Vietnam – Kayaking Halong Bay

Our trip begins in charming Hanoi – the “Paris of Southeast Asia.” You will be picked up from the airport and taken to a boutique hotel in the city’s Old Quarter, from which you can easily go shopping in the bustling markets, or stroll around legendary Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening, you’ll enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine, a unique blend of Asian and French influences, at our welcome dinner hosted at one of the country’s best restaurants.

We will spend the day exploring the wonders of this ancient city. Hanoi has one foot in the past and one in the future and blends Asian culture with European influences both colonial and contemporary. You’ll see the sights, visit colorful markets, sip Vietnamese coffee in cafes, and look at the wondrous array of delicious foods available from street venders. Lunch is at KOTO, a restaurant that trains Hanoi street youth to a high standard for work in the restaurant industry (the name means “know one, teach one”). Great food and a great cause, Koto is a favorite with our guests.  In the evening, we’ll visit another great restaurant to experience a different aspect of Vietnamese cuisine. 

At the break of dawn we’ll go for a walk around famous Hoan Kiem Lake and watch (or join) thousands of people of all ages exercising, doing Tai Chi and other morning workouts. After breakfast, an air-conditioned van takes you to Halong Bay and into kayaking nirvana. Aboard our mothership, the most beautiful and luxurious sailing junk on Halong Bay, you’ll meet our friendly crew, including a chef booked especially for our trip. We sail into the vast expanse of Halong Bay and anchor in a secluded cove. Your guides will give basic paddling instruction on a pristine white beach below towering limestone cliffs. Our day ends with an exquisite seafood meal under a starry sky. 

Our mothership takes us on an odyssey through Halong Bay’s maze of more than 2000 karst formation islands. Slipping into quiet anchorages from where you’ll paddle extensively each day, and exploring the labyrinth of limestone islands that tower above in many fantastic shapes, you’ll find secret passages to hidden lagoons and magical sea caves. These are pristine places with unique ecosystems and rarely visited, even by local fishermen. You’ll stop for breaks on lovely sand beaches, swim in warm, jade-green waters, and visit the floating villages of fishing folk. Each day wraps up with a new culinary creation from our special onboard chef often accompanied by a cooking demonstration. The ship’s dining room has a staffed bar and surprisingly good wine list.

After a final paddle, our mothership takes us back to “civilization” and we disembark in Bai Chai. We return to Hanoi by van and we check into the hotel. The afternoon is free to shop and further explore this enchanting city. Our farewell “pièce de résistance” evening meal takes place in a beautifully restored French colonial mansion.

After breakfast, guests are transferred to Hanoi International Airport.