TRAVEL TO THE REMOTE PLACES IN THE NORTH VIETNAM – 7 DAYS
(Itinerary: Hanoi – Ha Giang- Ma Pi Leng – Dong Van- Cao Bang- Ban Goc waterfall – Ba Be)
Tour code XSEV 0025: ADVENTURE & TREKKING TOURS
Highlights:
- Experience multi-color of Vietnamese culture in Hanoi and enjoy a unique water puppet show
- Explore the beautiful northwest located in the mountainous northeast part of the Vietnam especially for the Ma Pi Leng Pass between Dong Van and Meo Vac, considered as the most amazing road in the entire country
- This breathtaking landscape is famous for its spectacular scenery and ruggedness, primitive infrastructure and very friendly people that offer a real unique experience for any traveler who want to discover the unknown
- To the magic Babe Lake, through another very spectacular mountain road Amazing with Ban Gioc Waterfall with some cave such as Mua Cave, Hua Ma cave
- Overnight at homestays to get insight into their unique culture and customs, friendly, hospitable family
- Experience the rustic living of locals
- Feast on delicious meals at local people
- Amazing with Ban Gioc Waterfall with some cave such as Mua Cave, Hua Ma cave
Overview
The tour guide will take you to the most stupendous region of Vietnam, the massif of the Black H’mong of Dong Van and the Ma Pi Leng Pass. An extremely wild region of lime peaks, black granite needles (the locals call them “The forests of stone”), vertiginous canyons, limitless panoramas, and the local Black H’mong. The men are dressed in black, with a beret, a souvenir of their great allies the French. A proud race of fearless warriors.
Tour summary:
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL – HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING(L)
Private driver & Tour guide
Arrival in Noi Bai airport, you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center and transfer you to your hotel for check-in
(Check-in time is 14.00 PM, early check-in is not included in itinerary and subject to availability).
This afternoon, you will visit the iconic sites of the city.
Explore Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature & Vietnam’s first university). Constructed in the 11th century, Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam, with its colorful gardens and well-preserved buildings, offers a historical glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Continue to visit Hoa Lo Prison museum or the Museum of Vietnamese Women.
Next up, we walk slowly through the narrow and busy Hanoi Old Quarter. It is where each street is named after the specific goods it once sold. Then, we stop to visit a local wet market before enjoying a Water Puppet show – a uniquely Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from the rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Hanoi
(Check-in time is 14.00 PM, early check-in is not included in itinerary and subject to availability).
This afternoon, you will visit the iconic sites of the city.
Explore Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature & Vietnam’s first university). Constructed in the 11th century, Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam, with its colorful gardens and well-preserved buildings, offers a historical glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Continue to visit Hoa Lo Prison museum or the Museum of Vietnamese Women.
Next up, we walk slowly through the narrow and busy Hanoi Old Quarter. It is where each street is named after the specific goods it once sold. Then, we stop to visit a local wet market before enjoying a Water Puppet show – a uniquely Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from the rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Hanoi
DAY 2: HANOI –HA GIANG – TAY HOUSE (B,L,D)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang 2 – 3 km trek
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at around 8AM. We will set out towards Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang, passing countless tea plantations, mountains and ethnic minority villages along the way.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang, before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Time permitting, you can explore the town and meet the local people before you’re served dinner and stay overnight in a local Tay house.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at around 8AM. We will set out towards Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang, passing countless tea plantations, mountains and ethnic minority villages along the way.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang, before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Time permitting, you can explore the town and meet the local people before you’re served dinner and stay overnight in a local Tay house.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
DAY 3: HA GIANG – DONG VAN (B,L,D)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Ha Giang, Dong Van 2 – 3 km trek
As we set out from Ha Giang after getting our permit from the immigration office, your journey to Dong Van will be filled with spectacular landscapes in the form of a series of long passes. En route you will stop for lunch at the small and beautiful mountain village of Tam Son, before heading to the majestic “King of the H’mong Palace”, a fortress built by a local chief, Vuong Chin Duc, who allied himself with French forces against the Viet Minh. Built in the 1900’s, this palace was designed in the style of ancient Chinese architecture dating to the Qing era, and it was made from materials such as solid stone blocks, wood and terracotta tiles. You will arrive in Dong Van at around 6pm, at which time you will have dinner at a local restaurant and stay overnight in a hotel.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Homestay
As we set out from Ha Giang after getting our permit from the immigration office, your journey to Dong Van will be filled with spectacular landscapes in the form of a series of long passes. En route you will stop for lunch at the small and beautiful mountain village of Tam Son, before heading to the majestic “King of the H’mong Palace”, a fortress built by a local chief, Vuong Chin Duc, who allied himself with French forces against the Viet Minh. Built in the 1900’s, this palace was designed in the style of ancient Chinese architecture dating to the Qing era, and it was made from materials such as solid stone blocks, wood and terracotta tiles. You will arrive in Dong Van at around 6pm, at which time you will have dinner at a local restaurant and stay overnight in a hotel.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Homestay
DAY 4: DONG VAN- MA PI LENG -MEO VAC – CAO BANG (B,L,D)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng Pass, a 12 – 15 km trek
You’ll start the day off with breakfast and a visit to the Dong Van Market (if it is Sunday), where locals come from all the surrounding villages to purchase and trade for essentials they cannot produce themselves. Then you will be making the trek up to Pu Lo fortress which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region, before climbing 15 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, and canyons before descending into the valley of Meo Vac. You will then descend into the valley of Meo Vac, visiting Meo Vac Market before continuing on the snaking road through the mountains, crossing the river, and arriving in Cao Bang. You will have dinner and spend the night in Cao Bang.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
You’ll start the day off with breakfast and a visit to the Dong Van Market (if it is Sunday), where locals come from all the surrounding villages to purchase and trade for essentials they cannot produce themselves. Then you will be making the trek up to Pu Lo fortress which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region, before climbing 15 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, and canyons before descending into the valley of Meo Vac. You will then descend into the valley of Meo Vac, visiting Meo Vac Market before continuing on the snaking road through the mountains, crossing the river, and arriving in Cao Bang. You will have dinner and spend the night in Cao Bang.
Meals: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
DAY 5: CAO BANG - BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B,L,D)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, a 2 – 3 km trek
This day is likely to be your highlight of the tour, as we take you to one of the most incredible natural wonders in Northern Vietnam; Ban Gioc Waterfall. The drive here from Cao Bang is roughly two hours, and this breath-taking 300-metre wide cascade sits right on the border between China and Vietnam, amidst a beautiful mountainous landscape. While you’re here you can spend your time relaxing in the glow of the natural beauty, take some amazing photos, and board a bamboo boat that will take you so close to the falls you’ll feel the spray on your face, practically sitting at the very edge of Vietnam, so close to China that you can actually touch it. After enjoying the waterfall, you will venture deep underground into the magical Nguom Ngao Cave to discover the rock formations which have been carved by erosion over millennia. After visiting the waterfall and cave, you will travel down a beautiful road which is unknown to many, which winds through the mountains before reaching the Nung village of Quang Uyen. You will be welcomed by Mr. Hung Dao, an amazingly friendly blacksmith, before having dinner at his house and settling in for the night in this cosy traditional Nung house.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch in local restaurant, dinner in homestay
Accommodation: Homestay
This day is likely to be your highlight of the tour, as we take you to one of the most incredible natural wonders in Northern Vietnam; Ban Gioc Waterfall. The drive here from Cao Bang is roughly two hours, and this breath-taking 300-metre wide cascade sits right on the border between China and Vietnam, amidst a beautiful mountainous landscape. While you’re here you can spend your time relaxing in the glow of the natural beauty, take some amazing photos, and board a bamboo boat that will take you so close to the falls you’ll feel the spray on your face, practically sitting at the very edge of Vietnam, so close to China that you can actually touch it. After enjoying the waterfall, you will venture deep underground into the magical Nguom Ngao Cave to discover the rock formations which have been carved by erosion over millennia. After visiting the waterfall and cave, you will travel down a beautiful road which is unknown to many, which winds through the mountains before reaching the Nung village of Quang Uyen. You will be welcomed by Mr. Hung Dao, an amazingly friendly blacksmith, before having dinner at his house and settling in for the night in this cosy traditional Nung house.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch in local restaurant, dinner in homestay
Accommodation: Homestay
DAY 6: CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE (B,L,D)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Ba Be Lake, Boat trip, Puong Cave, a 2 – 3 km trek
Your day will start with breakfast at the hotel followed by a three-hour drive to Cho Ra where you will stop for lunch. From here you will board a boat and take a trip through the three lakes which make up Ba Be Lake and up the Nang River to Puong Cave, a 300-meter long tunnel through a mountain. If it is hot, you can have a swim in the cool, refreshing water before you visit the stilt houses in Coc Toc, a Tay ethnic minority village, where you will spend the night in Homestay, set in a traditional Tay House and letting you experience the amazing hospitality of the Tay community.
Meals: Breakfast in homestay. Lunch, Dinner at a homestay
Accommodation: Homestay
Your day will start with breakfast at the hotel followed by a three-hour drive to Cho Ra where you will stop for lunch. From here you will board a boat and take a trip through the three lakes which make up Ba Be Lake and up the Nang River to Puong Cave, a 300-meter long tunnel through a mountain. If it is hot, you can have a swim in the cool, refreshing water before you visit the stilt houses in Coc Toc, a Tay ethnic minority village, where you will spend the night in Homestay, set in a traditional Tay House and letting you experience the amazing hospitality of the Tay community.
Meals: Breakfast in homestay. Lunch, Dinner at a homestay
Accommodation: Homestay
DAY 7: BA BE LAKE – HANOI DEPART (B,L)
Private driver & guide
Highlights and activities: Pac Ngoi village, Hua Ma Cave 3 – 5 km trek
After breakfast, we’ll take you on a stroll along the riverfront to visit some surrounding villages, followed by a hike up one of the higher points around the lake, providing you with some impressive views surrounded by limestone formations and mountain peaks. On the way here you’ll pass through Pac Ngoi Village, an especially good example of the traditional stilt house architecture. Following this we enter Hua Ma Cave, famous for its thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. On the way back to Hanoi your driver will take you through a pass known as “Dog Flower Pass”, where we’ll stop and give you a chance to take some great photos of the terraced fields surrounding you. After you’ve taken your photos and enjoyed lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll finish our journey back to Hanoi Then driver will take you to the airport. Departure to the next destination. Saying goodbye to Vietnam & Xuan Son Travel see you again.
Meals: Breakfast in homestay. Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll take you on a stroll along the riverfront to visit some surrounding villages, followed by a hike up one of the higher points around the lake, providing you with some impressive views surrounded by limestone formations and mountain peaks. On the way here you’ll pass through Pac Ngoi Village, an especially good example of the traditional stilt house architecture. Following this we enter Hua Ma Cave, famous for its thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. On the way back to Hanoi your driver will take you through a pass known as “Dog Flower Pass”, where we’ll stop and give you a chance to take some great photos of the terraced fields surrounding you. After you’ve taken your photos and enjoyed lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll finish our journey back to Hanoi Then driver will take you to the airport. Departure to the next destination. Saying goodbye to Vietnam & Xuan Son Travel see you again.
Meals: Breakfast in homestay. Lunch
Trek time depends on your health we will adjust accordingly
This tour can be personally customized for you to meet all your special requests.
NOTES
1/ He weather & our latest advice on the weather
Light clothes regardless of the season in the south but for the visit of temples and pagodas, make sure you have a top with sleeves (shoulders must be covered) and bottoms going at least up to the knee. From November to March it can get pretty cold in the North, make sure to have warm clothes for mornings and evenings.
Northern Vietnam:
- Dec – Feb: 10°C to 25°C, mostly dry, grey.
- March: 15°C to 30°C, season change, dry.
- April – June: 25°C to 35°C, some heavy showers.
- Sept – Oct: 25°C to 35°C, clear weather, occasional showers.
Note: from 5°C to 10°C less in the mountains; make sure you have warm clothes.
- The best time to visit Sapa is March and May or from mid-September to early December.
- In April and May, the ethnic people grow rice on terraced fields. …
- In September and October when autumn ends, tourists can feel prosperity all over the area as rice in all terraced fields is ripe and turn to yellow color.
2/ Visa
- To go to Vietnam you must have a valid passport valid at least 6 months after the date of return.
- The Government of Vietnam promulgates the Resolution on Vietnamese Entry Visa Waiver for Citizens of Five European Countries: UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. This exemption is applied for a maximum period of 15 days regardless of passport categories and purpose of entry into Vietnam, and is valid until June 30, 2021.
- For any stay lasting more than 15 days, or for a multiple entry stay in a period of less than 15 days, a visa is required. A period of 30 days is required after the last exit from Vietnam in order to once again benefit from the visa waiver measure for a stay not exceeding 15 days.
To get more info => Click Here
3/ International flight
- Our offer does not include international flights between your country and Vietnam for two reasons:
- International flights from your country are more expensive if purchased in Vietnam. It is therefore more beneficial for you to buy them from a ticketing agency in your country.
- The payment and booking conditions for international flights are strict while it is difficult for us, a local agency, to apply the same conditions to you (full payment before travel). Since international financial transactions give rise to significant bank charges, you will be led to pay unnecessary surcharges.
4/ Which language?
- The official and most widely spread language is Vietnamese.
- English is spoken in all touristic areas.
5/ Cancellation Policy:
- More than 30 days before arrival: no cancellation charge will be done (Client’s non-refundable deposit will be forfeited)
- 14-29 days before arrival: 10% of the cost of the tour is forfeited
- 10-13 days before arrival: 40% of the cost of the tour is forfeited
- Within 10 days before arrival: 100 % of the cost of the tour is forfeited
6/ What to Bring
- Sun Glasses, Sun Block, Wide Brim Hat, Insect Repellent, Swimming Suits
- Warm Clothes (in winter from November to April)
- Original Passport
ACCOMMODATION
LIST OF OUR HOTELS:
The hotels offered by Xuan Son Travel classified from 02 to 05 stars at international standard, comfortable with all the required services.
- Homestay/local homestay: we have developed fair tourism, through contacts with the local population, the possibility of sleeping with locals and sharing their daily lives. The conditions of these accommodations that we offer you are well assured and with the best possible conditions
- Standard Category: 2 stars. The rooms are decent, clean, equipped with bathroom, satellite TV and air conditioning.
- Superior Category 3 stars. The rooms are generally spacious and the services and facilities are more numerous.
- Deluxe category: 4 stars. The rooms are luxurious and spacious, with a wide choice of quality services have swimming pool, spa, Jacuzzi
- Luxury Category: 5 stars. Hotels with excellent comfort and a wide range of excellent services. Swimming pool, spa, Jacuzzi…)
| CITIES /AREAS | HOME STAY | HOTEL-STANDARD | HOTELS-SUPERIOR | HOTEL-DELUXE | HOTELS- LUXURY |
| HANOI | …. | Maison d’Orient Hotel.. | Hong Ngoc Dynastie/ Icon 36/ Flower / Hanoi Era/Gondola hotel.. | La Siesta Classic Premium / Golden Silk/ Pearl/ Thang Long opera/Flower Garden | Sofitel Legend Metropole / L’Opera/ Movempick Hotel |
| HA GIANG | Mr Doan’s Homestay | …. | …. | …. | …. |
| DONG VAN | Hoa Cuong Hotel | …. | …. | …. | …. |
| CAO BANG | Thanh Loan Hotel | …. | …. | …. | …. |
| BAN GIOC | Mr Kim’s Homestay | …. | …. | Saigon – Ban Goc resort | …. |
| BA BE | Mr Linh’s Homestay or Similar | …. | …. | …. | …. |
SERVICES & PRICE
TRAVEL PRICE: TRAVEL TO THE REMOTE PLACES IN NORTH VIETNAM-7DAYS 6NIGHTS
From…. To… usd /per
Excluding international flights
Inclusion
- Accommodation based on double/twin sharing at hotel/ homestay as the program
- All meals as mentioned on above itinerary (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner).
- All transfers with the air-conditioned private vehicle
- Water puppet show in Hanoi
- Experienced English speaking tour guide on location
- Water & cool towels.
- Government taxes & service charge.
Exclusion
- International Airfares.
- Early check in/ late checkout.
- Meals not indicated.
- Drinks & beverage.
- Vietnam visa stamp fee.
- Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
- Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills.
- Tips and gratuities.
Children Policy:
- Child from 0 – 4 Years old is = 50% Adult`s cost.. Sharing the same bed with parents
- Child from 5 – 11 years old = 75% Adult`s cost. Private Bed (extra Bed) within the same room as parents
- Child from 12 – up = 100% Adult`s cost. Private Bed (extra Bed) within the same room as parents
- Triple room = 3 Persons sharing one room (01 Double Bed + 01 Single Bed)
Customize this tour
This tour is designed with balanced activities and pace. If you want to customize it, you may always change its itinerary and accommodations according to your needs.
Contact us
- +84 914374251
- xuansontravel@yahoo.com.vn
My name is Nicky, English & French speaking advisor at Xuan Son Travel. I have been the specialist in tailor-made trips to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for 18years. I love the charm of the small streets of Hanoi as well as the charm of the countryside, with magical landscapes, warm and smiling inhabitants in all regions of Vietnam. As a Travel Consultant, I put it at your disposal and will assure you that your wishes and desires are perfectly suited to your trip to Asia.