The Nam Hai scores “Best Destination Spa” award

The Nam Hai has brought home one of this year’s Asia Spa & Wellness Gold Awards, less than a month after the introduction of a new spa menu at the premier resort in the central province of Quang Nam.

The accolade was announced at the annual Asia Spa & Wellness Festival, the region’s premier exhibition for the spa and wellness industry in Bangkok, Thailand. The seaside resort scooped the category of “Best Destination Spa,” which was voted by a panel of judges comprising notable socialites, editors of regional spa publications, tour operators and spa enthusiasts.

“What’s noteworthy about this award is that it was earned based upon what we used to offer,” said Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, the resort’s general manager. “Since the judges’ decision, we’ve actually improved our spa with the introduction of a menu long on singular treatments.”

The new menu includes The Nam Hai Indulgent Oriental Ritual, a three-hour experience that includes an aromatherapy foot polish, a four-hands jade massage designed to dissolve muscle tension and soothe the spirit, a Traditions D’Orient organic facial, an Asian-style foot massage and a Himalayan crystal body polish.

The choice of a bath strewn with rose petals while enjoying Champagne and canapés has also been added to the list of new spa options.

Owned by Indochina Capital and managed by GHM, The Nam Hai owes its spa concept to GHM’s corporate director of spa, Brenda Ramen, who drew from her travels in Asia when conceiving rituals and selecting products.

A tranquil lotus pond surrounds The Spa which features two spacious pavilions with eight spa villas, relaxation areas, steam showers and changing rooms. This facility has been nominated as ‘One of the World’s Top New Spas’ by Conde Nast Traveler (USA) and called one of the world’s ‘Top 75 Spas’ by Conde Nast Traveller (UK).

*** BIG PROMOTION only available at website of Holiday Indochina Co., Ltd:
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Complementary return airport transfers
Private cars transfer to Hoian old town and Danang City (24hrs prior notice required)

Reservation can be made with Holiday Indochina Co., Ltd at (84 4) 36339576 or email to sales@holidayindochina.com

- Source: Vietnamnet.vn and Holiday Indochina -

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Halong bay cruises with Holiday Indochina - Big deals in Low season

Holiday Indochina's cruise collection including Mekong cruises and Halong bay junks is one of our best selling product. In order to offer our value customers excellent junks cruising through amazing Halong bay, Holiday Indochina excitedly launch a Big Promotion applied for many Halong bay cruise junks of which some are listed below:

1/ Jasmine and Ginger cruise - Big deals with 15% off:
Jasmine cruise officially opened o­n 18 December 2007, the newest four star junk will set the standard for services and amenities o­n the bay. Fitted out in the 1930's Indochine style, the Halong jasmine will feature 22 spacious cabin, restaurant, lounge and two special jasmine Suites with their own jacuzzi & balcony for uninterrupted views of the bay.

Jasmine's sister cruise, Ginger blends classical beauty with modern comfort, catering to groups of between six and 20 people. Measuring 38m in length and 8m in width, it has three decks that house the elegant restaurant, a lounge, two bars, a small boutique and a library, as well as ten luxurious sleeping cabins. Fitted out with wood and bamboo, its interior is charming. The stylish decoration of the dining room – not to mention the fact that the staff change their uniforms to serve meals – is highly impressive, seemingly more suited to a five-star hotel.

Promotion rate applied for both 2days/3days program and start from 181USD per person.

2/ Halong Indochina Sails junk - 5% off
Indochina Sails owns a fleet of 4 cruises in Halong bay. The Indo 1 (14 cabins) and Indo 2 (15 cabins) are identical boats and were both launched in 2007. Each comprises 15 cabins (Superior and Deluxe Cabins). The deluxe cabins are are a bit larger and feature rainfall showers and are all situated on the second decks of the boats.
The newest boat, the Indo 3 (15cabins), launched in late 2008, also features ceramic artworks handcrafted in Bat Trang, well known as the home of the country’s most talented ceramic craftsmen. All of our boats are decorated with silk from Van Phuc, the “Silk Village”.

The smaller but more luxurious boat, the “Valentine”, launched in late 2007, is perfect for those seeking a more exclusive and intimate experience. Valentine is a full service vessel offering all the facilities and amenities of our larger boats, but with only five cabins; four Deluxe cabins at 19 square meters each and one Suite cabin at 30 square meters, all with Jacuzzis.

Promotion rate applied for both 2days/3days program and start from 159USD per person.

3/ Halong Bhaya cruise - 5% off
Launched in July 2007, the first Bhaya cruise ship features twenty luxurious cabins furnished in classical style. The ship can accommodate up to 40 passengers for either 2days/1night cruise or 3days/2nights cruise in Halong Bay. In November 2008, Bhaya will be accompanied by the launch of her sister ship. Together, the two ships offer 40 luxurious cabins and suites and an exciting array of activities and facilities for you to enjoy as you discover the scenic delights of Halong Bay

Promotion rate applied for both 2days/3days program and start from 156USD per person. Click here for cruise details and program

Above are some that can be listed on this promotion campaign. Visit the official website of Holiday Indochina at: http://www.holidayindochina.com/cruise.html OR its Premium website specializing on cruise bookings at http://www.mekonghalongbaycruise.com for more information and cruise deals

*** Offered by Holiday Indochina - A Vietnam-based professional Online tour operator of Inbound Market

Vietnam Halong bay cruises - Luxury collection

Holiday Indochina offering a luxury collection of Halong bay cruises. All cruises mentioned are at similar standard as at least 3star plus hotels. Check our products to pick the best suitable one for your next cruise on Halong bay Vietnam. Are you ready? Check them out and Happy pick

1/ Halong bay Indochina Sails - luxury junk, great value, best price offered, highly recommended
The fleet of 3 luxury junks including: The Indo 1 (14 cabins) and Indo 2 (15 cabins) are identical boats and were both launched in 2007. Each comprises 15 cabins (Superior and Deluxe Cabins). The deluxe cabins are are a bit larger and feature rainfall showers and are all situated on the second decks of the boats. Our newest boat, the Indo 3 (15cabins), launched in late 2008, also features ceramic artworks handcrafted in Bat Trang, well known as the home of the country’s most talented ceramic craftsmen.
Price start from: 167$ pp for 2days program
282$ pp for 3days program

2/ Halong Valentine Junk - top end, luxury junk on Halong bay, small and high privacy, best deals, highly recommended
Our smaller boat, the “Valentine”, launched in late 2007, is perfect for those seeking a more exclusive and intimate experience. Valentine is a full service vessel offering all the facilities and amenities of our larger boats, but with only five cabins; four Deluxe cabins at 19 square meters each and one Suite cabin at 30 square meters, all with Jacuzzis.
Price start from: 212$ pp for 2days program
353$ pp for 3days program

3/ Halong Ginger/Jasmine Junk - Excellent services, 18 luxury cabin, book online easy and fast
The Ginger cruise blends classical beauty with modern comfort, catering to groups of between max 20 people. Measuring 38m in length and 8m in width, it has three decks that house the elegant restaurant, a lounge, two bars, a small boutique and a library, as well as 10 luxurious sleeping cabins. The stylish decoration of the dining room – not to mention the fact that the staff change their uniforms to serve meals – is highly impressive, seemingly more suited to a five-star hotel
Officially open o­n 18 December 2007, our newest four star junk, Jasmine cruise will set the standard for services and amenities o­n Halong bay. Fitted out in the 1930's Indochine style, the Halong jasmine junk will feature 22 spacious cabin, restaurant, lounge and two special jasmine Suites with their own jacuzzi & balcony for uninterrupted views of Halong bay
Price start from: 214$ pp for 2days program
342$ pp for 3days program

4/ Halong Bhaya cruises - Eastern style cruise on Halong bay, book 2days or 3days program
Launched in July 2007, the Bhaya cruise features twenty luxurious cabins furnished in classical style. The junk can accommodate up to 40 passengers for either 2days/1night cruise or 3days/2nights cruise in Halong Bay. In November 2008, Bhaya Halong deluxe junk will be accompanied by the launch of her sister ship. Together, the two ships offer 40 luxurious cabins and suites and an exciting array of activities and facilities for you to enjoy as you discover the scenic delights of Halong Bay
Price start from: 165$ pp for 2days program
292$ pp for 3days program

5/ Halong Emeraude cruise - Unique steaming luxury cruise on Halong bay
the Emeraude offers a regular cruise service on board a luxurious replica steamer with 38 cabins meticulously designed to evoke the nostalgic charm of colonial Indochina. From 1910 a paddle steamer called the Emeraude was offering unforgettable cruises in Halong Bay for visitors to what was then French Indochina.
Price start from: 175$ pp for 2days program

6/ Halong Emotion cruise - 28 comfortable rooms, a dining room with sea view, a bar and a superb sundeck, best deals
Designed in the 1910’s Indochina style, the Halong Emotion offers the perfect mix in traditional elegance and modern comfort. Special attention has been paid to the decoration and interior of the junk. It features 28 comfortable rooms, a dining room with sea view, a bar and a superb sundeck
Price start from: 130$ pp for 2days program
285$ pp for 3days program

7/ Halong bay Red Gragon Junk - Small boat, small group cruise trips, luxury small junk on Halong bay
With its classic sails, polished woodwork and refined, Asian décor, the Halong Red Dragon Cruise offers an unforgettable ambiance of relaxed elegance. Red Dragon Cruise on Halong bay has been launched in March, 2008 of 5 cabins for a small group tour or family travelers.
Price start from: 165$ pp for 2days program
290$ pp for 3days program

Mekong cruise collection in Vietnam is also available and will be updated in my next post. Or you can refer immediately at http://mekonghalongbaycruise.com/MekongCruises

Contact to directly to cruise expert at sales@mekonghalongbaycruise.com / Hotline 27/4 in service: 84-902 24 3637

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Top Sea Kayaking Trips in Vietnam

Ha Long Bay
This is the premier sea kayaking trip in Asia. Start out in Ha Long city and spend seven days paddling through the emerald-blue water of the Ha Long Bay World Heritage site. Thousands of islands dot the seascape while millions of brightly colored fish swirl through the water below you. You can spend hours exploring the caves and grottoes sprinkled through the larger islands and marvel at the formations of the smaller ones.

Nights can be spent in a hotel on a different island each night as you paddle your way through them. Fresh seafood is caught daily by the local fishermen and prepared for your meals.

Cat Ba Island
On the edge of the Ha Long World Heritage site, Cat Ba Island is itself a national park. Hotels populate Cat Ba city on the southern tip allowing the kayaker to spend their days exploring islands off the coat and their nights in the same hotel.

Fresh seafood caught by local fishermen is included in every meal. Many of the fishermen will recognize you after a few days and will greet you as you paddle among the narrow rock channels to investigate the many grottoes.

Mekong Delta
The Me Kong delta offers a unique opportunity for an easy paddle journey discovering channels containing floating markets and aquatic thoroughfares. Most expeditions start in Ho Chi Minh City and go on a circuit of small towns and islands in the river delta. The Cai Be floating market displays the handicraft of local villages while islands like Thoi Son wait for you to explore.

Ba Be Lake
This inland lake has been designated a national park and is divided into three parts giving it its name, which means “three lakes”. Set in Northern Vietnam, these trips generally will start in Hanoi with a cross-country drive into the hill country to Ba Be Lake. Travelers can visit hill country museums in Hanoi to get a better understanding of the cultures they will experience on the drive and in the towns dotting the lake’s edges. The lake itself is generally calm; paddling is easy as you enjoy the tranquility of unspoiled jungles and limestone mountains. Accommodations are through a guest house sponsored by the local hill tribes and meals are always freshly caught. Ba Be is under intense international pressure to stop poaching and travelers visiting there help build awareness of this problem.

Preparation
It is important to have the right visa when traveling anywhere; even when kayaking the bay. Visa applications to Vietnam are 30-day single-entry tourist visas and must be applied for at least six months prior to the date of entry. The visa specifies the arrival and departure dates but can be extended once inside the country. The application packet can be found at the Vietnam embassy website. Be sure to take extra passport-sized photos for the local officials if they request them. Carry your passport with you when kayaking for easy access in case you are stopped by officials.

Things to Remember
Do not attempt to take a kayaking trip during the monsoon season in May through October. Weather for the rest of the year will be warm and you will need to take plenty of water and sunscreen.

Most of all, remember to have a good time. Going at the right time of year and careful planning of the trip will ensure it goes smoothly and a little forethought will help keep you away from problems in the future.

Written by Chris Allen - posted by Liz Mai

Book kayaking tours in Halong and Mekong online through http://mekonghalongbaycruise.com or http://holidayindochina.com

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Flow on Mekong River (2)

We're close to the Cambodian border here and the people are more obviously Khmer, with their fuller features, darker skin and a preference for a chequered scarf over the ubiquitous Vietnamese conical hat. It is also home to a sizeable community of Chams, a Muslim minority of Malaysian appearance who live on the other side of the Bassac river.

We hire a boat and motor across to the Cham village. On the main street, dotted with stalls selling fruit and vegetables and snacks, women chat in the shade of the verandas of their wooden houses. Little girls sell waffles and simple cakes to visitors. I meet the caretaker of one of the two mosques. He shows us a short film about the history of the Cham but it is in Vietnamese so we leave none the wiser.

This part of the Bassac river, where it meets the Mekong, is home to an extraordinary concentration of floating houses, each of which is a self-contained fish farm. In the centre of each house is a large cage submerged in the river, in which families raise local bassa catfish, thousands of tonnes of which are exported to Australia every year. The fish are fed a kind of meal made from cereal, fish and vegetable scraps in cauldrons that rumble and roil. The smell is challenging.

At eight the next morning, we board another fast boat for the journey to the Cambodian capital. On another steamy, insanely hot day, we are looking forward to spending the trip on the deck, savouring the breeze. But a gaggle of young American backpackers with newsreader voices storm the boat and secure the outdoor area as their headquarters. It is their world. We just live in it.

As we travel towards Cambodia, the river begins to change. Gone is the frenetic boat activity and on the riverbank life takes on a less industrial, more bucolic demeanour. As we rejoin the Mekong, the river widens and soon the factories on the shore are replaced by cornfields, banana trees that shift and flap in the breeze and ragged, palm-thatched huts. Families bathe in the shallows and children scrub and splash their wallowing buffaloes. One-and-a-half hours later, when we reach the border at Vinh Xuong, Vietnam, and Kaam Samnor, Cambodia, we're in a different, more lush, more languid world.

We disembark at the border post and after an hour or so filling in various forms and questionnaires, we say goodbye to the Vietnamese boat and board the altogether less salubrious Cambodian craft for the rest of the journey. But in the end the boat's state of rugged disrepair matters little and most people spend the afternoon sitting on the rear deck or lounging on the bow and impairing the vision of the driver.

It is all too idyllic and, as it turn out, too good to last. Low water levels in the Tonle Sap river mean we have to complete the final leg of the journey by bus. But even this is fascinating, if cramped, as we hurl through the countryside and the sedate outskirts of Phnom Penh. As we arrive in the busy heart of the capital, I check my watch. It was just over seven hours ago that we boarded the boat in Chau Doc.

At our hotel, the owner tells us the water levels in the Tonle Sap are too low for us to go by boat to Siem Reap and that we'll have to take the bus or fly. He dismisses our disappointment, saying the boat has a karaoke machine on board. "Very noisy."

But we won't decide what to do until after dinner – perhaps some steamed fish in coconut milk or fried squid with green peppers. As we hop into a tuk-tuk to take us to the waterfront, a young girl, brown as a nut and cute as a button, implores us to buy some bottled water.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Cosmic," she replies, beaming. "Where are you from?"

"Australia."

"Do you know Kevin Rudd?" she asks.

"Of course."

"Well, he is my father."

I look puzzled and she giggles. We are smitten and it's bottled water all round. As we putter away, she yells to us: "Tell Kevin his daughter says hello."

I wave and promise I will.

- Bristbanetime.com -

Create your own memory with a tour on Mekong Delta cruise, refer at http://mekonghalongbaycruise.com or http://holidayindochina.com

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