Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Ba Be Lake
Your guide picks you up at 7:30 AM for the drive to Ba Be Lake, which takes around 5 hours with a lunch stop along the way. Once you arrive in the afternoon, you'll board a private boat to explore the three connected lakes and take in the peaceful scenery and green water, or if you'd rather be more active, kayaking is available instead. The day ends at a homestay in Bac Ngoi village right near the lake.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private boat trip through Ba Be lakes (3 connected lakes)
- Hotel pickup and transfer to Ba Be Lake
Optional Activities
- Kayaking instead of boating on Ba Be Lake
- Swimming in the lake (April to September)
- Traditional performance of Tay people (additional cost)
Landmarks/POIs Ba Be Lake - Day 2
Ba Be National Park to Phia Thap
After breakfast, you'll cycle around 10-12km through Ba Be National Park on a quiet route that passes rice fields, rivers, and traditional stilt houses with Karst Mountain views. You can watch locals fishing along the river as you go. Following the bike ride, you'll transfer to Phia Thap incense-making village where you'll see how traditional incense is made and meet people from the local Nung community. The night is spent at a homestay in the village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycling in Ba Be National Park (10-12km)
- Exploration of incense-making process in Phia Thap village
- Transfer from Ba Be to Phia Thap village
Optional Activities
- Hiking instead of cycling
Landmarks/POIs Ba Be National Park Phia Thap village - Day 3
Ban Gioc Waterfall - Lung Niec Village
You'll leave at 7:30 AM to reach Ban Gioc waterfall, Vietnam's largest waterfall located in the border area. You'll have about 1.5 hours to photograph it and take a boat to the base. After lunch nearby, a 10km trek (3-4 hours) starts from Khuoi Ky village heading to Lung Niec village, passing through Nguom Ngao Cave and traveling across rice fields and remote villages where the Tay people live. You'll stay at a homestay in a Tay village near Ban Gioc known as Horse village, with the green Quay Son river right in front.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ban Gioc waterfall with boat trip to base
- Trekking 10km from Khuoi Ky village to Lung Niec village (approximately 3-4 hours)
- Hike around Nguom Ngao Cave
Landmarks/POIs Ban Gioc waterfall Nguom Ngao Cave Lung Niec village - Day 4
Ban Gioc to Hanoi
Following breakfast, take a morning walk around the peaceful frontier village and along the river before heading back to Hanoi. The return trip covers around 335km through Lang Son province, a frontier area with a long border with China and interesting history. Along the way you'll pass limestone peaks, rice paddies, and quiet villages. There's a stop at an ethnic village known for tobacco production where you can learn about local life, plus lunch before arriving back in Hanoi around 5-6 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Morning walk around Ban Gioc frontier village
- Visit ethnic village known for tobacco production
- Transfer from Ban Gioc to Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Lang Son province
