Emeraude ready for Hanoi-Halong shuttle bus service
24/07/07 (GMT+7)
Emeraude ready for Hanoi-Halong, the operator of Emeraude Classic Cruises is busy with preparations for the launch of a shuttle bus service between Hanoi and Halong Bay to serve travelers early next month.
The cruise operator will put into service a pair of 16-seat Ford Transit vans that run daily between the capital city and Halong, which is the home of the UNESCO-listed bay. The round-trip shuttle will cost a Emeraude passengers US$35.
The bus to Halong is scheduled to leave from the Emeraude's sales office at 59A Ly Thai To Street every morning at 8:30 while the bus to Hanoi will depart from the Emeraude's pier in Bai Chay HaLong at 9.30am.
"The transit from Hanoi to Halong, and vice versa has always been a logistical hurdle for some passengers, especially those who have come to us independently," said Kurt Walter, general manager of Emeraude Classic Cruises.
"Now that the boat has acquired a a level of popularity, there's more demand on that route than ever before. So we were happy to build that bridge."
The Emeraude is a near replica of a stern-wheel paddle steamer that ferried tourists about the bay from 1906 until 1937.
The present vessel features 36 air-conditioned cabins and two posh suites, ample deck space, a 52-seat restaurant, spa treatments and other amenities that are singular to Ha Long Bay Vietnam.
Walter said the cruise operator was upgrading services with English-speaking staff, including the shuttle's driver. Later this year, Walter's crew plans to debut the Emeraude Cafe in Halong.
During August and September, Emeraude Classic Cruises is offering a Vietnamese Independence Day Celebrations package to local residents.
The package costs US$100 per person, including return transfer on the new shuttle.
(Source: SGT)
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