Legend-bound Halong Bay, a dreamlike setting of sheer limestone islets soaring above a sheltered sea, for an exhilarating sea kayaking journey among its jagged isles, hidden lagoons, and splendid sea caves.
This is a wonderful, enchanting place for beginners to be introduced to this easy and enjoyable sport!
Day
Itinerary
Hotel
1
In Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, our guide will welcome you with flowers Check in at the hotel. Evening, welcome dinner at Le Tonkin restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi (D)
2
Morning tour of this charming city, including visits to Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum and House, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Lunch at Hoa Sua vocational training school restaurant.
Afternoon, visit the Fine Arts Museum, and then take a cyclo tour through the old quarter. Balance of the day free until a water puppet show in the evening.
Overnight in Hanoi (B, L)
3
Hanoi - Babe Lake (L,D ).
Ba Be National Park
Drive north about six hours (180 miles) to Ba Be National Park, situated in Bac Kan province of northern Vietnam (picnic lunch en route). Ba Be, a relic of natural lower mountain forests that once covered all the mountain ranges from east to west north of the Red River delta, covers an area of some 90 square miles, of which more than half is strictly protected and the remaining is in a forest restoration zone. The park's densely forested area is a refuge for unique flora and fauna (410 plant species and 300 wildlife species), and surrounds the only natural lake in Vietnam (it is actually three linked lakes). The area is home to Tay, Hmong, Dao, and Nung ethnic groups, who have lived on the shore of the lake and in the surrounding mountains for hundreds of years. We will arrive in the early afternoon and cross the lake by boat (30 minutes) to a Tay village where we stay in a wooden stilt house on the edge of the lake.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Home stay
4
Babe Lake Biking or Walking (B,L,D ).
Biking Dao hill tribe village
Roundtrip biking in the mountains road visiting to a remote Dao hill tribe village that still retains age-old cultural traditions. (We will carry a packed lunch.) Return to the Tay village for overnight. ( 6 hours biking ; 26 miles.)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Home stay
5
Babe Lake Kayaking (B,L,D )
The many limestone mountains surrounding Ba Be have numerous caves and under-streams, including the Nang River, which flows through the 100-foot-high, 1,000-foot-long Puong Cave all the way to Ba Be Lake. Today we will paddle an inflatable kayak right through the cave on a navigable 14-mile section of the river.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Over night in Ba Be National Park Lodge
6
Babe Lake - Hanoi (B,L )
Am: Return drive to Hanoi, with the afternoon free to explore the city and its Old Quarter.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Overnight in Hanoi
7
Hanoi - Catba- Halong (B, L, D)
Morning drive to Ha phong stopping en route at a craft village, then hydrofoil boat to Catba, . Board our traditional red-sailed junk for a sumptuous seafood lunch before sailing to Ba Men Temple, deep in the bay. Disembark at its beautiful beach to receive instructions on kayak safety procedures. Afternoon, paddle to a series of hidden lagoons. Barbecue seafood dinner on the beach, followed by moonlight kayaking.
Overnight on board
8
Dau Be Three Peach Island (B, L, D)
Morning, kayak around Dau Be Island, passing a hidden floating fishing village on the way, then paddle around the limestone crags emerging from the sea or stop for a swim at an isolated beach before meeting the junk for lunch. Afternoon, kayak across Lan Ha channel to Three Peach Island, a wonderful place for swimming, fishing and sunbathing. Dinner on board.
Overnight on board.
9
Three Peach Cat Ba (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while the boat cruises to Cat Ba Island. Check in at hotel and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, drive across the islands forested interior stopping at fishing and gardening villages. The balance of the day is free to explore Cat Ba. Overnight in Cat Ba
10
Three Peach Cat Ba (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while the boat cruises to Cat Ba Island. Check in at hotel and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, drive across the islands forested interior stopping at fishing and gardening villages. The balance of the day is free to explore Cat Ba. Overnight in Cat Ba
11
Halong Bay Hanoi (B, L, D)
Morning, Free time as leisure . Farewell lunch before back to Hanoi. Farewell dinner at Indochine restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi
12
Departure
Free morning until transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of services (B)
Include: English speaking local guide
accommodations as boat and hotel
mother boat and sea kayaking arrangements
meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary
ground transportation
additional guides where necessary
entrance fees and permits
Exclude: International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; Vietnam visa; insurance other than basic medical ; optional tipping to local guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc..)
