Swiss Belhotel expands in Vietnam

HALONG BAY, Vietnam, 28 September 2017: Swiss-Belhotel International has signed a management agreement with Times Garden Vietnam JSC to launch Swiss-Belhotel Suites and Residences Halong Bay.

Comprising 50 Shop Houses and 236 Residences, the development will occupy a prime location close to the newly built Clock Tower overlooking the Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage site.

The property will open in two phases with three floors of accommodation and shop houses scheduled to welcome guests in the first quarter of 2018 and a mix of one to three-room residences due to open in the first quarter of 2019. Read more

Halong bay kayaks are back

QUANG NINH, 12 April 2017: Quang Ninh province authorities have lifted the ban on kayaking trips on Halang Bay after the city’s authorities faced huge opposition from travel firms that feature boat trips.

Local media reported that the ban of kayak service on Halong Bay came into effect, 1 April, prompting protests from travel firms.

Tour operators complained that they were given just three days notice before the ban took effect, leaving them little time to make changes to their scheduled tours. Read more

Halong bay raises fees

QUANG NINH, 4 April 2017: Quang Ninh has set new sightseeing fees for Halong Bay effective 1 April.

Local media reported that new fees for sightseeing routes in Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays will range from VND200,000 to VND250,000 (USD9 to USD11) per route.

Previously, visitors paid an entrance fee of VND120,000 (USD5.27) and additional fees for each single site they visited, ranging from VND30,000 to VND50,000 (USD1.32 to USD2.2) per one site. Read more

Halong Bay boats in hot water

QUANG NINH, 13 March 2017: Six tourist cruise boats in Halong and Bai Tu Long bays have been permanently beached by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province’s Halong City.

Local media reported the action was taken, last week, to restore a positive image for Halong Bay cruises after several boat fires in recent years.

Five of the six banned boats, coded Hung Long QN-1156, Hoa Phuong 02 QN-4239, White Dolphine QN-4894, Sunrise QN-2287 and Aphrodite 11 QN-6299, were damaged by fires during the last two years. They are not allowed to return to service despite having undergone repairs. Read more