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THE BEST RICE TERRACED FIELDS OF

Vietnam

Dong Van Geo-park & Ba Be Lake

HG06| 05 Days| Private Tour | All Year Around | Can be tailored to suite your requirements

OVERVIEW

Ha Giang and Ba Be Lake are a good combination for this mountain loop driving trip. The features of the two destinations are very different: Different colors, different activities, different people... This 5-day trip is a great experience for those who love getting off the beaten track to visit beautiful landscape and learn the authentic culture of local people in Northern Vietnam.

Accommodation is expected to be basic but the top of the areas will be used for your best comfort possible. Food is very local, too. There is no western food to expect except bread, fried eggs for breakfast at some places. Meals are at local food stores but we always choose the most acceptable one.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Admire the beautiful landscape of Dong Van Karst Geo-park
  • Learn the interesting cultures and local life of the local hill tribes
  • Enjoy the pleasant boat ride in Vietnam's biggest fresh-water lake and Nang River in Ba Be National Park
  • Experience the home-stay at local house
  • Tasting local food.

Trip Distances

FYI, The average speed of driving on the mountain roads is about 35 km to 40 km per hour (This doesn't include the stops for photo opportunities). The distances between the destinations are roughly viewed as follows:
Hanoi - 285km - Ha Giang City - 145km - Dong Van Town - 25km - Meo Vac Town - 165km - Ba Be Lake - 240km - Hanoi

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI - Ha giang city

Depart from Hanoi at 8.00 AM, your drive to Ha Giang occupies most of the day. Having lunch on the way. Arrive at a hotel in Ha Giang City, check-in and rest for the remainder of the day.
Dinner and overnight in Ha Giang City.
(The alternative accommodation tonight can be arranged in a local house at a Tay ethnic village nearby for a home-stay experience. Let our travel specialist know before the trip.)

Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

road to ha giang

H'mong girl

clay house

DAY 2: HA GIANG CITY - DONG VAN KARST GEO-PARK

At 7:00 a.m. check out of your hotel room and your tour guide will take you to breakfast place.
Today is one of your trip highlights as you are traveling to the famous Dong Van Karst Geo-park. It features a vast area of limestone, spectacular mountain scenery, the richness and uniqueness of ethnic minorities’ culture.
Along the day, you will have some stops on the way for photo opportunities from mountain passes, typical attractions and visits to ethnic villages. The typical spots are at Bac Sum Pass, Fairy Mountain with some steps to a view-point atop a hill, Tham Ma Pass, Pho Cao H'mong village, Pho Bang ancient town, House of Pao, the residence of the Vuong family, still called “Palace of Hmong King”.
Arrive at Dong Van town, check in a hotel and refreshing before dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

twin mountains

house of pao

tham ma pass

DAY 3: DONG VAN KARST GEO-PARK DISCOVERY

Today will be no less impressive as you continue to explore this majestic gray rock plateau.
As usual, your tour guide will arrange the breakfast for you. Set out at 8:00 a.m. Dong Van Karst Plateau is unique combination between Geo-heritages and cultural heritages. Up to 80% of the karst formations of Dong Van Plateau are limestone formed by environment conditions and different development stages of nature. The scenery is amazing and the local life and the culture of the hill tribes such as the H'mong is something that will be very memorable for your trip. Take a short walk through the old quarter of Dong Van town before get on your private transport heading to Meo Vac District.
The distance between Dong Van and Meo Vac is just 25 km but this leg of the trip is spectacular! The drive on Happy Road is incredible with the scenery to the left as it is where the pretty Nho Que River lies at the bottom of Tu San Abyss. We make a stop on Ma Pi Leng Pass and spend the morning trekking along the sky-walk path. This scenic trek will definitely one of the highlights of your trip. Lunch is at a restaurant in Pavi village.
In the afternoon, get transferred down the way to Nho Que River ticket checking point for another walk on steps down (2km) to the water where you will take a boat trip to visit Tu San Abyss Alley, known as one of the most magnificent canyons in Southeast Asia. Take a short walk up to Tu San Rock Ledge where you can get some awesome pictures with the Tu San Alley on the background.
After the boat ride, walk back to the main road and make your way to Meo Vac Town for the night.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dong van market

nho que river

sky-walk trek

DAY 4: MEO VAC - BA BE LAKE

Today we will spend the whole day driving downhill to Ba Be National Park. The topography is changing a bit, giving you greener views with more vegetation and forests.
Lunch one the way at a local food store.
Late in the afternoon, arrive at Ba Be national park, check in your accommodation either at a home-stay near the lake or in a private room at a lakeside lodge

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

drving to ba be lake

photo stop

river near babe lake

DAY 5: BA BE LAKE - HANOI

After the breakfast, transfer to the boat dock and take the motor-boat ride through the green lake and onward to Nang river. The scenery is very green with the rain forest covers the limestone mountains. Visit to Dau Dang small waterfall and then cruise upstream the Nang River through Puong Cave and finish the boat ride at Buoc Lom dock. Get back on you private vehicle and spend the afternoon drive back to Hanoi.
Lunch on the way.
Arrive in Hanoi, check in your hotel to finish your adventure.. 

Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

ba be lake

puong cave

cruising on nang river

Tour Inclusions

  • Private A/c transportation per itinerary 
  • English speaking tour guide (other languages on request)
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Accommodation during the trip
  • Boat ride in Ba Be Lake
  • Sightseeing tickets and permits per itinerary 
  • Bottled water on the vehicle.


Tour Exclusions

  • Travel insurance 
  • Drinks and other meals 
  • Tips and gratuities 
  • Personal expenses and others are not mentioned clearly above.


Inquire a free quote for this tour

This is a sample itinerary that has been enjoyed by many of our past travelers to the region. It can be custom-made to meet your expectation. The prices very much depend on your group size and type of accommodation. Please send us a quote request and we will get back to you with the detail.