From Hanoi – Ba Be Lake to Halong Bay 6 days 5 nights

Leaving Hanoi and breaking out of the delta plains, we pass through endless limestone karst scenery as we travel south through “Thay Pagoda”, country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. Arrive in Vu Linh in late afternoon, here we stay overnight with friends of the Dao’s minority in a traditional stilt house.

We have two options : one takes us around the very end of the Song Gam mountain range, enjoying good riding on winding sealed mountain roads; the other crosses over the very end of the range and takes us through untarnished rain forest on challenging, rocky road. The Song Gam mountain range is the main range of northeast Vietnam . From Tuyen Quang we continue on sealed road through renowned tea growing areas, where the hillsides are literally covered in plantations, From here it’s a short ride to the edge of Ba Be lake, Overnight homestay in the Tay’s family.

We leave Ba Be by a fantastic mountainous road, leading us along scattering high limestone formations and heavily forested hills. Further north is Cao Bang province, a remote area on the border with China. Cao Bang is sparsely populated. It has several ethnic communities in villages hardly affected by tourism. Cao Bang is famous for its graceful mountains, grottos and streams. Arrive in Quang Uyen in Late after noon, Overnight in family of the Nung’s peoples.

Today we travel back in time – we go back to Indochina by driving the famous Colonial Road No. 4, where we pass villages like Dong Khe and That Khe. This place is well-known for its countless bloody fights during the 1950s between Viet Minh and the French Force. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Lang Son city and discover the central market. This market offers divers Chinese products as Lang Son is the trade-gateway between China and Viet Nam. Before checking in our hotel in Lang Son, we bring an interesting visit to Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh grottos.

Ride to Halong bay through the lush of Red River vegetation. Arrival Halong bay pier and check-in registration, board our boat for a stunning cruise amongst towering limestone back while enjoying lunch on board. The cruise will take you by exotic islets with shapes of Dog, Incense Urn, Sail, Fighting Cocks, which are naturally formed by process of erosion between the see water and limestone mountains. Get back to Halong City, Overnight at Hotel.

A new day wake you up with joys and emotions in an early morning for watching sunrise on sea. We ride back to Hanoi by taking many trails going through the red river Delta. Arrive in Hanoi by 5 pm, tour ends.