Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel at around 7:30 am, transferring you to Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before stopping at Chi Lang Pass - a 20-km-long gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains.
This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as far back as 981AD. As such it bears the reputation of Vietnam’s strongest citadel and bastion. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as “The Gate of Monsters”, named for the many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.
After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.
In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.
Stay the first night in Cao Bang.
Day 2
BAN GIOC WATERFALL - BA BE NATIONAL PARK
After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.
Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breath-taking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.
Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
You will then return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home-cooked meal.
Stay the second night in Ba Be.
Day 3
BA BE NATIONAL PARK TREKKING
Enjoy your delicious breakfast at our homestay.
Spend a full day to explore Ba Be National park, its diverse and beautiful landscapes as you go trekking through the park. Your guide will start off by taking you to Coc Toc Village, visiting the local Tay fishermen who live there, before crossing Pelu Stream and navigating some steep terrain. You’ll be greatly rewarded for the effort, as once you reach a higher altitude you will be assailed by magnificent views of the mountains.
As you journey ever higher, you will stop in a H’mong village, where a picnic lunch will be prepared for you. After you’ve eaten and rested, you will continue through the vast mountain ranges and valleys to see the stilt houses of the Dzao people and visit one of their local schools before visiting a second H’mong Village and returning to your homestay by the lake.
Stay the third night in Ba Be.
Day 4
BA BE LAKE - HANOI
After breakfast, we’ll kick the final day of the tour by boarding a boat and setting off onto the lake. It’s up to you how to spend your time on the boat, whether it’s relaxing and enjoying the views or going for a swim in the cool waters to refresh yourself. The views consist of stunning karst formations all around you covered with patches of wild vegetation and rich wildlife.
The boat will then continue along the Nang River, giving you a chance to explore the caves of Puong Grotto where you can marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites created through river erosion, as well as observe the thousands-strong bat colony that lives here.
After your exploration of the lake, you will have the chance to rest as we drive you back to Hanoi, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way. You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the way before arriving in Hanoi at about 05:30 PM when it’s time to say your goodbyes to your guide, driver, and tour group.
End of the wonderful journey!
BAN GIOC WATERFALL
NGUOM NGAO CAVE
BA BE NATIONAL PARK
BA BE LAKE
PRICE DETAIL: USD 280/PP
What's included?
All transportation with an experienced driver
Professional and experienced English-speaking guide
All entrance fees on tour
All activities following the program
All meals as mentioned
02 bottles of water per person per day
Accommodation: 1 night in Cao Bang, 2 nights in Ba Be
What's excluded?
Beverage, personal expenses, tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Internal and external flights
Visa fee
Other things are not mentioned in the program.
What should we bring?
Hat or umbrella, shoes, sunglasses.
Insect repellent.
Cash for personal expenses.
Children policy
Under 3 years old: Free of charge(<1,2 m).
From 4 up to 8 years old:75% of adult price.
From 9 years old up:100% of adult price.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Dress code:
When visiting temples or mosques, both men and women should dress in conservative, non-revealing clothing. Full-length trousers with a shirt or t-shirt for men; and pants or skirts well below the knee with a top that covers the shoulders and upper arms for women.
Personal Expense:
You will need to take some extra money to cover extra meals, drinks, laundry, and souvenirs... Based on the advice of previous customers an approximate amount of USD250 per person per week should be sufficient; however, for those that can’t resist a bargain or may wish to participate in all of the optional excursions, consider allocating a higher amount.
Exchange Cash:
US Dollars are easily exchanged throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, however other currencies such as Indian Rupee can generally be exchanged at airports provided notes are new and undamaged. We suggest for your convenience that you ensure your US Dollars are from the new series to avoid any difficulties exchanging money during your trip (should be from the new series from the year 2006 onwards). We suggest exchanging your money before traveling to remote areas and smaller towns, as exchange facilities can be limited.
Tipping:
Local tipping is customary in Asia. However, this can often lead to awkwardness in knowing when it is appropriate to tip and how much, as well as ensuring you have a suitable amount of change available at the time. For your convenience, tipping the minimum amount (for any private tours) can be at USD3/person/day/ at the end of the day.
Eating In SEA:
Southeast Asia is home to an incredibly rich food history. Your itinerary has been carefully crafted to introduce you to a wide range of local dishes and we hope that you enjoy the culinary adventure ahead. Meals (excluding drinks) are included in our tours and depend on each tour’s itinerary, please pay attention to the meals abbreviations and each day’s tour title to know which meals are inclusive in the package and which are not. Normally, we have included all breakfast at your accommodation of stay in each city and Lunch or Dinner depending on daily tours/ or activities. Any special dietary requirements for food should be informed by visitors so that we can arrange daily meals accordingly.
Weather Condition:
Please refer to the hereunder website for detailed temperature charts: https://www.accuweather.com
In the case of bad weather/ risks of tropical storms. We will keep you updated regarding the weather conditions/ risks of tropical storms as soon as possible and will offer different alternatives for you to choose, the possible scenarios that can occur, or amend the refund depending on which services that you had used.
Giving you the best experience and unforgettable journey is our mission.