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THE BEST RICE TERRACED FIELDS OF

Vietnam

Ha Giang, Cao Bang & Ba Be Tour

HG08| 08 Days| Private Tour | All Year Around | Can be tailored to suite your requirements


OVERVIEW
This trip offers a good opportunity for you to get off the beaten track and enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes of Vietnam. Rice Terraced Fields in Hoang Su Phi; Dong Van Karst Geopark; Ban Gioc Waterfall; Ba be Lake. These are the pearls in Northern Vietnam which are the must-see places.
Average driving speed on the mountain roads is 35km per hour. The distances between the destinations are viewed as follows: 

Hanoi - 275km - Hoang Su Phi - 180km - Du Gia - 70km - Meo Vac - 205km - Cao Bang City - 85km - Ban Gioc Waterfall. Cao bang City - 135km - Ba Be Lake - 210km - 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 amazing Dong Van Karst Geo-park 
  • Enjoy the stunning Rice Terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi 
  • Visit the most beautiful waterfall of Vietnam on the border with China. 
  • View the incredible formations of stalactites and stalagmites in Nguom Ngao Cave. 
  • Have a spectacular cruise on Ba Be fresh-water Lake in a lush National Park 
  • Experience local life at different homestays during the trip.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

DAY 1: Hanoi - Hoang Su Phi
Day 2: Hoang Su Phi Trek
Day 3: Hoang Su Phi - Quang Ba - Du Gia
Day 4: Yen Minh - Dong Van - Meo Vac
Day 5: Meo Vac - Cao Bang City
Day 6: Ban Gioc waterfall & Nguom Ngao Cave
Day 7: Cao Bang - Ba Be Lake
Day 8: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI – HOANG SU PHI

Depart from Hanoi at 8.00 AM, our drive to Ha Giang occupied most of the day. There are stops on the way for photo opportunities and having lunch. Once you arrived in Hoang Su Phi, check in Pan Hou eco-lodge for dinner and stay overnight.
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 2: HOANG SU PHI TREK

Today, after your breakfast at the lodge. We will spend the whole day for a further trek to 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. The highlights of the day also include the local hill tribes who you will meet on the way such as the Tay people, the Black Yao people or Yao with long tunic, the Red Yao people. Your picnic lunch will be served at a local family somewhere on the hike. Late afternoon get back to the lodge for the night. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

DAY 3: HOANG SU PHI - QUANG BA - DU GIA

You may be woken up early by the domestic animals again. Inhale the fresh air from the mountains and sip a cup of hot tea or coffee. After the breakfast, trek over an hour downhill to the paved road where we say good-bye to our local men and move on to our next destination by car. Lunch is at a restaurant in Ha Giang city. 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 Quan Ba Heaven Gate with some steps to a view point atop a hill. Arrive at Du Gia, home of the Tay ethnic group, live on stilt houses. Check in a local homestay. Take an easy walk around the village and to the surroundings for the remainder of the day. Dinner and overnight at the homestay. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 4: YEN MINH - DONG VAN - MEO VAC (KARST GEO-PARK)

Today drive is one of the highlights of the trip with the drive through Dong Van Karst Geo-park so we will start our drive this morning at 8:00 AM, you can stop as often as you want to take photographs. Dong Van Karst Plateau is unique combination between Geoheritage 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. The places of interest today include Pho Cao; Pho Bang and the residence of the Vuong family, still called “Palace of Hmong King”.
In the afternoon, on the way towards Meo Vac, the last stop is at Ma Pi Leng Pass. Scenery in Ma Pi Leng pass is unique with majestic and wild beauty. From the Pass, you can see thousands of gray mountains concatenate to the horizon and next to the road is abyss and tiny Nho Que River bottoms the huge abyss. Check in you hotel in Meo Vac and stay for the night. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 5: MEO VAC - CAO BANG CITY

If today is Sunday, it will be your colorful morning as there is a weekend market takes place right in the town. The market is not only where the locals living in the karst plateau trade cattle, it is also a gathering place for the Mong ethnic minority trading their domestic and farming products. This is a great chance for hunting beautiful photos of the local faces in their traditional dresses. After the market, we will set out for descending to Cao Bang province. Lunch is on the way. In the afternoon, arrive in Cao Bang City, check in the hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight in Cao Bang. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 6: BAN GIOC WATERFALL & NGUOM NGAO CAVE

After the breakfast at your hotel, we will embark the morning drive to the remote area, Trung Khach District. Have a short stop on the way to visit Phuc Sen village of the Nung people where you can learn how basically the local blacksmiths are making their farming tools such as knives, sickles, plough plates... Arrive at the Waterfall and take a short walk down to Quay Son River and get on a raft to visit the most beautiful waterfall of Vietnam. Have lunch at a local restaurant nearby. In the afternoon, continue on with a visit to Nguom Ngao limestone Cave, which is located about 2 km from Ban Gioc. Walking through this cool cave offers you a great chance to admire how wonderful the stalagmites and stalactites have been formed. Dinner and overnight at a resort nearby. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 7: CAO BANG CITY - BA BE LAKE

Check out of the hotel after breakfast and get ready for the morning drive back to Cao Bang City. Stop for a scenic hike in Quoc Toan district. Lunch at Thang Hen lodge. In the afternoon, we will continue the day with the down to Ba Be National Park. Check in the park's guest-house for the night (or at the local house nearby). 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 8: BA BE LAKE - HANOI

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

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Inclusions

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



Tour Exclusions

  • Travel insurance 
  • Drinks and other meals 
  • Hotel in Hanoi 
  • 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.