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12-Day Northeast Vietnam Adventure

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Overview

Head to the hills for a challenging, yet rewarding, trekking in North Vietnam adventure. In the far northeast of Vietnam, you'll discover a land of immense beauty and intriguing hill-tribe villages.

You'll spend days trekking in North Vietnam up mountains and through rice paddies and spending the evenings in homestays, getting a true taste of traditional local life.

You'll visit the Ban Gioc waterfall, the largest one in Vietnam, which forms a natural border between Vietnam and China. With its three-tiers of water, it resembles a giant white staircase.

This 12-day North Vietnam adventure provides a unique glimpse into the more remote ethnic Vietnamese minorities and local subculture. Get closer to nature where the forests, the mountains, steep slopes, valleys, streams, lakes and a massive stone plateau form an impressive part of this journey.
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Adventure
Culture & Arts
Cycling
Hiking & Trekking
Beach & Sea
Cruising

Itinerary

Day 1

Hanoi Arrival & Beginning of Your Northern Vietnam Tour

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Hanoi Arrival & Beginning of Your Northern Vietnam Tour

When you arrive at Hanoi airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is then free to relax after your long journey or venture out exploring on your own. Make sure to have dinner in the Old Quarter and enjoy some of Hanoi's best street food dishes.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Spring Flower Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hanoi Old QuarterOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi Airport to Hanoi

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 2

Hanoi City Tour

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Hanoi City Tour

After breakfast, you'll start your day with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the historic One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc, the oldest Pagoda in Hanoi and the Temple of Literature, the first university that dates back to the 17th century and of course, the Ethnology Museum. After lunch, you'll continue to Hoa Lo Prison - known as Hanoi Hilton and the Joseph Cathedral. You'll then hop on a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter before enjoying a traditional water puppet show in the evening.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Spring Flower Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

    Presidential Palace

    One Pillar Pagoda

    West Lake

    Tran Quoc Pagoda

    Temple of Literature

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    Ngoc Son Temple

    Old Quarter Exploring By Cyclo

    Water Puppet Show

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Ho Tay Restaurant

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 3

Ba Be Lake and Overnight in a Homestay

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Ba Be Lake and Overnight in a Homestay

After an early breakfast, you will head north toward Ba Be Lake. It is a five-hour scenic drive, travelling through the flatlands of the Red River Delta and up into the mountain areas north of Hanoi. You'll stop for lunch en-route. You'll arrive in Ba Be Town late in the afternoon, the rest of the day is free for you to stroll or cycle around the village before sunset. In the evening, you'll enjoy a traditional dinner cooked over an open fire.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Mr Linh's Homestay2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cycling around Ba Be Village

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Mr Linh's Homestay

    Mr Linh's Homestay

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Bắc Kạn Province

Day 4

Cruising On Ba Be Lake

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Cruising On Ba Be Lake

Today, you'll take a private boat for a cruise on Ba Be Lake and if the weather permits you will have a swim in the crystal clear water. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant near the Dau Dang Waterfall. A visit to this small hamlet will enable you to witness how little the lives of the people in these remote areas have changed. In the afternoon, you'll cruise back to the homestay for your dinner and overnight stay.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Mr Linh's Homestay2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Boating on Ba Be Lake

    Dau Dang Waterfall

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Mr Linh's Homestay

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Ba Be Lake to Mr Linh's Homestay

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bắc Kạn Province

Day 5

Ba Be to Ha Giang

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Ba Be to Ha Giang

Today, you'll drive to Ha Giang, a province in the far Northeast of Vietnam. You will pass through the mountainous landscape and striking scenery and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant en route. You'll arrive in Ha Giang at around noon time. The remainder of the day is free to wander along the Lo River and the town, or just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. In the evening, you'll have dinner in the homestay.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Thong Nguyen Homestay

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Mr Linh's Homestay to Hà Giang

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bắc Kạn Province

    Ha Giang

Day 6

Ha Giang to Dong Van

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Ha Giang to Dong Van

Today, you will visit the small communities of Quan Ba, Yen Minh and Dong Van, some of the most picturesque villages on the northern tip of Vietnam. The scenery is spectacular, including a vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock. You'll stop at the Vuong Palace, once the home of a high-ranking Hmong family during the French colonial rule. Then, you'll drive to Dong Van to visit its charming ‘Old Streets’ near the market.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hoa Cuong Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Heaven Gate and Fairy Bosom

    Vuong Palace

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ha Giang to Quản Bạ District

    Private Driver from Quản Bạ District to Đồng Văn District

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ha Giang

Day 7

Drive to Cao Bang

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Drive to Cao Bang

This morning, you'll drive to the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Nho Que River and the surrounding rice terraces. You'll drive through even more scenic passes before stopping for lunch in a small town. In the late afternoon, you'll arrive in Cao Bang where you will have dinner and settle in for your first night in your hotel.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Huong Sen Hotel2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ma Pi Leng Pass

    Meo Vac market

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Đồng Văn District to Mã Pí Lèng Pass

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ha Giang

    Cao Bằng

Day 8

Visit Pac Bo Cave & Drive to Cao Bang

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Visit Pac Bo Cave & Drive to Cao Bang

After breakfast, you'll drive to the Chinese border to visit Pac Bo Cave which was Ho Chi Minh's hideout upon his return to Vietnam after 30 years of self-imposed exile. Then, you will experience trekking in North Vietnam as you embark on a three-hour trek to a village inhabited by the Nung minority people where you will enjoy a picnic lunch upon reaching your destination. Then, it's back to Cao Bang Town for your dinner.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Huong Sen Hotel2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Pac Bo Cave

    Le Nin Stream

    Trek to a Village of Nung Minority People

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Pedro's Pizza

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cao Bằng to Pắc Bó

    Private Driver from Pác Bó to Huong Sen Hotel

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cao Bằng

Day 9

Ban Gioc Waterfall & Nguom Ngao Cave

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Ban Gioc Waterfall & Nguom Ngao Cave

In the morning, you'll visit the Ban Gioc waterfall, the largest waterfall in Vietnam. It forms a natural border between Vietnam and China, with its three-tiers of water, it resembles a giant white staircase. While you are here, you will be able to swim and enjoy a local lunch near the waterfall. In the afternoon, you'll visit Nguom Ngao Cave before returning to Cao Bang for your dinner and overnight stay.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Huong Sen Hotel2 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ban Gioc Waterfall

    Nguom Ngao Cave

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cao Bằng to Ban Gioc Waterfall

    Private Driver from Nguom Ngao Cave to Huong Sen Hotel

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cao Bằng

Day 10

Drive to Lang Son

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Drive to Lang Son

After breakfast, you'll drive to Lang Son - a border town between Vietnam and China, along the beautifully scenic road. Your lunch will be at a local restaurant in Lang Son upon arrival. After lunch, you will visit Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh caves and pagodas. Nhi Thanh is the second biggest cave in the city as is 300 metres long with openings at both sides of the mountain. In the evening, you'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Vi's Boutique Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nhi Thanh Cave and Tam Thanh Pagoda

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Huong Sen Hotel to Lạng Sơn

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cao Bằng

    Lạng Sơn

Day 11

Cruising in Halong Bay

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Cruising in Halong Bay

Today, you'll check out and transfer to Halong and embark on your overnight cruise. This is a traditional junk, perfect to sit near the window and admire the scenery at a slow pace. After lunch, you'll stop at the Surprise Cave and enjoy some beach activities at Ti Top or Soi Sim Beach. In the evening, you'll have a delicious dinner on board and then relax and chat with other passengers or try your hand at squid fishing.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Bai Tho Junk

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Halong Bay Cruise

    Surprise Cave

    Soi Sim Beach

    Squid Fishing

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bai Tho Junk

    Bai Tho Junk

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Lạng Sơn to Hạ Long Bay

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lạng Sơn

    Hanoi

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Haiphong

    Hạ Long

Day 12

End of Your Northern Vietnam Tour

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End of Your Northern Vietnam Tour

After a leisurely breakfast, you'll take a small bamboo boat to visit the Luon Caves. Passing through the entrance, you come across a tranquil lake surrounded by a limestone mountain. Afterwards, it's back to the Junk for some more exploring of the natural wonders of the area before checking out and having an early lunch before cruising back to the mainland, where your driver will take you to Hanoi Hanoi airport for your flight home.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Luon Cave Kayaking

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bai Tho Junk

    Bai Tho Junk

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hạ Long Bay to Noi Bai International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Haiphong

Included in Price

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 28 activities
  • 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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