Spirit Of Northeast Vietnam Adventure 7 Days
4.4 8

Itinerary

This 7-day northeast tour is for travelers comfortable with long drives on mountain roads and basic accommodations. You’ll cover Ha Giang’s high passes, Cao Bang loop , and Ba Be Lake. The northeast sees fewer tourists than Sapa, so expect more authentic village interactions but also simpler facilities. Roads can be challenging – winding and steep – but the scenery and cultural encounters make it worthwhile for adventurous travelers.

You’ll travel by private car, and spend considerable time driving between sites. The route goes through Hmong, Tay, and other ethnic minority areas where people still wear traditional clothing daily. Activities include some walking but nothing too strenuous – mostly you’re seeing landscapes from the vehicle and boat. If mountain driving makes you uncomfortable or you want to break up the journey with extra rest days, contact us this form or email [email protected] to design your trip.

Highlights:

  • Ha Giang Loop – Drive through dramatic mountain passes, stop at viewpoints and local markets
  • Dong Van – Visit the old town and French fortress with views over the valley
  • Meo Vac – Meet local families in one of Vietnam’s most remote districts
  • Ban Gioc Waterfall – See the massive waterfall (shared with China), take a bamboo raft ride
  • Nguom Ngao Cave – Walk through illuminated limestone formations
  • Ba Be Lake – Boat on Vietnam’s largest natural lake, cycle to nearby villages and Hua Ma Cave

Day 01: HANOI - HA GIANG

Pick up at your hotel after breakfast, we say goodbye to the bustling Hanoi and venture our way to the very northernmost part of Vietnam – Ha Giang. We stop en route for photo shooting at times, when passing through many of the magnificent views along the way. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant, and continue our drive further till Ha Giang arrival.

Check into your accommodation and overnight in Ha Giang.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Marvelous Ha Giang

Day 02: HA GIANG - QUAN BA - DONG VAN

After a simple breakfast, we’ll embark on a short trek through the beautiful village of Phuong Do, leading us to the town of Thon Tha. As we continue our journey, we’ll be treated to a succession of breathtaking views along the way.

Our next stop is Quan Ba, a region home to the Dao and Tay minority groups, as well as verdant hillocks and seasonal farmlands. Here, we’ll hike along the green and dirt tracks to explore the local villages and gain insights into their daily lives. We’ll also make a stop to hike up to the Heaven Gate, which offers a stunning vantage point for photographing the Fairy Mountain.

After lunch, we’ll continue our drive to the beautiful town of Dong Van, surrounded by its distinctive limestone rock formations. Along the way, we’ll visit the astonishing Palace of the H’mong King, a fortress built by a local chief, Vuong Chin Duc, whose son later became a close friend of Uncle Ho. We’ll arrive in Dong Van in the late afternoon and check into our hotel for the night.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dong Van

Day 03: DONG VAN - MEO VAC

If today is fall in Sunday then your day will start with a visit to Dong Van Market where you can see the local people stocking up before heading back to their eagle’s nest towns high in the mountains. Otherwise, the day will begin with climbing up the pass to the French Fortress of Pu Lo which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region.

Continue our trek through the remote and beautiful countryside of Dong Van where we pass through some villages along the beaten tracks used by the locals and for the locals. Stop at a restaurant for lunch before moving to the well-known mountain pass of Ma Pi Leng. This scenic journey up through rugged outcrops to the beautiful town of Meo Vac. Set amongst towering mountains, Meo Vac is home to some H’mong and Bo Y and Tay farming families.

Overnight at hotel in Meo Vac.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch


Day 04: MEO VAC - BAO LAC - CAO BANG

After breakfast, do some trekking through the beautiful countryside of Meo Vac town. It is great chance to interact with local people and have some great photos with them.

Next, rejoin your vehicle and descend toward to Bao Lac for visiting Black Lo Lo ethnic minority who still maintain their special traditional costume. The areas where those people live is considered as the poorest areas of Vietnam as there is few infrastructure, terrible quality road and lack of running water and electricity.

Continue the journey on the mountainous road from Bao Lac to Cao Bang.

Overnight in Cao Bang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch


Day 05: CAO BANG - BAN GIOC - NGUOM NGAO - CAO BANG

After driving down one of the most scenic roads in Vietnam, you will arrive at the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls. The peaceful and poetic landscape along the way with many terraced rice paddies dotted with traditional house will keep you awake the whole long drive and non–stop for taking picture. Arrive Ban Gioc waterfall, the fourth largest waterfall in the world. After spending some time relaxing and taking nice photos, you have an opportunity to raft nearly the fall and feel the water blob wind to your face.

Later on, visit one of the most spectacular grottoes in Vietnam, Nguom Ngao, which is made up of several kilometres of superbly-lit galleries and a huge 100 m caver.

Drive back to Cao Bang for your overnight stay.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Charming Ban Gioc Waterfall Cao Bang

Day 06: CAO BANG - BA BE LAKE

About 150 km east of Cao Bang, we depart Cao Bang at 8 am and embark on a route up into mountain areas onwards to Ba Be Lake National Park. This is one of the largest natural lakes in Vietnam, home to many kinds of birds, scenic valleys, towering rocky outcrops, underground river tributaries, and a gigantic cave. All of the villages in the park are not necessarily ethnic Tay. Those located high up on the slopes are inhabited by Green H’mong and Red Dao hilltribe people.

Following a relaxing boat trip and a hike along the riverfront, we stay overnight with a Tay family in a traditional house.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ba Be National Park

Day 07: BA BE LAKE - HANOI

After breakfast, take a bike cycling through the scenic road of the village then end up visiting Hua Ma Cave, the biggest dry cave in Northeast Vietnam. Leave your bike then transfer back to Hanoi.

Lunch will be served on a local restaurant before arriving back to Hanoi around 17.00.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Incredible Hua Ma Cave in Ba Be

Pricing

Category Price valid from Jan 1st – Dec 31st, 2026 (per person in US dollar)
2 persons 3 – 4 people 5 – 6 people 7 – 8 people Single Supplement
Standard $910 $741 $562 $485 $139
Superior $972 $804 $624 $548 $202

 

ACCOMMODATION

Cities Hotel Category
Standard Superior
Ha Giang

Yen Bien Luxury Hotel

Superior

Phoenix Hotel Ha Giang 

Deluxe balcony

Dong Van Hoa Cuong Dong Van
Superior room
Hoa Cuong Hotel
VIP room
Meo Vac

Meo Vac Clay House

Deluxe VIP2

Meo Vac Clay House

Deluxe VIP1

Cao Bang

Max Boutique Hotel

Deluxe

Max Boutique Hotel

Executive

Ba Be Babe Farmstay

Bungalow

Babe Farmstay

Bungalow

 

Include & Exclude

TRIP INCLUSIVE

  • Accommodations base on twin sharing room with daily breakfast
  • Private transfer with air-conditioned car for airport pick up/drop off
  • Bottle of water and cold towel daily on the private car
  • Regional and experienced English speaking guides
  • Meals as indicated (without beverage)
  • All entrance and sightseeing fees.
  • Services charges and government tax

TRIP EXCLUSIVE

  • Travel insurances
  • Drink and meals not mentioned in Inclusive column
  • Personal tipping and gratuities
  • International flight ticket
  • Vietnam Visa

Note:

* Check-in time: 02.00pm – Check-out time: 12.00pm
* Price is based on minimum of 2 people sharing 1 double/ twin room. Single supplement is surcharged when one person occupies one room.

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