The Tour
The side of Ha Long that is not the bay at all.
Almost everyone who comes to Ha Long comes for the water, which is fair enough. But inland, in Ky Thuong, there is forest, farmland and the Dao Thanh Phan community, and a day there is about as far from a cruise deck as you can get while staying in the same province.
You start with a welcome drink and a short cycle through the village to a traditional Dao home, where a local guide explains the architecture, daily life and the spiritual customs that still shape it. There are gardens, flower and bamboo-lined paths, a fish stream and an ancient lim tree, plus countryside activities such as archery, traditional games, stand-up paddleboarding and horse riding. The afternoon is kayaking on Hanh Phuc Stream, exploring the bamboo forest and, in season, harvesting bamboo shoots. Stay the night at a local homestay and you get the countryside once the day visitors have gone.
