Ba Be Lake – Ban Gioc Waterfall 3 days 2 nights

HANOI – CAO BANG – BAC KAN – HANOI
Pac Bo – Ban Gioc waterfall – Tiger cave – Ba Be lake
Duration: 3 days 2 nights | Transportation: Bus | Departure: Tuesday & Friday

Highlights:

– Visit the 4th largest waterfall in the world, located on the border between two countries.
– Visit the Pac Bo historical site with its crystal-clear stream and take photos at the km0 marker of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
– Explore one of the most beautiful natural mountain lakes in the world.
– Discover the culture of the Tay, Nung, and other ethnic minorities.

DAY 1: HANOI – CAO BANG – PAC BO ( – / L / D)

06:00-06:30| We will pick you up at hotels in the Old Quarter and Opera House area and depart for Cao Bang via the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen highway. Along the way, stop for a rest and have breakfast at a rest stop. On the way, guests can experience the famous mountain passes such as Deo Giang (pass) and Deo Gio (pass).

Lunch: Have lunch at a restaurant on Deo Gio pass. After lunch, continue to Cao Bang. Along the way, tourists can continue to admire the mountain passes such as Deo Khau Khang, Deo Cao Bac, and Deo Tai Ho Sin.

15h30: Arrive at Pac Bo, visit the Pac Bo historical site (50km from Cao Bang city). Here, guests visit the place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during the resistance from 1941 to 1945, take photos at Suoi Le Nin stream – Cac Mac mount, visit Coc Bo cave, and take photos at the km0 marker of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

If time permits and the group requests, the bus will stop for the group to visit the tomb of Kim Dong.

18:30| Return to Cao Bang city, have dinner, and check in the hotel. The evening is free to explore Cao Bang city at night. Overnight in Cao Bang.

DAY 2: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC FALL- NGUOM NGAO CAVE – BA BE LAKE (B / L / D)

06:30| Check out of the hotel and have breakfast. After breakfast, board the bus for a journey to explore Cao Bang Global Geopark. This is a national geopark along the way, and admire the Ma Phuc Pass.

09:00| Arrive at Ban Gioc Waterfall. Explore and take photos:

✓ Nguom Ngao Cave (Tiger Cave): One of the most beautiful caves in Northern Vietnam. The cave is located in Gun village, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district. The cave has many stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes.
✓ Khuoi Ky Stone Village: This 400-year-old village in Trung Khanh (Cao Bang) is famous for its stilt houses made of stone, showcasing the unique beauty of the Northeast mountain region.
✓ Ban Gioc Waterfall: The waterfall is 53 meters high, divided into 3 levels, considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam and the 4^th largest waterfall in the top 10 most spectacular waterfalls in the world located on the border between two countries : Vietnam and China. Consequently, the falls are half in Vietnam and half in China. Both countries have bamboo rafts that punt visitors around the base of the falls for better views of the cascade: you can literally shake hands with Chinese tourists on the other rafts (optional)

12:30| Have lunch at a restaurant. After lunch, the bus and guide will continue to take you to Ba Be Lake. Along the way, visit the famous Phuc Sen blacksmithing village.

18:30| Arrive at Pac Ngoi village located by Ba Be Lake. Check in to your hotel and rest.

19:30| Have dinner and spend the night in Ba Be. In the evening, you can choose to participate in a cultural exchange show, listen to singing performances by the Tay people (at an extra cost).

DAY 3: BA BE LAKE – HA NOI ( B / L / – )

06:30| Have breakfast at the homestay and relax.

0:h30| The guide will lead you to Pac Ngoi pier and board the boat for a relaxing boating trip while enjoying the scenery and taking photos. The boat will stop at the following places:

✓ Nang river: One of the famous rivers in Northern Vietnam, attracting many tourists. The river originates in Cao Bang province, formed from many small streams in Bao Lam and Bao Lac districts, then flows into Bac Kan, receiving water from Ba Be Lake.

✓ Puong Cave: Inside Puong Cave, there are many stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and sizes. The cave’s ceiling is over 20 meters high, with an average width of 30 meters. The Nang River flows through the cave, stretching for nearly 300 meters. The cave is home to 23 species of bats, The deeper you go into the cave, the darker and more mysterious it becomes, captivating visitors to explore further.

✓ Fairy Pond: Fairy Pond covers an area of over 3,000 square meters, surrounded by limestone mountains and primeval forests. The water in the pond is clear, blue, and cool.

✓ Đền An Mạ (An Ma temple): Located on a small mountain in the middle of the lake. Legend has it that during the Le-Mac feudal war, the Mac generals were defeated, fled to Dong Puong Cave and committed suicide there. Grateful for their loyalty, the people built a temple to worship the Mac family, but fearing discovery and destruction by the Le army, they changed the name to An Ma Temple.

✓ Đảo Bà Góa (the Widow Isle) – a small, beautiful island located right in the heart of the lake, associated with the legend of the lake’s formation. The boat will slowly circle the island for photo opportunities.

11:00| Return to the homestay to rest. Afterwards, have lunch and check out, then board the bus back to Hanoi.

18:30| Arrive in Hanoi. End of the trip. See you again!

TOUR PRICE: VNĐ/ PAX

TYPE OF TOURISM	Tour Price VNĐ/ PAX	Single Supplement
2 nights Mini Hotel	90$ ~2.250.000đ	14$ ~350.000đ
1 night Mini Hotel + 1 night Hotel 2*	94$ ~2.350.000đ	16$ ~400.000đ
2 nights hotel 2*	98$ ~2.450.000đ	20$ ~500.000đ
2 nights hotel 3*	112$ ~2.800.000đ	34$ ~850.000đ
2 nights hotel 4*	128$ ~3.200.000đ	44$ ~1.100.000đ
1 night Mường Thanh Hotel + 1 night Sài Gon Ba Be Hotel	136$ ~3.400.000đ	52$ ~1.300.000đ

►INCLUSION
– Transportation: a 7-45 seater bus for the entire itinerary.
– A bottle of water on the bus. (01 bottle/pax/day)
– Accommodation: One night in a homestay at Pac Ngoi village. + One night in Cao Bang City
– Meals: Five main meals (lunch, dinner) and two breakfast, with specific meal allowances.
– Entrance Fees: Tickets to all attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
– Boat Trip: A boat tour on Ba Be Lake.
– Guide: A Vietnamese or English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
– Surcharge of 50,000 VND/ foreign guest at Ban Gioc

►EXCLUSIION:
– Taxes: VAT invoices (if required, additional fees may apply).
– Electric transfer car in Pac Bo and bamboo rafts at Ban Gioc waterfall
– Travel insurance designed for individual travelers joining group tours.
– Beverages: Drinks during meals and other beverages at the restaurants and hotel
– Other Expenses: Any services or costs not mentioned in the itinerary.
– TIPS: minimum $3/ day x 3 days = $9/ passenger/trip

►Additional Costs:
– Single room surcharge (sleeping 1 person/room): applied to cases where guests register to travel alone and cannot share a room with others or due to the request to sleep separately from the customer.

►Children:
– Infants (1-4 years old): Free, but parents are responsible for all expenses.
– Children (5-9 years old): 75% of the adult price.
– Children 10 years and older: Pay the full adult price.

Important Notes:
– Documents: Guests must bring valid identification (ID card or passport) and, for children under 14, a birth certificate.
– Health: It’s recommended to bring medications for common ailments like stomach upset and fever.
– Vegetarian: Vegetarian guests should bring their own food if necessary.
– Itinerary Changes: The tour guide may adjust the itinerary to accommodate weather conditions or other factors.
– Small Groups: For groups of 10 or fewer, the driver may also serve as the guide.
– Luggage: Due to the mountainous terrain, it’s advisable to pack light.
– Homestays: Guests should bring personal items for their stay at the homestay.
– Drop-off: The tour ends at the Hanoi Opera House.
– Health and Liability: Guests are responsible for their own health and any pre-existing medical conditions. The tour operator is not liable for any losses or injuries.

Tour Summary
Day 1: HANOI – LANG SON – QUANG UYEN [L/D]
Day 2: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC WATERFALL – BA BE NATIONAL PARK [B/L/D]
Day 3: BA BE LAKE – HANOI [B/L]

Trip Details
DAY 1: HANOI – LANG SON – QUANG UYEN [L/D]
Are you ready to start a fabulous adventure tour in Vietnam ? 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 Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before stopping at Chi Lang Pass, a 20km long gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains.

This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as far back as 981AD. As such it bears the reputation of Vietnam’s strongest citadel and bastion. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as “The Gate of Monsters”, named for the many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, 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.

In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.

Highlights and activities: Chi Lang pass, Quy Mon Quan gate, Dong Khe battle site, ethnic villages, and a 3-5km walk

DAY 2: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC WATERFALL – BA BE NATIONAL PARK [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 of Phuoc 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.

Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking 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 return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home cooked meal.

Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ba Be National Park, ethnic villages.

DAY 3: BA BE LAKE – HANOI[B/L]
After breakfast, you will board a boat to cross the lake to the north shore. From here you will start a hike in the rainforest of the central area of the Ba Be National Park. Along the shores of the lake, you will reach a prehistoric cave dating back 500 million years, hidden in an ancient forest composed of rare and hard wood trees, as strong as steel.
A little further, a fire station allows us to observe the birds.

Resume your hiking to reach the An Ma temple (a sacred temple of the Tay people venerating the snake god and military general of the Mac dynasty).

It is now time to choose how to spend your time on the boat: relax and admire the landscape or take a dip in the fresh waters of the lake? Anyway, enjoy the scenery with its beautiful karst formations lined with jungle.

Note: visitors who do not wish to participate in the walk can ask to stay on the boat to join Widow Island or do some shopping

Return to Ba Be Jungle Houses restaurant for lunch before ending the tour, you will be taken about 230 km back to Hanoi and stop at a tea plantation located among rolling hills. When we arrived in Hanoi, it was time to say goodbye, creating lifelong memories and bonds. Drive back to your hotel in Hanoi about 06:00pm.

TOUR PRICE: $210/ PAX
( Single supplement: $20/ 2 nights )

►INCLUSIVE:
– Professional vehicle transportations and commercial vehicle insurance. Professional driver
– Air-conditioned vehicle, Round-trip transportation from selected hotels
– Accommodation at Nung’s Homestay in Cao Bang, at Tay’s House in Ba Be National Park
– Experienced English-speaking guide
– Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)
– (Optional) Vegetarian and vegan food is available
– Bottled water
– All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier
– Bamboo raft tour on Ban Gioc waterfall
– Kayak & boat tour on Ba Be National Park
– Hiking tour in Ba Be National Park
– Nguom Ngao Cave walking tour
– All Taxes and Fees
– No extra charge after confirmation
– (Optional) Child seats are required

►EXCLUSIVE:
– Personal expenses, tips and gratuities.
– Travel insurance.
– Single room
– Beverage.
– Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenirs, 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…

►LIST OF HOTELS USE:
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.