Halong Bay, Vietnam was one of the destinations that I most wanted to visit in Southeast Asia, and I finally made it there last week!

I kayaked on the still, glassy waters of Halong Bay which was breathtaking, calming and humbling. Gliding peacefully and quietly on the water of this world heritage listed site, surrounded by nature at its untouched best, was an experience I’m truly grateful for.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong translates to ‘descending dragon’ and legend has it that Halong Bay was created by a dragon from the mountains. Although many sailors claim to have seen Vietnam’s very own Loch Ness monster, the ‘tarasque’, sadly I didn’t catch a glimpse of the gigantic sea creature.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

I’m told Halong Bay can be very busy during peak season so I feel lucky to have been in the area when many others weren’t, to really appreciate the tranquility.

Kayak through Caves

So there you have it – I hope you enjoyed some of the snaps of my stunning kayak through the grottoes. And now that the fun is over, it’s back to writing more food posts to share with you! I’ve got loads more up my sleeve so plenty more is coming your way.

I hope you’re enjoying reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them!

Kayak Halong Bay

If you inspire to explore Halong Bay by kayak, check out the exciting tour of Activetravel Asia.  ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA provides you with high quality traditional sea kayaks and equipment, delightful meals, kayak technique instruction, and an overall ecstatic time in paradise. You will learn about the natural world and the efforts to preserve it. The tour leaders are enthusiastic, experienced professionals with the ability to provide you with a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure. 

Highlights 

• Amazing limestone formations

• Inclusive junk for overnight

• Beautiful and different kayaking route

About Activetravel Asia(ATA): ATA is one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies. ATA offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and tailor-made private itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia.

In 2002, National Geographic Adventures Journal News voted Ha Long Bay one of 25 top destinations of the world for kayaking.

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Kayaking is considered the best way to fully feel the majesty of Ha Long Bay and discover the cliffs with a huge number of wonderful rock tops, dales.  

Although kayaking has been in Ha Long Bay since early 90s of 20th century, at first this kind of sport was mainly for the foreign visitors who like adventures. Nowadays, there are many interior guests enjoy kayaking in Ha Long Bay, especially young people. Discovering Ha Long Bay by kayaking, visitors can feel other beauty of this international wonder that can’t be seen from the cruises.

Kayaking alone or with a partner

Kayakers will be surprised with many cliffs which have been acted upon by the waves for centuries, contemplate the sea birds standing tottery on the top of rocks and touch the stalactites which are thousands of years old.

Kayaking alone or with a partner, visitors will discover different emotions which they have never felt before when riding the oars closely to the bottom of rock mountains and enjoying the extremely quietness of the bay.

Kayak crowds into a floating village

When the kayak crowds into the unnamed islands, visitors can directly contemplate the beauties of corals, flocks of freely-swimming fishes and many many strange sceneries which have never been seen in any travelling books. Whenever the oars are moved down or up, thousands of water drops radiate the sparkling beauty under the sunshine.

Sometimes in the short caves, visitors must lay on the kayak as well as using hands to push to the cave ceiling to go inside. They also have to walk and pull the boat when passing the dry parts. Especially, taking part in the night tour on the bay, visitors can enjoy the quite air among the sea.

Kayak through the caves in Halong Bay

On the way back from a Ha Long Bay travel tour, Brian James – an Australia visitor excitedly tells about his interesting memories of the tour, especially the time when he lonely kayaking to discover Luon cave: “I was impressed the most when riding the kayak into the cave. The far I went inside, the darker it is; hundreds of stalactites hang down cross my face, sometimes I had to lay face onto the boat in order to pass. The feeling when hands were weary after finishing the Ha Long Bay discovering tour by kayaking made me very interested.

Kayaking is the best idea to discover every part of Halong for getting an insight to indigenous people life, to taste every corner of mystery lagoon, to gain surreal feeling throughout the dark tunnels.

To find out more about travelling with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA(ATA) and for your chance to WIN a trip in every edition:  http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=24

Winner announcement week 3

A huge congratulation to ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA‘s lucky travelers in summer promotion program 2013.

Here are the winners in week 3 (8/4-13/4/2013):

1. FREE: Airport pick-up in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
Harvey Burdett, ATVR008 
Tour: Son Doong cave discovery

2. FREE:  01 meal in restaurant for two travelers
Ms. Jim, ATVR009
Tour: Trekking Sapa

Please check the email if you are lucky winner.

Thank you so much for your participation!

Join with our event  “ https://www.facebook.com/events/125745387611125/” to receive lucky gifts for your jouney!

A huge congratulation to ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA‘s lucky travelers in summer promotion program 2013.

Here are the winners in week 1  (25/ 03- 31/03/2013):

Winner Annoucement week 1

1.  Discount up to 15% on the total cost.
           Isidoro Mazzoni, ATVR005.
           Tour: Trek Fansipan

2.  Free 01 night hotel for two people (shared room):
            Simon Chapman, ATVR 001.
              Tour: Family Adventures in Vietnam

3.  Free airport pick-up or drop off (one way)
            Hayley Windle,  ATVR003.
             Tour: Family Adventures in Vietnam

4.  Free 01 package cruise for 2 persons on Halong Bay (2 days 1 night)
           Alfonso Carreras, ATVR006
           Tour: Trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

5.  Free 01 meal in restaurant for two travelers
          Malanie, ATVR004.
          Tour:  Biking Mekong


Please check the email if you are lucky winner.

Thank you so much for your participation!

Join with our event  “ https://www.facebook.com/events/125745387611125/” to receive lucky gifts for your jouney!

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA has launched “Great summer holiday with lucky travels” for summer promotion 2013 in Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia. The program applies for all customers request tour on website from 25 March to 30 September 2013. Variety gifts such as discount up to 15% on tour request, free city tour, free one night at a luxury cruise or at hotel, free meal at elegance restaurant and others are in listing lucky gift. 

Summer Promotion ATA 2013

Escape to learn from difference. Instead of staying at home, let’s trek through the jungle closer with wildlife, actively ride on bike or motor along the legendary trail to hotspots, the remote place in Vietnam, Lao , Cambodia to live like local people,  enjoy the amazing  food, learn new language, experience in  rich culture, gain the historic knowledge. Leave everything behind to see the life in the different way. Why not?  

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA would like to assist all customers to travel in period between 01 May 2013 and 30 September 2013. Just have fun and get luck by request tour on website – get ticket number. Customers chance to receive summer promotion 2013. Each Monday ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA will announce lucky people via website, social network channel. 

Customers have right to get the summer promotion 2013, following the Terms & Conditions:

• The offer applies for all customers send the request and book tour with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA from March 25th to September 30th, 2013 for travel period between 01 May 2013 and 30 September 2013.
• The offer applies for all request of package tour (from 2 days more), cannot be applied to airfares, travel insurance, extra accommodation…
• The promotion is only valid for request & booking tour in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia.
• The request applies for booking which is not too different from the original request in terms of location, activities, duration.
• The prizes are not transferable and cashable.
• End of promotion time, the prizes will be no longer available.

For more details: http://www.activetravel.asia/special_offer/2013_summer_promotions.html

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland touring and family travel packages. For more information, please contact ATA for tailoring your very own tour via:

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA)

Telephone: +844 3573 8569

Fax: +844 3573 8570

Email: info@activetravel.asia 

Website: www.activetravel.asia