On water

Boat and River Tours

From delta of Mekong to karst rocks of Halong

ChillDry 2 hours – 3 days Year-round, with account of regional weather conditions 4 places

What it is and why

Water arteries are circulatory system of Vietnam. Walk on boat can be as measured rest on board of luxury yacht, and authentic immersion into life, when you on narrow jonk make way through mangrove thickets or narrow channels of delta of Mekong.

Choice of vessel depends on your goals: for bays of Halong and Lan Ha ideal cruise ships, where can stay for night, and for research of rivers and lakes more suitable small private boats with local boatman. In delta of Mekong necessarily lay time for visit of floating markets, which work only at dawn.

Where to do it in Vietnam

Points on the map are real places where this activity can be done. Numbers in the list match the markers.

Halong Bay
Quang Ninh
Classic cruises among thousands of rocks. There are one-day and multi-day variants.
Mekong delta (Can Tho)
An Giang
Trip on branches of delta and to floating market Cai Rang.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Ninh Binh
Walk on oars between karst mountains on river among rice fields.
Islands of An Thoi archipelago
Kien Giang
Private boat trips on islands for snorkeling and relax.

Tips

For visit of floating markets on Mekong go to water at 6 am — later traders leave from open water.
Always check presence of life jackets on board, especially at rental of private boat.
At rental of private boat beforehand agree route and time, so that boatman does not try to shorten trip or take you to baited souvenir shops.
Take with you sunglasses and headwear: on open water sun especially active even in cloudy weather.

Caution

Avoid boat walks in season of typhoons (usually October-November in center of country).
Do not agree on services of random "touts" in port cities — use official terminals or proven hotel tours.