Wild Ba Be & Ban Gioc Waterfall

Hanoi - Lang Son - Dong Dang - Dong Khe - Quang Uyen. Arrive in Hanoi before 7 AM on day 1 or arrive in Hanoi the day before the start of the tour. You will have the option of being collected from your hotel within Hanoi’s Old Quarter between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM, followed by a scenic 3-hour drive to Lang Son, a lively border city near China.

There, we’ll visit Mac Citadel, a 16th-century fortress built by the Mac Dynasty to defend against the Le-Trinh forces. Though partly in ruins, it remains a striking symbol of Vietnam’s feudal past. You’ll have time to explore its stone walls, learn about its strategic role, and take in panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, we continue to Dong Khe, a key site from the First Indochina War. In 1950, the Battle of Dong Khe marked a major Viet Minh victory over French forces and a crucial step toward Vietnam’s independence.

In the evening, we travel to a traditional Nung homestay, where we will enjoy a home-cooked meal and an overnight stay, offering a genuine experience of local culture and daily life.

Approximate walking distance: 3-5 KM.
Please note: We strongly recommend you arrive in Hanoi the day before your tour starts. You will be collected early on day 1. Pick up can be arranged from any hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter, and you must inform us in advance of your tour where you wish to be collected from.

Quang Uyen - Trung Khanh - Cao Bang - Ba Be National Park. This morning, we head to Trung Khanh near the Chinese border and visit Phuoc Sen, a mountain village inhabited by the Nung people. Here you will have a chance to meet and learn about the Nung. The village is known for its traditional blacksmithing, the villagers craft tools essential for working in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.

Next, we will venture to Ban Gioc Waterfall, a stunning 300-metre cascade shared by Vietnam and China. Here, you’ll have time to soak in the scenery and capture some fantastic photos. After the falls, we’ll visit Nguom Ngao Cave, a striking 2,144-metre-long cavern filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

We will then return to Cao Bang, making our way through the "snake pass" to Ba Be Lake, heading towards our overnight stay in a traditional Tay-style homestay, where we will enjoy an authentic home-cooked meal.

Ba Be National Park - Hanoi. After our final breakfast, you will have the choice to board a boat to cross Ba Be Lake to its northern shore. From there, we begin a hike through the rainforest at the heart of Ba Be National Park. Along the way, we’ll encounter a prehistoric cave estimated to be 500 million years old, nestled within an ancient forest of rare hardwood trees. A nearby fire lookout point also offers a great spot for birdwatching.

We will continue our hike to reach An Ma Temple, a sacred site of the Tay people dedicated to the snake god and a military general of the Mac Dynasty. Alternatively, you can choose to spend your time enjoying a boat tour, taking in the stunning views of karst formations surrounded by lush jungle, whether relaxing and admiring the landscape or taking a refreshing dip in the cool waters of the lake.

We will then make our way back to Ba Be Jungle Houses restaurant, where we will enjoy lunch, before we travel approximately 230 kilometres back to Hanoi, with a scenic stop at a tea plantation nestled among rolling hills. Arriving in Hanoi between 17:00 - 17:30, you will be dropped in the Old Quarter and can continue your journey independently.