Flying over Ha Long heritage

Viewing the bay from Bai Tho Mountain, Bai Chay Beach or hotel rooms, on cruise ships is probably a familiar experience for most tourists to Ha Long. A seaplane trip to see the scenery from above will bring a completely new experience.

Ha Long Bay is picturesque from above.

Ha Long Bay is a small bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, the northeastern sea area of ​​Vietnam, including the island waters of Ha Long city, Cam Pha and part of Van Don island district, Quang Ninh province. From above, Ha Long Bay looks like a giant painting emerging from a postcard that tourists still see in souvenir shops in Hanoi or Quang Ninh. A very different Ha Long The tour to see the bay from a seaplane will start from Tuan Chau ferry terminal, where passengers listen to the pilot introduce the vehicle, which is still unfamiliar to most tourists coming to Ha Long. A few minutes after tourists have been checked for security and listened to flight safety rules, the Cessna Grand Caravan 208B-EX seaplane will begin its flight over the heritage site. Unlike the experience of flying on a normal commercial plane, visitors will be impressed with the new feeling when the plane takes off. The plane will slowly roll away from the ferry terminal into the sea, but will float like a boat thanks to two small floats attached to the body. When the engine starts, the propellers spin, and the entire plane cuts through the water and soars above the sea.

A typical corner of Ha Long city.

“Looking down from above, I see the vast emerald green of the sea, with thousands of limestone islands undulating. If I look at those islands from a cruise ship, I am overwhelmed by the traces of time and geological formations imprinted on each block of rock. Only when I take in the entire bay from a height of about 300m, can I fully appreciate the majesty of a world- famous wonder,” said Ha Chi, a tourist from Hanoi. Taking off from the sea, the plane flies over Tuan Chau Island, Reu Island, Hang Dinh Island, Ba Hai Island, But Moc Island, Tai Voi Island, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, Dinh Huong Island, Thien Cung Cave... all the way to the area bordering Lan Ha Bay of Hai Phong. Tourists will see bustling boats entering and leaving the port, fishing boats casting nets, or fishing villages, shrimp farms, fish farms... It is a very different vivid picture. Sarah Moñino Pizarro and Lidia Moñino Pizarro, Spanish sisters, were two of the international guests on the flight who kept raving about the experience of viewing Ha Long from above. Behind them, a French tourist kept telling his friends and relatives about the trip via video call. He also recorded beautiful corners of Ha Long Bay as souvenirs. An adventure in the heritage land In contrast to the peaceful journey on a cruise ship, a seaplane flight will bring certain strong feelings when viewing Ha Long Bay. That is when the pilot pushes the steering wheel to tilt the plane in the air, or sometimes the seaplane flies across a towering limestone island that seems to be about to touch the top. The small plane can dodge the rocky islands, flying close to the water to create the most surprising experiences. Passengers sometimes have to hold their breath because of the feeling of shock when the plane suddenly flies into turbulence - something that always happens with large planes. However, you can rest assured because the Cessna Grand Caravan 208B-EX is considered one of the safest aircraft that can land on water. This seaplane can carry up to 12 passengers, meeting the strict standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. The plane is also equipped with modern aviation equipment such as weather radar, storm tracking system and GPS. After dodging through the limestone islands, the plane leaves the bay, turns back to Ha Long city, visitors will see Bai Tho mountain, the Sun Wheel, Bai Chay bridge... appear like a miniature Lego city model. The seaplane returns to the sea, flying slowly near the boats to land.

The window changed scenery like a TV showing a movie throughout the flight.

From the large glass windows, passengers will see the faces of guests on the cruise ships with a look of surprise when a plane suddenly landed from above. Perhaps many of them will be curious about the tour to see Ha Long Bay from above and ask the tour guide where they can book tickets. Meanwhile, guests who have just finished the 25-minute flight wish the flight could last longer, to remember longer the view from above of the unique heritage of Vietnam.

Unlike commercial flights, seaplane passengers do not need to turn off their phone signals to ensure safety, but can freely use their phones to communicate or access the Internet, film, take photos, etc. Because, airplanes operate with different signal waves than civil aircraft. And low-altitude flights allow passengers to use their phone signals as they wish. Do Hoang Chuong, captain of the flight carrying the international delegation, said that Ha Long has its own beauty in each season. In winter, the bay is often foggy in the early morning, so visitors should choose to travel around noon to easily enjoy the scenery when the sky is clear. Passengers who want to fly a seaplane in Ha Long should avoid traveling in June and July, when big storms hit. The most suitable weather to visit Ha Long Bay from above is April, May or September, October when the days are longer, the sky is clear and sunny. In case of weather conditions such as dense fog that obstruct the pilot’s vision, flights will not take place to ensure the safety of passengers. Bad weather may cause the flight to be delayed, or an emergency landing at a safe landing site along the route.

Laodong.vn

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