FWinmoscow

HI Jazz Beau , Great Blog . We are sailing with Le Bellot next August around the same dates as you did your trip . 

I wondered about wildlife watching from the boat . Were you able to see whales and birdlife from the boat ( I know it is the end of the puffin season so they might be gone )I am wondering about booking a whale watching excursion but if you get plentiful views from the boat it might be better to spend my money elsewhere . What do you think ?

Ponant looks super - really looking forward to it after reading your review but hoping for smoother seas . 

In December, Azamara got Vietnam "visas" for all cruise ship passengers for US$6 (for three ports of call). However, if you wanted to stay off the ship overnight, you were required to get a proper visa. Are you planning on staying on the junk over night?

 

I haven't heard of additional port fees for a day junk trip, so suggest you enquire further with Indochina Junk. I do know passengers on one privately arranged day junk trip were requested to pay taxi fare from port of arrival to port of departure of junk. In the end, our ship disembarked passengers on the port to the right of the big bridge (not Bai Chay port as originally advised).

 

Bangkok - I would allow plenty of time for traffic. I would leave at noon for 2 pm back on board, for 3 pm departure.

Thanks Ron , Transfer time ties in with what the company are saying too . So I 'll get that booked.

I have emailed the ship ( HAL ) re the visa's it sounds like there are special arrangements for cruise boats so I think I 'll just let the ship handle it ( I think it is 65 USD for our 3 stops )

We are not staying overnight on the Junk - its a day tour with Indochina picking us up outside the port in a bus and from there to the boat . We' re paying 80 USD per head for the 8 hour cruise . It is my contact at Indochina that says we will need to pay this 35 USD per person which is not included in our tour fee but I can't find any info on line about it which seems strange and it seems like an awfully high amount . I have emailed her for more information and also HAL directly to see what they have to say .

Thanks for all your insights .

Judi

Hi Captain Ron ,

I know it is a while ago now but I have a couple of questions regarding port fees and visas .We are travelling in January next year .

We are travelling with Indochina Junk on a day cruise - my contact there has told me that there are additional port fees that we will have to pay in Bai Chay port - of up to 35 USD per person and that is not included in our tour price. Do you remember paying these fees , does that apply in all ports ? I haven't found any additional information on line yet so any insights you can provide would be great .

For Bangkok our boat departs at 15.00 - I am planning on organised a private transfer - based on your traffic experience what time would you plan on leaving Bangkok to get back to the boat on time ?

For Visa's - does the boat get a multiple entry visa for you for Vietnam ? As UK passport holders we don't need visas for single entry but we do for multiple entry but I am not sure if a day tour classifies as an entry or not ? Sometimes there are special arrangements for cruise boats . Do you have any extra information on that ?

Thanks in advance , I hope you can still remember .

Best Regards

Judi