From Northeast to Northwest Vietnam 9 Days

Southern Vietnam is famous for watery-related features, Central Vietnam is well-known for long sandy beaches, Northern Vietnam is renowned for breathtaking mountainous landscape. If you do not have enough time to visit the whole Vietnam, let's start with the North first where you will be impressed by nature and culture, especially Northeast and Northwest Vietnam. From Northeast to Northwest Vietnam 9 Days will bring you an overivew about the people and landscape where you will visit in 9 days.

Day 1: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be - Walking tour

Day 2: Private Boat Rides on Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang

Day 3: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Nguom Ngao Cave - Cao Bang

Day 4: Cao Bang - Bao Lac - The Unknown Land

Day 5: Bao Lake - Meo Vac - Dong Van

Day 6: Dong Van - Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Hoang Su Phi

Day 7: Thong Nguyen Typical Market - Hiking - Quang Binh

Day 08: Quang Binh - Y Ty

Day 09: Y Ty - Typical Coc Ly Market - Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be - Walking tour

After breakfast at hotel, then depart for the northeast to the Ba Be lake. After 6 hours of beautiful road, we arrived at the national park of Ba Be. Meet our hosts of the Tay ethnic group and check in their beautiful traditional wooden house. Have walk from the village of Pac Ngoi to Leo Keo and Ban Pjan villages nestled in the fabulous scenery of jungle and karst mountains. Return to the homestay to prepare dinner. Dinner and overnight at homestay.

Day 2: Private Boat Rides on Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang

Enjoy your breakfast at homestay before starting your trip today by discovering the natural beauty of surrounded area and daily life of the local. Enjoy a very pleasant kayak ride on the calm waters of the lake - a wild, pristine and beautiful lake surrounded by karst mountains covered by jungle which is the home of several rare flora and fauna. Stops to visit the Puong cave located into the limestone cliff and then the waterfalls of Dau Dang. Later, have lunch at the homestay with some local specialties. After that, drive to Cao Bang through the beautiful landscapes: forests, mountains and ethnic villages. Upon arrival, check in hotel and overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 3: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Nguom Ngao Cave - Cao Bang

After breakfast at hotel, then head out to the falls of Ban Gioc through the magnificent road: rice fields, limestone rocks in the form of sugar loaf, Tay and Nung ethnic villages situated harmoniously. Located between border of Vietnam and China, the waterfall spreading over three levels is considered the most beautiful one in the Vietnam. You can swim here if the weather allows.

Later, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant located in front of the falls. Next, on the way back to Cao Bang city, visit Nguom Ngao cave - one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam. Finally, visit the central market of Cao Ban before arriving hotel. Overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 4: Cao Bang - Bao Lac - The Unknown Land

Enjoy breakfast at hotel before departing for Bao Lac passing beautiful landscapes: rice terraces, ethnic villages, mountains and forests. Several stops are planned for photos and visits to villages along the way. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Arrive in Bao Lac in the early afternoon, walk into villages on the mountains located on the border of Vietnam and China, to discover the life and daily activities of the local including Lo Lo where was filmed by the French director - Frédérique Michalak. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bao Lac.

Day 5: Bao Lake - Meo Vac - Dong Van

After breakfast, visit the weekly Bao Lac market, where many hill tribes gather. Then, drive to Dong Van through grandiose mountain ranges. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Meo Vac. We then take the road via the breathtaking Ma Phi Leng pass. Stop on the top of the pass to enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Nho Que Canyon. It is undoubtedly the most spectacular road in Vietnam. Arrive in Dong Van and check in at hotel and overnight in Dong Van. 

Day 6: Dong Van - Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Hoang Su Phi

After breakfast, drive to Ha Giang City. After a short drive, visit the ancient palace of the Vuong family - Hmong's King which is an evidence of richness under French rule. Then, a breathtaking road takes us to the center of the Dong Van karst plateau, recognized by UNESCO.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Chinese border through a range of passes and valleys. Pass the plateau of Quyet Tien then stop on the pass to enjoy an exceptional panorama of the large valley surrounding the town of Quan Ba. Then head out to Hoang Su Phi, upon arrival, check in and overnight at Hoang Su Phi Lodge.

Day 7: Thong Nguyen Typical Market - Hiking - Quang Binh

Enjoy breakfast before exploring the typical market of Thong Nguyen which is held only every Sunday morning. This market is an important place for commercial exchange of some ethnic minorities in the regions such as the red Dzaos, Dzaos with long tunic, Nungs and H'mongs .... A short hike of 2 hours in the villages of the red Daos, recognizable by their colorful costumes. Enjoy lunch at Hoang Su Phi Lodge before heading out to Quang Binh through the fabulous scenery. Arrive in Quang Binh, check in homestay and enjoy a welcome hot cup of tea and get to know the host. After that, make a beautiful hike through surrounding villages for exploring life and occupations of the Red Dzaos. Dinner and overnight at homestay in Quang Binh.  

Day 08: Quang Binh - Y Ty

Enjoy breakfast at homestay then move to Y Ty which is a very beautiful region but less touristy. Y Ty is a land of typical minority ethnic groups like Ha Nhi, H; mongs, Tays...who wear traditional clothes and live in the mud houses. Enjoy lunch at Y Ty Lodge.

In the afternoon, do a trek tours in the ethnic villages of Ha Nhi to see their traditional mud-brick houses and flowering H'mongs to discover their life and daily activities. Dinner and overnight at Y Ty Lodge.

Day 09: Y Ty - Typical Coc Ly Market - Hanoi

Breakfast at the lodge then, we leave early in the morning for a visit to the typical Coc Ly colorful market. We will be the first visitors of the market. We will meet here different ethnic minorities: flowering H'mongs, Tays, Nungs, Phu La ... who come from two countries. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Then transfer back to Hanoi through the new highway. Arrive in Hanoi at the end of the day, check in at the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.