A representative of the Ha Long Bay management board in the northern province of Quang Ninh said that Pieter Esterhugse and his wife were stranded at the Tuan Chau Wharf on Thursday after they found that the vessel they’d booked online for an overnight cruise on the Ha Long Bay did not exist. They had made an online booking on Hotels.com, the well known U.S.-based travel website, for an overnight stay on the four-star Glamor Star Cruise. The couple had chosen to celebrate their honeymoon in Vietnam with an overnight luxury cruise on the famous natural wonder of the world, Ha Long Bay. How much they paid for the cruise has not been revealed. Upon their arrival, some cruise ship owners at the wharf informed the couple that there was no ship with that name active in the bay. After confirming information about the couple’s plight, the site’s management board arranged a free overnight night tour of the bay for the couple. Ho Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of Ha Long City, … [Read more...] about South African couple planning Vietnam honeymoon cheated
Cruise ship stranded
Spanish family books Ha Long Bay cruise on non-existent vessel
By Vy An  July 29, 2018 | 03:11 pm GMT+7 Authorities are investigating how a Spanish family was cheated into booking a Ha Long Bay cruise on a vessel no longer in service. A Spanish couple and their three children were stranded at the Tuan Chau Wharf on Thursday after they found that the vessel they’d booked for an overnight cruise on the Ha Long Bay had not been in service for several years. The booking was made in March on Expedia.es, which collected $746 for a two-night tour on the Paragon Legend. Some cruise ship owners at the wharf said the Paragon Legend had stopped operating in the bay several years ago. The management board of the bay also confirmed that there was no ship with that name active in the bay. On learning of the family’s plight, the owner of the Pelican cruise decided to offer the Spanish family a free two-day-one-night tour of the world famous bay. A local cruise ship owner offers a free two-day-one-night trip for the Spanish … [Read more...] about Spanish family books Ha Long Bay cruise on non-existent vessel
Rough seas strand thousands on southern Vietnam island
Storm Son Tinh has triggered high waves and strong winds, prompting the Port Authority of the southern province of Kien Giang issue a no-sail order on Tuesday. Ships operating on the Phu Quoc – Ranh Gia and Ha Tien – Phu Quoc routes have already suspended operations. Son Tinh has caused widespread rain, beginning last night, flooding several roads on the island. “I’ve brought my wife and children to Phu Quoc Island for a holiday and we were supposed to go back to the mainland this morning, but we weren’t able to,” said To Van Tinh, a resident of Ca Mau Province at the nation’s southernmost tip. Cruise operators have said they would refund everyone who’ve purchased tickets and operating schedules will be announced once the weather gets better. As of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, the center of Son Tinh was about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of the Philippines with maximum speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour, according to the Vietnam … [Read more...] about Rough seas strand thousands on southern Vietnam island