11-Day Northern Vietnam Adventure: Hanoi, Ba Be & Ha Long Bay

Points of Interest : Thành Phố Hà Nội

In the morning, your local guide greets you at Hanoi airport and drives you to your hotel in the city center. After some time to settle in, you experience what life in Hanoi was like in the 1950s with a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. You then stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake – the “Lake of the Returned Sword” – and visit the elegant Ngoc Son Temple, set on a small island in the middle of the lake and reached by a distinctive red wooden bridge.

• Meals included : None
• Accommodation : Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hang Manh, Hanoi (or similar)

Points of Interest : Hanoi

Today you cross to the other side of the Red River where your cycling adventure begins. You pedal through peaceful, less-developed villages and get a glimpse of rural life just outside the capital. Along the way you visit the traditional ceramic village of Bat Trang and the new ceramics museum. While cycling and later during lunch in a traditional house, you have the chance to meet locals and taste typical dishes from Northern Vietnam. After lunch, you return to Hanoi by vehicle.

Note: Distance & duration of the bike tour: around 45 km – 5 hours, or 35 km – 4 hours, depending on the chosen route.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation : Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hang Manh, Hanoi (or similar)

Points of Interest : Ba Be National Park

You leave Hanoi and travel north to Ba Be National Park, whose name means “Three Bays” in Vietnamese and refers to its three interconnected lakes. Considered one of the ten largest freshwater lakes in the world that have never dried up, Ba Be is surrounded by dense rainforest, karst mountains and small farms. Upon arrival you have time to explore some of the trails that lead to caves, waterfalls and viewpoints, or simply enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the area.

• Meals included : Breakfast, dinner
• Accommodation : Homestay in Ba Be area

Points of Interest : Ba Bể District

In the morning you board a boat that takes you across the lake to Cam village, where your hike begins. You walk through cultivated rice fields and past the stilt houses of local communities, absorbing the quiet rural scenery. After a short boat ride you continue to the peaceful Dau Dang waterfall area. A further hike through the national park allows you to fully appreciate the calm and natural beauty of Ba Be before you arrive in Pac Ngoi village, where you spend the night in a local home.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation : Homestay in Pac Ngoi village or nearby

Points of Interest : Thị Trấn Quảng Uyên, Tỉnh Cao Bằng

In the morning you drive to Pac Bung village in the Quang Uyen district, where you are warmly welcomed by your host family. The Quang Uyen and Cao Bang regions are mainly inhabited by Thai and Nung ethnic groups. Dramatic limestone formations, patches of jungle and forested hills create the perfect backdrop for the adventures ahead. You have time to walk through the village and learn about local customs and daily life.

• Meals included : Breakfast, dinner
• Accommodation : Homestay in Pac Bung village

Points of Interest : Thị Trấn Quảng Uyên, Xã Thân Giáp

Today you drive up into the hills to reach a bamboo forest at around 650 meters above sea level. From this vantage point you can admire sweeping views of limestone peaks, fertile valleys and villages clinging to the hillsides. After a rest, you descend into the Na Valley, where you meet Tay and Nung communities and enjoy a local lunch. The route then leads you on foot through the Lung and Mang valleys, revealing more rural life and farmland. To reach your final destination, Na Ran village, you board a simple bamboo raft for a short journey along the water.

• Meals included : Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Accommodation : Homestay in Na Ran village

Points of Interest : Pò Tâu, Xã Thân Giáp

You start the day by exploring Na Ran village, observing the rhythm of local life. Then your hike continues over a mountain pass at about 700 meters above sea level, from where you descend into the wide Cao Thang valley. Here you stop by Ban Viet Lake for a picnic lunch in a picturesque setting. In the afternoon you follow trails through fields of rice, corn and tobacco as you make your way towards Po Tau village, where another welcoming host family awaits you.

• Meals included : Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Accommodation : Homestay in Po Tau village

Points of Interest : Pò Tâu, Tỉnh Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng

In the morning you follow a riverside path and then climb up to the top of a hill, where a breathtaking panorama over the largest valley of Trung Khanh opens up beneath you. At the end of the hike you meet your driver and continue by minibus to the spectacular Ban Gioc waterfalls on the Chinese border, one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural sights. In the afternoon the journey continues towards the Lang Son region, where you check into your hotel and can relax after an eventful day.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : New Century Hotel, Lang Son (or similar)

Points of Interest : Tỉnh Lạng Sơn, Ha Long

You travel by road to Ha Long Bay, a journey of around four hours. On arrival you board a comfortable cruise boat in Lan Ha Bay, part of the wider Ha Long Bay area. With its towering limestone islands rising from the sea and cloaked in lush vegetation, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers some of Vietnam’s most iconic scenery. Around 1,900 islands and islets, mostly uninhabited, punctuate the emerald waters. As you cruise among them, you have time to relax on deck, enjoy the views and take part in on-board activities offered by the crew.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation : Cabin on shared cruise boat in Lan Ha / Ha Long Bay

Points of Interest : Thành Phố Hà Nội, Ha Long

Early in the morning, depending on the season, you can rise to watch the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. The cruise continues through the karst landscape as you slowly make your way back to the harbor. Late in the morning you disembark and drive back to Hanoi. On arrival you check into a hotel day room where you can rest and freshen up for a few hours. According to your international flight schedule, you are then transferred to Noi Bai International Airport for your onward journey or flight home.

• Meals included : Breakfast, brunch
• Last day : Transfer to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi