Group tour - Trekking on the Trails of Northern Vietnam 9 days

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Day 1: Hanoi to Ha Giang - Mountain Trails (L/D)
2 stops
Tuyen Quang (Pass by)
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi at around 8:00 AM. We then set off towards Ha Giang, travelling through Tuyen Quang and passing tea plantations, mountains, rural landscapes and ethnic minority villages along the way.
1
Ha Giang
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang before we continue the journey deeper into the northern mountains. We expect to arrive in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Time permitting, you can take a short walk around the nearby village, meet the local people and get your first taste of mountain life. Dinner will be served at a local Tay house, where you will also spend the night.. Physical activities: 3-5km hike
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Day 2: Ha Giang Fullday Trek (B/L/D)
2 stops
2
Ha Giang
Today, your trekking adventure truly begins. After breakfast at the homestay, we start walking through the beautiful countryside of Ha Giang, following off-the-beaten-track trails towards Lung Vai village. The trek takes you through terraced rice fields, palm forests, quiet valleys and mountain paths, with spectacular views opening up along the way. You will also have the chance to meet people from different ethnic minority groups, including the Man and Dao, who still preserve many of their traditional customs and ways of life. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed in nature before we continue towards the remote village of Khuoi My. Along the route, you may see local farmers working in the fields, and if time allows, you can even join them for a short hands-on experience.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
3
Quan Ba
In the afternoon, we continue to Ban Tha village, where our driver will pick us up and transfer us to Nam Dam. Tonight, enjoy a home-cooked dinner and spend the night in a homestay run by a local Dao family.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Day 3: Dong Van Karts Plateau - Highland Trek (B/L/D)
3 stops
4
Quan Ba Heaven Gate
After breakfast, we leave Nam Dam and travel towards Dong Van, crossing the dramatic landscapes of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. Along the way, we pass through Quan Ba Heaven Gate, mountain passes, limestone peaks and small villages hidden among the rocks.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
5
Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
We continue towards Yen Minh before visiting the H’mong King’s Palace in Sa Phin, an impressive historical site built in the early 20th century. This area is also known for its cornfields, stone fences and highland villages, where local people continue to farm and live in close connection with the mountains.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
6
Dong Van
Upon reaching Dong Van, we enjoy lunch and take time to explore the old town and local market area, where ancient houses, traditional costumes and highland culture create a special atmosphere. Dinner and overnight stay will be in a hotel in Dong Van.. Physical activities: 7-10 km trek
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Day 4: Ma Pin Leng Pass Trek - Canyons & Meo Vac (B/L/D)
3 stops
7
Dong Van
After breakfast, we take time to explore Dong Van Old Quarter before starting a trek off the beaten track up to Pu Lo Fortress, which was built in 1890 and later evacuated in 1945. From here, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over Dong Van and the surrounding mountains.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Ma Pi Leng Pass
We then continue towards one of the most spectacular parts of the journey: Ma Pi Leng Pass. The route takes you through a dramatic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, deep valleys and canyons. This is one of the most iconic landscapes in Northern Vietnam and a true highlight of the trip.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
9
Meo Vac
After reaching the top of the pass, we descend towards Meo Vac, a small mountain town surrounded by rugged scenery and ethnic minority villages. Dinner and overnight stay will be in Meo Vac. Physical activities: 8 -10 km trek
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Day 5: Meo Vac Mountain Trek (B/L/D)
2 stops
10
Meo Vac
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin the day by exploring the mountain villages around Meo Vac. This is a beautiful day spent among remote valleys, limestone mountains and local communities in one of the least-travelled areas of Northern Vietnam.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
11
Bao Lac
We then continue towards the mountains north of Bao Lac, where we visit villages of the Lo Lo people, a small ethnic minority group known for preserving their unique traditions, colourful clothing and strong cultural identity. This part of the journey offers a deeper look into local life far away from the usual tourist trail. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Bao Lac, where we have dinner and spend the night. Physical activities: 7-10km trek
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Day 6: Bao Lac to Ba Be National Park (B/L/D)
2 stops
12
Bao Lac
Before leaving Bao Lac, you will visit Bao Lac Market, a special local market that is only held once a week. This is probably one of the most colourful and photogenic places you will visit in Northern Vietnam, where many ethnic minority people come to trade, meet friends and enjoy the market day.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
13
Ba Be National Park
After the market visit, we drive to Lung Muoi, where you will start a short trek through rice fields and a beautiful valley. Lunch will be served in a local house before we continue by vehicle on a bumpy road along the river, passing rice fields, villages and mountain scenery. We’ll arrive in Ba Be National Park in the late afternoon, then enjoy dinner and spend the night in a traditional Tay house by the Ba Be lakeshore. Physical activities: 5-7km trek
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Day 7: Jungle Trekking in Ba Be National Park (B/L/D)
1 stop
14
Ba Be National Park
This is set to be a wonderful day of jungle trekking in Ba Be National Park. After breakfast at Ba Be Jungle House, your guide will take you towards Nam Cuong, following local trails through bamboo villages, bamboo forests, valleys and remote mountain paths. Along the way, you will have the chance to enjoy the peaceful countryside and see local life in the villages before reaching Lung Quang. From here, we take a short transfer for lunch and continue to visit Silk Waterfall, where you can relax and enjoy a refreshing swim if the weather allows. In the afternoon, we continue trekking to Tham Phay Bamboo Lodge, a quiet and beautiful place surrounded by cornfields and mountains, where we will have dinner and spend the night. Physical activities: 12-15km trek
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Day 8: Tham Phay Cave Expedition (B/L/D)
1 stop
15
Ba Be National Park
After breakfast at the bamboo lodge, we prepare for a very special adventure day. Today you will explore the underground river cave system of Tham Phay, one of the most unique expedition experiences in Ba Be. The cave expedition takes around three hours and is completely different from a normal sightseeing tour. Inside the cave, you will discover impressive stalactites and stalagmites, underground pools, white cave insects and a mysterious river system hidden beneath the mountains. One of the most interesting parts of the cave is where two different water streams meet, with cold water coming from one side and warmer water from the other. The expedition will be guided by our safety team and instruction guides, who will support you throughout the adventure. After returning from the cave, we will have lunch at the bamboo lodge, then trek back to the pickup point and transfer back to Ba Be Jungle House for the night. Physical activities: 5-7km trek
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Day 9: Ba Be Lake Boat Trip & Return to Hanoi (B/L)
2 stops
16
Ba Be National Park
After breakfast, we start the final day of our adventure with a relaxing boat trip on Ba Be Lake, one of the most beautiful natural freshwater lakes in the mountains of Vietnam. You will spend around three hours exploring the lake system, passing through its three connected lakes, peaceful waters, limestone cliffs and forested mountains. The boat then continues along the Nang River, where the scenery becomes even more dramatic as we travel between high mountain walls before reaching Puong Cave.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
17
Hanoi
The boat will take you through the cave, a huge limestone tunnel stretching across the river, before arriving at the harbour. From here, our driver will pick you up and take you back to Hanoi. The drive takes around four hours, and the tour finishes upon arrival in the city.
5 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

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