Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Hanoi
Meet and greet at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in (after 2:00 PM). The rest of day is at leisure.
Meal: nil
Stay: hotel, Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi – Ha Giang Take a leisurely drive to Ha Giang which is the province in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Ha Giang shares a 270-KM long border with Yunnan province of southern China, and thus is known as Vietnam’s final frontier.
During the drive, pass through the countryside, villages and towns in the far Northern Vietnam. Along the way, stop to visit Mac Dynasty citadel in Tuyen Quang province and a nearby local market.
Continue into Ha Giang. On arrival, visit Tha Cultural village. This village is home to Tay people and surrounded with rice terrace. Back to the town and check in your hotel which overlooks the river.
Meal: nil
Stay: hotel, Ha Giang
Day 3 Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van
Dive to Dong Van ancient town which is located in the Dong Van karst plateau Geopark. The karst plateau is created by at least 80 percent limestone and many fossils of ancient creatures species from 400 – 600 million years ago. Its average elevation is 1,400 – 1,600 metres above sea level.
Stop in Quan Ba to visit the Bo Y minority village and en-route, visit the Heaven gate in Quan Ba town. Continue the trip to Sa Phin Village to visit the former H’Mong King’s palace and a minority house in the cultural village where the film “Pao’s story” was shot.
Arrive into Dong Van district in the late afternoon, free time to explore around.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: hotel, Dong Van
Day 4 Dong Van – Lung Cu – Ma Pi Lang Pass – Meo Vac – Ba Be
Visit Dong Van ethnic market (open only on Sundays), where all kinds of goods and multi-coloured clothes can be purchased. The people here still remain their traditional life of remote minority tribes.
Visit the Flag Tower on the top of Lung Cu mountain, near the border with China. Drive along the Nho Que river and go through Ma Pi Leng pass which is a part of Dong Van plateau’s complex of geological park. Pa Pi Leng has long been known as one of the top four greatest passes in Vietnam.
After admiring the breaktaking view of the pass, arrive in Meo Vac, a rural district of Ha Giang province. Have a short rest before driving to Ba Be Lake. Tonight dinner at a home stay while enjoying the nice river view in Pac Ngoi village.
Stay over at the home stay in Ba Be. It will be a simple homestay accommodation where you will sleep on mattresses on the floor in a mixed-gender dormitory style, and bathrooms will be shared. There is no better way to understand a country and its people other than staying with them.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay : Home Stay, Ba Be
Day 5 Ba Be – Hanoi
Take a boat trip on Ba Be lake, the largest natural lake in Vietnam which has a water area around 500 ha, spreading over 8 KM. Visit Puong Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ba Be national park, and then take the boat to Dau Dang Waterfall, while waiting for the lunch served in Minority restaurant, Take a short walk to visit Dau Dang waterfall.
A boat trip back to Pac Ngoi Village, have a short rest then, a drive back to Hanoi (240 KM), arriving in the late afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: hotel, Hanoi
Day 6 Depart Hanoi
Rest and relax until it is time for the transfer back to Noi Bai Airport.
Meal: Breakfast