MU CANG CHAI – CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE IN 10D9N - YESD Authentic Responsible Tours

[10 days, 9 nights]

CODE: CBD

MU CANG CHAI – CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE IN 10D9N

Get ready for an unforgettable expedition across Northern Vietnam’s most breathtaking landscapes! Trek through Mu Cang Chai’s rolling terraces, marvel at the grandeur of Ban Gioc Waterfall, and cruise through the serene waters of Ba Be Lake on this immersive 11-day journey.

Enchanting Scenery

Rich Culture

Thrilling Adventure

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1: AIRPORT PICKUP AT HA NOI

Upon your arrival, your tour guide and driver will wait for you at Noi Bai airport to transfer you to Hanoi. Drive straight to your hotel from Noi Bai airport. It often takes about 45 minutes to travel.

DAY 2: HANOI – NGHIA LO – MU CANG CHAI – 300KM

At 7:15 am, be ready to be picked up by your tour guide at your hotel lobby. Start the journey to Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai province.

Mu Cang Chai is a western district of Yen Bai Province, about 300km to the northwest of Ha Noi. When seen from afar, the terraced rice fields look like a picture of nature whose colour changes seasonally, exhibiting its most alluring charm when the new crop begins, green rice grows, and the field is lush with ripening rice.

On the road, we will visit the Suoi Giang Commune, Van Chan district, to admire the hundreds of years old ancient tea trees, which make up the specialty Tea Shan Tuyet. The wild tea trees growing in the high mountains, plus a cool climate all year round, create the haze tea flavor in particular. Then, leave Suoi Giang and continue going to Mu Cang Chai.

Check in your lodge at La Pan Tan village. Dinner will be served here. If time allows, take time to stroll around this beautiful landscape.

Day 3: MU CANG CHAI FULL DAY VISIT

Check out after breakfast and drive over the Khau Pha pass (one of the four greatest passes in Northern Vietnam, connecting Tu Le and Mu Cang Chai. These scenic roads offer a lot of stops for picture-taking as it is the viewpoint to see the Lim Mong, Lim Thai village or paragliding-point on the top of this pass.

This morning, spend time visiting La Pan Tan village and Rasberry Hill – one of the most famous destinations in the country with round shapes following the mountain shape. La Pan Tan village is well-known for its large and high rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai. Everything was built by the human hand of the H’mong people over the past hundreds of years. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Depending on your fitness and health, if you want to spend more time resting, in the afternoon, we can choose the option of hiking to see the sunset in Sán Nhù village. If the weather is good, we will make a hiking trip to Sán Nhù village (in Mu Cang Chai), which has a beautiful rice terrace field with Horse feed shapes and amazing sunset. However, this hiking trip is quite steep.

If not, we will travel by car to those attractions. At some places, our car can not access, we must hike to get those points such as Pú Nhu waterfall and Mơ waterfall.

Then, move to Nghia Lo and spend a night there.NOTE:

We must walk to Mơ waterfall in about 30 minutes from the national road with quite easy steep route. You will be lured into the dreamy waterfall landscape. The waterfall has 3 levels. We do not recommend you to climb to the 2^nd and the 3^rd level because it is quite slippery. Pú Nhu Waterfall is easy to reach, with a distance of 1,5km from the national road.
If the weather is rainy, we will check the road quality to be safe enough to get to those waterfalls. The rainy season makes water rise very high. Our guide will consider whether it is safe for you to get there.

day 4: NGHIA LO - NA HANG NATURE RESERVE– 224KM

After having breakfast, check out and get in your car to continue the trip to Ba Be and Na Hang UNESCO Heritage. Na Hang – Lam Binh Nature Reserve in the northern province of Tuyen Quang was honored with a certificate to recognize it as a national tourist site at a ceremony in Na Hang district on October 14, 2018.

The reserve is renowned for magnificent caves and a diverse ecosystem with many endangered flora and fauna species. Most notable is the Tokin snub-nosed monkey, a species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the Critically Endangered Species as endemic to northern Vietnam. The 61,300-ha Na Hang – Lam Binh Nature Reserve is set in a remote jungle along the banks of the Gam and Nang rivers.

Go kayaking on the Gam River after checking your homestay—or just chill out at this beautiful house.

day 5: NA HANG - BA BE LAKE – 88KM

Have breakfast at your homestay, then check out and depart to Ba Be Lake and spend one night in Pac Ngoi village.

We continue onwards to Ba Be National Park, one of the largest natural lakes in Vietnam, home to many kinds of birds, scenic valleys, towering rocky outcrops, underground river tributaries, a gigantic cave, and also to local ethnic minorities, including the Tay, Red Dao, and Hmong.

Lunch will be served at a local family in Pac Ngoi village. Ba Be is made up of three smaller lakes: Pe Lam, Pe L,u, and Pe Leng. The lake is surrounded by a complex system of mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and villages steeped in unique, traditional ethnic minority cultures. Ba Be Lake, recognized by UNESCO as “a wetland of international importance”, is at the heart of Ba Be National Park in Ba Be District.

In the afternoon, visit Hua Ma cave and join a cooking demonstration with your host family. Overnight at Mr Linh homestay in Pac Ngoi village.

day 6: BA BE BOAT TRIP FULL DAY

After breakfast, we’ll board a boat and set off onto the Ba Be Lake. The views consist of stunning karst formations all around you, covered with patches of wild vegetation and a rich wildlife. The boat will then continue along the Nang River, giving you a chance to explore the caves of Puong Grott, where you can marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites created through river erosion, as well as observe the thousands-strong bat colony that lives here.

Then, we continue to see Dau Dang Waterfall. The waterfall is 2km long, in harmony with the original forest landscape, creating an unforgettable impression. It lies between two limestone mountains with a steep slope. Where the Nang River is blocked by large and small rocks stacked on each other with a slope of about 500m, creating a spectacular waterfall, blending with the landscape of primeval forest creates an unforgettable impression.

After your exploration of the lake, return to Mr Linh homestay. Spend a night tonight.

day 7: BA BE- CAO BANG – 127KM

Late check-out today; afterwards, move to Cao Bang. Lunch will be served en route in Bao Lam town. Check in at your hotel in Cao Bang Province.

Then visit Ky Sam temple. Ky Sam Temple was built as a memorial at Nung village in honour of Nung Tri Cao, Nung Lord of Quang Yen, for organizing the ethnic minority revolt in the 11th century against the Vietnamese monarchy. Built in 1053 and now nearly 1000 years old, Ky Sam Temple is not only the oldest spiritual tourist destination in Cao Bang but also one of the oldest temples in the country.

day 8: CAO BANG - BAN GIOC WATERFALL - NGUOM NGAO – PHAT TICH PAGODA

After breakfast, let’s get ready for our exciting boat trip to Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the biggest waterfalls in Vietnam. Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes of Trung Khanh is the breath-taking Ban Gioc Waterfall, which spans over 300 meters, split half and half between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.

Then, we will visit Nguom Ngao cave, which is a must-see place once you arrive in Cao Bang. The cave of 300 million years old is a valuable gift of nature spending for this wonderful land. Tourists explore Nguom Ngao cave for its mysterious space created by marvelous stalactites on one side and an interesting legend behind the special name. The cave has a total length of nearly 2200m, with three gates and thousands of small grottos.

Located in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda is the first pagoda ever built in the northern province of Vietnam. Inaugurated on 15th December 2014, the pagoda was constructed on a total area of 3ha, leaning against Phia Nham Mountain, 500m from Ban Gioc Waterfall. From the pagoda, visitors could overlook the whole Ban Gioc Waterfall, wrapped in paddy fields and mountain ranges.

Overnight at a resort.

day 9: BAN GIOC – LANG SON – 178KM

After enjoying breakfast in your homestay family, visit the Ban Gioc Sunday market, then move to Phuc Sen forging village. In the early days, the villagers produced weapons for the soldiers of Nung Ton Phuc and Nung Tri Cao to fight against the Song army. After the war, they made farm and domestic tools such as ploughs, hoes, knives, and scissors. This craft village has a long tradition of forging.

The incense craft of the Nung ethnic minority people in Phia Thap village contributes to the preservation of a traditional spiritual culture. The incense-making craft of the Nung people has a long history. For Phia Thap villagers, making incense not only portrays their national identity but is also associated with the custom of burning incense in Vietnam.

Upon arrival in Lang Son, a must-visit national historical relic, the Mac Dynasty Citadel, leans on To Thi Mountain and was an important military base in the Le-Mac civil conflict. Its construction began under the order of King Mac Dang Dung in the final years of the 16th century and was completed in the mid-17th century.

Today, the remnants of the base include two 300-meter-long walls and a citadel front that measures around one meter, built with large stone blocks in the middle of the canyon. To reach the entrance, tourists need to scale over 100 steps. Inside the enclosure lies an empty parcel of land from which you can admire a panoramic view of Lang Son.

After dinner, head to Ky Lua night market for a taste of Lang Son’s bustling nightlife. The marketplace convenes on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of every lunar month. These days, ethnic women, men, and youth throng the market to shop, mingle, and even sing. Here, you can find anything from household appliances to electronics to local specialties. If you are here on the weekend, you can visit Lang Son night market, which opens from 6 PM.

day 10: LANG SON – HA NOI – 154km on highway

Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM. Then you will visit Tam Thanh Pagoda in a stone cave ( also known as Tam Thanh Grotto), which is located in Tam Thanh Ward, Lang Son City, Lang Son District.

According to a historical book called Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, Tam Thanh Pagoda was built in the Le Dynasty, located in Vinh Trai Commune, Thoat Lang District. Tam Thanh is a complex including 3 caves (Nhat Thanh, Nhi Thanh, and Thanh Tam) in Tam Thanh Pagoda, which is located on a mountain in the shape of elephants prostrating on the green grass.

Head back to Hanoi and end of the Mu Cang Chai – Cao Bang – Ba Be Lake tour around 5 pm.

The itinerary is subject to change or cancellation due to weather conditions.

Included: Ground transport, English-speaking guide, accommodation, activities & meals mentioned above.
Not included: Airfares, visa fees, travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses & all other services not clearly mentioned above.

WHY TRAVEL WITH YESD?

Authentic

We give local people employment, income and learning opportunities so they are directly involved in your tourism experience. Our guides and hosts will give you a special insight into culture and life in Vietnam.

Responsible

We aim to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and the local community while contributing positively to local economies. We don’t just talk responsible tourism, we act!

Tours that translate

10% of all profits from our tours go towards a community fund. This money allows us to make infrastructure improvements and provide other important resources to those in need.

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“The Cao Bang tour with YESD was by far one my favorite experiences I’ve had in Vietnam! Our guide, Mrs Tung, was absolutely a gem! She was incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of all the places we visited! She found us great authentic eating options and always ensured there were vegetarian options for me!Our driver Mr Lam was also incredibly friendly and made us feel very safe and comfortable throughout the tour days! My top highlights were definitely the Ma Pi Leng Pass walk & The Ban Gioc waterfall! I highly recommend this tour and YESD! They were fantastic and so worth the money.” See more.

Veda Rajesh / Google Review

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MU CANG CHAI – CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE IN 10D9N