Recently, kayaking has become a joyful activity that is recommended in many Halong Bay Vietnam cruise reviews as one of the top things to do in Halong Bay. You will be allowed to paddle along the emerald sea waters to admire the exquisite natural settings of the Bay and be a stolen heart with the beauty of mother nature.
So what have you known and prepared for your Halong Bay cruise kayak? Read this article to learn more about kayaking as well as things to notice when getting involved in this fancy activity.
1. How a kayak tour in Halong Bay would be like?
Many might expect to hire a kayak and freely ride it along the Bay to totally control your own itineraries but sadly, things do not turn out the way you want. For the sake of everyone’s safety, Halong authority does not allow travelers to explore the caves alone but requires them to be under proper observation, which means you need to book a Halong tour to be able to kayak on the ocean.
Enabling travelers to get off the beaten track to explore one of the most beautiful bays in the world, the tailor-made kayak tours in Halong Bay are designed to make sense of the wonderful combination of physical activities and sightseeing tours. Visitors will be able to kayak through the matrix of islets on the Bay to conquer the majestic lagoons, caves, and beaches and immerse themselves into the wilderness of nature.
2. Must-visit destinations for Halong Bay kayak tour.
There are places that any Halong Bay kayak trip should not miss visiting as their sheer beauty could leave visitors in awe.
- Luon Cave
Formed after a million years of natural erosion, the 60-meter-long and 4-meter-high Luon Cave is only crossed by kayak and small boats. The cave opens view to a view to the wide lake and surrounding forests where trees, bushes, and seafood thrive. It is not only a favored kayaking spot but also suitable for leisure glide by small boats.
- Fishing villages
Travelers can also paddle their kayaks to approach the floating villages of the locals, namely Cua Van, Vung Vieng, and Cong Dam. Small as they might seem, the villages are completely self-contained societies that live in perfect harmony with the land and sea. People lived, ate, slept, worked, partied, and even went to school in these tiny, self-sufficient floating villages. A kayak tour to the floating villages – the top tourist attractions in Halong Bay will give you a closer look at how the local fishermen survive everyday trials and tribulations on the sea.
- Deserted beaches
You will come across tens of limestone islets during your kayaking, many of which are softly embraced by the Colgate-white beaches. Less visited by tourists, the beaches on the islets still retain their pristine looks with soft white dunes tumbling to kiss the briny water. Especially, the beaches are exceptionally wonderful places to watch the sun fall behind the horizon, painting the sky shades of red and pink.
Some recommended beaches to visit are Titov Beach, Ba Trai Dao Beach (Three Peach Beach), Soi Sim Beach, etc.
3. Things to notice before and while kayaking in Halong Bay.
- What to bring?
To get the best experience, travelers should be well-equipped before kayaking. It is a must to bring along life vests, mineral water, sun cream, dry bag, and insect repellent. And of course, a camera is a necessity if you want to capture the sheer beauty of the Bay.
The weather in Halong Bay is quite pleasant; hence, except for the stormy days, any time in the year would be a great time to go kayaking. However, it is still necessary to prepare suitable clothes for each season. It is just simply the swimming suit or T-shirt and shorts in the summer, but in the winter (October to February), you should wear warm clothes. Wet shoes and sunglasses are important, too. If you are about to travel in the winter, remember to keep yourself warm after kayaking to avoid catching a cold.
- Do not kayak while being drunk
Do not go kayaking while being intoxicated. Your senses might be dulled while being drunk and might lead to unexpected accidents.
- What about kids?
Regarding the Halong Bay kayak with kids, children are also allowed to use the kayak. They need to sit still in the kayak and not to move back and forth so that the kayak keeps still and would not capsize. With kids under 6, it is suggested not to get involved in these activities.
Kids and the elderly can go on bamboo boats instead kids and the elderly can go on bamboo boats instead
- What about the elderly?
For those who are at old age or are not physically strong enough, kayak might not be suitable. However, they can still go exploring the bay by using a rowboat. The bamboo boat ridden by the skillful and experienced fishermen will take tourists to every corner of the Bay.
- While kayaking
The most important thing to remember is that you NEED to listen to your tour guide during your Halong Bay cruise kayak. It is crucially significant to follow the fixed routes, times, and rules. Do not break the rules and go your own way because no one knows what will happen when you are traveling alone in such an isolated area.
Also, checking the weather conditions such as the wind strength and the tide in advance is significant, even when the guides have done it in advance. Safety is the first priority. In case you are on your tour already and there is an expected storm or strong wind, find the safest places in some sheltered areas or beaches to hide. If you are in the middle of the sea and cannot find a hiding place, you should gather together to make a raft. It would partly protect you from being blown by a strong wind.
While kayaking, keep a suitable distance from others. You should not go too far from the crew and had better keep in sight with other boats.
And remember, do not come too close to deep and dark caves and karsts to avoid being sucked in. There are reports of travelers getting sucked in and it took from 30 minutes to hours to rescue them.
In case the kayak capsizes, you will need to swim a bit and then take the water out of the kayak with the help of the tour guide. He then will keep it still so that you can be on the kayak again.
The awe-inspiring beauty of the emerald waters, the majestic caves, and the stunning beaches are just too good to be true. Apart from the risks that might happen when you are not well-prepared, kayaking on Halong Bay is undoubtedly a wonderful experience that you should try at least once in your life.
