Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Ha Giang
Your guide picks you up from your Hanoi hotel around 8am and you'll head north toward Ha Giang by way of Tuyen Quang. The drive takes you through tea plantations and past mountains where ethnic minority villages dot the landscape. You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang, then continue on to Ha Giang, arriving around 6pm. If there's time before dinner, you can walk around town and meet some locals. You'll spend the night in a traditional Tay house.
- Start point
- Hanoi, Vietnam (Hanoi old quarter, 07:30 - 08:15)
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant in Tuyen Quang), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through tea plantations and ethnic minority villages
- Explore Ha Giang town
- Day 2
Ha Giang Trekking to Nam Dam
After leaving the homestay in the morning, you're in for a 6 to 8 hour trek toward Lung Vai village. You'll walk through terraced rice paddies, forested areas with palm trees, and mountain terrain while meeting people from the Man and Dao ethnic groups. A picnic lunch happens out in nature, and then you keep trekking to reach Khuoi My and Ban Tha Village. Your driver picks you up and takes you to Nam Dam for a home-cooked meal. You'll stay overnight with a Dao family.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch amidst nature), Dinner (Home-cooked local meal)
Included Activities
- Trek to Lung Vai village (6-8 hours)
- Visit Khuoi My
- Meet ethnic minority groups (Man and Dao peoples)
- Optional farm work with local farmers
Optional Activities
- Join local farmers in field work
Landmarks/POIs Lung Vai Village Khuoi My Ban Tha Village - Day 3
Nam Dam to Dong Van
You'll head out in the morning toward Dong Van, crossing through Cong Troi Pass and Yen Minh. The King's Palace in Sa Phin, an H'mong village built in the early 1900s, is on your route, and you'll see traditional hand-harvested corn plantations nearby. Once you reach Dong Van, check out the colorful old market where ancient houses and locals wearing traditional clothing are everywhere. Lunch happens here, then you'll have dinner and stay overnight at a hotel in Dong Van.
- Meals
- Lunch (Colourful old market in Dong Van), Dinner
Included Activities
- Pass through Cong Troi Pass
- Visit King's Palace in Sa Phin H'mong village
- Explore Dong Van Old Market
- View ancient houses and locals in traditional garments
Landmarks/POIs Cong Troi Pass King's Palace, Sa Phin Dong Van Old Market - Day 4
Dong Van to Meo Vac
After breakfast you'll explore the Dong Van Old Quarter before trekking to Pu Lo fortress, constructed in 1890. From the fortress the views stretch across the entire region. Your trek continues for 8km to Ma Pi Leng Pass, where limestone peaks and stone forests surround you. Later you'll descend into the valley of Meo Vac for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Dong Van Old Quarter
- Trek to Pu Lo fortress (built 1890)
- Trek through limestone peaks and stone forests to Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Descend into Meo Vac valley
Landmarks/POIs Dong Van Old Quarter Pu Lo Fortress Ma Pi Leng Pass - Day 5
Meo Vac to Bao Lac
Following breakfast at your hotel, you'll spend the day trekking through villages in the mountains north of Bao Lac near Meo Vac. The Lo Lo minority villages you visit have kept their tribal customs alive over generations. You'll continue on to Bao Lac for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek around Meo Vac villages
- Visit Lo Lo minority villages
- Experience tribal customs of the Lo Lo people
Landmarks/POIs Lo Lo villages 
- Day 6
Bao Lac to Ba Be National Park
Before leaving Bao Lac you'll check out a special weekly market, one of northern Vietnam's most photogenic spots. After lunch in Bao Lac, you'll drive along a bumpy road that winds through rice fields and runs alongside the river. You'll arrive at Ba Be National Park in the late afternoon and stay overnight in a Tay house right on the lakeshore.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bao Lac weekly market
- Drive through rice fields and river landscape
Landmarks/POIs Bao Lac Market Ba Be National Park 
- Day 7
Ba Be National Park Trekking
Your guide takes you to Coc Toc Village to meet the Tay community, known for their fishing on the lake. You'll cross Pe Lu Stream and trek through steep, rough terrain with great views of the rolling countryside as you climb higher. Lunch is a picnic in an H'mong ethnic village. In the afternoon you'll visit stilt houses and a school belonging to the Dzao ethnic people, then head to another H'mong village where you'll have dinner and stay in a Dzao house.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch in H'mong ethnic village), Dinner (Tasty dinner in local homestay)
Included Activities
- Visit Coc Toc Village and meet Tay fishing community
- Cross Pe Lu Stream
- Trek through rough terrain with countryside views
- Visit H'mong ethnic village
- See Dzao stilt houses and school
- Dinner in H'mong ethnic village
Landmarks/POIs Coc Toc Village Pe Lu Stream - Day 8
Ba Be to Ba Be Lake Pirate Site
After breakfast at your homestay, you can try on traditional Dzao clothing for photos before heading out. Today's trek is easier, passing through a black H'mong village and descending through forest to see Dau Dang Waterfall on the Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang border. Lunch is with 'Mr Pirate', who acted in the Ba Be Lake Pirate Movie. A motorboat takes you up the river to Puong Cave, a massive limestone structure with thousands of bats from 18 species. You'll pass over Ba Be Lake and visit An Ma temple by boat before heading to Mr Linh's homestay for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with Mr Pirate), Dinner
Included Activities
- Try on traditional Dzao ethnic clothing
- Trek to black H'mong ethnic village
- Visit Dau Dang Waterfall
- Lunch with Mr Pirate (Ba Be Lake Pirate Movie actor)
- Motorboat trip to Puong Cave
- See thousands of bats in Puong Cave
- Visit An Ma temple by boat
Landmarks/POIs Dau Dang Waterfall Puong Cave An Ma Temple - Day 9
Ba Be National Park to Hanoi
After breakfast you'll stroll along the riverfront and walk through Pac Ngoi Village where most Tay people live in traditional houses. Later you'll hike to the upper reaches of the lake, an area surrounded by massive limestone cliffs and mountains. You'll see Hua Ma cave and trek up to a pass with great views of terraced fields for photos. Lunch at a local restaurant happens before you begin your journey back toward Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Riverfront stroll
- Visit Pac Ngoi Village with traditional Tay houses
- Hike to upper lake reaches with limestone cliffs
- Visit Hua Ma cave
- Trek to pass with terraced field views
Landmarks/POIs Pac Ngoi Village Hua Ma Cave
