Vietnam’s Halong Bay is easily one of the most beautiful coastlines in Asia, and for us, kayaking is the best way to explore this otherworldly karst landscape.
Unlike the larger junk boats that navigate the bay, travelling on a tiny one or two-person vessel offers the advantage of slipping between hovering islets, exploring hidden caves and lagoons, washing up on unspoilt beaches, getting up close to floating fishing villages and even chatting with local fishermen.
Even for neophyte kayakers, the conditions in Halong Bay are pretty paddle-friendly – the presence of thousands of islands generally keeps the water and currents. That said, it’s always best to paddle with a guide, especially if you’re inexperienced.
There are a few operators offering kayaking trips out of Hanoi. We recommend getting a 3-day package. For around $350 (depending on how many people are on the trip), you can get bus transfers to and from Hanoi, two full days (roughly 8am-5pm) of paddling around the bay and two nights accommodation aboard a junk boat. This doesn’t include food and drink, though, so bring some extra cash.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Images: Slippy Slappy, LauraSmith99, anmsid)
