Northern frontier adventure to Cat Ba Island 8 days 7 nights

This northern frontier adventure to Cat Ba island 8 days 7 nights through Northeast Vietnam includes a visit to Lan Ha Bay, Tay and Nung, ethnic minority villages, Ban Gioc waterfall, Ba Be Lake and other secret places in Quang Ninh and Bac Kan Provinces which normal tour don't go. Not only among the best off the beaten tracks places to see in Vietnam, these sights are a highlight for many travellers to the country.

Destination:

Ba Be National Park - A wild treasure home to one of the biggest natural freshwater lakes in Asia
Cao Bang - Cao Bang is an immensely beautiful, sparsely populated frontier region of North Vietnam
Halong Bay - A scatter of islands in emerald waters designated UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hanoi - Bustling capital city of Northern Vietnam

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Tour code: NA06E
Duration: 8 days 7 nights

Day 1: Hanoi - Ba Be National Park (L/D)
- Our tour guide will pick you up by car at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter or Mr Linh's Adventures office around 7:30-8:00am, transferring you to Bac Kan. We will start by driving in the direction of Ba Be National Park for about 4 hours. You will welcome by Mr Loc, a friendly host of Mr Linh’s Homestay with servire a lunch and check in your room before getting on a boat tour around Ba Be Lake. It was recently recognised by UNESCO as the third Ramsar site in Vietnam - an important wetland of the world. The lake bed is made up of limestone with millions of crags and crevasses that are ideal for a large variety of marine life - there are over a hundred of species of freshwater fish in the lakes.
  
  You then will then continue travel to Hoang Tri commune to pay visit beautiful Na Slai village of Tay people on traditional houses on still before walking to Thac Bac waterfall “Silver waterfall”, a multi-layer natural waterfall, the base forming small lakes with areas of from 100 to 200 m, thus creating beautiful natural beaches. Here you can enjoy yourself for swimming before getting back to your homestay, tonight you will have chance to enjoy your night with BBQ dinner.
  
  - A 3-5km walk.
Day 2: Trekking in Ba Be (B/L/D)
- This off the beaten track trek will take you from Lung Mo towards Coc Toc village. You will have the chance to explore the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Ba Be as you trek through the national park. To begin with, your local guide will take you to visit Coc Toc Village where the Tay people make a living through fishing in the lake. You will cross Pelu Stream and navigate some steep terrain, but as you gain height you will begin to see the beautiful views of the mountains. As you journey further towards the uplands, you will stop in Khau Qua a H'mong ethnic village where you will have a picnic lunch. Your guide will then take you through the vast mountain ranges and valleys to see the wooden houses and school of the Dzao people and along the trail to visit another H'mong ethnic village. You will then return to your homestay where you started this morning.
  
  - A 10-12km hike.
Day 3: Ba Be - Trung Khanh Cao Bang (B/L/D)
- After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village. Lunch in a local restaurant.
  
  Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes 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.
  
  Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
  
  You will then enter to Khuoi My, a stone village where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Nung fashion and owned and operated by a local Nung family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home-cooked meal.
  
  - A 3-5km walk.
Day 4: Ban Gioc Waterfall - Trekking in Trung Khanh (B/L/D)
- Enjoy your breakfast at the homestay. Today we have chance to explore the scenic landscape of Quang Uyen which is similar to Halong Bay with a hiking experience through the high mountains (600-800m), evergreen pastures, corn fields and villages. We’ll have spectacular views of the surroundings from the mountain top and have time to learn about the daily life of local ethnic groups and their vanishing occupations.
  Driver will pick us up from other side of the mountain to transferring to local restaurant for lunch. After lunch we take another walk to villages of Phuc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields. And many traditional craft villages such as; fabric dyeing, paper making, knitting, tile, incense. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.
  
  - A 10-12km trek .
Day 5: Cao Bang - Binh Lieu (B/L)
- We take a long drive from Cao Bang to Binh Lieu, - Little Sapa of Quang Ninh province. Continue your trip into the pass to Dong Dang, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.
  
  Transferring you to Lang Son for Lunch then we will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours from a narrow valley between two mountains. We reach to Binh Lieu town and begin our adventure here.
  
  Driving a round border patrol road is amazing to see rolling hills and mountains, looking down from above the terraced fields, walking around the villages of Man Son Dau and San Chi the minorities tribe only live in the border area Vietnam and China. They grow anise, cinnamon and cardamom plants everywhere. Dinner and overnight at a homestay.
  
  - A 5-7 km walk.
Day 6: Binh Lieu - Cat Ba island (B/L/D)
- Enjoy your breakfast then we depart for Cat Ba via Ha Long city then take the express boat to Cat Ba Island, arriving in Cat Ba Island at about midday. You will transfer across the island to the dock and board a small boat to Cai Beo fishing village. You'll enjoy a lunch of fresh local seafood
  You will trek off the beaeten tracks through Cat Ba National Park, when you reach the top of the mountain, you will be rewarded with wonderful views of the island and the bay. You will have dinner and spend the night in a garden bungalow.
  
  A 10-12km trek.
Day 7: Cruise on Lan Ha Bay (B/L/D)
- Breakfast will be served at 07:30 then take some time to relax before cycling to Viet Hai Harbour. From here you will board the boat to explore the beauty of Lan Ha Bay. where you’ll embark on the traditional wooden junk to enjoy a seafood lunch as you cruise through Lan Ha Bay. The cruise then makes its way into Ha Long Bay proper, working your way between little islands through narrow paths inaccessible to larger boats. You’ll then make a stop at a floating village, followed by an excursion into a large limestone cave filled with beautiful lagoons.
  
  You’ll round out the day with some relaxation, as we take you to Three Peaches Beach where you can swim, snorkel amongst the corals or simply relax on the beach. Once the sun sets you return to the boat to enjoy a delicious seafood dinner, followed by an overnight stay on-board.
  
  ► More info : Halong Bay, UNESCO Heritage
  ► Book on line your cruise in Ha long Bay
Day 8: Cat Ba island - Hanoi (B/L/D)
- Rising to the sound of the ocean, you can enjoy sunrise and breakfast on board before continuing through the bay. Today, you will board the kayaks to explore Lan Ha Bay and visit a fish farm followed by lunch on board. Whilst you are enjoying your lunch, the boat will take you back to Cat Ba Island where you will disembark to begin the journey back Hanoi. You will arrive back in the Hanoi capital at around 18:00. End of your trip.

Tour Includes:

•    Private door to door pick-up drop-off services
•    All private transfer and transportation
•    Accommodation at ecolodges, hotels, homestays as mentioned
•    English speaking guide as per program
•    Breakfasts (B) Lunches (L) Dinners as mentioned
•    All sightseeing tickets and travel permits
•    No extra charge after confirmation

Tour Excludes:

•   Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
•   Travel insurance
•   International flight and taxes.
•   Beverage
•   Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenir, etc…

What To Take:

• Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
• It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...

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Accommodation List

Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value.

Mr Kim's Homestay

Address: Phia Thap Village, Quoc Dan, Quang Uyen, Cao Bang province

Mr Kim’s Homestay stands out in green rice paddy fields of Phia Thắp Village, home to 50 families from the Nùng ethnic minority in Cao Bằng Province.
The traditional structure of Kim’s stilt house is still preserved. The house’s first floor, which used to be a cattle holding area, has been extended to make a cozy living room with wooden tables and chairs. The well-organised second floor is where tourists can sleep, providing more than 20 mattresses and eco-friendly decoration. Each mattress is well prepared with a pillow, a mosquito net, a lamp and an electricity socket.

Mr Linh's Homestay

Address: Coc Toc village, Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province

A step up in amenities to Ba Be's homestays, this lakeside place in Coc Toc village takes the form of six small, spic-and-span, wood-panelled private rooms, and a dorm. Visitors are well looked after by friendly English-speaking staff.

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