The Road to Beauty Nature ( Code TBN VN01 )

ROUTE : Hanoi – Ba Be – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Lang Son – Hanoi

DURATION : 6 Days / 5 Nights

A great jeep or motorbike adventures, exploring the most splendid area of where concentrates various obstacles of limestone mountains ranges and wonderful terraced paddy fields. Suitable to those love green eco tours, prefer untouched areas and explore customs of the hill tribal people. Extremely attractive to picture-hunting travelers.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be ~220 km ( L, D )

This exotic journey North-East begins as we depart from your hotel, we drive up and pass through the undulating terrain of tea plantation in Thai Nguyen city, we will make stop for a visit and break at the museum of Ethnology in Thai Nguyen town, keep moving through many other timeless villages linked to the road which is the main artery of trade between the Northeast region and the capital city. This is our first glimpse of rural Vietnam and sets the tone for the days ahead. Depends on traffic conditions, we will arrive into Ba be lake about midday. After checking into ‘homestay’ in Pac Ngoi village, we will have free time to walk around this village of the Tay people. Dinner and o/n in Ba Be.

Day 2: Ba Be Lakes – boating and canoeing along the lakes ( B, L, D)

Today, we will spend the whole day visiting the beauty of Ba be lakes on the local canoes, we get transfer to a boat doc, and then glide along the river and through the pretty cave. We get lunch served near the beautiful waterfall. After lunch, we canoe our hearts out navigating into the tranquil Ba Be lakes for its majesty. The followings are swimming and trekking sometimes to visit the ethnic minorities. Dinner then free to learn about the local people. Overnight home stay.

Day 3: Ba be – Cao Bang ~90km ( B, L )

As we say goodbye with Pac Ngoi village and Ba Be lakes, we take about 2 hours walk on the flat road through the National Park. Our drive meets us at the center of the park, then we hit the road of about 2,5hours towards Cao Bang. Here the ethnic people of H’Mong, Dzao, Tho and Nung live together in harmony. We will arrive in Cao Bang town about 1.30 p.m for our lunch, check in and we are free in the afternoon for walking around the town. O/N in Cao Bang

Day 4: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Dong Khe ~130km ( B, L)

Heading out of the town we start venturing into the most remote northern region of Cao Bang Province. The scenic roads traverse Trung Khanh before arriving at Ban Gioc Waterfall, which boasts the biggest waterfall in Vietnam (though not full of water in the dry season). This enormous cave has two main entrances and one branch reaching almost all the way to the waterfalls where is a ‘secret’ entrance. On the way back, we can make breaks en routes as you wish, to visit hill tribe villages and take pictures. O/N in Dong Khe.

Day 5: Dong Khe – Lang Son ~150 km ( B, L)

An early morning departure to the historical cave of Pac Po where Ho Chi Minh set up the headquarter for the August Vietnamese Revolution in 1945. After seeing this vestige site we set off on a half day drive past the verdant and rugged mountain landscape, with a mixture of terraced rice fields and hill villages. We also traverse Dong Khe and That Khe on our way to Lang Son. This border town had been all destroyed during the recent Sino - Vietnamese war, but was rebuilt to become an important trade center in northeastern region. O/N in Lang Son.

Day 6: Lang Son – Hanoi ~160 km ( B, L )

The central market of Lang Son and the legendary Tam Thanh Cave are visited this morning before we travel by roads back to Hanoi, truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. The journey is long and challenging at times as we drive through many mountain areas. Their breathtaking scenery is some of the best in Asia. We encounter en route many ethnic minorities doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. We arrive in Hanoi around 5 p.m. Our adventure ends at your hotel in Hanoi.

Price: $us/person

Included: Tour guide, Japanese Jeep, hotels/guesthouses/home stays, meal as specified: B for Breakfast; L for Lunch; D for Dinner, permit, entrance’s fees, boat trip and purified water.

Excluded: Insurance, drinks, other personal expenses. Tips are welcome!

What to bring: Passport, rain gear (even a rain coat for your bags), sunglasses, hat, sun screen, good shoes for walking, flash light, a camera with lots of film and extra batteries, a sense of adventure, other personal needs and monies for drinks/food.

Best time to do: all year round, best from September to April of next year.