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This incredible cross-cultural adventure combines our love of sea kayaking with enriching encounters with tribal ethnic minorities in the region of Ba Be National Park, one of Vietnam’s undiscovered jewels. Surrounded by precipitous limestone mountains and rich tangled forests, Ba Be (“three lakes”) has not yet been discovered by the crowds, so now is the time to explore it! Besides enjoying the rich natural heritage of the park—thunderous waterfalls, rivers, and serene lakes (where you’ll paddle inflatable kayaks and go for a swim)—you’ll hike to Tay and Dao hill tribe villages, visit markets where tourists have rarely been seen, and experience a village home stay where you’ll have a chance to interact with these warm and hospitable people. Then you’ll head to legend-bound Halong Bay, a dreamlike setting of sheer limestone islets soaring above a sheltered sea, for an exhilarating sea kayaking journey among its jagged isles, hidden lagoons, and splendid sea caves. This is an enchanting place for beginners to learn this easy and enjoyable sport, and a wonderful finale to your adventure in Vietnam.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore hill tribe villages, hike, and kayak in undiscovered Ba Be National Park - far from the crowds!
  
• 4 days sea kayaking in the far reaches of Halong Bay that tourists don't see
  
• Fantastic mix of culture, activity, interactions with locals, and overall immersion in the real Vietnam

Day 1 - Arrive in Hanoi, the up-and-coming capital of the new Vietnam.

Day 2 - Sightseeing in Hanoi, including the colorful market district, where each street hosts vendors of a particular trade.

Day 3 - Drive to Ba Be National Park. Cross the lake by boat to a Tay village where we stay in a wooden stilt house on the edge of the lake.

Day 4 - Roundtrip hike in the mountains to a remote Dao hill tribe village that still retains age-old cultural traditions.

Day 5 - Visit a local market, then hike along the trails of Ba Be National Park, looking for birds and butterflies (more than 300 species!) and possibly taking a swim in the lake. Overnight at a lodge in Ba Be National Park.

Day 6 - Navigate one of the park's beautiful rivers by inflatable kayak, including a section that winds right through a cave in the side of a mountain.

Day 7 - Return to Hanoi, with the afternoon free to explore the city and its Old Quarter.

Day 8 - Drive to Halong Bay, visiting the pottery village of Bat Trang en route. Board a traditional wooden boat and head into Halong Bay.

Days 9-11 - After a lesson in the basics of sea kayaking, you'll explore Halong Bay by sea kayak, visiting spectacular beaches, meeting fishing families in a "floating village," and discovering secret passages to hidden lagoons and sea caves, some only accessible by kayak. You'll sleep and dine on a "mother ship" with an attentive, friendly crew, including a chef who whips up the most amazing seafood dishes!

Day 12 - Morning paddle, drive to Hanoi.

Day 13 - Depart Hanoi.

Photo Credits
©John Elk III