Day 1: Hanoi - Ba Be Lake / 240 Km
08: 00 AM start from your hotel in Hanoi, we take a long drive from Hanoi to Ba Be via Thai Nguyen where you visit the Ethnology Museum. After Thai Nguyen, the road is rocky & meandering through scenic landscapes of the north west of Vietnam until Ba Be lakes. On the way to Ba Be Lake, we will have some stopovers for taking photos of remote villages of ethnic people & beautiful valleys.
O/N in Ba Be.
Day 2: Boat trip Ba Be Lake
Today, we enjoy a tranquil boat trip downstream Nang River to Ba Be Lake exploring the unspoiled tropical National Park with stop to visit Puong limestone grotto, Dau Dang waterfall. After the picnic lunch, continue by boat to the main lake. Time for contemplating the natural landscapes and swimming before arriving in a Tay people village. Visit the village and experience the local activities.
Dinner and overnight in Tay village (house on stilts).
Day 3: Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang / 160 Km
The boat excursion is a major part of sightseeing in Ba Be. Today we embark our boat navigating around the lake, which gives us a taste of relaxation and an interesting exploration of the tropical forest . This legendary lake is just one continuous water body although its name means “three lakes”.
Along the way we have several stops to visit the lakeside hill tribe villages and the scenic Dau Dang waterfalls. The traditional boat weaves its way along the tranquil Nang River through the Poung Grotto before reaching Cho Ra. At this small village, we meet up with our waiting vehicle and drive towards Cao Bang past the scenic scenery of rugged mountain.
O/N in Cao Bang.
Day 4: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall / 110 Km
Heading out of the town we venture into the most northern region of Cao Bang Province. The scenic roads traverse Trung Khanh on our way to Ban Gioc Waterfall which boasts the largest waterfall in Vietnam. We visit Ban Gioc waterfall and explore the nearby Nguom Ngao Cave.
This enormous cave has two entrances ; one branch reaching almost all the way to the waterfall where is a secret entrance. By mid afternoon we make our way back to Cao Bang and can make stop as much as you please, to see the hill tribe villages and catch some wonderful shootings.
O/N in Cao Bang.
Day 5: Cao Bang - Lang Son / 160 Km
The following stop of our trip is Pac Po Cave. This famous history site was once the headquarter for the August Vietnamese Revolution in 1945. We visit this spectacular setting of stream and cave before we set off on a half day drive past the tranquil town of Dong Khe and That Khe.
They are some historical vestiges of the war time. The verdant and rugged mountain landscape with a mixture of terraced rice fields and hill villages is all interesting along the way. We arrive in Lang Son by late afternoon. This border town had been all destroyed during the recent Sino – Vietnamese war, but was rebuilt to become an important trade center in north eastern region.
O/N in Lang Son. (B)
Day 6: Lang Son - Ha Long City/ 180 Km
Today we have time to see the lively central market and the legendary Tam Thanh. They are some major sights in town. Upon leaving Lang Son we make our way on a winding roads to Halong Bay and pass the breathtaking landscapes, some of the best in Asia.
O/N in Halong city
Day 7: Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi / 160 Km
Morning free at beach and halong center
10:30 Check out and going to Tuan Chau Harbor to start the cruise trip
12:00 – Arrive Tuan Chau Harbor, welcome aboard, and safety briefing. Cruise will take you on an 5 hours journey via 2 day-sleeper boat cruise route which renowned for its striking, passages uninhabited islets and outcrops have been given imaginative names by the locals, due to their perceived shapes, including Fighting Chicken, while enjoy Vietnamese mouth-watering lunch on boat.
13:45 – Arrive Bo Hon archipelago, you will visit Surprising Cave to see a lot of stalagmites and stalactites with different shapes of sea lives, the go kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave to discover the beautiful lagoon. Visit Titov Island with sandy beach adjacent to the towering limestone mountain with excellent backdrop of the Bay, and climb up Titop Peak for a panoramic view of the bay like paradise.
16:30 – Return Cruises for Afternoon Tea and cruising back toward Tuan Chau harbor. There are a lot of time for sunbathing on upper deck among world iconic natural scenery.
18:00 – Disembark for a bus ride back on the new expressway to Hanoi.
21:00 – Drop off at your hotel stay, trip ends
