In 1910 a
paddle steamer called the Emeraude was offering unforgettable
cruises in Halong Bay for visitors to what was then
French Indochina. The Emeraude was part of a flotilla
owned by the Roque family who had left Bordeaux in 1858
in search of adventure and fortune. Over a period of
more than 50 years they found both. After several ups
and downs including successful trading and timber businesses,
near bankruptcy and being taken hostage by pirates,
the Roque brothers built Emeraude, Perle, Saphir, Rubis
and Onyx to ferry passengers and freight along the waterways
of Indochina and cruise on magnificent Halong Bay.
Today the Emeraude offers a regular cruise service on
board a luxurious replica steamer with 38 cabins meticulously
designed to evoke the nostalgic charm of colonial Indochina.
Click here to read the complete story of the Roque Brother's
expedition to the East |
