Northeast Loop: Ba Be - Cao Bang - Dong Van- Ha Giang

After enjoying breakfast with your host family, we'll depart for Ban Gioc, a region in northern Vietnam that borders China. Our first stop is Co La Waterfall where you will do a short scenic walk along the Quay Son River, enjoy the tranquility of this picturesque place amid limestone peaks covered with vegetation. Discover the terraced fields, and Tay ethnic villages. If you're interested in colonial military history, you can visit the village where Camp No. 1 was established, which held French officers captured by the Viet Minh between 1950 and 1954.

Overnight in Ban Gioc.

Morning: Discover the majestic Ban Gioc Waterfalls and the stunning Nguom Ngao Cave. Considered the most beautiful falls in Vietnam and the fourth longest in the world after Iguazu, Victoria, and Niagara, Ban Gioc is especially impressive during the rainy season (July to September), though breathtaking year-round. Swimming is possible during certain periods.

Optional: Bamboo raft ride on the Quay Son River for a close-up view of the falls.

Explore the Nguom Ngao Cave with its remarkable stalactites and stalagmites.

Afternoon: Depart by vehicle to the Gioc Rung massif near the Chinese border. Upon arrival, take a walk through a remote Tay hamlet nestled in a scenic rice valley along the Quay Son River.

Optional: Climb to a hilltop for panoramic views of mountains and rice fields—perfect for photography and enjoying a peaceful sunset.

Continue on to Quang Uyen, a region of a thousand green karst peaks, located at 500m altitude and home to the Nung An ethnic group. Overnight homestay with Nung An family

After breakfast, you'll discover Phia Thap, a Nung An village renowned for its incense stick production. You'll then explore a village specializing in traditional paper. These villages, home to the Nung An ethnic groups, are tucked away behind towering limestone peaks, largely untouched by modern life. The Nung An people, residing in traditional stilt houses with distinctive yin-yang tiled roofs, have deliberately preserved their ancestral way of life. Stepping into these communities feels like entering a peaceful, isolated world.

Coach trip to Bao Lac, stop to visit a hidden Dao ethnic village with hundreds of stilt houses and stunning valley views. Meet a local family to learn about their customs and admire the women's coin-decorated costumes.

Next, visit Khuoi Khon village, home to the Black Lo Lo people. Take a walk through their village and learn about this ethnic group, who migrated from China's Yunnan region 400 years ago. Their unique "half on stilts, half on the ground" houses shelter livestock, and their society is patriarchal, relying on rice and corn cultivation.

Continue your journey to Bao Lac.

Bao Lac Market & Meo Vac Dong Van Exploration

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Northern Vietnam, starting with an unforgettable visit to the Bao Lac Ethnic Market, held every five days. While perhaps not as bustling as Bac Ha or Dong Van, this market offers a unique and colorful experience. It's a key gathering point for diverse ethnic minorities like the Black Lo Lo, Tay, Nung, Dao, Hmong, and San Chi. Witness the women showcasing their beauty through elaborate costumes, adorned with striking metal headgear and original bamboo hats. Support the local economy by purchasing specialties such as cinnamon or dried mountain mushrooms.

Continue your journey towards Meo Vac, making a stop to discover a Tay ethnic village along the way. Next, ascend to Ma Pi Leng Pass for breathtaking panoramic views of limestone mountains, the Nho Que River, and Hmong villages clinging to the mountainsides. On a clear day, you might even spot the ridgeline of the Chinese border in the distance.

Explore Ha Giang: Markets, Minorities & Karst Landscapes

Begin your day at the Dong Van Weekly Market, held every Sunday. Here, various ethnic minorities gather to trade goods before socializing over a drink or a bowl of traditional Hmong "Thang Co" hotpot. You'll also witness the unique buffalo trading area.

Journey through the extraordinary Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a 2350 km² expanse of lunar landscapes with limestone cirques and terraced fields, sitting between 1000 and 1600 meters above sea level. You'll encounter resilient locals in their traditional stilt and mud houses, maintaining an ancestral way of life in this beautiful yet challenging region.

Your captivating stops include:

Flower Hmong village in Lung Cu: A border region with China

Stunning buckwheat flower fields: From October to November.

Hmong King's Palace (Vuong Chi Sinh): A century-old palace showcasing traditional Hmong cob house architecture, testament to the Hmong's historical autonomy.

Lung Tam Linen Weaving Craft Village: Witness the ancestral art of H'Mong linen spinning and weaving.

"Heaven's Gate" Pass: Ascend for breathtaking panoramic views of the Quan Ba valley and its iconic Fairy's Twin Mountains.

Night at the hotel or homestay depending on your choice

Easy trek to Tay ethnic villages Breakfast Walk through the Tay ethnic villages. You will find hundreds of wooden stilt houses shaded by palm trees. In front of each house, a water basin for fish farming is dug. You will discover the peaceful life of local residents, their local way of life, and their undulating rice fields. Depart to return to Hanoi with a stop along the way to see the tea culture.