Itinerary
Day 1: Ha Noi - Ha Giang
Day 2: Ha Giang - Dong Van
Day 3: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Meo Vac - Bao Lac
Day 4: Bao Lac - Ba Be National Park
Day 5: Ba Be Lake - Ha Noi
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang (L, D)
We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at 8am and start our drive northwards along Road No. 2. As the scenery changes around you, we make a stop in Diong Lam Ancient Village, not far from Hanoi. This place is incredibly rich in history and contains sites like Monh Phu Temple and Mia Pagoda, which itself houses 287 statues and many houses centuries old. Here we will enjoy a local lunch before setting out again along the Duong Lam River deep into the mountains. Once in Ha Giang Town, we’ll bring you to a local homestay for a home-cooked dinner and overnight stay.
Highlights and activities: Duong Lam Ancient village
Accommodation: Mr Doan's Homestay
Meals: Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant
Day 2: Ha Giang – Dong Van (B, L, D)
After getting our permits from the immigration office, we set out for Dong Van through spectacular long passes. We will stop en-route for lunch in the mountain town of Tam Son, as well as spend some time visiting the nearby H’mong Palace, built by the French in the early 1900’s.
We then continue our journey until we reach Hoa Cuong Hotel in Dong Van, arriving at roughly 17:00 where we’ll have dinner in a local restaurant and stay the night in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: Tam Son, King of the H'mong Palace
Accommodation: Hoa Cuong Hotel
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 3: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Meo Vac – Bao Lac (B, L, D)
After breakfast we make a visit to the Dong Van Market, which acts not only as a place for the locals to buy and sell goods, but also as a place to socialize and meet friends they may not have seen for a while. After taking in the lively atmosphere of the market and perhaps doing some shopping, we climb up the mountain behind the town to the old colonial French fortress of Pu Lo.
After you’ve finished enjoying the views from the fortress, we set out for a 7km trek to Thien Huong Village, a small hamlet very near China inhabited by the Tay people. Here we can spend some time, giving you plenty of chances to explore the village and its unique people and culture, before heading back towards Dong Van via the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered by many to be Vietnam’s most spectacular natural scenery. We’ll then descend into Meo Vac Valley, reaching Bao Lac village where we will spend the night in a hotel and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Highlights and activities: Dong Van market, Pu Lo fortress, Ma Pi Leng Pass, 10 - 12km trek
Accommodation: Hotel in Bao Lac
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 4: Bao Lac – Ba Be National Park (B, L, D)
Today we will take you along our secret route, a small road snaking through gorgeous valleys until it reaches Cho Ra, a Tay Village, and continues on, finally reaching Ba Be National Park.
Here we’ll start with lunch, then a visit to Hua Ma Cave and the traditional Tay village of Coc Toc, where Mr Linh and his family will welcome you into their home and homestay.
The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish, and if it’s hot we recommend copying the local kids and going for a swim in the lake!
The day ends with a home-cooked meal and overnight stay with your host family.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be National Park, Hua Ma cave
Accommodation: Mr Linh's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 5: Ba Be National Park – Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast, you’ll head to Bo Lu Quay by foot and board a boat to set out for your tour of the lake and river. The time on the boat you can spend as you wish, whether that’s sightseeing, sunbathing, swimming or wildlife watching. Eventually we leave the lake behind and head down the Nang River, reaching Puong Cave, famous for its many stalactites and stalagmites. Once we’re done at the cave, our driver will be ready to take you back to Hanoi, arriving back at the capital at around 17:30.
Highlights and activities: Boat trip, Puong Cave, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch at local restaurant.