Ba Be Lake and Homestay

Your guide will pick you up by car at your hotel around 7:30-8:00am, as an early start is necessary for all in store for you today.

On the way to Ba Be National Park, you’ll stop in a local village to enjoy lunch in an authentic restaurant, before the route takes you up through the mountains and tea plantations on the road to Ba Be Lake. You will
then travel to the Tay village of Coc Toc, where the houses are built in traditional Tay fashion on stilts. The local Tay population is extremely friendly to visitors and will welcome you with open arms, introducing you to their way of life.

The central pillars of which are fishing on the lake and rice-farming. This is where you will spend the night in a homestay, to really get an insight into Tay culture and daily life. After checking in at the homestay, your afternoon will be free to spend as you wish, though we recommend going for a walk to explore the beautiful surroundings.

Following this, we will take you to Hua Ma Cave, featuring thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. The rest of the day is again yours to do with as you please, though we offer the optional activities of guided walks/bike rides around Coc Toc Village and kayaking trips on the lake. If you’d rather spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the serene views, then that’s also an option.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mr Linh’s Homestay

Cao Bang

The next destination on the trip is Cao Bang Town. Here, the H’mong, Zao, Tho and Nung ethnic minority people live together in harmony. After breakfast, you’ll set off on a half-day journey past spectacular mountainous landscapes, with a mixture of steep terraced rice fields and hill-tribe villages. Along the way, you can make stops at your leisure, to rest the legs and take some wonderful photographs. The remainder of the day will be free to explore the town or simply relax. Dinner on your own, then overnight in Cao Bang.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: 3* THANH LOAN Hotel in Cao Bang

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Today you set out for one of Northern Vietnam’s most incredible natural wonders, Ban Gioc Waterfall, the fourth largest waterfall along a national border, after Iguazu Falls (Brazil – Argentina), Victoria Falls (Zambia – Zimbabwe), and Niagara Falls (Canada – America).

This breath-taking 300-meter wide cascade forms part of the Chinese- Vietnamese border. Here you can relax in this natural wonder with plenty of time to snap some photos. You’ll also get to board a bamboo boat and get up close to the raging waterfall. Next, you’ll visit a local market where you get to experience the diverse cultures of the area, before hiking to Phat Tich Temple which aside from being a great cultural experience, offers some of the best views of Ban Gioc with China in the background.

Next up you’ll pass through several hill-tribe villages before reaching the tranquil towns of Dong Khe and That Khe. By late afternoon we’ll arrive in Lang Son, a border town all but destroyed in the recent Sino-Vietnamese war, but rebuilt into a thriving trade hub in the years since. Dinner on your own then overnight stay in Lang Son

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation:

4* MUONG THANH Hotel in Lang Son

Bai Tu Long Bay

You’ll depart for Ha Long Bay at around 7:30a.m for a 5-hour drive to Hong Gai Tourist Wharf, where you’ll check in at Oriental Sails JSC’s private waiting hall, the OS Lounge. Here you can relax until embarkation around 12:30-13:00 followed by a quick briefing. You’ll spend your first few hours on-board enjoying the views of the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay and savouring a delectable lunch. And then between  15:30-16:30 you are free to choose between two activities:

Option 1: Fishing village visit

For those that are interested in learning about local life in the bay. Take a bamboo rowing boat trip lasting roughly 45 minutes, around Vung Vieng fishing village, one of the largest of its kind in Ha Long Bay. The village is set inside a closed lagoon, surrounded by mountains, which makes it a great place for photos in addition to the cultural experience.

Option 2: Beach and kayaking

For the more active travellers you can be taken in a small boat to Ban Chan beach, where you can sunbathe, swim, play volleyball or try your hands at some kayaking in the magnificent setting of the bay.

You’ll arrive back at the cruise around 16:30, with enough time to get cleaned up and relax before the sun starts to set. At 17:30 you can enjoy happy hour at the bar on the sun deck, enjoying the sunset with a drink in hand, and also take part in a cooking class with the resident Chef.

At 19:00 dinner will be served, and the rest of the evening can be spent socialising with other guests, night squid fishing or just lazing around. There will also be singing and dancing activities until 22:00.Overnight on-board with the ship anchored in the Cong Do Area of the bay.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Garden Bay Legend 10 cabins Cruise – Deluxe

Bai Tu Long Bay to Hanoi

Early risers can enjoy a 30 minute Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck at 06:30 before enjoying the view of the surrounding seascape with your breakfast as you cruise towards Thien Canh Son Cave. You’ll arrive at the cave at 9am and spend about half an hour exploring this medium sized and less visited cave situated in Bai Tu Long Bay.

After your cave visit its time to check out of your room at the boat and return to port, docking at noon. After having early lunch on-board. Our driver will be waiting for you at the pier and will transfer you back to Hanoi for an arrival at your hotel for around 16:30.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch