Tourism in Northern Vietnam is becoming increasingly attractive with many unique and novel tourism experiences.
In addition to the picturesque natural landscapes or long-standing cultural and historical values, Northern Vietnam’s tourism businesses are developing new and unique experiences to attract visitors. These experiences aim to offer tourists more interesting and different options to enjoy their trips.
1. Paragliding over ripe rice fields in Mu Cang Chai
The ideal time to go paragliding in Mu Cang Chai is around May-June during the flood season or September-October during the ripe rice season. There are two locations to choose from to start your journey: Khau Pha Pass or La Tan Pass. According to feedback from tourists, the ideal paragliding jump-off point is Khau Pha Pass – one of the “four great mountain passes” of Vietnam – at a height of over 1,200m.
The cost for each paragliding jump varies depending on the time of the year, from about 1.5 million VND per person (during the flood season) to about 2.5 million VND per person (during the golden ripe rice season), and can reach up to 3.2 million VND per person during holidays.
The price includes the cost of hiring professional pilots, filming and taking photos of the paragliding process, paragliding insurance at the jump-off point, and some other services to ensure the tourists’ experience.
A paragliding trip can last from 10-30 minutes depending on the wind conditions and the health of the passengers (the international standard is about 15 minutes). Tourists should book in advance 1-2 days because this activity attracts many travel enthusiasts, and the number of supporting pilots is still limited.
A small note when experiencing paragliding is that tourists should only bring necessary items and avoid bringing too much luggage to avoid difficulties and inconvenience during the flight.
2. Helicopter and seaplane sightseeing tours in Halong Bay
In Halong Bay, tourists can admire the picturesque landscape from above with two types of sightseeing tours: seaplane and helicopter.
Seaplane
From the seaplane, tourists can enjoy a panoramic view of Halong Bay from a height of 300-2,000 meters above sea level. Seaplane offers a completely new sightseeing experience when visitors can skim close to the water surface before taking off and maintaining altitude.
One of the companies providing seaplane services is Hai Au Aviation. This company uses Cessna Caravan C208B-EX aircraft directly imported from the United States – rated as the largest and safest engine for taking off and landing on water surface by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). There are 3-5 flights per day. The sightseeing flight time for each trip is about 25 minutes with a cost ranging from 1.6-2 million VND.
There are 2 seats for the pilot and 12 passenger seats on the seaplane. There will be two pilots on each flight, including a foreign captain and a Vietnamese co-pilot. The pilot on each flight will act as a tour guide, helping tourists to gain more knowledge about each site they pass by.
When booking a Halong Bay seaplane tour, visitors need to move to the seaplane dock at Tuan Chau International Port. You need to present your ID card/Passport/Birth certificate for check-in at least 30 minutes before departure.
Helicopter
Similar to seaplane, helicopter flight is a great way to admire and explore the landscape of Halong Bay from above with more private experience.
The Bell 505 helicopter operating in Halong Bay is designed with a transparent glass front, allowing tourists to fully admire the beauty of the Bay. Bell 505’s operation is run by pilots who have at least 10 years of experience.
Each Bell 505 can carry 5 people, including one pilot and 4 passengers. Currently, sightseeing flights accept 3 or more passengers. There are 3 sightseeing routes, including Discovery Bay, Impressive Bay and Conquering Bay, with a flight time of 10, 15, 20 minutes per trip, with prices ranging from 2.7 to 7.4 million VND per passenger, depending on the seat class and travel time.
On each tour, tourists will fly over famous tourist destinations in Halong Bay such as Tuan Chau Island, Thien Cung Cave, Titop Island, Bai Tu Long National Park, Reu Island, and Trong Mai Islet.
Tourists should book their tour in advance to secure their spot and choose the most suitable tour package.
3. Exploring Hanoi by Jeep
There are two popular tours that tourists usually choose, including a city tour around Hanoi combined with culinary and cultural experiences, or an outskirt tour to Bat Trang pottery village and other ancient villages along the Red River.
The cost for each trip is around 1.5 million VND per person, including entrance fees to the visited places, food expenses, English-speaking tour guide (if needed), and local travel insurance. Each trip can accommodate 1-6 people, depending on the service provider’s arrangement.
The tour lasts for 4-5 hours and takes place at three different times of the day. The morning session starts from 8-12am, the afternoon session from 12:30-5pm, and the evening session from 5-9:30pm. Besides, tourists can also book private tours at any time to fit their personal schedule.
With a well-planned itinerary and professional driver cum guide, Jeep Tours provides complete services to ensure a comfortable and memorable trip.
