New Trips 2010
Vietnam Travel Tips
Sample Five Day Menu from the Haung Hai, Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam:
Day One
Lunch: Steamed crab, Steamed shrimp, Fried fish w/butter and lemon, Fried pork, Fried squid w/onion, Clams, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Banana.
Dinner: Fried shrimp, Fried crab w/salt, butter, and garlic, Steamed fish, Squid, Seafood soup, Cucumber and tomato salad, Chicken w/mushroom and onion, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Dragon fruit.
Day Two
Lunch: Pork and lotus soup, Fried shrimp, Saigon spring roll, Chicken w/mushrooms, Pork-stuffed squid, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Pear.
Dinner: Banana flower salad , Emperor shrimp, Grilled fish w/onion, Grilled pork w/chili pepper and lemon grass, Grilled squid, Fried noodles w/seafood, Fried vegetables, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Day Three
Lunch: Grilled shrimp, Fried squid, Beef w/sauce, Grilled chicken, Fried pork ball, Vegetable soup, Green beans and kohlrabi, Steamed rice, Mango.
Dinner: Baby corn and chicken soup, Carrot and lotus salad, Steamed shrimp in a coconut, Grilled no-name crustacean, Tofu and pork, Fried squid, Vegetable, Steamed rice, fruit.
Day Four
Lunch: Cream-of-chicken soup, Fish w/tomatoes, Curried pork, Potato and egg salad, Beef w/onions, Baby cucumber w/squid, Steamed rice, Vegetable, Fruit.
Dinner: Russian salad, French fries, Fish balls, Shrimp in sauce, Ginger chicken, Pork w/baby corn, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Day Five
Lunch: Fried squid in spicy sauce, Fried shrimp w/vegetables, Fish, Fried vegetable, Beef steak, Steamed chicken w/herbs, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Dinner: Cream-of-potato soup, Shrimp w/sauce, Curried chicken, Beef w/pineapple, Pork w/baby cucumber, Noodles w/vegetable, Fried vegetable, Steamed rice, Grilled fish steaks w/lime, Fruit.
Reading List
Lonely Planet Guide to Vietnam
The Rough Guide to Vietnam
The Foods of Vietnam
Lonely Planet Guide to Hanoi
Vietnam: A Travelers Literary Companion by Balaban and Nguyen
When Heaven and Earth Change Places
Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X Pham
The Sacred Willow by Duong Van Mai Elliott
Pagodas, Gods and Spirits of Vietnam
Pre-trip Information
We're pleased that youve chosen to accompany us on one of the best kayak adventures in the world. Please read it carefully; call us if you have further questions.
Travel and Accommodations
We urge you to make your travel arrangements as early as possible in order to get the best fares. Please send us a copy of your airline itinerary. We have a block of rooms booked at a downtown hotel for the evening before the trip to make our first morning together flow more smoothly. Airfare to Hanoi and lodging the evening before are not included in our quoted price.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is strongly suggested for all of our international kayaking trips. We have included a brochure for travel insurance through a company that we have found to be excellent. When traveling in remote places such as Vietnam, this insurance is a sound investment.
Travel Documents
A passport which is signed and valid for six months after our return from Vietnam plus a visa for our stay are required. We have enclosed visa application forms for your convenience. You may, of course, use another visa service if you choose. Please make sure that your visas are processed and your passport returned to you with plenty of time to spare before our trips departure. Plan for the process to take 3-4 weeks unless expedited at an extra cost.
Health and Fitness
Our trip is one that any reasonably fit person can enjoy. If you have never paddled a kayak before, you should try it at a local outfitter or retailer. We will provide instruction appropriate to the skill levels represented in our group once we gather in Vietnam. Each participant should be capable of paddling for approximately 2-3 hours each morning and 2-3 hours every afternoon with land breaks every hour or two. Please complete the enclosed personal medical form. No specific vaccinations are legally required to enter Vietnam. Please check with your local clinic and doctor for current inoculation requirements and other health recommendations. If you require inoculations that need updating, we recommend starting early for maximum comfort.
Weather
The climate in Ha Long Bay is sub-tropical but unpredictable. It is often misty and humid with showers. Sunny days can reach 90 degrees F.
Day One
Lunch: Steamed crab, Steamed shrimp, Fried fish w/butter and lemon, Fried pork, Fried squid w/onion, Clams, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Banana.
Dinner: Fried shrimp, Fried crab w/salt, butter, and garlic, Steamed fish, Squid, Seafood soup, Cucumber and tomato salad, Chicken w/mushroom and onion, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Dragon fruit.
Day Two
Lunch: Pork and lotus soup, Fried shrimp, Saigon spring roll, Chicken w/mushrooms, Pork-stuffed squid, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Pear.
Dinner: Banana flower salad , Emperor shrimp, Grilled fish w/onion, Grilled pork w/chili pepper and lemon grass, Grilled squid, Fried noodles w/seafood, Fried vegetables, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Day Three
Lunch: Grilled shrimp, Fried squid, Beef w/sauce, Grilled chicken, Fried pork ball, Vegetable soup, Green beans and kohlrabi, Steamed rice, Mango.
Dinner: Baby corn and chicken soup, Carrot and lotus salad, Steamed shrimp in a coconut, Grilled no-name crustacean, Tofu and pork, Fried squid, Vegetable, Steamed rice, fruit.
Day Four
Lunch: Cream-of-chicken soup, Fish w/tomatoes, Curried pork, Potato and egg salad, Beef w/onions, Baby cucumber w/squid, Steamed rice, Vegetable, Fruit.
Dinner: Russian salad, French fries, Fish balls, Shrimp in sauce, Ginger chicken, Pork w/baby corn, Vegetable, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Day Five
Lunch: Fried squid in spicy sauce, Fried shrimp w/vegetables, Fish, Fried vegetable, Beef steak, Steamed chicken w/herbs, Steamed rice, Fruit.
Dinner: Cream-of-potato soup, Shrimp w/sauce, Curried chicken, Beef w/pineapple, Pork w/baby cucumber, Noodles w/vegetable, Fried vegetable, Steamed rice, Grilled fish steaks w/lime, Fruit.
Reading List
Lonely Planet Guide to Vietnam
The Rough Guide to Vietnam
The Foods of Vietnam
Lonely Planet Guide to Hanoi
Vietnam: A Travelers Literary Companion by Balaban and Nguyen
When Heaven and Earth Change Places
Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X Pham
The Sacred Willow by Duong Van Mai Elliott
Pagodas, Gods and Spirits of Vietnam
Pre-trip Information
We're pleased that youve chosen to accompany us on one of the best kayak adventures in the world. Please read it carefully; call us if you have further questions.
Travel and Accommodations
We urge you to make your travel arrangements as early as possible in order to get the best fares. Please send us a copy of your airline itinerary. We have a block of rooms booked at a downtown hotel for the evening before the trip to make our first morning together flow more smoothly. Airfare to Hanoi and lodging the evening before are not included in our quoted price.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is strongly suggested for all of our international kayaking trips. We have included a brochure for travel insurance through a company that we have found to be excellent. When traveling in remote places such as Vietnam, this insurance is a sound investment.
Travel Documents
A passport which is signed and valid for six months after our return from Vietnam plus a visa for our stay are required. We have enclosed visa application forms for your convenience. You may, of course, use another visa service if you choose. Please make sure that your visas are processed and your passport returned to you with plenty of time to spare before our trips departure. Plan for the process to take 3-4 weeks unless expedited at an extra cost.
Health and Fitness
Our trip is one that any reasonably fit person can enjoy. If you have never paddled a kayak before, you should try it at a local outfitter or retailer. We will provide instruction appropriate to the skill levels represented in our group once we gather in Vietnam. Each participant should be capable of paddling for approximately 2-3 hours each morning and 2-3 hours every afternoon with land breaks every hour or two. Please complete the enclosed personal medical form. No specific vaccinations are legally required to enter Vietnam. Please check with your local clinic and doctor for current inoculation requirements and other health recommendations. If you require inoculations that need updating, we recommend starting early for maximum comfort.
Weather
The climate in Ha Long Bay is sub-tropical but unpredictable. It is often misty and humid with showers. Sunny days can reach 90 degrees F.
