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

One of Quang Ninh’s solutions to improving provincial tourism in the last month was to promote an environmental clean-up campaign so as to provide tourists with a better impression of the province.

Drastic and synchronous solutions 

Halong Bay Vietnam

Many tourists to Quang Ninh used to be bothered by hawkers, beggars, and touts clinging around them or being overcharged at local restaurants.

Although local authorities applied measures to eliminate these issues, their efforts seemed not strong enough, and therefore, provincial tourism was effected.

Quang Ninh Province’s People’s Committee has actively directed, inspected, and handled these issues and also violations in tourism operation at some tourist sites including Bai Chay, Hoang Gia International Park, Youth Beach, and Bai Chay Tourist Boat Port.

Last month for example, Ha Long Bay Management Board, Quang Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Quang Ninh Province’s People’s Committee coordinated to handle 16 violations by seafood business, 10 street sellers, and five restaurants violating urban regulations; and organized 48 local tourism inspections within Bai Chay Ward.

Positive results

According to Quang Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 3.7 million tourists came to visit Quang Ninh over the past four months, including more than one million international tourists, accounting for 49 percent of the province’s annual plan and an increase of 17 percent over the same period of last year. Only in April, 759 500 visitors came to Quang Ninh. Quang Ninh’s total revenue from tourism activities in the first four months hit VND1.74 trillion. During Ha LongCarnaval and holidays of April 30 and May 1, about 15,000 visitors came to Ha Long every day.

Ha Long Carnaval 

Despite an increase in tourist number during holidays, local authorities managed to control tourism activities across the city and bay of Ha Long including recreation centers, motels, and hotels, helping tourists fully enjoy their tours.

Tran Thi Ngoc, a tourist from Hanoi, said “I was impressed by the marine tourism environment being cleaner than four years ago when I was there. Also, I was not bothered by street sellers and touts; and I wasn’t overcharged at restaurants.”

Mrs. Marita, an Australian tourist, said “Ha Long Bay really deserves its world heritage title, as one of the new natural wonders of the world. I have been visiting fishing villages on the bay, exploring and experiencing the simple life here. It’s great. We’ve experienced enthusiastic and friendly staff.”

In the coming time, Quang Ninh Province’s People’s Committee will continue to work with relevant agencies to check and handle violations in tourism businesses in the province and raise local people awareness over the need for conservation of Ha Long, and more civilized behavior.

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. Plus you can become a fan of ATA's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!

Kayaking is not just one of the most adrenaline-pumping sports, but it is also a way to greet the natural beauty and exult on the sea and rivers. Traveling to nearby places using a travel kayak can serve you multiple purposes. It can drop you to your desired destination, and it can also give you that much-needed thrill and revelry.

Here are some top reasons why you should travel in a kayak:

Kayak

i. Exciting: If your life is short on excitement, then you can try this method of traveling and see your hormones flowing heavily. With kayaking in your schedule, you would find new vigor in your boring life and would be able to work with some added energy.

ii. Affordable: Travel kayak is very affordable and can be bought without making any major investment. They come in different sizes and if you need a single or double person one, then you can get them at just a small budget. 

iii. Observing the sea life: While traveling with kayak, you can observe the sea or river life and learn a lot about ecology. You are bound to zip through some really rhapsodic and photogenic corners where your heart would skip a beat in exhilaration.

iv. Easy to handle: Most kayaks which are manufactured these days are very easy to handle and offer complete convenience. Being light and user-friendly, they make for perfect allies during such adventurous journeys. 

v. Rediscovering the zest of life: If your spirits are sagging and your morale is going down, then you can rediscover that lost zest by trying this adventure sport. With travel kayak, you are bound to get goose bumps all over your body. 

So where can you travel kayak in another country, such as Vietnam. We recommend you a great and suitable destination for kayak: Halong Bay_one of New Seven Wonders of the World. Halong Bay is famous for its natural beauty and thousands of limestone islands and islets. When you are on board, you admire the majestic beauty of the Bay but when you GET closer to the limestone islands, discover the beauty yourself, you admire its nature. But… how to get closer? The best way is joining kayaking activity .

Some images about kayaking activities in Halong Bay we guess you'll enjoy it:

Many kayaks for rent

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Kayaking in floating village

Kayak in Lan Ha Bay

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA provides you with high quality traditional sea kayaks and equipment, delightful meals, kayak technique instruction, and an overall ecstatic time in paradise.

If you would like to know more,  you can visit: http://www.activetravel.asia/ata_adventure/kayaking/

Have a good journey!