Ban Gioc Waterfalls - Ba Be Lake 3-day will take you from the vast lakes and chalky karsts of Ba Be National Park to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall. You will be travelling through remote areas in Northern Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to learn about and experience the unique cultures and customs of rural Vietnam.
Tour code: OPT02E
Departure dates: Join tour on Tuesday and Fridays, private tour on request.
Destination: Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ba Be NP.
Duration: 3 days
Type: Group tour
Price USD: $249 per person
SET DEPARTURE ON TUESDAY & FRIDAYS
Join tour: $ 249 per person
Tour itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen
Day 2: Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be National Park
Day 3: Ba Be National Park - Hanoi
Day 1
Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen (L/D)
Our tour guide will pick you up by car at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter or Mr Linh's Adventures office around 7:308:00am, transferring you to Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before stopping at Chi Lang Pass a 20kmlong gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains.
This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as far back as 981AD. As such it bears the reputation of Vietnam’s strongest citadel and bastion. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as “The Gate of Monsters”, named for the many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.
After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.
In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.
Highlights and activities: Chi Lang pass, Quy Mon Quan gate, Dong Khe battle site, ethnic villages, and a 35km walk
Day 2
Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ba Be National Park (B/L/D)
After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.
Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.
Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
You will then return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home cooked meal.
Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ba Be National Park, ethnic villages
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Day 3
Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B/L)
After breakfast, you will board a boat to cross the lake to the north shore. From here you will start a hike in the rainforest of the central area of the Ba Be National Park. Along the shores of the lake, you will reach a prehistoric cave dating back 500 million years, hidden in an ancient forest composed of rare and hard wood trees, as strong as steel.
A little further, a fire station allows to observe the birds.
Resume your hiking to reach the An Ma temple (a sacred temple of the Tay people venerating the snake god and military general of the Mac dynasty).
It is now time to choose how to spend your time on the boat: relax and admire the landscape or take a dip in the fresh waters of the lake? Anyway, enjoy the scenery with its beautiful karst formations lined with jungle.
Note: visitors who do not wish to participate in the walk can ask to stay on the boat to join Widow Island or do some shopping
Return to Ba Be Jungle Houses restaurant for lunch before ending the tour, you will be taken about 230 km back to Hanoi and stop at a tea plantation located among rolling hills. When we arrived in Hanoi, it was time to say goodbye, creating lifelong memories and bonds.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be lake, Puong cave, Tay ethnic villages
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The facts…
We take you to the parts others can't reach!
Climate
From July to September, the climate is usually humid and hot.
From October to June brings cooler and more pleasant weather.
Transport
• Professional vehicle transportations and commercial vehicle insurance.
• Professional driver.
• Air-conditioned vehicle, Round-trip transportation from ed hotels.
Tour Guides:
Our experienced and friendly Tour Guide(s) speak excellent English.
They are extremely knowledgeable about local cultures, history and the environment.
Tour price includes
• Professional vehicle transportations and commercial vehicle insurance.
• Professional driver.
• Air-conditioned vehicle, Round-trip transportation from ed hotels.
• Accommodation at Nung’s homestay in Cao Bang, at Tay’s houses in Ba Be national park.
• Experienced English-speaking guide.
• Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner).
• Bottled water.
• All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier.
• Kayak & boat tour on Ba Be lake.
• Hiking tour in Ba Be national park.
• Bamboo raft tour on Ban Gioc waterfall.
• Nguom Ngao Cave walking tour.
• All Taxes and Fees.
• No extra charge after confirmation.
• 24/7 hotline support guaranteed.
Tour price excludes
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Beverage
Other services not mentioned above.
Extra service
Single supplement: US $20
Children rates
Free of charge for children under 4 years sharing bed with parents.
Surcharge 70% rate of adult for children (5-11 years) sharing bed with parents.
Over 11 years is adult’s rate.
The itinerary can be changed due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions.
Special request (diet or vegetarian, …) should be sent before your departure date.
What to take
Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...
Have a good journey!