Trang An - Bai Dinh tour - My unforgettable experience! Bai Dinh – Trang An one day tour (29-12-2016)
I had a Bai Dinh – Trang An day tour on thursday. I booked the tour with Vietnam Eco Travel the day before and they picked me up at 8:45 am at my hostel. They still picked up another people around the old quarter. Their bus was full of customers today and almost of them were foreigners. The tour guide introduced for us some informations about Vietnam while they picked up another customers. He’s humorous and professional. We started our tour at 9:10 am. The tour guide told us about our schedule tour today and introduced the name of each person for everyone.
First, they dropped us in a restaurant to take a rest for 30 minutes at 10:10 am. The goods there are more expensive than in another places.
Then we went to Bai Dinh pagoda at 11:40 am. We took a electric car to go from the gate to Bai Dinh pagoda. It took us 5 minutes to get there. I was so surprised because the pagoda is really big with many buddihsm constructions. The tour guide started to introduced for us about giant statues there. They are the largest statues in southeast Asia. After that we visited Bell tower to visit a large bell there and kept moving to visit another temple. Around the lobby with thousand of big Buddha statues and small one inside each small box on the wall. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, he told us many useful details about Buddhism. We just went half of the pagoda complex because he said that another part was the same.
We went down by foot at 1:40 pm. We went up the bus to go to a restaurant for lunch and got there at 2:00 pm. We had buffet for 40 minutes. The food there was good but i expected more specific foods there. Then we moved to Trang An – Ha Long on land and started a boat trip at 3:00 pm. My boat had 4 people and the tour guide didn’t go with us. Trang An was very beautiful, nature and peaceful. The river was clean, I also could see some plants in the bottom of the river. We went through some amazing caves. Inside the caves, they had lights so we could see many limestones with interesting shapes. See the sunset, enjoyed the beauty of sightseeing and pure air. I felt really comfortable, forgot the stress of life. The boat trip took us 2 hour to go around. I didn’t feel any regret to choose Trang An and Bai Dinh are my destinations.
We finished our tour at 5:00 pm.
We came back Hanoi and felt satisfied with our tour today. We went to the old quarter at 7:20 pm. The tour guide said goodbye and thanks to us.
In my opinion, with the schedule of this tour, tour guide should remind tourists to bring some snack because we will have lunch quite late ( 2:00 pm) and have to walk a lot to visit Bai Dinh pagoda
The tourguide is knowledgeable and professional
The schedule is good
nice read I hope you come back because we have some fabulous beaches. airport taxi cost about three to four times more. that's their regular rate. there is wifi in the airport and you can always book Grab and Uber. The regular cheap taxis are not allowed to pick up fare in the airport
nice read Thank you my friend. Yes, I would like to visit some of the islands there. I heard they are beautiful. This was just a short stop over in Manila.
Good to know. The next time, I will try to get Grab or Uber from the airport....it is much cheaper that way. Thanks for the tips.
Destination Indonesia Great to hear your are sharing your last trip Tab. Indonesia is a land of many islands and many contrasts. Looking forward to those you embraced.
Destination Indonesia Hi David, thank you for reading and your comment. I know you have been there already. I have seen your photos. Yes, I loved the country no less than I loved Vietnam and Thailand. And I really look forward to sharing my experience in Indonesia with my readers. Perhaps you may provide some insight on some of the places that you visited once I post my blogs.
Enjoy being a local Happy New Year to you David and MJ.It is assuring to know that I am not the only one taken for a mistaken identity. Ok, I feel a bit relieved now! Personally, I took the whole identity crisis as a fun, except once when the girl at the airline checking counter took a long time to check my passport...I was thinking, what the heck going on!
Anyway, Mary - I never forgot your advice that I should learn how to swim as 'water has a lot to offer', you wrote me. I took swimming lesson before I went to Bali. Although my skill has not improved significantly, it gave me the courage and I enjoyed all the water sports thoroughly in Bali. And I dared to try swimming in Java Sea! I will share some of the photos in my blogs, but there is a whole lot in my flickr link at http://bit.ly/2hOif9E. Thank you for the timely advice, MJ. I tell all my friends about it.
All the best in 2017 and I look forward reading about your further experiences of the Blues!
Mistaken identity Great story Tab, but you did you not use the "I" word indicating your racial heritage? An interesting essay on not just mistaken identity but the identity you have adopted and to which you swear your allegiance that transcends race or creed. Amazing your wife's parents reaction, as is it not the case their racial heritage is the same as yours? We are who we choose to be, I guess. May you have had a great Christmas my friend.
Mistaken identity You are right, I didn't add that I am an 'Indian' ...thought i will leave it for folks to guess and ask me....just as a suspense. True, my wife is Indian too. But it's amazing how it all started when they asked her the same question during a card game at home in England many years ago. I almost forgot the whole thing until now when I faced the same question in Manila.
Wish you all the best in 2017 and beyond, Dave.
70 years of control Hi Dave and Mary Jo, Thank you for reading my blog.
Yes, I certainly hope that the next generation of monarchy does not destabilize the beautiful country. I am hearing lots of rumor, but there is no point in speculating on them. I plan to visit Bangkok for a day in early December, en route to Philippines. Not much one can assess in a day...but I'll try for sure.
The King for the people Thank you Tab for your essay on the man that kept the Thai people together for his 70 year reign, King Bhumibol. He was on the stamps when I was young, probably still is. A great man of modern times who to his people as you say was...My King not Our King.
The King for the people Thank you Dave for your accolade. Notwithstanding the fact that there may be undercurrent in the turbulent political canvas of the country, I just wanted to understand the feelings of the common people towards the late King. I certainly hope that such a beautiful country does not plunge into the political chaos with the demise of the King.
The amazing people of Cambodia So good to read your work again. A harsh history develops strong and kind people. We enjoyed this part of the world and it was great reading your impressions. Sunrise and sunset are so amazing in this location.
The amazing people of Cambodia & The humanity of travel Dave and Merry, Thank you so much for your comments...means a lot to me.
You are so right, harsh history develops strong and kind people indeed. The people there really touched my heart. I still think about the homeless lady....I wonder how she is doing today with her child. I still can see her face when I close my eyes...a look of disbelief when she saw the few dollars I gave it to her. We have so much here, but we complain so much!
I haven't forgotten your request of writing a blog about my experience in delta of mangrove forest. That will be the next. Actually, last month I had an encounter with a bear as well. I will narrate this with some of the experiences of my dad who lived and breathed in the green forests due to his work.
I am also taking your advice of taking swimming lessons. Not doing so well though. I am heading out to Indonesia end of November and I would like to learn some at least. I am trying!!!
The land of smiles I can feel your heart in your blog Tab. It is indeed humbling to be the recipient of the open hearts of people in Cambodia and hearing the stories of their lives. How could so many have their families killed and uprooted by the Khmer Rouge and be so accepting of their lot with smiles and generosity no matter their economic situation. Cambodia certainly challenged my perceptions and countered my conceptions. Your blog brings me back to our time with our guide in Siem Reap who had supported and cared for his family since he was 9 and notwithstanding he had no TV or computer at home, researched Australia each evening so he could understand and connect with us better. Very humbling indeed.
The land of smiles Your caption is so appropriate, Dave - indeed it's a land of smiles. It sure challenges the perception how the have-nots of this world gather their lives together rising from the ruins and face the world with lovely smiles. It brings back my faith in humanity despite the fact that war still persists in so many parts of this world,- a beacon of hope still lights up in other parts. I really appreciate your comment, Dave!
Who ever goes never comes back Sounds like a great first sentence for a novel. Love to hear about the man eating tigers and the mangrove swamps. Always great to run into a travel friend and swap stories. Tortuguero sounds like a peaceful location.
Who ever goes never comes back Hi Dave and Mary J,
Thank you for your comment. Indeed, it does sound like a great first sentence of a novel, doesn't it? You have very tuned perception...never crossed my mind. Oh yes, you gave me an idea, may be one of the blogs I will write about my experience of the delta...my dad should have told these stories...first time encounter with man-eater he had in the jungle of Assam. Ok, I'll undertake my Dad's story telling some day, since he is no more!
Indeed, Tortuguero is a place to relax and absorb the Nature, heart and soul!
My father grew up amid the green hills of Assam in India. When I was a little boy, I went with him to see the vastness of nature, holding his hand. He is the one who instilled the love for nature in me; everything I love in nature today, I owe to him.
I have lived in Canada for many years now, but my love for nature and the outdoors is everlasting. Travelling and photography are my passions. Although I visit tourist areas, I rarely spend time there unless there are historic interests. I often travel off the beaten paths of jungles, mountains and rural areas. While travelling to such places... full info
Helen Tran
Tran thu ha
Trang An - Bai Dinh tour - My unforgettable experience!
Bai Dinh – Trang An one day tour (29-12-2016) I had a Bai Dinh – Trang An day tour on thursday. I booked the tour with Vietnam Eco Travel the day before and they picked me up at 8:45 am at my hostel. They still picked up another people around the old quarter. Their bus was full of customers today and almost of them were foreigners. The tour guide introduced for us some informations about Vietnam while they picked up another customers. He’s humorous and professional. We started our tour at 9:10 am. The tour guide told us about our schedule tour today and introduced the name of each person for everyone. First, they dropped us in a restaurant to take a rest for 30 minutes at 10:10 am. The goods there are more expensive than in another places. Then we went to Bai Dinh pagoda at 11:40 am. We took a electric car to go from the gate to Bai Dinh pagoda. It took us 5 minutes to get there. I was so surprised because the pagoda is really big with many buddihsm constructions. The tour guide started to introduced for us about giant statues there. They are the largest statues in southeast Asia. After that we visited Bell tower to visit a large bell there and kept moving to visit another temple. Around the lobby with thousand of big Buddha statues and small one inside each small box on the wall. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, he told us many useful details about Buddhism. We just went half of the pagoda complex because he said that another part was the same. We went down by foot at 1:40 pm. We went up the bus to go to a restaurant for lunch and got there at 2:00 pm. We had buffet for 40 minutes. The food there was good but i expected more specific foods there. Then we moved to Trang An – Ha Long on land and started a boat trip at 3:00 pm. My boat had 4 people and the tour guide didn’t go with us. Trang An was very beautiful, nature and peaceful. The river was clean, I also could see some plants in the bottom of the river. We went through some amazing caves. Inside the caves, they had lights so we could see many limestones with interesting shapes. See the sunset, enjoyed the beauty of sightseeing and pure air. I felt really comfortable, forgot the stress of life. The boat trip took us 2 hour to go around. I didn’t feel any regret to choose Trang An and Bai Dinh are my destinations. We finished our tour at 5:00 pm. We came back Hanoi and felt satisfied with our tour today. We went to the old quarter at 7:20 pm. The tour guide said goodbye and thanks to us. In my opinion, with the schedule of this tour, tour guide should remind tourists to bring some snack because we will have lunch quite late ( 2:00 pm) and have to walk a lot to visit Bai Dinh pagoda The tourguide is knowledgeable and professional The schedule is good