Kayak and Hike the Caves, Jungle and Coast of Vietnam

Wow! Where to start... What an amazing week in Vietnam, one of the best things I have ever done.

First things first, our guide Tri was an absolute godsend. Just superb. He fitted into our group so well and we felt like he was part of our social group and not a guide, despite sorting everything for us. This included the local guides for specific activities, who were equally as great.

The main highlights of the trip: 1 - The 2 day expedition to the caves and the jungle was a truly once in a lifetime experience. Cannot recommend the trip enough purely for this part. 2 - The time in Lan Ha bay, albeit short, was also amazing. Kayaking at sunrise, paddle boarding around the islands and the fantastic hike to the summit was breathtaking. 3 - The food and accommodation blew us away. Every night something different and really really tasty. We felt incredibly well catered for, for the entire duration. Be prepared though for a night on the train and in the jungle which were both slightly different experiences!

To address the only negative that appears in other reviews is the travelling. Yes, there was a lot of time spent in the car, with our awesome driver, Hero. Once you get your head around this, it is not an issue at all. There is no way to access the jungle and national parks without this long drive and it is completely worth a few hours in a car. The journeys are well broken up by food stops and a short walk to stretch your legs on day 2, so it really wasn't an issue for us.

The kit list provided by MBA is maybe a touch long - you will live out of the wicking t-shirts, and probably don't need extra fleeces, travel pillows or mozzy nets. You will need bug spray. I bought some pretty heavy duty hiking boots that were a touch too much also, a decent pair of trail runners would probably suffice, maybe with the exception of the long hike on the Saturday.

All in all this a simply amazing experience, and we felt we had seen both sides of Vietnam, from the madness of Hanoi to the vast jungles and then the stunning Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay. Would highly recommend - thank you so much MBA - and especially Tri!

This is a well-paced but adventurous way to explore North and Central Vietnam. The activities were a good mixture of excitement and discovering the real Vietnam. Highlights for us were camping in the jungle, swimming into caves and floating down the river, and the company of the lovely people in the group. The first day and a half involve a good bit of driving in the van, but we actually enjoyed this as there was plenty to look at out the window and it gave us a chance to recover from jet lag. It is so worth it to get there - you really are off the beaten track. We found ourselves constantly saying “We’d never have found this!!”. Food is very good and plentiful. The enjoyment of this trip is all made possible by our guide Tri: he does an amazing job of keeping everything on schedule, minding everyone, and making sure we get the best out of everything. This trip is not for the faint hearted, but if you are reasonably fit and have a sense of adventure you’ll get so much out of it. We certainly did!! Packing tips - things from the list I didn’t need: travel pillow, sleeping bag liner, water purification tablets, fleece, towel (everywhere provides them, even the jungle camping trip!) Things I wish I’d brought: more technical wicking T-shirts, plus at least two long sleeved ones, a second pair of light hiking trousers (don’t bring leggings it’s too humid!), a better day pack (twice in the trip they send your main bag ahead and you live out of your day bag for a couple of days). You’re never in the same place two nights running so I was glad I’d brought an open-out kitbag on wheels which made finding things easier.

This is truly a fantastic trip for anyone wanting to see the real Vietnam. As well as Halong Bay, you are also able to experience swimming into caves, a real-life lazy river, and the overnight train back to Hanoi (bring your earplugs!). Our guide, Linh, did an amazing job at getting us where we needed to be and was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

An amazing trip with a very amazing guide, Tri Nguyen. A serious amount of fun packed into a very short number of days. Exploring both a wet and dry cave were hightlights. Camping in the jungle with the best food of the entire trip another highlight. The overnight train back to Hanoi was an unexpected highlight. Tri did a wonderful job at managing our group of friends. Loved the variety of landscapes, travel modes, activities and food. Highly recommended trip!

This is a great trip, and made so much better by our amazing guide,Tri Nguyen. He went out of his way to inject fun and humour. A great leader. Highlights: camping in the jungle; beautiful and the food...just fabulous / swimming in the caves / the train / the stop on the highway to meet artists with disabilities.

Great Adventure. Loved the itinerary, but not the amount of time spent in a van- I guess that was necessary, but especially at the beginning, it seemed as if the trip didn't really start for 2 days. Great Guide- very attentive and helpful throughout!

Positives: If you have limited time available in Vietnam this is a great way to make the most of your time and see as much of the natural landscape as possible! There are a lot of great activities included, and plenty of variety... You certainly won't be bored! Trekking and wild camping in the jungle was the highlight of the trip for me, it was exceptional.

Negatives: The hikes on Cat Ba were crowded with tourists, so this part of the trip didn't feel very adventurous. Be prepared for a very packed itinerary, scheduled mealtimes, not much opportunity to explore at leisure.

Fantastic Trip!

A truely increadible experience. Had such a fantastic time meeting new people and doing new activities. Tri our guide was so helpful, friendly and positive! Exactly what you need on a trip like this. Really great adventure to test yourself in a variety of different ways. Exploring the jungle was truelly out of this world and swimming in the caves was something that I have never experienced before. Loved the kayaking and the river cruise exceeded expectations.

I highly recommend this adventure in North and Central Vietnam, which I found was very well organised, fun, and thoroughly enjoyable!

Our guide Tri made sure everyone felt safe and catered for, managed all the logistics of the trip in the smallest details, and brought the best of local knowledge in daily experiences (culture, history, food) - which was greatly appreciated by everyone.

This is a full-on trip - lots of traveling using a variety of transport modes to reach remote places, multiple activities that require some fitness and a sense of adventure, and a good dose of camaraderie!

I wanted to write a longer more detailed review as I have found these helpful in the past for myself but for anyone just skim reading these the short answer is, this is a well organised, very fun trip led by a very knowledgeable tour guide who works hard to ensure you enjoy yourself and are safe in doing so and for that reason I have rated it 5 stars.

For the longer version, I wanted to relay some of my experiences as advice for anyone who is getting ready to join this trip. Our tour consisted of a group of 6 of mixed age, mainly 30s and 40s. We got on well and enjoyed each others’ company, having some very good laughs along the way (karaoke springs to mind!). We were led by Tri who works for MBA locally. Tri is mid 30s, clearly very experienced and technically proficient at all of the activities that you partake. He is also genuinely a very nice man, strikes the perfect balance between being part of the group but also professionally in the background so that the group dynamic can build. His English is excellent and he has obviously perfected the minor details of running a tour such as this over 15 years of running similar for various competitor organisations - he is pretty well known by other guides that you inevitably bump into at various travel hotspots and they all speak of him highly also. Small details like taking care of all of the tips for local guides, dinners and logistics such as having transport awaiting you as you arrive from long hikes or off of ferries are appreciated as you essentially don’t have to think for 10 days.. you just follow Tri around! Tri really made the trip for our group and enabled us to just enjoy the time without any worry.

Vietnam itself is a really wonderful country. The people are invariably extremely poor but are almost always smiling and very happy. Tri taught us a few phrases in Vietnamese on the first day and they seem delighted when you make the attempt, particularly when we used Oh Choi Oi! which essentially translates as ‘Oh My God’ and was exclaimed regularly particularly when crossing roads or watching Mopeds try to cut up our van! Scenery is beautiful and the accommodation is all of a high standard. There are two nights where you are ‘roughing it’ being the jungle camp and the overnight train but even there you don’t suffer many privations and both exceeded my admittedly low expectations for comfort and ease.

In terms of technical ability, I think the description of intermediate is correct. The trip consists of a mixed bag of adventure activities but really none are longer than about 3 hours and distances are not a challenge. Humidity and terrain are the only real test (hiking up fairly steep but low altitude mountains for example) but as long as you are generally fit and bring the right gear you won’t have any issues. There are regular breaks and long van rides so plenty of rest. The pace of the trip can feel relentless at times with early starts and a full schedule but that is part of the fun of it, and I found a lot of enjoyment in that. This is not a beach holiday!

The kit list suggestion is pretty accurate. Clearly this has been written to catch all weather conditions so there were some items I needed less such as a fleece (as it was 25 - 30 degrees for the entire trip!!) but the weather is tropical so think hot and sticky, with high potential for regular rain fall. If I was to pack again, I would probably have taken more ‘technical tops’ I.e. sweat proof quick drying wicking layers as you essentially live in these for the entire trip and perhaps would suggest some liquid soap for clothing as it seems pretty normal here to pack light and wash in the sink on the go. You can bring a suitcase rather than a backpack if that’s easier for you but remember you have to carry it in and out of hotels, onto the train etc.

There are not many requirements to spend money whilst you are on the trip as it is mostly inclusive. There are a few meals not included per the trip description and you have to pay for your own drinks. Clearly it’s tough to set a figure for this as everyone has different spending habits but I would say generally as a group we spent on average around £200 per person which included snacks, alcohol, coffees, and the stated meals not included as well as the tip to our guide at the end. The cost of living is low and so you can pick most items up cheaply - can of beer = £1, coffee = £1, light lunch = £2.50-£4. The only time prices rise is when you stay on the boat as you are a captive market in a touristy area so they have European prices. You can use credit card in the cities and some of the larger businesses but mostly cash is king. If you are getting money out in country, you can use several ATMs in Hanoi but remember to take your card from the machine immediately as it releases it or the machine will eat your card!

In most cases, when we had to purchase our own meal, we were so full up from all of the food provided throughout the rest of the week that we just wanted a small snack. The included food is always tasty and comes in large quantities! Tri will order a set menu for the group at each meal so again, no thinking required! Our group had some dietary requirements and food preferences, which Tri quickly ascertained and sorted out at each location.

There are a couple of areas that I think are worth mentioning to anyone booking to manage expectations. The first is that there is a lot of travelling on this trip, which means quite a few hours in cars, trains and ferries. It is all clearly stipulated in the itinerary so it won’t be a surprise but I know there a few early reviews on this site mentioning it. Ultimately, Vietnam is a big country and if you want to enjoy all of the activities then you have to travel. It might seem a lot but really, it’s all part of the adventure where you get to see the culture as you stop for comfort breaks along the way - just bring a book or some headphones or get to know your fellow travellers and it passes quickly. Invariably the stated drive time is conservative and will also include the stop times so a 6 hour drive is really about 4.5hrs in the van with an hour for lunch and a couple of toilet breaks.

The second is that the trip is full on - you never spend two consecutive nights in the same place. This means you are packing, unpacking and repacking your bags every day. There are also a couple of occasions where your main bag is sent on to a later point in the journey and you have to live out of daypack for the evening - this is simply for practical considerations (you can’t walk through a jungle and river with a suitcase) but it requires some organisation and thought. There were a couple of instances where we all were getting confused about instructions of what to pack and when but this is simply because there is so much to do, there can be up to 3 activities in a single day with different requirements. You just have to learn to use the limited downtime effectively to get organised for the next day and also go with the flow - if you end up in the same pair of socks / top two days in a row then who cares? You are in the jungle and it’s all going to get wet again anyway!

All in all a very well organised and fun adventure. A chance to meet some like minded people, experience a culture wildly different to Europe and complete some activities that you never thought you’d have the opportunity to do (swimming 150 metres into a bat cave with a head torch and floating out without it!). Enjoy!!

I loved this trip. Our guide Tri was amazing, I don’t believe the trip would have been the same without him. The food he organised was incredible. I felt safe from beginning to end and met some wonderful people. Would highly recommend this trip.

I have some mixed feelings about this tour

The positive was definitely our guide Tri! He was helpful and kind! He demonstrated a real love for Vietnam and Vietnamese culture. He definitely made the trip amazing. He was always very happy and eager to help us and to explain things. Without Tri the trip would have been very different, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart. I think he is one of the best tour guides I have ever had the chance to vacation with.

Now for the not so positive. For a tour advertising "active adventures" it was definitely lacking in activity. We had three full days of activity and about three half days. The rest were travel days. I would have expected a lot more activities. My first big disappointment was getting to Vinh and realizing the "light trek" was 2.5 km. The next day we drove four hours and only had a 6 km kayak. This to me is not the hall mark of an active adventure.

The other issue is that the amount of driving was not advertised properly.

• pick up day -The second day is 6 hours of driving, w 2.5km "hike", -3rd day is 4 hours driving, 6 km kayak
• fourth to fifth day caving (very cool, no driving), -sixth day only 30km of very flat biking and free time in afternoon (some kayaking possible) -seventh day 4 hours driving, no activity as on sail boat
• Seventh day no driving, kayak, sup and hike (our most active day w 1 hour kayak, 2 hours SUP and 2 hour hike) -Eighth day 3 hour hike and 4 hours driving.
• Nineth day is leaving, No activity.

So do this trip if you want ease of transfer between Hanoi and the central caves and cat bai island. Otherwise consider organizing the two different activities yourself (jungle boss caving expedition and cat bai island). This will give you more flexibility.

It was a great mixture of accomodations, with the boutique boat being the highlight. You never went hungry that's for sure and the egg coffee was my favourite. Trekking through the jungle was something I have never done before so it was challenging but rewarding coming out the other side.

What an amazing trip highly recommended, well organised, this trip exceeded all my expectations down to the accommodation the food the activities the people also are host Linh very welcoming enthusiastic and very patient also his knowledge of his country and stories are impressive and amusing

Trip was an adventure but feel certain aspects could be better.

This adventure was simply amazing. As a fifty something year old vegan, on my first adventure trip, I needn't have worried about anything pre departure!

The trip guides, Tri and Vera were outstanding. They looked after every aspect, logistics, the local guides, meals, hotels, tips, they kept us informed of everything that was going to happen and their knowledge and English was excellent. The other group members were such great companions, really lovely people.

The range of activities was fantastic, the hiking, cycling, kayaking, paddleboarding and the highlight - having 2 amazing days in the jungle. The jungle guide was knowledgeable, fun and really looked after our safety. The porters who carried everything into and out of the jungle - thank you!

All the accommodation was fabulous and I loved the variation, all hotels were excellent, camping in the jungle, the overnight sleeper train, the boutique sailing boat, Eco Lodge, it was great to have such a wide variety.

The food was outstanding, every meal was delicious and as a vegan, there was alot of variety. Many thanks to Tri and Vera for overseeing mealtimes and the excellent choice of restaurants.

Finally, Vietnam, is such a beautiful country, the Vietnamese people are kind, patient and friendly. If you are looking for an amazing adventure in a beautiful country with wonderful people, this is the trip for you!

If you're thinking of booking this trip, do it RIGHT NOW. Such a great experience of northern Vietnam with local guides. It will challenge your fitness levels with the variety of activities included, but you'll be so well fed and the passion that the tour leads have is contagious (shout out to Tri and Vera)! I've done several tours before and I've never felt so safe and cared for.

A real highlight is the hiking in the national park, everything is carried by the amazing porters and taken care of so you can really enjoy the stunning scenery. The caves are absolutely stunning; an experience I'll never forget.

What an incredible trip! Honestly this is the best holiday I've ever been on, both due to Vietnam being an amazing place with incredible nature, access to truly adventurous travel, fantasticly flavorful food, and above all else the incredible people. The highlight of this trip was meeting so many amazing people and sharing experiences with a number of locals as we travelled through the country. Special mention to Tri and Vera, our guides, who were always there to ensure we were safe, well fed, and they really catered for our every need. The activities on the trip were very cool - I didn't expect how rugged the activities would be - the kind of thing you just would never get in Europe where everything is much more travelled and established. The guides at every point we're incredibly skilled and filled me with confidence that no matter how afraid of an activity I was, I felt so safe I was able to do everything. Highlight of this trip was the jungle overnight trek - everything from the activities to the food to the people we met there was once in a lifetime experience. Honestly I think words can't describe this trip - it's the kind of thing you have to try to really understand - so would highly recommend booking the trip!

Absolutely fantastic trip and very varied. Extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides who go out of their way to make your trip fun. If you are looking for a varied, fun adventure where everything is planned out for you with jam packed activities then this is the one for you. We made some great friends along the way and had some really funny experiences and laughs.

This was the best thing I’ve ever done. An adventure from day one. It was superbly organised and having never done a trip like this before this was a concern for me. Tung was an excellent leader and organised everything flawlessly, and he was very proud of his country which was evident. The trip is non stop, the caving and jungle camping was excellent. After that you thought nothing could compare but everything continued to exceed my expectations. The cycling was spectacular. The boat was a real highlight too as the weather was glorious and beautiful to sail amongst the karsts. I met friends for life and I’m so grateful to have shared my experience with them. Truly an amazing experience.

The trip was great. Amazingly well organised and the tour leader Tung was outstanding. Unflappable, kind, organised and helpful. The accommodation was generally good and we went to some interesting local food venues. The highlights of the trip for us was the 2 day jungle trek with caving as well as the bicycling. Also, the kayaking and SUPing amongst the karsts was magical and so incredibly well organised. Everyone in the group was lovely and great fun to be with.

Despite being a first departure, the trip organization was flawless, without a question the most organized MBA trip I have been so far. The group leader, Tri, was amazing and made sure everything went as planned. The range of activities is great and made it possible to experience different scenarios in Vietnam. The first 2 days have a lot of driving (I suggested them to change this bit of the itinerary) but after that everything is just amazing. The food is really outstanding and deserves to be mentioned as in most MBA trips that I've been to, the food was never a highlight (always good quality though). Another thing worth mentioning is that absolutely everything is included (apart from alcohol and one lunch), even the tips for the local suppliers - not having to worry about having cash/small bills to tip everyday was definitely a plus.