Kayak Introduction
The kayak is a relatively small and narrow boat. It is completely controlled by human power. This type of boat is designed to be manually pushed with a hand paddle. This boat is mainly used for tourism. The maximum capacity of a boat is 2 people. Initially, you may not know how to kayak and be afraid of being capsized or paddled incorrectly, then the boat will not slide. However, after being thoroughly and wholeheartedly instructed, visitors will be able to fully control their boat. Otherwise there will be professional boat crews and visitors can just sit back and enjoy the scenery of the bay. It is safe to go kayaking in Halong because the water in this area is very calm. However, there are some dangerous areas that tourists should be aware of. Kayak experience in Ha Long Bay is often a guide and is essential for those who are involved in this activity.

Destinations to explore Halong by kayak
1. Thien Cung Cave
The Halong Bay kayaking trip will start with a visit to Thien Cung Cave. It can be said that it is one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. Thien Cung cave is almost 10,000 m2, it has a complex structure, many levels with high ceilings and walls. In the cave, everywhere, there are countless stalactites and stalagmites with unique shapes. From the ceiling, each group of stalactites spills out creating the fantasy stone curtain. Of course, you can’t paddle kayaks into the cave, but you must stack the boat outside as instructed by the leader and climb into the cave. It has many strange shaped stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the lighting system is installed to create a sense of mystery. Feeling the mystery of the mountains, the limestone caves will bring you the novelty, it is worth the effort you navigate to get here.

2. Cua Van fishing village
Then you will continue kayaking in Halong and discover the life of the people in Cua Van fishing village. This is the largest floating village in Ha Long Bay. The fishing village of Cua Van has been listed on the travel website Journeyetc.com as one of the 16 most beautiful ancient villages in the world (2012). The selection criteria of the towns that appear in this list are old, graceful and that preserve the traditional culture. Journeyetc.com has chosen Cua Van due to the convergence of these three most important elements. It has been inhabited for a long time and the population has exceeded 300 households. Your life and daily activities are very special. It all happened right on the water. And there is no difficulty as we often think. Now, it is available for all the facilities in Ha Long Bay fishing village, from electricity, refreshments, classes,… People consider the ship and the sea as their home. Children from 4 to 5 years old know how to row. Many visitors prefer to sail to the rafts to see the daily activities of the fishermen, from weaving nets, removing nets, feeding the fish, cooking on the raft… If you have a lot of time, you can visit some other fishing villages. in Ha Long Bay area, such as Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Ba Hang Fishing Village…

3. Ti Top Island
Ti Top is a medium-sized island located in the heart of Ha Long Bay. If you start from the port of Bai Chay, you can paddle the only 7 km to visit the island. This is considered as the most attractive tourist attractions in Halong Bay kayaking trip. Ti Top Island is a very unspoiled island, so the landscape still has a lot of natural beauty. The tree species that inhabit the island are mainly evergreen trees that grow on the hills. The green of the trees, the clouds in the sky and the brown color of the mountains mix together and create an impressive scene. Not only has the wonderful natural scenery, Ti Top Island also has a beautiful beach called Ti Top Beach. The beach area is not large but it is quiet, well ventilated and very clean. You can see the white sand and clear water during four seasons. When visiting Ti Top Island, visitors also have the opportunity to climb up to see the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from above. It’s a special angle that only Ti Top Island has.

4. Bo Hon Island
Bo Hon Island is another must-see island in Ha Long Bay. The place not only contributes to the beauty of Ha Long, but also brings many mysteries to explore and learn. It is surrounded by many small and big islands, and includes many famous caves such as Sung Sot cave, Luon cave, Dong Tien lake, Trinh Nu cave, Drum cave… On the way of kayaking in Halong, you can see easily the high peaks, cliffs that rise like walls, the majestic mountains. Bo Hon Island is also the place that has many species of plants like si, orchid… and animals like monkey, deer, chamois… Besides, the other attraction is the hidden cave system in it, each cave has its own unique beauty, and they join a history that brings many human values ​​to the current generation.
The most prominent cave system on Bo Hon Island is perhaps Sung Sot Cave. This is a wide and beautiful cave in the first grade of Ha Long Bay. It also has many unique rock formations that cannot be found elsewhere. The ceiling is covered in a layer of velvet carpet with myriad lights hanging from sparkling stalactites. You can see the stone statues in the form of elephants, seals, raspberries, flowers… Everything will impress visitors very much.

5. Other places on the way kayaking in Halong
In addition to the places mentioned above, on the way to kayak through Halong Bay, if the weather permits, you can also admire other impressive scenes such as small Trong Mai Island, Ba Qua Dao Island, Ba Ham Island , Dau Be Island, Co Cave, Heaven Gate, Lu Huong Peak… Every rock, cave or island in Ha Long has a unique shape that makes you feel amazing. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos to capture the spectacular natural beauty of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Some experiences for a Halong Bay kayak trip
For a safe and enjoyable exploration, please keep in mind a few notes below:
Warm up before having the Kayak.
Be sure to follow the tour guide’s instructions.
Always row close to your delegation, don’t get separated.
Remember to wear a life jacket and know how to use waterproof bags.
Learn to navigate in Kayak even if it is not the first time you take a Kayak.
Never take a kayak while drunk. Drinking alcohol can render the traveler unconscious to control his actions and can lead to unfortunate problems.
Don’t paddle a kayak for a long time because you can get sunstroke. Tourists should also wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Stay away from places with strong currents and visitors can harness the power of the wind or water to make kayaking easier.
The water in Ha Long Bay is still very warm in winter. Therefore, visitors can kayak in Halong at any time of the year.

And here are some experiences of kayaking in Halong when they come across unexpected situations:
If there is a sudden storm, find safe places like covered areas, beaches, etc. to avoid storms. In case you find yourself in the middle of the sea and don’t have time to find shelter, then put the Kayak back together to form a raft.
In the case of the Kayak capsules, the visitor is calm, relaxed. Because having a life jacket, it is safe to swim or swim. Then the guide will come to the rescue, he will help you to get on the Kayak boat.

Kayaking in Halong Bay will help you feel the fullness of nature in Ha Long and explore all the cliffs under thousands of waves, or watch the birds stationed on the cliffs and touch ancient stalactites. It will bring you many new experiences, so when you travel to Halong, don’t miss out on this exciting activity!