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Hanoi – Ba Be Lake – Ban Gioc Waterfall 5 Days/4 Nights Tour

Highlights

– Explore the expansive Nguom Ngao Cave

– Visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam Ethnic Groups

– Visit Tam Thanh cave with a pond and great views of the surrounding farmlands

– Take a scenic in the insightful day trip of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – Thai Nguyen – Ba Be National Park (L, D)

08.00 am: Pick up at the hotel and transfer to Ba Be National Park via Thai Nguyen. Travel along Highway 3 to Thai Nguyen for a stop to enjoy a lunch of traditional Vietnamese food. Worth a visit here is the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam Ethnic Groups.

Ba Be Lake

Leaving the delta behind, you'll start climbing into the mountainous area of Ba Be National Park. Take a short boat trip (30 minutes) to a Tay village for dinner and homestay in a local house.

Day 2: Ba Be Lake – Cao Bang ( B, L, D)

Ba Be National Park, surrounded by rugged limestone mountains it is Vietnam’s only natural mountain lake. This important eco-system is best known for its over 330 species of butterflies! Have breakfast with your Tay hosts. The lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains is your backdrop as you explore the lake.

Dau Dang Waterfall

Reach the end of the lake and stop for a trek to Dau Dang waterfall. Meet your Jeep, head north through the lush mountain passes to the city of Cao Bang. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: Explore Ban Gioc Waterfall (B, L, D)

On this day, you'll take a scenic in insightful day trip North of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

The drive there offers unique landscapes, limestone karst formations soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Along the way, you'll see Tay, Hmong, and Dzao ethnic minority groups.

Nguom Ngao Cave

Heading back to Cao Bang, stop to explore the expansive 2,144-meters Nguom Ngao Cave to discover its brilliant stalactites. Return to Cao Bang and overnight in Hotel.

Day 4: Cao Bang  Lang Son (B, L, D)

Before departing to Cao Bang, consider climbing the hill up to the War Memorial, it offers a great panoramic view of the area. Hope in the car for a ride along famous Highway 4. The road winds its way through steep mountain passes where much of the land remains untouched, the vista views are truly spectacular!

Cao Bang

Lang Son is the capital of this mountainous area and is an important crossing and trading route with China, the area is home to Dzao, Man, Tho, and Nung ethnic minority groups. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5: Lang Son  Hanoi (B, L)

As a trading post, Lang Son has two markets worth visiting, the Old Market and the Dong Kinh market. You will find everything from electronics and gadgets to textiles and housewares. Its definite buyer beware, as there are lots of knock-offs of the original.

Dong Kinh Market

If the markets are not your thing then just a couple of kilometers from town are two large, beautiful caves and the ruins of the Mac Dynasty Citadel worth a visit. Tam Thanh cave contains a pond and offers great views of the surrounding farmlands. Nhi Thanh Cave, formed by the river that flows through it, has poems carved into the entrance by the man who discovered the cave in the 18th century.

Tam Thanh Cave

After your morning of exploration its time for lunch and prepare for the trip back to Hanoi. The highway from Lang Son is a modern 4 lane divided highway that quickly carries down from the mountains, back onto the Red River Delta and into Hanoi. The trip ends in Hanoi.

Inclusion

 Meals as mentioned

– All entrance fee and permits

– English speaking tour guide

– Private car or Van

– Homestay in Ba Be in a local house

– Boat trip on Ba Be lake as per program

– Double/twin standard room in 2-stars hotel

Exclusion

– Drinks

– Hotel in Hanoi

– Personal expenses, tips