Kayaking in Vietnam

Ba Be Lake is Vietnam's largest natural freshwater lake - three connected bodies of water (Pé Lèng, Pé Lù, Pé Lầm) stretching 8km through karst mountains in Bắc Kạn. Ramsar Wetland site, Tày homestays, boat through Puong Cave, and some of the most intact lowland forest in the northern highlands.

Bái Tử Long Bay - Ha Long's quieter, less-visited neighbour to the northeast - shares the same UNESCO-listed karst landscape but with far fewer cruise boats, better beaches, and a more traditional atmosphere. It's Ha Long Bay the way it was 20 years ago.

Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest is a 7-hectare water coconut palm wetland in Cẩm Thanh village - navigated by traditional Vietnamese basket boats through narrow waterways under the palm canopy, with fishing demonstrations and local music performances.

Cô Tô Island in Quảng Ninh province is one of northern Vietnam's most pristine island destinations - an archipelago of nearly 50 islands in the Gulf of Tonkin with white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, coral snorkeling, and an unhurried fishing village atmosphere far removed from the crowds of Hạ Long Bay. Accessible by fast ferry from Ao Tiên port in approximately 2.5 hours.

Con Dao National Park protects 80% of the Con Dao archipelago - 14 islands of pristine coral reefs, sea turtle nesting beaches, hawksbill habitat, and jungle trails through one of Vietnam's least disturbed coastal ecosystems.

Dark Cave is Phong Nha's most adventurous experience - a zip line over the Son River, kayaking into a pitch-black cave, swimming through underground passages, and a mineral mud bath inside the cave chamber, all packaged into one of Vietnam's best adventure activities.

The Hai Tac Islands are a remote archipelago of 16 islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Kien Giang coast, historically known as the Pirate Islands. One of the least visited island groups in Vietnam, with coral reefs, white sand beaches, and almost no tourist infrastructure.

Ha Long Bay - Vietnam's most iconic landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is 1,553 square kilometres of emerald water, nearly 2,000 limestone karst islands, sea caves, and floating villages in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Hang Câu is Lý Sơn's most dramatic coastal spot - a beach at the base of Núi Thới Lới where vertical basalt cliffs meet turquoise water and coral reefs. The combination of volcanic cliff faces, clear water, and accessible snorkeling makes it the island's top swimming and photography destination.

Hòn Tằm is Nha Trang Bay's most developed private island - a resort island 5km offshore with white sand beaches, clear water, water sports, and coral snorkeling, reached by speedboat in 15 minutes from Cầu Đá pier.

Lan Hạ Bay is the southern section of the Ha Long karst system - 400 limestone islands, hidden beaches, floating fishing villages, and some of the clearest water in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a fraction of Ha Long's boat traffic and far better kayaking conditions. The bioluminescence night kayaking tour is an experience Ha Long Bay doesn't offer.

Mooc Spring is Phong Nha's most beautiful swimming spot - a natural spring emerging from the karst limestone in a jungle clearing, forming a series of turquoise pools and a gentle waterfall, 7km from Sơn Trạch and one of the most scenic outdoor pools in central Vietnam.

Nho Quế River - a ribbon of impossible turquoise threading through the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia, seen from above at Mã Pí Lèng Pass and explored by boat from Mèo Vạc.

Bãi Sao Beach on Phú Quốc's southeastern coast - over 2km of fine white sand in a sheltered bay with calm turquoise water. Unlike most Phú Quốc beaches, Bãi Sao is at its best June-October when the southwest monsoon keeps the bay sheltered and the water crystal clear.

Sunworld Beach on Cat Ba Island is a recently developed artificial beach in the town centre - nearly 1km of white sand and clear water with palm trees, a beach club, bar, and regular fireworks and evening events, positioned as the main beach attraction directly accessible from Cat Ba Town accommodation.

Tà Đùng Lake in Đắk Nông is called the 'Hạ Long Bay of the Central Highlands' - a reservoir with 47+ forested islands that are actually the hilltops of submerged terrain, formed by the Đồng Nai 3 hydroelectric dam. Sea of clouds visible at 5-6 AM during rainy season. 250km from Saigon.

Thang Hen is a cluster of 36 interconnected karst lakes on a plateau 30km from Cao Bằng city, famous for their intense turquoise-blue water surrounded by limestone mountains and green grasslands. Visit June to September - outside the rainy season the lake drops to an unimpressive pond and the grass turns brown.

Ti Top Island - named after Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with President Hồ Chí Minh in 1962 - is Ha Long Bay's most iconic stop: a crescent-shaped white sand beach for swimming and a 400-step summit climb rewarded with a 360° panorama of the bay.

Trà Sư Cajuput Forest is an 845-hectare flooded cajuput woodland in An Giang - navigated by rowboat through mirror-flat green waterways, with over 70 bird species, a 10km bamboo walkway through the forest, and an observation tower over the canopy. Best September to November.

Tri An Lake is a large reservoir in Dong Nai province, 60km from Ho Chi Minh City, formed by the Tri An hydroelectric dam on the Dong Nai River. A popular weekend camping and kayaking destination for city residents, with forested islands, calm water, and dramatic sunset views.

Tuyền Lâm Lake is Đà Lạt's largest reservoir - a 320-hectare expanse of calm water surrounded by pine forests, accessible by cable car, kayak, or bicycle, with Trúc Lâm Thiền Monastery on the hillside above the northern shore.

Vân Long Nature Reserve is Vietnam's largest inland wetland - a flooded valley of karst peaks, submerged rice fields, and clear shallow water navigated by rowing boat, home to Vietnam's largest population of the critically endangered Delacour's langur.

Việt Hải is a fishing and farming village of 87 households inside Cát Bà National Park - nicknamed 'island within an island', reachable only by boat from Bến Bèo or by a 12km jungle trek through the national park. No road access to the outside world.