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Just a short two-hour drive from Hanoi, Haiphong is one of Vietnam's major ports and an international gateway to the world. This port town however, retains an elegance and charm imbued by the elderly French-colonial buildings and a sleepy, almost provincial feel reinforced by the relatively slow pace of life evident in Haiphong. Activities in Haiphong itself are limited to strolling the quiet streets and taking in the scenery and vignettes of everyday life, although the major draw for groups to the city is its proximity to the glorious scenery of Cat Ba island and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, both easily accessible by boat or rapid ferry.
Once in Halong, visitors are often amazed by at the spectacular vistas of azure waters surrounding magnificent, towering peaks of solid limestone rising almost vertically from the seabed. Boat trips will take visitors around these eerily arresting isles, visiting caves, grottoes and deserted beaches along the way. Several stay-aboard options are now available in Halong, a few departing from Haiphong itself. International-standard hotels and resorts abound, along with plenty of budget and mid-range options, so visitors to Halong should be able to find suitable accommodation to fit their pockets. Another popular destination between Halong and Haiphong is Cat Ba island, a stunning, little-developed oasis where peace and serenity ar e the order of the day. Cat Ba can easily be reached by boat from either Haiphong or Halong. To explore Haiphong and Halong Bay further, and for details of special deals currently on offer for ElephantGuide.com users, simply select your channel of choice at left and let The Elephant guide you.
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