This tour will take you from the vast lakes and chalky karsts of Ba Be National Park to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the most spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam. You will be travelling through the remote areas in the north of Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to find out about the unique cultures and customs of Vietnam.

Day 1: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen (L, D)

7.30-8.00am, pick-up at your hotel, transfer to Lang Son. We will drive up towards Vietnam and China border about 3 hours, stopover at Chi Lang - a 20-km-long structure is created from a narrow valley between two mountains. You have 1 hour to walk to explore and visit the “Quy Mon Quan” gate which means the Gate of Monsters where many of the invaders came to Vietnam in the numerous incursions had to enter and where many were killed by the Vietnamese defenders.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – the history site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War.
Tonight, you have dinner and stay overnight in the homestay of a Nung's family in Quang Uyen.

Day 2: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake (B, L, D)

After breakfast, depart for Trung Khanh which lies on the border with China. Here you will have the chance to meet the Nung people in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmith craft.
Then visit Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 metres, half in Vietnam and half in China. You will have time to soak up the powerful atmosphere of the falls and take some fantastic photos before heading to another natural wonder, Nguom Ngao Cave. This cave stretches out 2,144 metres underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
Transfer to Ba Be Lake for overnight on a traditional house of an indigenous Tay family.

Day 3: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B, L)

You can relax on board, do some wildlife spotting or if you need to cool off, you can jump into the cool, clean waters for a refreshing swim!
The boat ride along the Nang River, with time to explore the stunning Ba Be Lake, the caves of Puong Grotto where you can explore the stalactites and stalagmites which are a result of the erosion of the river on the karst as well as looking out for the bat colony several thousand strong.
Transfer back to Hanoi. On the way, stop at some hills tea plant.