Exploring Northern Vietnam Tour in 6 Days with Ha Giang Ban Gioc Waterfall on the way to Ba Be lake would be the highlights of this untouched Northern Vietnam
Route: Hagiang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Cao Bang – Bangioc falls – Nguom Ngao Cave – Ba Be lake
Overview Northern Vietnam Tour Itinerary
- Day 1: Hanoi – Hagiang
- Day 2: Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van
- Day 3: Dong Van – Trek In Ma Pi Leng Pass – Cao Bang City
- Day 4: Cao Bang – Ban gioc Waterfall – Nguom Ngao Cave – Quang Uyen
- Day 5: Quang Uyen – Ba Be Lake – National Park
- Day 6: Half Day Boating In Ba Be Lake – Hanoi
Start your incredible Northern Vietnam Tour with Ha giang Ban gioc fall. The destination is Vietnam’s northern final frontier, with a beautiful mix of granite outcrops and limestone pinnacles. The route from Yen Minh to Dong Van, or from Ma Pi Leng Pass to Meo Vac will make you wonder why you don’t know about this place sooner
Spend the first and second day to immerse yourself in the deep history and life of the locals. Because of its spectacular natural beauty coupled with cultural richness, Ha giang has been the most popular destination in North Vietnam. But the sheer distance from other travel hubs have kept the number of tourists here conveniently low.
Take time to indulge in the mouth-watering and cheap local food or enjoy the hospitality of the Hmong ethnic tribes. You are sure to receive a warm welcome and memories that will reminisce for years to come.
On the third day, get ready to trek along Ma Pi Leng Pass for a stunningly beautiful view of the verdant valley down below encircled by rolling hills. Before your gaze is lush vegetation, falling away in steep slopes, sometimes shrouded in mist, depending on the time of the year.
- Read more: Things to do in Ha Giang Travel Guide
Our next stop is Ban gioc falls. In terms of quantity, it definitely takes some beating. You need a boat to get the best panorama, which is ready for you as you arrive. There are plenty of photo opportunities to capture Instagram-worthy shots anywhere. The waterfall is regarded as the biggest border waterfall in South-east Asia located right between Vietnam and China. Here you also have chance to admire the awe-inspiring nature and landscape of Cao Bang Geopark. Moreover, the ethnic Nung minority and their traditional handicrafts such as incense and knife making are worth life-time experience. Read more: Things to do in Cao Bang Ban Gioc fall
Conclude this 6-day northern Vietnam tour in Ba Be Lake after Ha giang and Ban gioc falls. Ba Be National Park covered 23,000 hectares of wilderness ringed by towering peaks. Surrounded by mountains, there are plenty of hikes, walks, and pristine countryside. Spending time here is likely to make you feel close to nature. Chance for you to explore the primitivity of Ba Be lake by boat or kayaking. Dont forget to try the Widow Island in the middle of the lake where you can see sunset or try thrilling jumping to fresh water. Read more: Things to do in Ba Be
Tour itinerary of 6 days untouched Northern Vietnam
Day 1: Hanoi – Hagiang
Get ready for your first day with a 6-hour transfer to Ha Giang. Take this chance to witness the change from busy vibe to serenity with a short stop along the way for photos and a short walk in the middle of the enclosing fields.
Enjoy your authentic lunch at a local restaurant before reaching Ha Giang at around 4PM. Take the rest of day to wander around the Tay villages where there are emerald green rice fields, traditional wooden stilt houses tiled with palm leaves or cool yourself off in a local stream nearby. Dinner is ready when you call it a day!
Day 2: Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van
Let’s hunt for some sunrise photos before starting your second day tripping. After breakfast, wind up the mountain to Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark. Stop over in Quan Ba and Yen Minh to lay your eyes on the spectacular natural scenes before dining in an exotic tasty lunch in Yen Minh town and heading to Dong Van afterwards.
Treating yourself with a pleasant 1.5-hour walk on secret mountain trails crossing some local Hmong villages before paying a visit to the ancient Palace of Hmong King in Sa Phin Valley. Arrive Dong Van at 4.30PM. If time permits, are you down for an easy walk up the vacant French Fortress where the stunning panoramic of the town at sunset gets into your eyes.
Day 3: Dong Van – Trek In Ma Pi Leng Pass – Cao Bang City
The third day begins with a visit to Dong Van Market. If it’s Sunday, a unique weekly market fair of Hmong people would be displayed. You can also enjoy a typically morning Vietnamese coffee sip in Dong Van Old Quarter. After the market, a 20-min drive transfers you to a hiking point set at Ma Pi Leng Pass. Now, get ready to be hypnotized by the glamorous beauty of this top-of-the-world destination.
A later 2-hour walk takes you to the top of the pass after winding through the local Hmong tribes, their corn fields, a strolling via the high corridor path on the edge of the mountain looking down to Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon. After a short break for nature idolization, continue to Cao Bang for your next adventure.
Day 4: Cao Bang – Ban gioc Waterfall – Nguom Ngao Cave – Quang Uyen
Hit the road again and prepare for an absolute panoramic view above Ban Gioc Waterfall, the fourth biggest border waterfall in the world between Vietnam and China. Stop en route for a short visit to Phuoc Sen Village, home of the Nung ethnic dwellers and get to see the magical procedure behind each the knife-making process.
An interesting boat trip to discover the waterfall at a closer distance is well prepared once you arrive. Picnic lunch at the waterfall and relax before sneaking through the mystic Nguom Ngao – Tiger Cave then heading to your homestay in an incense-making village. If you are still into finding some more cool scenic nature, feel free to hike up the closeby mountain summit for an hour. The later overall sunset view when standing at peak is such a rewarding feeling.
Day 5: Quang Uyen – Ba Be Lake
Day five starts with a 3-hour drive to Ba Be Lake through 5 different spectacular passes around the mountain roads. First, arrive at Cho Ra Town at lunch time before getting ready to reach your homestay in Pac Ngoi Village where you start a 8-km biking on a local path to Hua Ma Cave, known as the most beautiful limestone cave in the Northeast face Vietnam.
Spend 1 hour hiking to observe the cave and admire the beauty of stalactites and stalagmites before getting back to Ba Be Lake at Pac Ngoi Village. For those who are new, Pac Ngoi is an original Tay village situated by the lake.
After keeping your baggage at the homestay, walk further to Pac Ngoi Wharf from which you can join in kayaking or cooling off in the fresh water.
Day 6: Half Day Boating In Ba Be Lake – Hanoi
Enjoy the last breakfast in this rural paradise before a 3-hour boating around the lake. The boat takes you to Cam Village filled with the greenish nature, smiley people and native schools located by the bank of the Nang River. There enjoy a short walk to meet and discover the daily life of Tay people. Continue to Puong Cave, home to the stunning limestone stalactites, stalagmites and millions of bats. End at Buoc Lom Wharf where you make a farewell to Ba Be and return to Hanoi.
QUOTATION
This mentioned price is just for references only, please contact for trip price at the time of departure
ACCOMMODATION
Upon the trip request: Homestay/hotel/resort or optional customized accommodation to meet all your comfortable rooms
Trip Includes
- A/C car transfer during the trip
- Accommodations
- All sightseeing tickets; travel permits and activities mentioned in the itinerary
- 24/7 hotline support
Trip Excludes
- Travel insurance
- Beverage on meals
- Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenir, etc…
- Tips & Gratuities
Advisory
Best time to visit: from middle February to middle of December
What to bring: hiking boots; raincoats; insect spray, sun cream…etc
Recommended other Northern Road Trips:
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