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Remote North Vietnam Tour

Highlights

  • Visit some lovely villages and hike to the upper reaches of Ba Be Lake
  • Journey along a spectacular road with a series of long passes and deep valleys in Ha Giang
  • Experience Ban Gioc Waterfall, Vietnam's most spectacular waterfall & visit Nguom Ngao Cave
From £847 pp*
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5 Nights

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What you'll do

Overview

This tour takes you to the most stupendous remote regions of Vietnam.

Experience the true local Vietnam, meeting and staying with locals and understanding their way of life.

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This tour takes you to the most stupendous remote regions of Vietnam.

Experience the true local Vietnam, meeting and staying with locals and understanding their way of life.

Your adventure begins in Hanoi and sweeps you into the wild beauty of northern Vietnam. Journey through winding mountain passes and emerald valleys to Ha Giang, where you’ll share dinner and stories with a Tay family in their traditional stilt house. From there, the scenery only intensifies—pine forests, ancient H’mong palaces, bustling markets, and the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most dramatic roads in the world. Each day reveals a new treasure, from centuries-old fortresses to remote highland villages alive with culture and colour.

The journey continues with awe-inspiring natural wonders. Stand in the mist of Ban Gioc, Vietnam’s most spectacular waterfall, and wander through the glittering chambers of Nguom Ngao Cave. Sail across the serene waters of Ba Be Lake, drifting into hidden caves and visiting welcoming Tay villages, where homestays offer an authentic window into local life. Between mountain walks, riverboat rides, and warm encounters with the Nung and Tay communities, this is a journey packed with breath-taking views, cultural discovery, and unforgettable moments—culminating in a return to Hanoi with stories to last a lifetime.

*From price based on travel for 2 people. For larger groups or solo travellers please enquire directly to hello@nitgb.com

Hanoi – Ha Giang

You’ll depart Hanoi at 8am and travel via Road no.2 to Ha Giang.

After stopping for a delicious lunch in Tan Quang Gardens, you will continue the journey, arriving in Ha Giang at 6pm.

On arrival, you’ll visit a nearby Tay village where you’ll have dinner and spend the night in a family owned stilt house.

Meals included: lunch and dinner

Ha Giang - Dong Van

After purchasing the mandatory permit at the Immigration Office, you’ll  journey along a spectacular road with a series of long passes and deep valleys leading to Dong Van.

After enjoying lunch in the small mountain town of Tam Son, you will then travel through a pine forest to arrive at an extraordinary palace which belonged to a H’mong King.

You’ll arrive in Dong Van at around 6pm where you will have dinner at a local restaurant and stay overnight.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng - Meo Vac - Cao Bang

Today will begin with a trip to Dong Van Market where local people go to stock up on their daily supplies.

You’ll then climb a pass up to the French Fortress of Pu Lo which was built in 1890 and vacated in 1945. As well as being of historical significance the fortress offers remarkable views of the region. You will then drive along one of the most astonishing roads in Vietnam, which climbs 15 km up to the top of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of unique limestone peaks and canyons.

You’ll then descend into the valley of Meo Vac, visiting Meo Vac Market before continuing on the snaking road through the mountains, crossing the river, and arriving in Cao Bang.

You’ll have dinner and spend the night in Cao Bang.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall

You’ll make an early start along the mountain road from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc Waterfall is the most spectacular waterfall in the country and sits directly on the border of Vietnam and China. Here you will have plenty of time to relax, enjoy the breathtaking sights and take photos.

You will then visit Nguom Ngao Cave and explore part of the magical underground cavern.

Afterwards you’ll travel down a beautiful road that’s certainly off the beaten track, the road winds through the mountains before reaching the Nung village of Quang Uyen. You will be welcomed by Mr. Hung Dao, an amazingly friendly blacksmith and you’ll learn about him, his life and his trade.

You’ll have dinner and spend the night in a traditional Nung house.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Cao Bang - Ba Be Lake

Your day starts with breakfast followed by a three-hour drive to Cho Ra where you’ll stop for lunch.

You’ll then take to the three lakes that make up the Ba Be Lake on a houseboat and take a trip through the lakes which make up the Nang River to Puong Cave, a 300-meter long tunnel through the middle of a mountain.

If it is hot, you can even have a dip in the cool water before you visit the stilt houses and meet the locals in Coc Toc, a Tay ethnic minority village.

You’ll spend the night here in a Homestay where you’ll experience the amazing hospitality of the Tay community.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

 

Ba Be Lake – Hanoi

The day kicks off with a relaxing stroll along the riverfront to visit some lovely villages and hike to the upper reaches of the lake, surrounded by massive limestone peaks and mountains.

On the way, you will pay a visit Pac Ngoi Village where you can see more examples of the beautifully crafted stilt houses. You will then enter Hua Ma Cave which is famous for its thousands of stalactites and columns.

Your guide will then take you through a pass which we call “Dog Flower Pass” where you can stop to take some amazing photos of the terraced fields.

After lunch in a local restaurant, you will begin your journey back to Hanoi, arriving at around 6pm.

What's included

Included

  • 5 nights accommodation - FB*
  • Transfers from and to Hanoi and between accommodation
  • 1 night Thôn Tha
  • 1 night Ha Giang
  • 1 night Cao Bang City
  • 1 night Phia Thắp Village
  • 1 night Ba Be National Park
  • Lunch at Tan Quang Gardens
  • Drive up to Ma Pi Leng Pass
  • Visit Dong Van Market and Meo Vac Market
  • Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall
  • Visit Nguom Ngao Cave
  • Travel on Nang River to Puong Cave, a 300-meter long tunnel through the middle of a mountain
  • Visit Pac Ngoi Village
  • *FB - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation

Mr Cay's Homestay (or similar)

Mr Cay lives with his wife, mother, son and grandson, making home to four generations of a happy family. His English maybe limited but his friendliness and generosity will warm your heart.

It is the only accomodation in Thôn Tha offering traditional herbal bath, famous in Vietnam for its healing virtues.

Hoa Cuong Hotel (or similar)

Hoa Cuong Hotel is located in the center of the Old Quarter town of Dong Van district - Ha Giang, which is the center of the Stone Plateau Complex recognized by UNESCO.

Thanh Loan Hotel (or similar)

Thanh Loan 1 Hotel is located right in the center of Cao Bang City.

The hotel has a bar and relaxing garden.

Mr Kim's Homestay (or similar)

Mr Kim’s Homestay is located in the green rice paddy fields of Phia Thắp Village, home to 50 families from the Nùng ethnic minority in Cao Bằng Province.

The traditional structure of Kim’s stilt house is still preserved, the first floor which used to be a cattle holding area has been extended to make a cozy living room with wooden tables and chairs. The well-organised second floor is where visitors sleep, each person will be provided with a mattress, pillow, mosquito net, lamp and an electricity socket.

Ba Be Jungle Houses (or similar)

Ba Be Jungle Houses is a Jungle Resort specially designed based on the rustic style of local communities houses. This lovely Jungle Complex, built of wood and with a pan leaf roof, is residing deep in the pristine forest of Coc Toc village, Ba Be National Park. The resort has a swimming pool and restaurant located on site.

Staying at the jungle resort you will have chance to unwind yourself with the nature and try the local organic specialties that cannot be seen elsewhere made by Tay people.

Your local host

Nguyen Tuan Linh

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Vietnam up in the rural areas of the tea country and growing up I developed a passion for the outdoors and just exploring the unexplored. I worked for my grandfather, in the rice fields in the Phu Tho province. And as I grew, so did my curiosity for the world, bringing the ambition of working to discover the world.

At 19, I took my first footsteps in following my dream, and travelled to Hanoi to study tourism at university and to learn English.

With a dream of becoming a professional tour guide, I continued studying tourism and spent three years working in the tourism industry as a tour guide for a number of travel companies in Hanoi. Responding to the travel aspira... Read All

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Vietnam up in the rural areas of the tea country and growing up I developed a passion for the outdoors and just exploring the unexplored. I worked for my grandfather, in the rice fields in the Phu Tho province. And as I grew, so did my curiosity for the world, bringing the ambition of working to discover the world.

At 19, I took my first footsteps in following my dream, and travelled to Hanoi to study tourism at university and to learn English.

With a dream of becoming a professional tour guide, I continued studying tourism and spent three years working in the tourism industry as a tour guide for a number of travel companies in Hanoi. Responding to the travel aspirations many international travellers seek, I sought out off-the-beaten-track places to show visitors, and approached many ethnic minority villages to arrange visits there too. I gained expertise in everything from giving travellers tips on how to get around the country, to itineraries ideal for business travellers.
The combination of volunteering, environmental protection and sustainable tourism development gave me the idea of forming my own tour company and have been doing this ever since.

What inspired you to work in travel? 

The one thing that sticks out as being the main inspiration has to be the country I grew up in, Vietnam.When I was working as a tour guide, I would ask people where they were going and it would always be the main tourists places. So I realised there was so much that people were not seeing and I wanted to change that.

I also love travelling myself, the people you meet, the stories you hear, and the things you learn are just fascinating. So I wanted to share this passion with others.

What makes your experiences special? 

Finding off the beaten path experiences has always been a passion of mine. I always make sure the experiences I offer are truly authentic, that you can’t find anywhere else.

All of our partners are local people living in and around the places that we visit. We make annual trips to all of our destinations to research and re-verify the quality of service provided, as well as spend time training and teaching the people how to best run accommodation and other services for visitors. When staying in luxury hotels, we always pick ones situated near nature, and the homestays we work with work exclusively through us, ensuring that we offer unique experiences through our partners that you can’t find with anyone else.

Nguyen Tuan Linh image

Location

You will be picked up and returned to your accommodation in Hanoi.

What our travellers are saying...

From Sapa, to visiting Babe Lake, Ban Gioc water fall, I could not praise enough their professional and attentive service. They are knowledgeable about the various excursions, travel arrangements and accommodations they offer. They checked on me on daily basis with what’s app to ensure that I was having a pleasant and comfortable experience.

John

Going to Vietnam was our vacation, but it has turned out to be an "experience" instead. The driver and guide (Mr. Long and Mr. Long) were informative, enthusiastic, helpful and attentive in every way. The home stays were wonderful experiences. The host families were friendly and the food was great. We walked the mountain trails, through the valleys, met many villagers living in the remote mountain areas. We visited many villages, including the bl

Kim

My parter and I went on a trekking tour through the Ha Giang provence and Ba Be National Park with guide Mr Long and driver Mr Nam and had a fantastic time!! Firstly the scenery and views were spectacular whether we were on foot or driving in the car. Our guide Mr Long was excellent; he spoke good english, knew the area very well and took us to some excellent spots that not many others know about. Mr Long made sure the trip was personalised for u

Steve
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