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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.
FYI, The average speed of driving on the mountain roads is about 35 km to 40km  per hour (This doesn't include the stops for photo opportunities). The distances between the destinations are roughly viewed as follows:

Average driving speed on the mountain roads is 35km per hour. The distances between the destinations are viewed as follows: 

Hanoi - 285km - Ha Giang City - 145km - Dong Van Town - 25km - Meo Vac Town - 165km - Ba Be Lake - 240km - Hanoi

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.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

DAY 1: Hanoi - Ha Giang City
Day 2: Ha Giang City  - Dong Van Town
Day 3: Dong Van - Meo Vac
Day 4: Meo Vac - Ba Be Lake
Day 5: Ba Be Lake - 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

photo stop

scenic drive

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DAY 2: HA GIANG CITY - DONG VAN

After having breakfast, set out for the morning drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang. The scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are at Quan Ba pass and Quan Ba Heaven Gate with some steps to the view-point atop a hill.
Have lunch break at Yen Minh town.
The afternoon drive is amazing, let your driver know whenever you'd like to make a stop to admire the scenery and taking photographs as you are traveling thru' the Karst Geo-park.
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. One of the typical stops is the residence of the Vuong family, still called “Palace of Hmong King”.
Arrive at Dong Van Town, check in your hotel and relax for the remainder of the day. 

  •  Included meals: Breakfast. Lunch, Dinner

twin mountains

karst geopark

king's palace

DAY 3: DONG VAN TREK - MEO VAC

There is a colorful market in town (If it is Sunday today), take time of the morning to stroll around the market for hunting some photos of the locals while they are trading before hiking up to Dong Van Cannon Fort Mt. for the stunning panorama view over the valley and its town.
(If it is on a week day, start with one-hour hike up to the Cannon Fort summit for the view before embarking on a moderate trek of 6.5km to the mountains on back roads which leads you thru' Dong Van Old Quarter and pass by some hill tribe villages; enjoying the stunning scenery at the surroundings.)
Back to the town for lunch.
The afternoon transfer takes you to Meo Vac. On the way, stop for another trek which is above the Ma Pi Leng Pass and it allows you to view marvelous views over the abyss and Nho Que River. Arrive at Meo Vac, check into your hotel and take easy for the remainder of the day.

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

sky-walk path

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 at a guesthouse of the park's center.

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

drving to ba be lake

photo stop

limestone mountains

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 
  • Hotel in Hanoi (optional) 
  • International flights and visas 
  • 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.