Itinerary
Day 1: Ha Noi – Ba Be National Park
Day 2: Ba Be Lake – Na Hang – Bac Me – Ha Giang
Day 3: Ha Giang full day Trek
Day 4: Ha Giang – Dong Van
Day 5: Dong Van – Cao Bang
Day 6: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc waterfall – Lang Son
Day 7: Lang Son – Ha Long bay
Day 8: Ha Long bay –Lan Ha bay – Cat Ba island
Day 9: Cat Ba island – Ha Noi
Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be National Park (L, D)
We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi in the morning and start the drive through an amazing terrain of tea plantations and small villages. You should arrive in Ba Be in the mid to late afternoon, where the rest of the day will be free for you to explore, followed by a home-cooked meal and overnight stay at Mr Linh’s Homestay, a traditional Tay stilt-house.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be Lake, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Linh's Homestay
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2: Ba Be National Park – Na Hang – Bac Me – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
After breakfast you get to go on a boat trip around the lake. You will stop at some small villages along the way, before reaching Dau Dang Waterfall. Then we trek to Na Hang Lake, stopping for lunch along the way, and then board another boat to cruise along the river to Bac Me where our driver will be waiting to drive you to Ha Giang. You will have dinner and stay overnight in a local homestay in Ha Giang.
Highlights and activities: Dau Dang waterfall. Na Hang, a 3 - 5 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Doan's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Trekking in Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Today we trek for roughly 5 or 6 hours to reach Nam Hong Village. Along the way you’ll be able to drink in the magnificent views and interact with the local people from various ethnic groups. We will stop for a picnic village before reaching the remote village of Ta Pan Man, where you’ll be able to observe the farmers working their fields, and even get the chance to join in to help!
We then return to our homestay for dinner and another overnight stay.
Highlights and activities: Nam Hong village, Ta Pan Man, a 12 - 15 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Doan's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Ha Giang – Dong Van (B, L, D)
After getting the permits from the immigration office in Ha Giang, you will be taken across a succession of stunning passes with absolutely jaw-ping views until you reach the mountain town of Tam Son where lunch will be served.
Once you’ve eaten, we will take you to the H’mong palace which once belonged to the “King of the H’mong” and was constructed by French and Chinese architects, leading to an interesting fusion of styles. The palace was once infamous for being used to store opium and weapons but was abandoned in the 1950’s and the descendants of the family now live in France and Canada.
After the palace we continue on to Dong Van, arriving at 18:00, where you’ll have dinner and stay the night in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: Tam Son, H'mong Palace, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Hoa Cuong Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Dong Van – Cao Bang (B, L, D)
After breakfast we might get a chance to visit the Dong Van market, if we’re here on the right day. The day of the market changes every week, moving 1 day back for each week that passes.
We then make the climb up to Pu Lo Fortress situated on a mountain behind the town, and then travel along Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered by many to be the best scenery in all of Vietnam. We then descend into Meo Vac Valley and stop in Bao Lac Village for lunch, followed by a drive to Cao Bang where you will spend the night in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: Pu Lo fortress, Ma Pi Leng Pass, a 8 - 10 km trek
Accommodation: Thanh Loan Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Lang Son (B, L, D)
Most of our guests consider this day the highlight of the tour, as we visit one of the most amazing sites in all of Vietnam: Ban Gioc Waterfall. After breakfast we set out for the two hour dream before reaching this breath-taking cascade located right on the border with China. In fact, this location makes it the 4th largest frontier waterfall in the world, aside from also being the largest waterfall period in Southeast Asia. We’ll spend quite some time here, allowing you to explore, take photos, enjoy the views and even take a bamboo boat so close to the waterfall you can feel the water hitting your face!
We then proceed to Nguom Ngao Cave, which features some stunning rock formations formed by millennia of erosion. Once we’ve explored the cave, we head to Lang Son with time to relax before dinner. You will stay here overnight in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Vi's Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Lang Son – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Today we’ll take you on the 4 hour drive from Lang Son to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival at the pier, we will board our cruise where you will be served lunch while you glide through gorgeous scenery. We will sail past all the main highlights of the bay, and reach Sung Sot Cave in the afternoon where the boat will lay anchor. Here you’ll have time to kayak, swim and relax until the sun sets, at which time dinner will be served and you can then take part in one of the various activities on board like karaoke, drinking or squid fishing. You will then stay the night on-board.
Highlights and activities: Halong Bay, Sung Sot Cave, kayak
Accommodation: Overnight on Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Island (B, L, D)
Early risers will get to enjoy a stunning sunrise over Ha Long Bay. You will then be served breakfast on the boat and then travel to Gia Luan Harbour on Cat Ba Island. From here you will be driven through Cat Ba National Park, which is filled with spectacular flora and fauna, before reaching Ben Beo Harbour. Here we board yet another boat and visit Cai Beo Village in Lan Ha Bay, one of the oldest floating villages in Vietnam.
We then head to Monkey Island for checking in to Bungalow, where lunch will be served at the beachside restaurant. The afternoon is then free for you to relax or take part in any of the activities on the island such as kayaking, football or volleyball. There is also a great walk up the mountain behind the resort which offers some stunning views of Lan Ha Bay, perfect for sunset. You will stay overnight in a bungalow at the resort.
Highlights and activities: Cat Ba National Park, Monkey island
Accommodation: Bungalow
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Cat Ba Island – Hanoi (B, L)
Highlights of Northern Vietnam 9 Days 8 Nights
If you like to get some exercise early in the morning, you can greet the day with some group exercises on the beach or maybe just a quick dip in the sea before breakfast. After we’ve eaten, we take a boat back to Cat Ba Town and then a bus to Gia Luan Pier where another boat will take us back to the mainland. The boat will take a different route this time, giving you a new perspective on the bay, before ping you off at the pier where our driver will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi.
Highlights and activities: Cat Ba town, Hanoi
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner