Travel to the highlights of the Northeast and discover many hidden beautiful landscapes of Vietnam. Take a spectacular drive through the country, visit markets in the mountain tribal villages and experience the region’s unique culture. This tour is designed for those who love nature, culture and getting off the beaten track.
8:00 AM: Depart from your hotel in Hanoi to Ha Giang via the highway to Phu Tho. Stop to visit the Dao village in Ham Yen, Tuyen Quang. First, discover the houses on stilts, a typical style of ethnic groups in this undulating region.
Arrive in Ha Giang in the middle of the afternoon, beginning a trek to the Me – Lup – Tha villages. Featuring serene beauty, these villages are made up of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts covered by palm leaves. In front of the houses, there are small ponds for raising fish and water hyacinth cultivations for pigs. You will be welcomed by big smiles from the villagers testifying to their legendary hospitality. Visit a typical house and discover the local daily life. Arrive in Tha Village, a village on the palm hills with rice fields where you can rest in the serenity.
Finally, check in your accommodation and free to stroll around to catch the rhythm of daily life in the mountain before sunset.
8:00 AM: Travel to Dong Van with the magical landscapes of this region present along the route. Before arrival at the Quan Ba pass, we will stop to visit a village of Bo Y people in the Quyet Tien Commune. Their origin is from China. The Bo Yis a small community of 2000 people who populate in the mountainous parts of the north. Stop at the Quan Ba pass and take a short break to admire Quan Ba town with the famous Twin Fairy Mountain (Nui Co Tien).
Continue drive to the Limestone rock plateau zone, considered as mountainous Halong Bay. This majestic natural treasure has been listed in the World Geological Park book. On the way, you will discover “Nha Trinh Tuong” (a special type of house) by a walking to the Lung Hoa Village. This is the typical house of Hmong people in the village which is built on sticky ground. Next, visit the Palace of the H'mong King (Dinh Vua Meo). Dating back 100 years ago, far from the plain, the regions of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac created an autonomous zone with their own king. They cultivated poppies and their economy was based on the opium business with China. Arrive in Dong Van, check in accommodation and relax.
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off from Dong Van toward Meo Vac, crossing the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here, you’ll be captivated by the breathtaking views of limestone mountains, the winding Nho Que River, and traditional H'mong village nestled along the slopes.
From there, we’ll continue to Bao Lac, a region renowned for the Black Lo Lo ethnic community. The area gained prominence through the French documentary, "The Journey into Unknown Land", filmed in Khuoi Khon village—just 9 km from Bao Lac town—by rugby player Frédéric Michalak.
We’ll enjoy lunch in Bao Lac town before heading to Coc Xa village in Na Van commune. This Lo Lo village retains a more authentic charm compared to Khuoi Khon, which has become a popular tourist spot since the documentary’s release. Here, you’ll stroll through rice fields and scenic trails, visit local homes, and have meaningful exchanges with the residents, giving you a deeper understanding of their way of life and traditions.
Later, we’ll return to town, where you’ll stay overnight in a local hotel.
Depart to Ba Be via Tinh Tuc, 30km from Bao Lac, in Hung Dao commune, there is a beautiful village of San Chi ethnic. Of course, we will stop to visit and discover the beauty of the village. You are one of a small number of travelers who get to visit this area because of its hidden location behind the hill. The village has hundreds of houses on stilts nested on the side of mountains and views of the beautiful valley. To reach to the village, you will have to walk up a 2km steep incline. The higher you walk, the better view you get. Visit a family to understand the authentic life of this ethnic group.
Continue to Ba Be, where you will be surprised by the magnificent nature where the mountains gently meet the valleys of rice terraces. Stop to film or take photos whenever possible. Upon arrival in Ba Be, check in your accommodation in Pac Ngoi Village and go cycling through several villages of Tay ethnic groups to Hua Ma Cave (5km from the village). This is an attractive place with amazing formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Finally, come back to your accommodation.
In the morning, take a walk from the village to the pier to enjoy a boat trip on the lake (It is possible to swim in the lake). Stop to discover the Fairy Pond in the middle of the primitive forest. After the lake, move to Nang river. Walk along the river bank and be immersed in the beauty of wild and reach Dau Dangwaterfall.
Keep continue our boat trip in the opposite direction along the Nang River to Puong Cave home to thousands of bats inside the cave. The boat will go through the cave toward to Buoc Lom pier. Meet our driver for a transfer to Hanoi.
Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time after the mountain getaway.
Oct 19, 2024