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Take A Helicopter To Your Luxury Tour

Apparently, there are people out there whose time is worth more than money, where by "money," we mean "fantastic amounts of." It's not enough that you can pre-board that flight; you also have to board first for maximum lollage and/or free beverage consumption. And it's not enough that you take a luxury cruise, you need to be taken to it personally by helicopter.

Halong Bay, Vietnam isn't out of reach for the ordinary traveler -- our own embedded guide reported that the only difference between her cruise and the first-class variety of same was the shrimp cocktail. Nor would we expect second-class treatment from a tour operator called Luxury Travel Vietnam. But after coughing up $745 for a three-day cruise, do they honestly expect anyone to put down $604 in order to travel by helicopter to and from Halong?

The one thing we'll say about all this competing transportation is that it might make an awesome setpiece for a Bond movie. Can the on-the-ground agents stop the helicopter with the nefarious evil conglomerate heads from landing? (Note to self: save money for punch-ups.)

Related Stories:
· Indochina Sails Junk Cruise [Luxury Travel Vietnam]
· Vietnam by Train: Cruising Halong Bay [Jaunted]
· Vietnam coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: doopits]

Cruises / Travel Media / → All Tags

Hang On For Halong Bay

While the Amazing Racers might've made a balls-up of their stint in Halong Bay, Vietnam, other travelers manage to just enjoy it. This report from the Sunday Telegraph of a boating tour around the bay might not have the excitement (or stupidity) of the Racers' trips, but it does make it sound like a darn nice place to spend a few days. We can almost feel a bit of a travel crush coming on.

From bats in the World Heritage listed caves to fish and squid galore both in the water and on the dinner table, to colorful sunsets and tropical thunder and lightning, Halong Bay starts to sound rather like paradise on earth. The lucky writer who enjoyed this trip is a bit bemused, though, by discovering her cruise boat has a library. "Why anyone would want to sit and read," she says, "when there's the option of sunning yourself on deck, swimming in the bay or drinking cocktails after a day kayaking, is anyone's guess."

Maybe it is possible to have too much sunshine, and we know it's definitely possible to have too many cocktails. But heading into the library isn't usually the best cure.

[Photo: williewonker]

Related Stories:
· Inside Halong Bay's Lost World [The Australian]
· Amazing Race 10: Peter Needs Some Dong [Jaunted]