a rickshaw in Hoi An, exploring ancient history of My Son
-       Setting foot on the great wall of Vietnam
-       Relaxing and sunbathing at the best bay of Nha Trang
-       Floating market in the Mekong Delta
-       Crawling like guerrillas in Cu Chi Tunnel and embracing a bustling life at Saigon. 

Halong Bhaya Legend Cruise

Bhaya Legend, Halong Bhaya Legend, Halong private Cruise

Bhaya Legend Cruise features the unique elegant eastern style in the Halong Bay. It owns the cabin air-conditioned rooms and a restaurant. Cabins of Bhaya Legend Cruise have an antique ceiling fan and private refrigerator. Each room has a private bath shower and a big window for natural light, offering breathtaking views when the ship sailed around Halong Bay. The Vietnamese and international buffet is served right at the grand dining room. Cocktails can be enjoyed at the Topside Bar while breathing the fresh sea air.
Bhaya Legend Cruise are ideal for individuals, couples, families and friends wishing for an exclusive, private, customized charter cruise on Halong Bay.

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Vietnam car hire, Vietnam car rental, Hanoi car rental

Booking travel services can be handy and cheaper if you know the destinations well enough, or if you want a customized Vietnam trip. Save your time, efforts and money by using our high quality travel services for cheap Sapa train tickets, discount airfares, top car rentals and on-arrival Vietnam visas.

Car rental can be for various purposes including: airport transfer or pick up, doing a day trip out of Hanoi, visiting a friend in his home town, doing a business trip to a factory in nearby provinces, visiting your partners in Hanoi, having a discussion with universities, etc. In these situations, you will need a car and an experienced driver to support you with travel to make sure you get to the destination on time and hassle free. On the other hand, you don’t need a costly tour that provides extra things you don’t want while you are in Hanoi.

Combining with a Vietnam trip?
For frequent visitors or expat families, booking a tour is a bit more costly than organizing one by yourself. Just rent a good car with a driver, and off you go to sightseeing places outside the cities. All you have to do is to get relaxed on the road, buy some entrance tickets, and prepare your lunches.

For longer customized trips, lets our experienced travel consultants customize a trip for you. At times, you will be accompanied by a group of friends, family members, or business partners. Then you need some professional travel consultants to take care of details (what to see, how to get there, what to treat your group, local customs to follow, travel insurance, etc).

Finding a hotel and negotiating for a hotel discount can be difficult for independent travelers. Combining car rental and discount hotel booking will solve an unnecessary headache.

Consider a Halong bay cruise this season??

Here is the best promotion rate from Emeraude Classic Cruise: US$ 226/twin standard cabin (2D1N package including accommodation, welcome cocktail, shore and bay, excursion entrance fees, lunch, dinner, breakfast, on board insurance, 5% services charge and 10% value added tax). Cruising date: 01 Nov to 31 Dec 2012. Further details at http://www.redcranetravel.com/cruise/emeraude-classic.

Interesting facts about Nha Trang, unknown facts about Nha Trang

Interesting facts about Nha Trang, unknown facts about Nha Trang

Nha Trang is now known as the famous entertainment center of Vietnam with a large variety of complexes such as Vinpearl Land, Tri Nguyen Aquarium, Hon Tram Resort, etc.
Nha Trang is a unique place in Vietnam for Zen tourism with many famous places such as Hon Ba, Suoi Do, Ba Ho, Van Phong Bay.

What are symbols of inseparable marriage in your country?

Betel Leaves and Areca Nuts

Betel leaves and areca nuts are important symbols of love and marriage in Vietnam. The phrase "matters of betel and areca" synonymously indicates marriages. One day before the wedding day, the groom’s family consisting of senior representatives in the extended clan visits the bride’s home with a gift of betel nuts, Phu The cakes and even money to officially ask permission to receive the bride. The two families talk and confirm the wedding and other proceedings will soon take place.

The practice of chewing areca nuts and betel leaves starts the discussion about the preparations. Though this rarely exists anymore in modern receptions in cities, areca and betel still have ceremonial meanings during such an important day. The offering of areca nuts and betel leaves is originated from the folk tale which illustrates the belief that love is forever and marriage is inseparable, which both families want for the couple.

The Prince Junks, the Princes, the Prince Boats, The Prince Cruise

The Prince Junks, the Princes, the Prince Boats, The Prince Cruise

In the fleet of junks for charter, the Prince Junks have a larger size than the Princess Junks. They are tailor made to suit couples, some families or a small group of friends.
Like other junks, they are made of hard timber. On board is wooden furniture which has been skillfully made to offer a great Asian taste to customers.
Cabins are equipped with luxurious tools and are spacious. Large lounge and sun deck offers comfortable view for customers to enjoy the stunning Bay.

West Lake Sightseeing Tour on Electric Cars

West Lake Sightseeing Tour on Electric Cars
Sitting on electric cars in the cool breath of autumns and the romantic West Lake tourists watches the blue sky over a vast lake. Tourists will soon leave behind noise and dust of the busy streets to soak in the pure space of emotions, wandering along the romantic road full of lotus flowers, historical places and temples.  On the way, when the lake lingers with sunbeams, visitors will see the thin mist flying like a silk table, touching the heart by recalling great poetry of the ancient predecessors.

Glory Cruise

Glory Cruise

West Lake Sightseeing Tour on Electric Cars

West Lake Sightseeing Tour on Electric Cars

The Princess Junks, the Princess, the Princess Boats, The Princess Cruise

The Princess Junks, the Princess, the Princess Boats, The Princess Cruise

Tips on Halong Bay Cruises, Problems booking Halong Bay Cruises

Tips on Halong Bay Cruises, Problems booking Halong Bay Cruises

Dining in Halong Bay Junks, Dining in Halong Boats, Eating dinner in Halong Junks, Eating in dinner in Halong Boats

Dining in Halong Bay Junks, Dining in Halong Boats, Eating dinner in Halong Junks, Eating in dinner in Halong Boats

Halong Bay insight cruise

Halong Bay insight cruise

A rough translation of a love song

Missing Halong Bay (a Vietnamese song)

A day of no traffic fume in Hoi An

A day of no traffic fume in Hoi An

Vietnam, My Country

How much of our own country have we discovered? Most people would probably say they have visited around 5% of Vietnam, including for leisure travel and business purposes.

Vietnam is a small country populated by a huge number of people compared to other huge countries with few people (Australia, Russia, etc).

Yet it has a rich culture, very diverse and really multi cultural across all regions. For the past some 4000 years the ancient Viet people populated the Red River delta, stretching from Phong Chau to all the Red River delta. It then spread throughout to the coastal central regions.

By the end of the 18th or 19th century, the Viet culture has expanded further to the southern tip, of which is the Phu Quoc island today.

Across the country travelers are fascinated by the beauty of landscapes, mountains, rainforests and beaches. The 54 ethnic groups contribute to a rich and multicultural Vietnam as we see today.

I am pretty sure a majority of us have not traveled as much as a backpacker from abroad.