This tour will take you from the vast lakes and chalky karsts of Ba Be National Park to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the most spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam.
You will be travelling through the remote areas in the north of Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to find out about the unique cultures and customs of Vietnam.
Take a scenic cruise along the Nang River and Ba Be Lake; explore the caves of Puong Grotto; and spend a night at ethnic minority homestay in the Tay village.
Venture further off the beaten track as you admire natural wonders like the Nguom Ngao cave and the Ban Gioc Waterfall, on the border of Vietnam and China.
8:00 am Tour guide and vehicle from Paradise Indochina Travel pick you up at your hotels. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the rural areas on the way. (The Hanoi Opera House is just a meeting point for those who do not need a hotel pickup. It is not a site to visit in the program) Our tour guide and car will pick you up at your hotel or airport. Please note 1. If you request hotel pickup, then give us information about hotel name, hotel address. 2. If you request airport pickup then go straight to Ba Be for the tour, then give us information about flight number, arrival time.
Transfer to Lang Son then drive up towards Vietnam-China border about 4-hour drive. You arrive The Dong Dang Mother temple (Đền Mẫu Đồng Đăng). After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang (lunch is not included in the tour. Your tour guide will help you find a local restaurant on the way. The lunch costs you around 9 USD per person), continue your trip into pass as you visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe - the history site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. The fight took place in Dong Khe, in the Province of Tonkin, during September and October 1950, ending with a Viet Minh victory.
Once arriving the village, you can hear the resounding sound of hammer strikes permeating every village. The blacksmith craft has existed here for hundreds of years. Unlike many others that are facing the risks of falling into oblivion, the blacksmith craft practised by the Nùng An Community in this region has not only withstood the test of time but also flourished with each passing day. Most products are created manually as relying solely on machinery would compromise their quality. The forged products by Nùng An people are highly diverse, including items such as plow blades, hoe blades, sickles, machetes, shovels, knives, hammers, axes, saws, chisels, and planes. Phúc Sen forged products have established their own brand and are favoured by both local residents and tourists alike. The craft has lifted the people of this area out of poverty, providing them with a more sustainable livelihood.
You have dinner and stay overnight in a unique stone village of Khuoi Ky. This will bring you a sweet memory
After breakfast at the home-stay, you depart for Trung Khanh which lies on the border with China. You will have the chance to meet the Nung people in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmith craft. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields. Nestled in among these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, half in Vietnam and half in China.
After time to soak up the powerful atmosphere of the Ban Gioc falls and take some fantastic photos before heading to another natural wonder Nguom Ngao Cave. This cave stretches out 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
You will then make your way to return Cao Bang town and going down on snake pass to Ba Be Lake, tonight you will stay overnight on traditional house of Tay ethnic family. At the home-stay, you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a meal of home cooked local food.
Have breakfast in Tay ethnic family. You will do a boat trip in Ba Be lake, you can relax on board, do some wildlife spotting or if you need to cool off, you can jump into the cool, clean waters for a refreshing swim. As you float on Ba Be Lake, you can take in the scenery of the surrounding Karsts decorated with patches of wild vegetation and inhabited by all sorts of interesting creatures. The boat ride along the Nang River, with time to explore the stunning Ba Be Lake, the caves of Puong Grotto where you can explore the stalactites and stalagmites which are a result of the erosion of the river on the karst as well as looking out for the bat colony several thousand strong. Come back to home-stay. Relax for a while before having a wonderful lunch cooked by the host (lunch is not included in the tour. Your tour guide will help you ask the host to prepare the lunch in case you need. The lunch costs you around 9 USD per person). Then pack your things for return to Hanoi.
You will depart for the journey back Hanoi, a drive of approximately 150 miles (230 kilometers). We will stop at some hills tea plantations before returning to your hotel in the bustling city of Hanoi.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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