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THE BEST RICE TERRACED FIELDS OF

Vietnam

Rice Terraces and Karsts

HG03| 07 Days| Private Tour | All Year Around | Can be tailored to suite your requirements

OVERVIEW

This off-the-beaten-track loop trip to Ha Giang is designed to combine with the lush Ba Be National Park will bring to you an interesting experience: Homestays at local houses, trekking in beautiful landscape, meeting interesting hill tribes, boat ride in a green and peaceful lake.

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

  • Scenic trekking to visit rice terraces and Karst Geo-park 
  • Homestay experience at hill tribe villages 
  • Learn interesting culture and local life 
  • Admire the amazing landscape, Dong Van Karst Geo-park.​ 
  • Boat ride in Ba Be Lake with waterfall & cave

Trip Distances

 Average driving speed on the mountain roads is 35km per hour. The distances between the destinations are viewed as follows: 
Hanoi - 275 km - Thong Nguyen (Hoang Su Phi) - 200 km - Du Gia (Yen Minh) - 95 km - Dong Van Town - 25 km - Meo Vac - 235 km - Ba Be National Park - 235km - Hanoi

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

DAY 1: Hanoi - Thong Nguyen (Hoang Su Phi) 
Day 2: Hoang Su Phi Trekking day
Day 3: Hoang Su Phi - Du Gia
Day 4: Du Gia - Mau Due - Dong Van
Day 5: Dong Van - Meo Vac
Day 6: Meo Vac - Ba Be National Park
Day 7: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI – THONG NGUYEN (HOANG SU PHI)

 At 8:00 AM you will be met and greeted by your private tour guide and driver at your hotel in Hanoi where you start for the trip. The drive today takes about 7 hours, including some stops on the way for photo opportunities and having lunch. ​ Once you arrived in Thong Nguyen commune, Hoang Su Phi, check in a home-stay at a Red Yao ethnic village for the night. Refreshing and enjoy the dinner, cooked by the family. ​ 

  • Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

road trip

rice terraced field

the red yao ladies

DAY 2: HOANG SU PHI TREK

Today, after your breakfast at the local family. You will spend the whole day to trek and explore the mountains of Hoang Su Phi. This area is well-known for its dramatic rice terraces and also has been recognized as the national heritage. Besides the stunning scenery that you will admire along the way, you will have a chance to learn about the local cultures of the hill tribes. Some of them are the Black Yao people or Yao with a long tunic, the Red Yao people, the Tay... 

Your modest lunch will be served at a local family somewhere on the trek. Late in the afternoon, arrive at another home-stay. Check-in and stay for the night. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

rice terraces

trekking

terraced field

DAY 3: HOANG SU PHI - DU GIA

After breakfast, check out and heading to the Karst Geo-park. The drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang will offer you some good photo opportunities on the way. Lunch is at a local restaurant in Ha Giang City. In the afternoon, the scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are at Quan Ba pass and View over Tam Son town with the Twin Mountains after some steps to a viewpoint atop a hill. 

Continue on the drive to Du Gia in Yen Minh district for another night at a local house of a Tay ethnic minority people. Dinner and spend the night at a stilt-house. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome gate

twin mountains

a village

DAY 4: DU GIA - MAU DUE - DONG VAN

This morning, after the breakfast and check out off the homestay, you are escorted on a walk to the surroundings to enjoy the countryside scenery learn about the local life of the tribal rustics. Lunch is on the way. 

The afternoon drive goes deeper to the heart of the geo-park. You will have some stops along the way for taking photographs. You also have a couple of visits at Pho Bang ancient town of the Han (Chinese) minority and Vuong Palace (known as the H'mong King Palace). If you arrive at Dong Van early enough, spend 1,5 hour to hike up to the Cannon Fort of Dong Van for the panorama view over the valley and its township. Check-in your hotel and stay for the night. ​ 

  • Note: The alternative to the morning walk is the visit to Mau Due Market if the day is on Sunday or Wednesday. 
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

road in dong van

h'mong king's palace

road to dong van

DAY 5: DONG VAN - MEO VAC

As usual, breakfast is served at your accommodation. This morning is spent for 7km trek to explore a part of the geo-park in Dong Van with the view of august mountains and local H'mong villages. Back to Dong Van town for lunch. After a short transfer in the afternoon, get off the vehicle at a trekking point for you to enjoy the landscape at other parts of the park. The trek is on a small road that is used by nearby H'mong villagers. End the trek at Ma Pi Leng Pass which considered as one of the most stunning mountain passes of Vietnam. Get down to the view-point for the look-out over Nho Que River. Move on by your car to Meo Vac town to check in your hotel for rest and stay for the night. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Karst Landscape in Ha Giang

Karst Landscape

Trekking on sky walk path in Ma Pi Leng

trekking

Nho Que River

nho que river

DAY 6: MEO VAC - BA BE NATIONAL PARK

 If today is Sunday, it will be a colorful morning with the weekend market by many different ethnic groups in the regions. Meo Vac Sunday market is famous with the animal trading and colorful with the traditional address of the H'mong people. After the market, we get on the vehicle and downhill to Bac Kan Province via Cao Bang for the famous giant fresh-water lake, Ba Be which is located inside Ba Be National Park. Arrive at a homestay of the Tay people in the late afternoon. Check-in a rest for the remainder of the day. Dinner and overnight at the local house. (The alternative for the night could be arranged at the National Park's guest-house on your request. Let our travel specialist know at the booking time). ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ba be lake

boat trip

puong cave

DAY 7: BA BE LAKE - HANOI 

This morning, we will embark a boat ride on the lake. The cruise is through the flat green surface before turning into a River where you can visit Dau Dang Waterfall and then upstream to Puong Cave. Around noon, get back on the private vehicle and transfer to Cho Ra Town for the lunch. The afternoon drive will get you back to Hanoi, check in your hotel and end the adventure. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Inclusions

  • Private A/c transportation per itinerary 
  • English/ French speaking tour guide 
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary 
  • Accommodation during the trip with daily breakfast Sightseeing tickets and permits  
  • Boat ride in Ba Be Lake 
  • Bottled water on the vehicle.


Tour Exclusions

  • Travel insurance 
  • Drinks and other meals 
  • 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.

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