Code: BS-04

The North-East Loop - 5 Days

Length: 5 Days

Highlights

  • Experience the daily life of ethnic minorities with homestays at local stilt houses. 
  • Boat trip on Ba Be Lake ( Ba Be National Park) 
  • Visit the most beautiful waterfall - Ban Gioc in Vietnam 
  • Tasting variety of local food 
  • Admire the august mountainous landscapes in the North of Vietnam

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: HANOI - BA BE LAKE
The driver and the tour guide will come to pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at 8.30 am and drive up to the Northeastern mountains for Ba Be lake with photo stops on the way. Arrive at Ba Be national park and take a walk around the Tay people village to learn about the local life. Overnight in Tay minority's stilt house.
Included meals: Lunch & Dinner 

DAY 2: BA BE LAKE - CAO BANG CITY
If you can wake up early, a morning walk is beautiful with fresh air. After breakfast, spend most of the morning to explore the lake and Nang river. These will include a cruise though this Vietnam's biggest fresh water lake, a visit to Dau Dang water fall, Puong cave. Around noon, get on your private car to Cho Ra town for lunch at a local restaurant. After that, we will head for Cao Bang. Arrive in Cao Bang City and check into a hotel for the free evening and dinner on your own account. Overnight at a hotel in Cao Bang.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

DAY 3: BAN GIOC WATERFALL & NGUOM NGAO CAVE
After the breakfast at your hotel, we will embark the morning drive to the remote area, Trung Khach District. Have a short stop on the way to visit Phuc Sen village of the Nung people where you can learn how basically the local blacksmiths are making their farming tools such as knives, sickles, plough plates... Arrive at the Waterfall around 11.30. Take a short walk down to Quay Son River and get on a bamboo raft to visit the most beautiful waterfall of Vietnam. Have lunch at a local restaurant nearby. In the afternoon, continue on with a visit to Nguom Ngao limestone Cave, which is located about 2 km from Ban Gioc. Walking through this cool cave offers you a great chance to admire how wonderful the stalagmites and stalactites have been formed. Back to car and return to Cao Bang City. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

DAY 4: CAO BANG CITY - BAC SON VALLEY
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and get ready for the morning drive to Bac Son Valley in Lang Son province. The drive includes some stops on the way for you to take photographs whenever you want. Arrive at Quynh Son village of the ethnic Tay people and have lunch on a stilt house. This afternoon you will walk to visit the village and hike up to the top of the telephone-station mountain for a stunning scenery over the valley. This is a great point for those who love photographing. Dinner and chat chit with the host of our homestay tonight. However, you can choose to stay at a basic mini hotel or at a homestay of the Tay people (If you stay overnight at the homestay, you will be separated to different beds (for couple) as it is the culture of the local people for guests – men and women sleep separately)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 5: BAC SON - HANOI
After the traditional breakfast, this morning we will embark on a 3,5-hour hike on a rural back road. Along the hike, you can have a close look at the local farming, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in a good harmony of mountains, forests and local life. At the end of the hike we get picked up by our private transport back to the family. After lunch, we will drive back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in between 4. 30 and 5.00 PM. End of service.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Inclusions

  • Private a/c vehicle 
  • Private tour guide 
  • Vietnamese meals as mentioned in the itinerary 
  • Sightseeing tickets & Entrance fees 
  • Accommodation with daily breakfasts (2 nights at local houses; 2 nights at a hotel) 
  • Boat trip in Ba Be Lake  
  • Bamboo raft at Ban Gioc Waterfall 
  • Bottled water on the vehicle



Tour Exclusions

  • Travel insurance 
  • Drinks and other meals 
  • Hotel in Hanoi 
  • Tips & Gratuities 
  • Personal expenses & Other things not mentioned clearly in the Inclusions above.



Important Notes

  • In case of bad weather or physical condition, the alternative activities to the mountain hike can be walking around the villages, to the rice fields or embarking a gentle bicycling tour around this beautiful valley. 
  • At homestay, we do have white clean mattress covers and soft clean pillows, hot shower and Western style toilet. If you don’t want to stay at the homestay, the alternative is staying at a basic guest house in the nearby town. Please let us know your choice at the booking time.
  • The above itinerary and amounts are just our sample suggested one for you to get an idea. We are flexible and willing to assist you in custom-making the tour so that it will meet your travel expectation the most. Just send us some words and let us know how you would like your visit to be. We will put things together logistically for you.

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