INTRODUCTION
Northeast Vietnam tour – The northeast mountainous region of Vietnam including the province of Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang is extremely beautiful, but little visited. On this great tour, you will visit the magnificent Dong Van karst plateau geopark, picturesque Ba Be lake and Ban Gioc waterfall. You will also have opportunities to meet and explore life and unique culture of several ethnic groups living in the region. If paradise is as beautiful as people imagine, this tour is more beautiful than that. A trip to visit Ha Giang, Ba Be Lake, and Ban Gioc waterfal is far beyond expectations!
ITINERARY OF THE NORTHEAST VIETNAM TOUR
DAY 1. HANOI – HA GIANG – PHUONG DO HOMESTAY (LUNCH, DINNER)
The furthermost province in the North of Vietnam, Ha Giang is absolutely a great destination for the sightseeing of grandiose mountainous landscapes and diverse range of cultures (home to more than 20 ethnic groups living together).
8:00am: This morning, we will pick you at your hotel in Hanoi then drive to Ha Giang mountainous province which the Vietnam-China border extends more than 275Km long. During the way, there are many grandiose mountains with unique formation of peaky rocks. Ha Giang is the location of 4 major ethnic minorities with Hmong, Tay, Dao & Nung that make the ethnical diversity and nowhere we can see more fusing traditions than Ha Giang.
Have lunch at local restaurant in Tuyen Quang.
After lunch time, we continue to drive to Phuong Do commune. We can have some stop for pictures and walking.
Arrive Phuong Do at late afternoon. We will visit Thon Tha village and Ha Thanh village of the Tay minoriry; take a walk to see their everyday life.
Dinner will be served in homestay.
After dinner, enjoy a traditional dance & music of the Tay people in their black traditional clothes.
Overnight at homestay in Phuong Do or similar .
DAY 2. PHUONG DO – QUAN BA – DONG VAN KARST PLATEAU (B, L)
After breakfast, we will say goodbye Phuong Do then continue our trip to Quan Ba (50km, 1.5 hours to drive). Arrive Quan Ba, you will have a great chance to walk up the top on hill to enjoy the stunning view of Quan Ba town; take the photo of Co Tien Double mountain and continue to drive to beautiful rote to Dong Van.
Continue to Yen Minh pass where you enjoy and fall in love with fabulous view of limestone mountain and valley. Have lunch in Yen Minh; before continue to Pho Cao pass (Tham Ma pass) to take the photo of Happiness road, before drive to visit Lung Cam village culture village to visit the home filming “ Story of Pao”.The film which won four Golden Kite Prizes (the Oscars of Vietnam).
We then continue to Dong Van and stop on the way to visit The King Palace of Hmong people.
Arrive Dong Van at late afternoon, check in and relax. You can walk around the Dong van town, if you like ( market, old street..).
Overnight in Dong Van .
DAY 3. DONG VAN KARST PLATEAU GEOPARK DISCOVERY (B, L)
After having breakfast at hotel, we start our trip at 7:30am today to visit Nho Que River by boat trip.
From Dong Van, we drive 10 minutes to get Ta Lang village; stop there then take “xeom” to get the pier of Nho Que River (20 minutes).
Nestled between the mountain of northeast of Vietnam, Nho Que River winding like green thread shimmering north from heaven. The length of 192 km, the river engraved name on 46 km across the strip of land in Vietnam; and flows through the rocky sloping limestone mountain of the global geological park system Dong Van stone. The Nho Que river carries a beautiful turquoise blue color. That shines through the bright green patches of the forest almost all seasons of the year (except the rain season from Apr till Sep).
The best time to see the river is from October till March the next year; especially Feb and March when the Bombaxceiba flowers in full bloom.
After 1 hour boat trip along the river and visit Tu San alley, we will take “xeom” to get back the car. Have lunch at local restaurant in Dong Van.
Optional: if you prefer to do kayaking, it is also a good idea for Northeast vietnam tour.
After lunch, we will drive to Ma Pi Leng for trekking in 1-2 hours. We will stop at Ma Pi Leng museum then start to trek through a small road. The trekking route is fabulous for anyone who loves nature and taking photos. Climb up to the nice view point on the top of mountain to see the sunset; take beautiful photos of Nho Que river. You will have the opportunity to meet ethnic children playing along the way; the hardworking women growing maize in the fields or grazing buffaloes and goats. After more than 1 hour for trekking, we will meet the car on the main road. Get on the car and back hotel for overnight in Dong Van.
DAY 4. DONG VAN – BA BE LAKE (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)
8:00am: After breakfast and check-out hotel, we will drive to Ba Be lake; and arrive your homestay in Ba Be at late afternoon. We will stop in some places for pictures and walking such as villages, towns, markets, schools…- Northeast vietnam tour.
Have rest and have dinner at homestay.
Overnight in Ba be.
Note: there are three places for you to choose to stay: Cho ra town; Ba be guest house; Pac ngoi village.
DAY 5. BA BE LAKE – NGUOM NGAO CAVE – BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B, L)
With northeast vietnam tour – After breakfast, , enjoy the boat trip (3 hours) in the morning. This is a spectacular boat trip on the lake. We stroll along the riverfront, visit some lovely villages and hike the upper reaches of the lake, in an area marked by massive limestone cliffs and mountains.
The boat will come to Puong Cave where you can explore the stalactites and stalagmites which are a result of the erosion of the river on the karst; as well as looking out for the bat colony several thousand strong.
11:00am: After boat trip, we will transfer you to a local restaurant for lunch.
Continue your trip to Ban Gioc waterfall (about 200km and 5 hours to drive).
Stop on the way to visit Phia Thap Incense village. It has a long history, although no one know the founder of this traditional craft; incense making has been inherited from generation to generation; creating work that is well known for every villager.
You will check in Saigon Ban Gioc hotel near the waterfall at late afternoon. Have dinner by your own.
Overnight in Saigon Ban Gioc hotel .
DAY 6. BAN GIOC WATERFALL – LANG SON – HANOI (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)
8:00am: This morning, after breakfast and check-out hotel. We will bring you to visit the famous Ban Gioc Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in Vietnam. Take your time to enjoy the waterfall by a boat trip which you have more and more beautiful photos.
9:00am: we will drive continue the trip to discover Nguom Ngao cave which was formed about 300 million years ago. According to Tay language, Nguom Ngao means the cave of tigers. Legend has it that, the sound of the stream inside the cave likes the growl of tigers; so the local people named the cave as Nguom Ngao.
We will have lunch in Cao Bang city before drive to Hanoi (285 km, 6 hours to drive).
The Northeast vietnam tour ends at hotel in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Thank for your travel with us!
Note: If you do not want to get back to Hanoi; we will organize for you to stay overnight in Ken Homestay in Bac Giang province ; continue to drive to Ha Long Bay the following day.
TOUR SERVICE INCLUDE
- All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Accommodation as indicated
- English speaking guide (other languages on request)
- Entrance fees
- Meals as indicated
