Tour code: OPT 02E
Departure dates: Everyday
Destination: Northeast, Vietnam.
Duration: 3 days
Size of group: 2 - 15 people
Price US:  $359 per person
 

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Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen
Day 2: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ba Be National Park
Day 3: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen (L/D)

Our tour guide will pick you up by car at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter or Mr Linh's Adventures office around 7:308:00am, transferring you to Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before stopping at Chi Lang Pass  a 20kmlong gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains.

This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as far back as 981AD. As such it bears the reputation of Vietnam’s strongest citadel and bastion. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as “The Gate of Monsters”, named for the many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.

In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.

Highlights and activities: Chi Lang pass, Quy Mon Quan gate, Dong Khe battle site, ethnic villages, and a 35km walk
Day 2: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ba Be National Park (B/L/D)

After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.

Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.

Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.

You will then return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home cooked meal.

Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ba Be National Park, ethnic villages
Day 3: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B/L)

After breakfast we’ll kick the final day of the tour of by boarding a boat and setting off onto the lake. It’s up to you how to spend your time on the boat, whether it’s relaxing and enjoying the views or going for a swim in the cool waters to refresh yourself. The views consist of stunning karst formations all around you covered with patches of wild vegetation and a rich wildlife.

The boat will then continue along the Nang River, giving you a chance to explore the caves of Puong Grotto where you can marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites created through river erosion, as well as observe the thousandsstrong bat colony that lives here.

Now that you’ve reached the end of your tour, you’ll be driven the roughly 230 kilometres back to Hanoi, with a stop at a tea plantation nestled among rolling hills. Once we arrive in Hanoi it is time to say farewell, having made lifelong memories and connections.

Highlights and activities: Ba Be lake, Puong cave, Tay ethnic villages
The facts…
We take you to the parts other can't reach!

Climate
From July to September, the climate is usually humid and hot.
From October to June brings cooler and more pleasant weather.

Transport:
- Boat.
- Vehicle.

Tour Guides:
Our experienced and friendly Tour Guide(s) speak excellent English.
They are extremely knowledgeable about local cultures, history and the environment.

Meals:
- 2 breakfasts.
- 3 lunches.
- 2 dinners.
We choose local ingredients, typical of the way people eat in the area, at local restaurants, markets or homes.
We also cater for Vegetarians but please request this at time of booking.

Accommodation:
- Homestay (2 nights).
Our clean and comfortable homestay with mosquito net provided.

Tour price includes
+ A/C transfer
+ Boat trip on Ba Be lake
+ Homestays
+ Experienced English speaking guide.
+ Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)
+ All sightseeing tickets.
+ No extra charge after confirmation
+ 24/7 hotline support guaranteed

Tour price excludes
+ Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
+ Travel insurance
+ Beverage
+ Other services not mentioned above.

Extra service
+ Single supplement: US $20

Children rates
+ Free of charge for children under 4 years sharing bed with parents.
+ Surcharge 70% rate of adult for children (5-11 years) sharing bed with parents.
+ Over 11 years is adult’s rate.

* The itinerary can be changed due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions.
* Special request (diet or vegetarian, …) should be sent before your departure date.

What to take
+ Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
+ It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...