Launching from our mother ship, we pointed our kayaks at a hole in a karst islet and paddled through a long cavern to reach a mangrove-lined lagoon. Because of its low entrance, the cavern is accessible only by kayak and we had the whole place to ourselves.
Though they appear solid, the thousands of karst islets -- rising out of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam's north coast - are honeycombed with caves and fringed with tiny beaches. The rugged rocks, scattered over 1,500 square kilometers of sea dotted with red-sailed junks and fishing sampans, have inspired an entire genre of Vietnamese paintings.
It's an ideal environment to explore by kayak, especially if your base is a ship like the Huong Hai, a recently built copy of a junk fitted out with comforts difficult to find in small coastal communities such as Cat Ba and Bai Chay. We were on the deluxe junk for a three-day kayaking sortie to some of the least visited islets in the bay.
On our luxury junk, we left the crowds behind, dropped anchor for the night in secluded coves and, at sunrise, were back up on deck taking in the stillness, ready for another day of paddling.
We offer 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and 5-day program
Follows is sample of 3-day program, which is recommended for non-professional kayakers.
Day 01: Hanoi - Halong (-/L/D)
Pick up at your hotel. Drive to Halong Bay. Get on deluxe junk. While you having deluxe seafood lunch, The cruise will take you by exotic islets with shapes of Dog, Incense Urn, Sail, Fighting Cocks, which are naturally formed by process of erosion between the see water and lime stone mountains. After lunch, your professional guide will introduce the kayak briefing. Arrive first kayak place. You will explore sea-caves and lagoons by kayak.
Swimming in deep and clean lagoons. Paddle back to junk. Moving to the protected area for anchor. Deluxe seafood dinner will be served after your shower. Enjoy moonlight paddle or fishing. Overnight in deluxe cabin with air conditioner (but you should prefer nature wind from your large window in your cabin).
Day 02: Halong bay (B/L/D)
After sunrise breakfast, our experience captain will take you to non-tourist place for your continuous paddling for explores more sea-caves and lagoons. Back to junk, where deluxe seafood lunch is waiting for you.
You will have time to enjoy more beautiful lime stone island from sundeck when boat moving to next kayaking place. Explore more sea-caves and lagoons. Back to boat. Moving back to protected area for overnight. You will have moonlight paddle after dinner.
Day 03: Halong bay - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Sunrise breakfast. Continue explore sea-caves and lagoons by kayak. Back to boat. After checks out you is served deluxe seafood lunch. Boat arrive pier about 12h00. Drive back to Hanoi.
