Itinerary
- Day 1
Hotel to Cao Bang
Your guide picks you up at 8:00 AM for a 5-hour drive north toward Cao Bang through Lang Son province. The highway route takes you through varied terrain, and you'll stop for lunch in Dong Dang town to break up the journey. After that, you'll trek from Cun stream across Ma Phuc pass, walking through fields and valleys to reach Phia Thap incense village. The day ends at a traditional Nung stilt house where dinner is provided, and you'll spend the night there.
- Start point
- Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake), Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam (Hanoi Old Quarter)
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant in Dong Dang town), Dinner (Dinner together at Nung stilt house)
Included Activities
- Trek from Cun stream on Ma Phuc pass to Phia Thap incense village through fields and valleys
- Visit Phia Thap incense village (traditional handicraft village of Nung ethnic minority)
- Overnight stay in Nung ethnic group stilt house
Landmarks/POIs Phia Thap incense village - Day 2
Cao Bang Craft Villages
Start with breakfast, then spend the day visiting several craft villages around Cao Bang. You'll see Phia Thap incense village first, where the Nung community has been making incense for over 100 years. From there, check out a tile-making village known for its yin and yang style work, then head to Phuc Sen forging village to watch different stages of knife forging. A knitting village comes next before a picnic lunch. Afterward, stop by the paper-making village, and you'll return to the Nung stilt house for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner (Dinner together at traditional Nung house in incense village)
Included Activities
- Visit Phia Thap incense village (Nung community with 100+ years incense-making tradition)
- Visit tile-making village (yin and yang tile style)
- Visit Phuc Sen forging village and witness knife forging stages
- Visit knitting village of Nung ethnic group
- Visit paper-making village of Nung ethnic group
- Trek through fields between villages
Landmarks/POIs Phia Thap incense village Phuc Sen forging village - Day 3
Ban Gioc Waterfall and Nguom Ngao Cave
This morning involves a trek across fields and hills from Quang Uyen to Ban Gioc waterfall, a 300-meter cascade that forms the border between Vietnam and China. You'll have time to walk around, take photos, and soak in the setting. Next, you'll visit Nguom Ngao Cave, which extends 2,144 meters underground with notable stalactites and stalagmites throughout. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, then another trek takes you from Yen Nhi homestay through Thuon village. You'll return to Yen Nhi homestay for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Trek from Quang Uyen to Ban Gioc waterfall
- Visit Ban Gioc waterfall (stretches over 300 meters, borders Vietnam and China)
- Visit Nguom Ngao Cave (2,144 meters underground with stalactites and stalagmites)
- Trek from Yen Nhi homestay through Thuon village and back to Yen Nhi homestay
Landmarks/POIs Ban Gioc waterfall Nguom Ngao Cave - Day 4
Border Trek and Vinh Quy Pine Hill
After breakfast, you're heading off the main routes on a trek from Dam Thuy along the China-Vietnam border through Phuc Hoa and green fields around Cao Bang. Lunch is at noon at a local restaurant. Later, you'll climb Vinh Quy pine hill and make your way to Thanh Nhat town. Along the route, you'll see traditional tiled stilt houses, mossy fences, and cattle on the grassy hills. The day finishes at Mr. Chung's homestay where you'll rest and have dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner (Dinner at Mr. Chung's homestay)
Included Activities
- Trek from Dam Thuy along China-Vietnam border through Phuc Hoa
- Trek through green fields of Cao Bang
- Trek to Vinh Quy pine hill
- Witness traditional tiled stilt houses and countryside landscapes
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Quy pine hill - Day 5
Historical Sites Return to Hanoi
Start with breakfast, then your guide and driver take you to Dong Khe and That Khe, two historical sites from Vietnam's war of independence. You'll spend time at each location learning about their significance. Lunch happens on the way back to Hanoi, and you should arrive around 5:30 PM. After saying goodbye to your guide and driver, your trip wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (On the way back to Hanoi)
Included Activities
- Visit Dong Khe historical monument (war of independence site)
- Visit That Khe historical monument (war of independence site)
Landmarks/POIs Dong Khe That Khe
