Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be (220 km). This exotic journey of the Northeast begins as we depart from your Hanoi hotel. We drive up and pass through the undulating terrain of tea plantations in Thai Nguyen city. We will make a short stop for a visit and break at the Museum of Ethnology in Thai Nguyen town. Keep moving through many other timeless villages linked to the road which is the main artery of trade between the Northeast region and the Hanoi Capital. This is our first glimpse of rural Vietnam and sets the tone for the days ahead. Depending on traffic conditions, we will arrive at Ba Be Lake at about midday. After arriving at our home stay in Pac Ngoi village, we will have free time to walk around and meet the Tay people. Dinner and overnight in Ba Be.
Day 2: Ba Be Lakes, boating and canoeing. Today we will spend the whole day visiting the beauty of Ba Be Lakes in a local hand-crafted wooden canoe. We will transfer to a boat dock, then glide along the river and to a nearby cave. Lunch is served near a beautiful waterfall. After lunch, we canoe our hearts' out navigating into the tranquility of Ba Be Lakes and be witness to all of its majesty. The afternoon's activities could include swimming and trekking, or sometimes a short visit to the ethnic minority villages. Rest at dinner then you are free to learn about the local people. Overnight at the home stay.
Day 3: Ba Be – Cao Bang (90km). As we say goodbye with Pac Ngoi village and Ba Be Lakes, we will take about a 2 hour walk on a flat road through the National Park. Our driver meets us at the center of the park, then we hit the road, and take a scenic 2.5 hour drive towards Cao Bang. Here the ethnic people of Hmong, Dao, Tho and Nung live together in harmony. We will arrive in Cao Bang town about 1:30 pm for our lunch, check in, and have a free afternoon for walking around the town. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Day 4: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Dong Khe (130km). Heading out of town, we start venturing into the most remote northern regions of Cao Bang Province. The scenic roads traverse Trung Khanh before arriving at Ban Gioc Waterfall, which boasts the biggest waterfall in Vietnam (although not full of water in the dry season). There is an enormous cave with two main entrances, one branch reaching almost all the way to the waterfalls where there is a second "secret" entrance. On the way back, we may break en route, as you wish, to visit hill tribe villages and take pictures. Overnight in Dong Khe.
Day 5: Dong Khe – Lang Son (150 km). An early morning departure to the historical cave of Pac Po, where Ho Chi Minh set up headquarters for the August Vietnamese Revolution in 1945. After seeing this special site we set off on a half day drive past the verdant and rugged mountain landscape, with a mixture of terraced rice fields and hill villages. We also traverse Dong Khe and That Khe on our way to Lang Son. This border town had been completely destroyed during the recent Sino - Vietnamese war, but was rebuilt to become an important trade center in the Northeastern region. Overnight in Lang Son.
Day 6: Lang Son – Hanoi (160 km). The central market of Lang Son and the legendary Tam Thanh Cave are visited the morning before we travel by road back to Hanoi. This is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. The journey is long and challenging at times as we drive through many mountainous areas. The breathtaking scenery is some of the best in Asia. En route we encounter many ethnic minorities doing their daily work such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the fields. We arrive in Hanoi at around 5:00 pm. Our adventure ends at your hotel.
Notes:
- Accommodation: Home stay is basic, Hotels: Standard
- What to Bring: Passport, rain gear (even a rain coat for your bags), sunglasses, hat, sun screen, good shoes for walking, flash light, a camera with lots of film and extra batteries, a sense of adventure, other personal needs and monies for drinks/food.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Tour guide
- Japanese Jeep
- Hotels/guest houses/home stays,
- Meal as specified
Price Excludes:
- Insurance
- Drinks
- Other personal expenses
- Tips are welcome!
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Vietnam
Multi-activity
Cultural Journey
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