Miss World casts vote for HaLong Bay - Halong cruise
Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova Sunday voted for Halong Bay recognition as one of the world seven natural wonders.
She also visited two districts with a high incidence of poverty that were merged into the capital city of Hanoi
last =ova, followed by Miss World Organization�s Chairwoman Julia Morley and president of Rare Antibody Antigen Supply Inc. (RAAS) group Hoang Kieu, voted for Halong Bay after they had spent an enjoyable outing at Quang Ninh Province�s world famous attraction on Saturday.
The Russian beauty then traveled more than 200 kilometers to Thanh Oai District of the former Ha Tay Province.
Sukhinova and Hoang Kieu inaugurated 300 charity houses for the poor residents and RAAS contributed VND300 million (US$16,803) toward building the houses.
They also gave 250 li xi (lucky money envelopes for the Lunar New Year) of VND500,000 ($29) each to people in the district.
Hoang Kieu received a certificate of merit from local authorities for his philanthropic acts.
The beauty queen and her entourage then proceeded to a charity center in Ba Vi District, another new district of Hanoi, and presented its residents with 200 gifts and 80 li xi.
Sukhinova left for Bac Kan Province today, continuing her 18-day charity tour in Vietnam.
Laos tour
Our Laos "Something Different" collection features sample itineraries that showcase what Buffalo Tours can provide for those seeking a holiday "with a twist".
Vietnam travel
Vietnam is most commonly divided in to three regions, each of which has distinctive geographical features and travel options.
Sapa tours
With all the best that Sapa offers, every of your trekking days is a combination of your love to adventure with new culture discovery and nature wonders.
Halong cruise
Browse our handy travel guide to find the best things to see and do in Ha Long, and read our tips on how to get the most out of your trip.
Cambodia travel
This section covers many valuable resources on Cambodia such as the travel guides or tips to travelers. Some of the topics contain links to the other related sites of similar subjects.
Halong – a bird’s-eye view
The stunning beauty of Halong Bay in Vietnam’s north has long been appreciated by seafaring visitors but now, sightseers can take in the awe-inspiring landscape from a completely different perspective.
Since August 2008, The Northern Serviced Flight Company has been offering helicopter tours around the bay, giving tourists a bird’s-eye view of the imposing limestone outcrops and surrounding area.
After taking off from Hanoi’s Gia Lam Helicopter Station and flying to an altitude of 300 meters (1,000 feet), Halong Bay can be seen in its entire panoramic splendor.
The thrilling ride costs US$110 per person and package deals are available that include helicopter flights from Hanoi to Quang Ninh Province – home of Halong Bay – costing from $350-550.
The Northern Serviced Flight Company began offering flights this summer to meet the increasing tourism demand in the north.
The EC -130 B4 helicopter can accommodate up to seven people and the tours are already popular for weddings and family vacations, say the tour operators.
Initially, the only tour routes available were from Hanoi to Halong Bay in Quang Ninh Province and around Hanoi’s outskirts.
The routes have now been expanded, with other offered destinations including Halong, Cat Bi, Cat Ba, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Dien Bien Phu, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Vung Tau, Con Dao, Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Phu Quoc.
From February 2009 onwards, the price of a helicopter tour around Halong Bay and round-trip flights from Hanoi will increase to $130 and $650 per person respectively.
The Gia Lam Helicopter Station is located on Highway No. 5 in Gia Thuy Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi.
