Red River Cruises
Lesser-known and less-visited than the Mekong River, northern Vietnam’s Red River rises in Yunnan in southwest China and empties into the Gulf of Tonkin passing Hanoi and miles of spectacular Vietnamese countryside en route. Even though the Red River may be tiny compared to the mighty Mekong or Yellow River at just 714 miles, it was an incredibly important channel between Vietnam and China during the French colonial period. Taking a river cruise down the Red River is the best way to see this beautiful region where you will encounter an iridescent green sea of rice paddies framed by towering mountains, rural villages and important riverside temples. River cruises through the Red River usually visit the areas of HoaBinh, Viet Tre and Son Tay, all dotted with dramatic scenery and various hill tribe groups. It is also possible to encompass the iconic Ha Long Bay as part of the cruise - where hundreds of jungle clad limestone pillars rise from the turquoise sea.
