Making the most of Qui Nhon
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships dock 5km from town. Taxis are available.
Printable map to take along.
Ha Long City is the central city of Quang Ninh province and is endowed with 1969 beautiful stone islands rising from the sea. UNESCO endorses the premium value of Ha Long Bay by recognizing it twice as a World Natural Heritage (first in1994 and again in 2000). Views from above Long Bay have been likened to a painting as a result of the wonderful and skilful strokes of nature which turned thousands of soulless stone islands into fantastic sculptural and artistic works of graceful shapes. Thousands of islands emerging uneven in the distant waves look strong and magnificent but also peaceful. Inside the stone islands are various breath-taking…
Ha Long is also home to a biodiversity of ecosystems like the mangrove forests, coral reefs and tropical forests. It is also home to thousands of plants and animals, some species which are particularly rare and cannot be found elsewhere.
Getting around
Be prepared for a truly authentic Vietnamese experience in this colorful town that remains undiscovered by most travelers. Take a leisurely stroll and enjoy local specialties fresh from colorful fishing boats — or explore the ancient Cham temples.
International driving licenses are not accepted in Vietnam. Therefore, there are no car rental companies such as Hertz and Avis etc.
Money
The national currency is the dong (d?ng, VND), U.S. dollars are widely accepted, the standard exchange rate for small quantities being 16000 dong to US$1.
ATMs are getting more and more common and can be found in most bigger cities and every tourist destination.
You can bargain on practically anything in Vietnam.
Staying connected
The people of Vietnam speak Vietnamese as a native language, English is becoming more popular as a second language. English study is obligatory in most schools.
Internet access is available in all but the most remote towns.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours: Daily 0800/0830-2100/2200.
By far the largest holiday of the year is Tet, also known as Vietnamese New Year, which takes place between late January and March following the unisolar Chinese calendar. During the three days of Tet shops close up and everybody heads home to their family, making this a somewhat difficult time to travel in Vietnam.