Halong Bay Kayaking - Everything You Need To Know

Halong Bay kayaking is a must-try activity for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of this world-renowned destination. Why has kayaking in Halong Bay become the first choice and highly recommended to explore the bay by such lots of tourists? Let’s find out the answer and obtain for yourselves useful knowledge if you have the intention of visiting Halong Bay one day not far away.

Contents

I. Overview of Halong Bay Kayaking

Kayaking, a relatively new activity in Vietnam, has quickly become a favorite among foreign tourists visiting Halong Bay. The calm, emerald-green waters and stunning limestone islets make it an ideal and unique experience.

Halong Bay Kayaking Banned — Source: @vietnam.unique.travel

Halong Bay’s quiet waters allow for smooth paddling through caves and islands, offering breathtaking views of lush mountains, monkeys in treetops, and birds in the sky. The caves, formed over thousands of years, range from short passages to long, dark chambers with fascinating stalactites and even bats.

Kayaking also provides a chance to explore fishing villages and observe local life up close. Visitors can paddle around islands, let the kayak drift for photos, or swim in the bay’s tranquil waters. With its safety and serene beauty, Halong Bay kayaking promises an unforgettable adventure.

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II. Popular Areas for Halong Bay Kayaking

Below are hot areas for Halong Bay kayaking that are highly suggested by plenty of tourists who tried kayaking in Halong Bay. All of them are attractive destinations with glamorous natural scenery and interesting activities.

1. Luon Cave

Luon Cave is a famous beautiful cave in Halong Bay, lying on Bo Hon Island, which is located about 14 kilometers far to the south of Bai Chay Beach. Luon Cave becomes one of the hottest areas for kayaking owing to its own pristine beauty and surrounding natural scenery.

Luon Cave is the smallest cave in the bay with only 60 meters in length and from 4 meters to 2.5 meters in height depending on the tide. Tourists can not visit the cave by cruise or yacht, only by small boat or kayak.

In the cave, you can see stalactites in the ceiling. After rowing through the cave, tourists will come into an enclosed water area surrounded by high mountains where monkeys can be seen hanging on the top of trees.

2. Vung Vieng Fishing Village

Vung Vieng Fishing Village is one of the four oldest fishing villages in Quang Ninh province. It is famous for pearl farming, and also suggested as the hottest area for Halong Bay kayaking. The village lies at the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, a smaller bay located to the northeast of Halong Bay.

At Vung Vieng, tourists can kayak around the village, interact with locals to learn about pearl farming, or explore nearby attractions such as Mat Quy Islet, Bay Gieng Cave, and the pristine forest on Tra Ban Island.

3. Cua Van Fishing Village

Another famous fishing village that is recommended for one who wants to try Halong Bay kayaking is Cua Van Fishing Village. Cua Van Fishing Village has its reputation for the pristine beauty of surrounding natural scenery which can attract tourists at first sight.

Cua Van is suitable for trying kayaking because the water here is quiet and the sea wave is calm. Moreover, the scenery of this area is also absolutely beautiful and attractive, tourists are able to row their kayak around the village or participate in the daily work of the locals.

4. Trinh Nu Cave

Trinh Nu Cave is sited in the east of Bo Hon Island, 15 kilometers from Bai Chay Beach and 3 kilometers from Sung Sot Cave. Trinh Nu Cave is usually considered to be the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay by a lot of tourists. In addition, after visiting the cave, tourists can chill out in Trinh Nu beach, a pristine beach with cool clean green water.

5. Cong Do Island

An attractive destination totally suitable for kayaking in Halong Bay that must be mentioned is Cong Do Island. Cong Do Island is only a small island at approximately 24 square kilometers in size, located in a lagoon in Halong Bay.

Despite its small size, it has a diverse flora and fauna and be the home of a variety of beautiful tropical fishes, seahorse, underwater vegetation. This coral reef is a not-to-be-missed place for anyone who likes scuba diving. You can rent a kayak to explore the island and the coral reef by themselves. It will leave you unforgettable memories.

6. Hon Co Island

Hon Co Island (Grass Island in English) is sited in the Cong Do area of Bai Tu Long Bay. Its name comes from the abundance of lush thick grass that naturally grows there. The island is not yet renowned among tourists; therefore, it remains and protects its untouched natural beauty from human activities.

Besides, Hon Co is also the home to Thien Canh Son Cave, one of the largest dry caves in Halong Bay, which is a must-visit location in tourists’ itinerary. After visiting Cong Do Island, tourists can row a kayak to visit Hon Co Island and Thien Son Canh Cave.

7. Tung Sau Area

Tung Sau Area is an area specializing in pearl farming, located near Cua Van Fishing Village. Normally, after visiting Cua Van, tourists choose Tung Sau Area as an overnight pit stop to relax and play sports such as swimming, going fishing, catching cuttles, or kayaking.

III. Cruises for Free Kayaking in Halong Bay

Due to the recent popularity of Halong Bay kayaking to tourists, many tourism companies have added kayaking as one of their indispensable accompanied services. Tour guide and staff on board will nicely introduce you to how to use oars, control a kayak, and so on until you are able to master your kayak in case you are not familiar with the sport.

Below are some cruises for free kayaking in Halong Bay for your reference.

IV. Best Time to Kayak in Halong Bay

Due to the climate characteristics in the north of Vietnam, there are two ideal periods for Halong Bay kayaking. The first is from March to June and the second is from October to December. Moreover, tourists should not visit Halong Bay in July, August, and September. Because there are often tropical storms at that time.

The first period coincides with summertime in Vietnam; therefore, there are many domestic tourists and foreign ones. Since this time, there has not been much heavy rain, which is suitable for enjoying outdoor activities like kayaking. Moreover, the weather in Halong Bay in summer is not too hot to stay outside for a long time.

The second period from October to December is also a not-to-bad choice to consider. The weather is colder than summer, around 10 – 15 degrees on average. However, this does not seem to bother much since kayaking takes lots of effort and your body will be sure to heat up after minutes.

V. Tips on Halong Bay Kayaking

That safety is the most important thing when having the intention of trying Halong Bay kayaking. The following are some safety tips for a safe kayaking trip.

Wear a life vest.
Bring sunglasses, sunscreen.
Listen carefully to your tour guide and remember details of the route, timings, and safety rules.
Before kayaking, warm your body up with some movements in advance. It will help you avoid cramp while in a kayak or swimming.
Ensure you hold the oar with your arms about the same width as your shoulders, with the concave sides of the oar facing behind you.
Be aware of the weather, tides and currents and the wind strength. If there is something unusual, immediately return to cruises.
Stay away from cliffs because they have sharp edges, which can hurt you.
Never, ever go kayaking while intoxicated as it is too dangerous.