British Universities Kayaking Expedition 2009 - KayakNam
The 2009 British Universities “KayakNam” Expedition set out to explore and paddle previously undocumented whitewater rivers across northern and central Vietnam, navigating through challenging logistics, intense travel conditions, and the unpredictability of monsoon鈥憇eason paddling. The journey began in Hong Kong, where the team entered mainland China and immediately encountered obstacles: missed trains, extreme heat while portaging kayaks through city streets, and complications at the China–Vietnam border when their boats failed to travel on the same train. After days of delays, they finally reached Hanoi.
Once settled, the team secured a 52鈥憇eat bus to transport kayaks into remote northern regions. Their first destination, Ba Be Lake, offered spectacular scenery but dangerously high monsoon water levels, with local warnings about “unnavigable” rapids proving accurate. The team then travelled to Sapa, where they discovered the Ngoi Dum—an exceptional granite鈥慴edded river offering continuous technical pool鈥慸rop paddling and multiple first鈥慸escent sections, including rapids they named themselves. Extraction from deep valleys proved arduous, involving jungle climbs and difficult searches for transport.
Further exploration in the Sapa region involved paddling steep creeks such as the Suoi Cat, where a vertical鈥憌alled gorge forced the team into an exhausting climb out, and a two鈥慸ay descent of the Song Ta Van, supported by friendly homestays.
After heading south to Nha Trang and Da Lat, the team scouted waterfalls and eventually paddled the Dray Sap river system—an impressive pool鈥慸rop run culminating in the dramatic 15m鈥慼igh, 50m鈥憌ide Dray Sap Falls. Subsequent scouting suggested limited further potential in the area.
