We designed this tour programme with focus on the Northern and North-eastern mountainous areas of Vietnam where photographers, amateurs or professionals, will encounter breath-taking natural landscapes, colourful ethnic minorities and authentic experiences all year round. Vietnam’s northernmost province of Ha Giang offers some of the most striking sceneries with the rock formations and bizarre landscape in Dong Van rock plateau, a UNESCO World Geopark. Other highlights of the tour includes the beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Sino-Vietnamese border and Ba Be National Park with homestay and kayaking on Ba Be Lake, one of the rare karsts mountain lakes in the world which never dries up.
Tour highlights
• Staying in local ethnic villages
• Soaking in amazing landscape of the unique rocky plateau
• Visiting to the palace of the former H'mong king
• Driving over Ma Pi Leng, the most spectacular mountain pass in Vietnam
• Mingling with traditionally dressed locals in ethnic minority villages
• Visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall and Nguom Ngao Cave
• Taking a boat trip on picturesque Ba Be lake
Day 1: HA NOI - HA GIANG (-/L/D)
Pick up early at your hotel and today you will set off on a full day journey to Ha Giang. Enjoy beautiful landscape along the way and have lunch at local restaurant.
Arrive in Tien Thang Village in the suburb of Ha Giang City, check in your homestay.
This is an old and beautiful Tay ethnic minority village that well preserves the identity, cultural traditions and architecture. The village's picturesque scene boasts lush palm leaves resembling thousands of green suns overshadowing beautiful Tay houses on stilts.
Overnight on traditional stilt house (simple accommodation with western toilet located separately from the house
Day 2: HA GIANG - DONG VAN ROCK PLATEAU (B/L/D)
The remote region of Dong Van and Meo Vac is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful hill tribe villages which have remained unchanged for centuries. The Dong Van rock plateau has been enlisted by UNESCO as a World Geopark.
Today you will head northwest out of Ha Giang Town towards this northernmost tip of Vietnam. The former H'mong royal house at Sa Phin is a primary attraction of the region, but the blend of the hill tribe people's colourful costumes and the majestic mountainous scenery make this long and sometimes bumpy trip an unforgettable experience.
Accommodation at Hoa Cuong Hotel in Dong Van
Day 3: DONG VAN - MEO VAC - CAO BANG (B/L/D)
Have time to visit Dong Van Townlet before continuing to Meo Vac via the stunning Ma Pi Leng mountain pass. It took tens of thousands of young volunteers from all over Vietnam painstakingly joined hands in building this short section of road to help bring happiness to the local peoples hence the name of the road. Meo Vac is inhabited mostly by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority peoples. They still retain their centuries old cultural traditions and are recognizably distinct from each other by their dress.
Continue driving to Cao Bang. The province boasts several places of historical interest linking to the national liberation course as well as many natural attractions. Apart from the relics with connection to the revolutionary activities of Ho Chi Minh, there are several other significant tourist attractions which include the Mac Dynasty's Temple, Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen Mountain Lake and Ban Gioc waterfall.
Enjoy landscape along the road. Upon arrival in Cao Bang, check in the hotel and have leisure time for your own discovery of this charming city by the bank of Bang Giang Rier
Day 4: CAO BANG - BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B/L/D)
Early visit to Cao Bang market, then drive to visit Ban Gioc waterfall in Trung Khanh District. Ban Gioc waterfall lies on the natural border between Vietnam and China and is said to be the 4th largest waterfall along a national border in the world (the other three are Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls, and Niagara Falls)
Proceed on to visit Nguom Ngao Cave which is located about 3km from the water fall. Local people discovered the cave in 1921 but the cave was not officially opened to tourists until 2006 when paths were built to lead visitors to many corners of the cave. It takes about one hour to stroll around inside the cave. The great work of nature created attractive stalactites of which some look like human bodies, some look like forest trees and animals of fairy tales. The most impressive ones are those that form an upside-down lotus chandelier, which is nestled a little below the path.
Today you will stay overnight at Hang Village, a village of Tay ethnic minority people about 7 km from the waterfall (simple accommodation)
Day 5: BAN GIOC - BA BE NATIONAL PARK (B/L/D)
Today, the journey takes you through the rolling hills and the picturesque scenery to Ba Be National Park.
Take a boat trip to visit Puong Cave a large cave in the north of the park through which the Nang River flows. The main cave is up to 50 meters high and about 300 meters long
Continue the boat trip on Ba Be Lake. The legendary Widow Island is a small, cone-shaped islet near the centre of the southern lake. According to the local myth, the islet was once the home of an old widow who was spared from a flood through divine intervention.
Check in your homestay at a Tay ethnic village and have leisure time.
Day 6: BA BE - HANOI (B/L/-)
In the morning, stroll through some ethnic village in the national park, visit Pac Ngoi village by the lake, then visit Hua Ma Cave. Have lunch at local restaurant and then sit back and journey back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, drop off at your hotel.
