North Vietnam Adventure Tour-12 Days

Hanoi - Nghia Lo - Muong Khuong - Bac Ha - Ha Giang - Dong Van - Ha Giang - Cao Bang - Ba Be - Hanoi

For those looking for a unique cultural experience combined with sweeping scenic landscape and hospitable people, travel to the far north of Vietnam. This 12 day tour offers homestays in isolated villages, beautiful scenery, and an overall off the beaten path travel experience.

• Itinerary
• Rates
• Hotels
• Book this Tour

Privately-Guided! Whether you are a single person, a couple, or a group, you'll have your own guide and driver for all airport pickups, drop offs, and daily excursions.  
 
Choose Your Own Dates! This is not a fixed-departure-date tour. Just let us know the dates that work best for you and we will arrange everything.

Customizable! Need more time? Less time? Want to see or do something that isn't included? Just let us know, and we will arrange it for you and let you know the change in costs.
 
Click here to read what our clients have told us after they return.

Trip Highlights

• Shopping in local hill tribe markets
• Driving excursions through rice field terraces and mountain passes
• Raft excursion on Noong Lake at Ha Giang
• Charming border town of Pho Bang
• Ban Gioc waterfall
• Home stay with Tay family in a traditional stilted home

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi to Duong Lam to Nghia Lo
After breakfast, set out on a drive to Tay Phuong, one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam. Located on the top of a hill, this pagoda is famous for its architecture and collection of Buddha and Arhat statues from the 17th century. From the pagoda, take a bike ride through scenic rice fields and rural villages.  Arrive back at the car and drive to the ancient village of Duong Lam, nicknamed the “Hoi An of the Red River Delta.” Walk along tiny ancient alleys, visit the Communal House in Mong Phu hamlet and enjoy a traditional lunch hosted in the oldest house in the village. After lunch drive to Nghia Lo through mountainous scenery, stopping to visit a hill tribe village along the way. Overnight in Nghia Lo. (All meals)

Day 3: Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai to Than Uyen to Van Ban to Muong Khuong
After breakfast, embark on a long but very scenic drive from Nghia Lo to Muong Khuong. Stop in Mu Cang Chai to see terraced rice fields and in Than Uyen for spectacular views of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. Arrive in Muong Khuong in the late afternoon. Overnight in Muong Khuong. (All meals)
    
Day 4: Muong Khuong Market to Bac Ha
In the morning visit Muong Khuong Market to shop for local goods from the surrounding hill tribes. Then drive from Muong Khuong to Bac Ha following the Chay River. Arrive in Bac Ha around noon for a chance to visit the largest weekend hill tribe market in northern Vietnam.  In the afternoon choose to take a half day trek to local villages or enjoy free time at your own leisure. Overnight in Bac Ha. (All meals)

Note: Sunday is the best day to visit Muong Khuong Market. While the market is still open the rest of the week, there are few hill tribe people selling their goods.   

Day 5: Bac Ha to Xin Man to Hoang Su Phi to Bac Quang to Ha Giang
In the morning, take an off road adventure to Xin Man through outstanding scenery.  Continue on to Hoang Su Phi where you will stop to view some of the greatest terraced rice fields in Vietnam. Arrive to Ha Giang, a village of the Tay people, in the late afternoon. Upon arrival spend time with your homestay family. Overnight in Ha Giang. (All meals)

Note: The road from Bac Ha to Xin Man is in very basic condition. In case of bad weather, we may reroute from Bac Ha to Pho Rang, then drive to Bac Quang to Ha Giang.

Day 6: Ha Giang to Pho Bang to Dong Van
After breakfast, drive from Ha Giang to Quan Ba Heaven Gate, stopping to take in impressive vistas of the Twin Mountains. Continue to Pho Bang, a charming border town between Vietnam and China.  After lunch in Pho Bang, visit the house of Mong King before driving to Dong Van to see a unique stone plateau. In the afternoon take a walk along the old street of Dong Van lined with hundred year old homes made from clay. Overnight in Dong Van. (All meals)

Day 7: Dong Van to Meo Vac to Ha Giang
In the morning visit Dong Van Market before driving to Meo Vac via the breathtaking mountain pass at Ma Pi Leng.  Continue on to Ha Giang in the afternoon admiring the plateau and beautiful rock formation. Upon arrival to Ha Giang, visit Nong lake, thought of as the eye of mountainous Ha Giang. Enjoy a rafting trip on the lake before returning to your hotel in Ha Giang. Overnight in Ha Giang. (All meals)

Day 8: Ha Giang to Cao Bang
After breakfast embark on a full day’s drive to Cao Bang. Drive over through mountain passes and valleys, stopping to take photos and rest in local villages along the way.  Arrive in Cao Bang in the late evening. Overnight in Cao Bang. (All meals)

Day 9: Cao Bang to Ban Gioc to Cao Bang
After an early breakfast, take a trip to tranquil Ban Gioc waterfall via the scenic mountain pass at Ma Phuc. Arrive to Ban Gioc before the tourist crowds and have time to relax and take photos.  Continue on to  Nguom Ngao Grotto for a short trek in one of the nicest grottoes in the North-East of Vietnam. Drive back Cao Bang and enjoy the rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Cao Bang. (All meals)

Day 10: Cao Bang to Ba Be
In the morning drive to visit Pac Bo grotto, where Ho Chi Minh returned in February 1941 after 30 years of living abroad. Enjoy views of green rice fields and water turbines along the way. Return to Cao Bang then drive to Ba Be. Although the roads will be bumpy, the ride offers spectacular views of mountainous landscapes and hill tribe villages. Upon arrival, meet your homestay family who will share their stilted home with you for the night.  Overnight in Ba Be. (All meals)

Day 11: Ba Be to Hanoi
In the morning, enjoy a relaxing boat trip to Ba Be Lake to explore this unspoiled tropical National Park, stopping to visit Puong limestone grotto and Dau Dang waterfall. After having lunch in a local home of the Tay people, drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 12: Departure
Enjoy free time in the morning before being transferred to the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)

Rates

Per Person Rates (based on double occupancy) start from:
 
4-star Hotels: $1,685
5-star Hotels: $1,995
 
Single Traveler:
4-star Hotels: $2,980
5-star Hotels: $3,655
 
Single Room Supplement (in groups of 2 or more)
4-star Hotels: $245
5-star Hotels: $610

Contact Us for advice on hotels and a quote based on your choice.

Please note that peak season supplements for stays over Christmas and New Years may apply.

Rates Include

• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Home stays in local villages
• Hotel accommodation 
• Meals as indicated
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fee to indicated sights
• Biking and trekking
• Waters and cool towels during the trek

Rates Do Not Include 

• Other meals
• Tips
• Drinks
• International flights & airport tax
• Single room
• Personal expenses
• Insurance

Hotels

Hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking. If a hotel listed below is not available, an alternative hotel of similar quality will be substituted.

To Book This Tour

Please call us toll free at 1-877-362-2793 and let us know that you would like to book this tour. Then follow these instructions:

1. Download, print, and fill out the Reservation Form for each person.
2. Fax the form to us at 206-529-4803, or mail it to:
   
   Red Lantern Journeys
   1000 N. Northlake Way, Suite H
   Seattle, WA 98103

3. Pay a non-refundable $500 per person deposit and we will initiate your reservations.
4. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure.

If your reservation is made less than 75 days prior to departure, the non-refundable deposit will allow us to initiate reservations. Full payment will be due immediately upon confirmation of all hotels and transportation services. If the services quoted cannot be confirmed, alternate accommodation or transportation will be arranged and the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Payments can be made by personal check, bank wire transfer, or credit card. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will initiate your reservations and send you a statement showing your payment. Approximately 4 weeks prior to your departure, we will send you a final confirmation package containing your itinerary and detailed information on the logistics of your trip.
 
Forms to Download (pdf file)
Reservation Form with Complete Terms and Conditions

Cancellation/Refund Policies

- Cancel more than 60 days prior to departure - forfeit your deposit.

- Cancel between 30 and 60 days prior to departure - forfeit 50% of the tour cost.

- Cancel less than 30 days prior to departure - NO REFUND of tour cost.

- Cancellations must be made in writing and sent via mail, fax, or email to Red Lantern Journeys.

- Refunds will be processed within 30 days of receipt of your written request.

- No refunds are available for unused services or tours during your trip.