Our Vietnam Seat-in-Coach (SIC) tours are now available at an unbeatable price of 599 USD per person, including domestic flights, first class accommodation and tours, while the superior option is offered at 834 USD with the same inclusions. Departing every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from October 2009 – April 2010, this 9 Days / 8 Nights package visits Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. Optional extensions to Angkor Wat or beach breaks are available on a non-SIC basis. Click here to view the full itinerary and rates. For booking inquiry, contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

The fabulous seascapes of Halong Bay and Nha Trang can now be enjoyed from a flying boat, the newest kind of sightseeing service in Vietnam. These inflatable hovercrafts can carry over 400kg each while cruising at an average speed of 70km per hour. Seating a pilot and a passenger, this service is currently only available for FITs. For clients looking for a touch of adventure in their Halong tours, this option can be incorporated into our Halong and Hanoi Discover Tour. Contact vietnam@exotissimo.com for more information.

Halong Bay’s newest deluxe vessel, Halong Violet, will be launched on 1 November 2009 by the cruise company that owns Jasmine and Ginger junks. Constructed in the 1930’s Indochine style, Halong Violet features a dinning room, library, lounge, spa and gym. The 6 individually themed cabins are each fitted with a marble bathroom, Jacuzzi and private balcony. The junk will also sail to untouched areas of the bay with a longer overnight cruise.

Surrounded by the sea and stunning limestone cliffs, the floating villages of Halong Bay are unique and make for a fascinating overnight stay. A floating house is used as the sleeping quarters for group sizes not exceeding 6 people. Guests are encouraged to interact with the locals to learn more about their daily lives. Sightseeing activities include a fishing excursion, visiting a floating school and discovering Bai Tu Long Bay where travelers rarely venture. Contact vietnam@exotissimo.com for more information.

Bhaya has launched three private charter junks onto the waters of Halong Bay. Bhaya Legend I is fitted with one luxurious suite-cabin while Bhaya Legend II (two boats are available with the same names and sizes) features two cabins. These new, intimate junks are designed in similar styles as the Bhaya Classic Junks with a green interior and a white exterior.

The Emeraude is now offering day cruises in which passengers can join in the cruise during the day and enjoy the services as per the overnight program. However, at 5 pm, day cruise passengers will be taken back to Halong City.

In November, Indochina Sails launched the operation of the Indochina Sails 3, bringing its total cruiser fleet in Halong Bay to four. The newest vessel features 15 luxurious cabins, including four deluxe suites with private balconies on the second deck. With designs inspired by the classic Oriental junks and equipped with modern amenities, the Indochina fleet is known for having the most charming and luxurious boats on Halong Bay.

Joining operations alongside Bassac I and II in Mekong River since November is Bassac III. Accommodating up to 24 passengers in the 12 air-conditioned cabins (each fitted with a private bathroom), this new boat also features a spacious restaurant, a large gallery, a front lounge and a mostly–covered upper deck. The Bassac III can take passengers on cruises up to seven days through Vietnam’s Mekong Delta as well as charter and set departure cruises from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.

If you would like to have further product updates or information that are not seen in this e-newsletter, please email our Vietnam Product Manager, Maeve Nolan, at maeve@exotissimo.com for further

In October, Bhaya Cruise recently added new luxurious boats in Halong Bay. The new 40-metre Bhaya II is appointed with 20 spacious suites and cabins with en-suite bathrooms, elegant restaurant, beauty spa, boutique library and large sundeck. Another new addition to the Bhaya family, the Bhaya Spirit, is a 20-metre boat that features a single-deck design with a spacious foredeck and restaurant. Its fully equipped kayaking facilities is often used to support the cruise programmes of the bigger vessels. In addition, the newly opened Bhaya Café in Halong City provides a convenient spot for cruise passengers to relax before embarking or disembarking from their ships.

A new cruise ship operator Paradise Cruises introduced two luxurious vessels in Halong Bay. Featuring 17 smartly designed cabins, the junks deliver the ultimate in comfort and luxury. Soft beds on the sun deck allow guests to lounge in comfort while surrounded by the stunning views of limestone formations. Targeting the high-end customers, other features on board include a beauty spa, massage area and dining room.

It is almost that time of year again, when the Emeraude has to go into drydock for its yearly maintenance. This year, it will be unavailable from 28th May to 5th July 2008. The Emeraude is a perennial favorite for those wishing to explore Halong Bay from its colonial decks. Please contact Vietnam@exotissimo.com in case your bookings are affected.

The Jasmine Junk will set sail on 18th December 2007. The newest four star junk on Halong Bay, we expect it to give the Emeraude, the Bhaya, the Ginger and the Indochina Sails junks some healthy competition. Furnished with a 1930s aesthetic, the Jasmine will feature 22 spacious cabins, a restaurant and lounge. For those escaping to a romantic getaway, the two 25 square meter Jasmine suites come complete with private balcony and outdoor Jacuzzi.