Kurztour "Hanoi & Ha Long Bay“ – 5 Tage inkl. 2 Nächte Kreuzfahrt

About the destination: South of the mainland, the idyllic Con Dao islands of Vietnam, with about 6000 inhabitants, are the perfect ocean antidote to the feverish energy and inclement pollution that characterize the country's mega-cities. For decades the main settlement of Con Son was used by French and Americans as a penitentiary center for anti-regime activists and criminals. Many of those jails are today chilling points of interest. History aside, Con Dao is endowed with breathtaking beaches and rich coral reefs that offer the best landscapes of Vietnam. The islands have been declared National Park, and have rewarding excursions to rain forests and remote bays. The tiny capital of the islands is a delight to explore on foot, with its streets (almost) free of traffic, a couple of traffic lights (which do not work) and a solitary gas station (which closes at siesta time). It is the slow version of Vietnam. You can start with a morning walk for the spectacular walk of the village, with the turquoise ocean shaping the horizon to one side and, on the other, an ocher row of beautiful French colonial villas. It passes through the old Gallic customs center, where Camille Saint-Saëns composed his opera Brunehilda in 1895. Then you can visit Con Son Market and have the local breakfast (rice porridge or noodles) and Vietnamese coffee, thick as molasses and slow dripping. If you fancy more a cappuccino and an omelette, you can go to Infiniti Cafe & Lounge, with a bohemian atmosphere and a magnificent terrace on the street. To get an overview of the islands, their natural environment (the Con Dao are important sea turtle breeding areas and have 11 endemic tree species) and their role as a concentration camp, you can go to the modern Con Son Museum, which prepares the visitor for the prison circuit. It is a good idea to go to the beach and change the chip. With a scooter goes north of the island with Son, passing before high granite hills and houses of fishermen wrapped in wild bougainvillea. In a corner of the coast, near the airport and flanked by rocky promontories, is the Dam Trau cove, with fine, clear sand, surrounded by casuarinas and pandanos. On the shore there are several places to feast on fresh seafood (the crab is very rich). Back you can pass by the super-luxurious Six Senses resort (Angelina and Brad stayed in it in 2011), which occupies a stunning covered beach for a drink or gourmet dinner. Another option is to dine in Thu Ba, run by a family in Con Son. It serves rich Vietnamese dishes (and has lots of vegetarian options). The owner, who speaks English, guides diners with the letter and makes suggestions.

About the destination: Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a modern, lively and bustling city. It is economically active, filled with lively markets and it is unequivocally the nation’s commercial center. Though the country’s most modern city by far, it retains a unique Vietnamese flavor and you can still see evidences of an illustrious Colonial past of this former pearl of the orient. In the core area, which locals still affectionately refer to as Saigon, you’ll find some of the city’s main attractions such as the Opera house, railway station, Notre Dame cathedral, Reunification Palace, the Saigon river and the Markets. To take a break from the city, you can take a tour to the Mekong Delta or to Da Lat, if you have more time. Da Lat, located in the highlands approximately 300km from the city is worth the trip as there is plenty to see and do including waterfalls, gardens, the old French Quarter and the local restaurants which served magnificent local food. The commercial and financial hub of Vietnam is an exciting and interesting sprawling metropolis that does its best to preserve the way of life and culture of this magnificent county.

About the destination: To the South of Vietnam, halfway between Vietnam and Cambodia we have the Island of Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc Vietnamese). Island Phu Quoc Island, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is the largest island in Vietnam, however its main tourist attractions are the sand beaches white and waters crystal clear, making Island Phu Quoc of favorite of the couples recently married Vietnamese honeymoon journey. The Phu Quoc island in Vietnam is also known as Dao Ngoc and Cambodia as Koh Tral. Phu Quoc island is 50 km long and 22 km wide and it inhabited by 85,000 people. The capital of Phu Quoc island is Duong Dong (Dương Đong), located on the northwest side of the island. The other city of the island is called An Thoi (An Thới), located at the southern end (see) Map of Phu Quoc). The average temperature of the Phu Quoc Island is 28 º C, the warmest time between April and May, where it reaches 35 º C. Phu Quoc is a natural with a great biodiversity (heritage of unesco since 2006) what makes this island the perfect place for snorkelling. Almost all the tourist attractions and points of interest in Phu Quoc are in the capital, Duong Dong. We can highlight the lighthouse of Duong Dong, point recommended for taking pictures, Duong Dong market and the pagodas, distributed throughout the island. However, the strong point of the Phu Quoc Island are its white sand beaches. In Duong Dong tenemo a beautiful beach, but if you want somewhere a bit quieter we can choose any of the beaches that are located a little northwest of Duong Dong or a couple of miles south of the city. The rest of beaches of Phu Quoc are in the Southeast, near An Thoi town, being the best of all of them (Bãi Sao) Bai Sao beach. View Map of Phu Quoc. One option that we recommend, is take a boat and approaching any of the adyancentes Islands, as for example the Island Hon Mong Tay. One of the best beaches of all Phu Quoc is called A beach or English Fingernail Beach, but is located in Island Hon Mong Tay (Hòn Móng Tay), about 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc.

About the destination: Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a modern, lively and bustling city. It is economically active, filled with lively markets and it is unequivocally the nation’s commercial center. Though the country’s most modern city by far, it retains a unique Vietnamese flavor and you can still see evidences of an illustrious Colonial past of this former pearl of the orient. In the core area, which locals still affectionately refer to as Saigon, you’ll find some of the city’s main attractions such as the Opera house, railway station, Notre Dame cathedral, Reunification Palace, the Saigon river and the Markets. To take a break from the city, you can take a tour to the Mekong Delta or to Da Lat, if you have more time. Da Lat, located in the highlands approximately 300km from the city is worth the trip as there is plenty to see and do including waterfalls, gardens, the old French Quarter and the local restaurants which served magnificent local food. The commercial and financial hub of Vietnam is an exciting and interesting sprawling metropolis that does its best to preserve the way of life and culture of this magnificent county.