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Halong Bay Vietnam

Cruise and kayak stunning Halong Bay in North Vietnam. Relax on a deluxe junk and sea kayak past limestone islands, bays, lagoons and beaches. Inner Journey Expeditions organises Halong Bay cruise and kayak holidays departing Hanoi for solo travellers, couples, families and groups of friends.

Trip facts

Highlights

• Cruise UNESCO World Heritage Listed Halong Bay

• Overnight in a deluxe Chinese junk style hotel

• Kayak hidden caves, lagoons and secluded beaches

  
  

• Rock climb lime stone karst formations

 

Overview

UNESCO World Heritage Halong Bay is a must see destination for travellers who visit Vietnam. Located three and half hours from Hanoi on the north east coast, it is estimated over 3000 limestone and dolomite islets scatter this 1500 square kilometre bay. The area is home to a diverse eco-system with abundant wildlife, hidden caves and lagoons and fine sandy beaches. Halong Bay is also famous for the Chinese junk hotels that cruise the bay stopping off to explore caves and beaches and serving freshly caught seafood, local cuisine and western dishes. The water is calm and the bays are protected by the thousand islands making the conditions ideal for sea kayaking. Or for the more adventurous, Halong Bay is an excellent location for rock climing the lime stone karst formations. If you are looking for a more relaxing holiday, you can simply laze on the sundeck of the junk while she navigates amazing islets protruding from the water.

 

Halong Bay Kayak + Cruise (3 days / 2 nights)
Halong Bay Rock Climb + Cruise (3 days / 2 nights)

Departs daily from Hanoi, ideal for beginners and enthusiasts

Day 1	Hanoi to Halong Bay The shuttle bus picks you up from your hotel in Hanoi around 08:00am for a transfer to Halong City where you board your luxury junk in time for a welcome drink and a sumptuous seafood lunch. Your boat cruises Halong Bay passing beautiful limestone seascape and visiting Amazing Cave. In the afternoon, kayak through craggy, rugged islets to hidden parts of the bay. Board the Junk in time for dinner. Kayaking: 1.5 hours Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Deluxe cabin
Day 2	Halong Bay - Lan Ha Bay Today is a fantastic day exploring Lan Ha Bay. After breakfast, board the day boat for a cruise to Lan Ha Bay. Option 1: Rock Climbing with Western Instructors Rock climb in the morning with Western Instructors on Moody's Beach. Transfer by boat to Hai Pai Beach for lunch and in the afternoon rock climb on the islets at the beach. There is also an option to kayak off the beach. Option 2: Kayaking You kayak guide leads you through a maze of islets to discover beautiful beaches such as Van Boi and Ba Cat. Continue kayaking around Lan Ha Bay and late afternoon return back to the junk at around 05:00pm just in time to relax on the sun deck and soak up the dramatic natural scenery with a cold beer! Rock Climbing: 5 hours Kayaking: 6 - 7 hours Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Deluxe cabin
Day 3	Halong Bay to Hanoi Spend the morning cruising back to Halong City. Laze on the sun deck and enjoy the stunning rock formations. Breakfast is served on board before you disembark to you meet your shuttle bus and transfer to Hanoi. Trip ends around 04:30pm. Meals: Breakfast

Halong Bay Kayak + Cruise (2 days / 1 night)

Departs daily from Hanoi, ideal for beginners

Day 1

Hanoi to Halong Bay The shuttle bus picks you up from your hotel in Hanoi around 08:00am for a transfer to Halong City where you board your luxury junk in time for a welcome drink and a sumptuous seafood lunch. Your boat cruises Halong Bay passing beautiful limestone seascape visiting Amazing Cave. In the afternoon, kayak through craggy, rugged islets and a secluded lagoon sanctuary. Board the Junk in time for dinner. Kayaking: 1.5 hours Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Deluxe cabin

Day 2

Halong Bay Start your day with a swim! After breakfast, cruise to Drum Cave, Man's Head Islet and Van Gia Fishing Village before heading back to Halong City to meet your shuttle bus for your transfer to Hanoi. Trip ends around 04:30pm. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Twin share cabin

Halong Bay Rock Climb + Cruise / Kayak + Cruise (3 days / 2 nights)

Join in tour	$AUD Rock Climbing	$AUD Kayaking
Per person / twin share	360	315
Validity	31 December 2010	31 December 2010

 

Halong Bay Kayak + Cruise (2 days / 1 night)

Join in tour	$AUD Per Person
Per person / twin share	250
Single traveller	285
Validity	31 December 2010

Prices are in Australian dollars based on twin share cabin or single cabin accommodation on board the Junk. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. This is a join in tour and departs daily from Hanoi. Prices beyond the validity available on request. Credit Card payments incur an additional 3% surcharge. See Booking Conditions for more details. Call 1300 43 10 69 to email us for more information and bookings.

Includes

• Twin share cabin accommodation. If a single cabin is required a single supplement will apply.
• Return shuttle bus transfer to Hanoi
• English speaking guide for kayaking activities
• Kayak, life jacket, water proof bag
• Entrance & sightseeing fees
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Complimentary glass of wine
• Service fees + taxes
  
  
  

Excludes

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance
• Visa, passport or vaccination costs
• Other meals not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities

Trip grade

EASY TO MODERATE: Soft adventures enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Ideal for families. A mixture of long and shorter kayaking activities on day two for around two to three hours at a time.

Trip notes

The junk

These beautiful Chinese junks function as a floating hotel and on this trip you share them with other travellers. Cabins are twin share with AC and private facilities. Single cabins are available on request and incur a single traveller price.

 

Food

All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price of the trip. On the junk, you are served a range of delicious fresh seafood, local and western dishes – this is a gourmet delight!

 

Local guides

An English speaking guide provides instruction and support for your kayaking activities. Your guide has extensive experience in guiding outdoor tours in Vietnam. These guides love their job and it is their role to ensure you relax and have a great holiday. If you feel your guide and support crew provided you with excellent service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Vietnam.

What to bring

Swimmers, sun block, hat, insect repellent, sunglasses, rain coat, flashlight, toiletries, original passport. We recommend warm clothes for the evening in the cooler months from November to February.

Equipment provided

On this trip we use tandem sea kayaks. Paddle and life-jacket are supplied.

 

Note on client safety

We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including weather and sea conditions or for any other factor that may impact client safety.

Transfers

This tour departs daily from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Merchant Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. You travel in a shuttle bus with other travellers who have booked with Pheonix Cruises. The shuttle bus transfers you back to your hotel in Hanoi at the end of the tour. If you hotel is in another district, you meet at the Pheonix office for transfers. For an additional cost you can travel by private car with a driver to and from your hotel in Hanoi.

Your group & share accommodation

This is a public tour that departs daily from Hanoi. Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a cabin/room.

 

Tipping guidelines
It is customary to express a personal thank you to your guide and driver at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with excellent service. As a guideline only, we suggest tipping around AUD$4-$5 per day for the guide and AUD$2-$3 per day for the driver. You can pay this in local currency or US dollars. Of course whether you tip and how much is always at your discretion.

Vietnam visa

Most visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Inner Journey Expeditions offers a Vietnam visa on arrival service where you obtain an entry visa stamp on arrival at HCMC, Hanoi or Danang International Airports. We arrange a Vietnam visa authority letter which you present with a valid passport, passport photo and your visa stamp fee to the Visa Landing Counter. This service is inexpensive, easy to arrange, only takes four working days and is all done on email - no need to mail your passport.

For more details, CLICK HERE.

Climate
Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the South are hot all year round with average day time temperatures at 30 degrees Celsius. The hottest period is from March to May with average temperatures of 35 degree Celsius. The wet season runs from May to November where it down pours for an hour or so in the afternoon but this rarely interferes with travel services. Hanoi and Northern Vietnam experience four seasons. Summer from May to October can be hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. July to August is the hottest months with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius. Winter runs from November to April with cold and humid conditions. December and January can be particularly cold with temperatures ranging between 10 – 20 degrees Celsius.

Health issues

Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Vietnam. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday.

Insurance

You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your trip notes + vouchers will not be issued until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry!

 

Pre and post tour arrangements

We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame. Check out the IJE website for more details.

Handy travel tips + travelling responsibly

For more information on how you can participate in sustainable tourism go to Handy Travel Tips. To help plan your trip go to Vietnam Visa + Travel Guide.

What next

To reserve a place on this tour, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must email the first section of the booking form to us and pay your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to departure. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full, you will receive your tour voucher and detailed itinerary for this tour.

Book now

> CLICK HERE + request a booking form

> Get in touch with us via EMAIL

> Live in Australia call 1300 43 10 69

> Find out more about our other trips at www.IJE.com.au

> About Inner Journey Expeditions  

Halong Bay, Vietnam Deluxe Option:   

Halong Bay Vietnam Kayak + Tai Chi (3 days / 2 nights)
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