NORTH VIETNAM
OUR TOURS IN A PRIVATE VEHICLE WITH CHAUFFEUR AND GUIDE
OUR TOURS IN A PRIVATE VEHICLE WITH CHAUFFEUR AND GUIDE
6-DAY TOURS IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
(Cao Bang-Ban Gioc, Langson, Babe Lake, Ha Giang-Dong Van)
All the Oriental Bridge tours depart from and return to your hotel. All the rates include the vehicle and driver expenses (hotels and restaurants), tolls, entrance fees, the boat ride if any, your hotels and all meals, taxes and service. They do not include your drinks and other personal expenses.
HANOI - BABE LAKE– CAO BANG (BANG GIOC WATERFALLS) – LANGSON - HANOI
(6 days/5 nights)
(6 days/5 nights)
This tour takes you to a beautiful site : Babe Lake, which offers you two treats : a day of boating on the lake and the Nang River, and the pleasure of sleeping in the Thai stilted house of the very hospitable Duy Tho family in Pac Ngoi. We then take a mountain road to reach Cao Bang and the mountain town of Quang Uyen, with another treat the next day : the visit of the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls. We then go back to Hanoi using the Chinese border road, through Dong Khe and Langson, with visit of historical sites.
Day 1: HANOI - THAI NGUYEN - BABE LAKE (lunch, dinner)
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Departure from your hotel to take the main road crossing the River Delta until the large town of Thai Nguyen. We then leave the main road to take a smaller one snaking through the mountains and tea plantations, passing the small towns of Cho Chu and Bang Lung, and arrive to White Thai village of Pac Ngoi, where you are welcomed by Mr. Duy Tho amazingly friendly Thai family in their traditional house. If it's hot, do like the local kids, just jump in the river! Superb diner (Mrs Duy Tho is a true Cordon Bleu) on the river terrace. |
Day 2: BABE LAKE (GROTTO AND WATERFALLS) (3 meals)
| A treat! Breakfast on the terrace, then short drive to the house owner's boat, who takes you through the entire length of the 3 connected lakes (Ba Be - "3 bays") and up the Nang River, to an astonishing site: Dong Phuong, an enormous tunnel (300m long by 30m high) that the river has dug through a lime mountain. The boat then goes up river to the small village of Hua Tang. As simple and authentic as you have been dreaming of! Lunch in a local house alongside the river. |
 Babe Lake |
After lunch, a short walk (20 mn) through the jungle takes you to the very scenic Thac Dau Dang Waterfalls, a series of spectacular cascades between sheer rock walls. You may continue the trail to arrive in a large river bend full of colorful local life, with a small "harbor" where the local unloads goods to then bypass the falls by motorbike and then reload them on boats to go through the lake. Return by boat for another delightful evening at your Thai house.
Day 3: BABE LAKE – CAO BANG – QUANG UYEN (3 meals)
Morning departure to take a road snaking through the mountains up to the border town of Cao Bang, nestled between mountains and the Ré Dao River. Visit of the War Memorial to admire the sweeping view of the valley, and of the Central Market. Lunch and continuation on the Ma Phuc Pass to the small town of Quang Uyen, where we spend the night in a Tay homestay.
Day 4: BANG GIOC WATERFALLS AND NGUOM NGAO GROTTO (3 meals)
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One of the most scenic roads in Vietnam arrives at the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls, the closest you can come from the Chinese border: it passes through the middle of the falls and the river. Before arriving to the waterfalls, we visit one of the most spectacular grotto in Vietnam, Nguom Ngao, which counts several kilometers of superbly-lit galleries and an huge 100-m room. We then arrive in the extraordinary site of the waterfalls, where we have lunch. Return to Cao Bang for diner and one night. |
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Day 5: CAO BANG – LANGSON (3 meals)
Departure on a very beautiful road alongside the Chinese border. We arrive in the village of Dong Khé, siege of a terrible battle between the French and the Vietminh in October 1950. Visit of the ruins of the French fort, followed by a beautiful ride among the lime peaks to arrive to the village of Duc Long, location of General Giap's headquarters during the battle. Stroll in the village and visit of the local museum. Lunch in Dhong Khé and we then take the road to reach Langson. Registration in a hotel on the small lake and diner at the New Century, famous in the entire region for its extensive menu, followed by the visit of the Night Market.
Day 6: LANGSON – HANOI (breakf, lunch)
 View of Langson from the French Fort |
In the morning, we visit a site unknown to tourists, the formidable Langson French Fort. In addition to the magnificent view of the entire region, it impresses by the power of its huge remains (it was blown to pieces by the Chinese in 1979). We then go back to town and visit Tam Thanh Grotto and the ruins of the Mac Citadel, a deserted site offering of beautiful view of the countryside. Lunch and return to Hanoi. |
Rates per person in US dollars:
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THE FOLLOWING TOURS TAKE YOU TO THE FABULOUS REGIONS BORDERING THE CHINESE BORDER.
VERY FEW TOURISTS AND ABSOLUTELY STUPENDOUS SCENERY!
WE ARE THE ONLY ONE TO PROPOSE THOSE ORGANIZED TOURS
VERY FEW TOURISTS AND ABSOLUTELY STUPENDOUS SCENERY!
WE ARE THE ONLY ONE TO PROPOSE THOSE ORGANIZED TOURS
HA NOI – HA GIANG – DONG VAN – MEO VAC – HA GIANG – HA NOI
(5 Days/4 nights)
(5 Days/4 nights)
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This tour takes you to the most stupendous region of Vietnam, the mountains of the Black H'mong of Dong Van, an extremely wild region of black limestone peaks and needles (the locals call them "The forests of stone"), vertiginous canyons, limitless panoramas, and the local Black H'mong. The region is the MUST SEE of North Vietnam, especially for the road between Dong Van and Meo Vac (Ma Pi Leng Pass), considered as the most amazing in the entire country. |
Day 1 : HA NOI - HA GIANG (lunch, dinner)
8:00 departure to Road No. 2 Hanoi-Viet Tri-Tuyen Quang-Ha Giang, crossing the Valley of the Red River and then penetrating into the mountains. Lunch on the way and arrival around 18:00 in Ha Giang, where we have diner and spend the night in a bungalow resort alongside the River Lo. Spa services available at your own charge.
Day 2 : HA GIANG – SA PHIN - DONG VAN (3 meals)
We take a first spectacular road, which leads to Dong Van, a series of long passes and deep valleys. After climbing up to the Gate of Paradise (Quang Ba), we go down to the h'mong weavers village of Lung Tam, where we observe the ancestral tradition of hemp spinning and weaving. Lunch in the small mountain town of Yen Minh. Lunch, and second spectacular road leading to the h’mong village of Sa Phin, location of the curious King of the H’mong’s Palace, a fortress built by a local chief allied with the French against the Vietminh, Vuong Chin Duc, and evacuated in 1950. We then cross a landscape of pine forests and arrive in Dong Van, where we have diner and spend the night. |
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Day 3 : DONG VAN AND AROUND (LUNG CU) (3 meals)
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A great day starting with the visit of the ruins of the French Fort of Pu Lo, built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945, from which we enjoy a spectacular view of the entire region. We then take a small mountain road leading to the border village of Lung Cu, the northernest point in Vietnam; we climb the steps up to the Belvedere, from which we have a sweeping view of the entire region. We then take a small mountain road leading to the border village of Lung Cu, the northernest point in Vietnam; we climb the steps up to the Belvedere, from which we have a sweeping view of the entire region including China. Lunch in a small Thai village and return to Dong Van. Free late afternoon, dinner and night in Dong Van. |
Day 4 : DONG VAN - MA PI LENG PASS - MEO VAC– HA GIANG (3 meals)
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Extraordinary day with the climbing of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, rightly considered as the most spectacular in Vietnam. Stop on top of the pass to admire the canyon of the Ngo Que River, a maze of canyons and lime peaks. We then ride down to the small town of Meo Vac, where we have lunch and visit the central market. Return to Ha Giang via the southern road, Dinner and night in Ha Giang (river bungalow). Day 5 : HA GIANG - HA NOI (breakfast, lunch) Return to Hanoi by the same road; we would like to take another one, but it is the only one which does not request a hotel night in-between. Arrival at your hotel in Hanoi around 18:00. |
Rates per person in US dollars:
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HANOI – HA GIANG – DONG VAN – MEO VAC – BAO LAC – BABE LAKE - HANOI
(6 days/5 nights)
(6 days/5 nights)
This tour takes you:
- To the most stupendous region of Vietnam, the mountains of the Black H'mong of Dong Van and the Ma Pi Leng Pass.
- To the magic Babe Lake, through another very spectacular mountain road.
Day 1 : HA NOI - HA GIANG (lunch, dinner)
8:00 departure to Road No. 2 Hanoi-Viet Tri-Tuyen Quang-Ha Giang, crossing the Valley of the Red River and then penetrating into the mountains. Lunch on the way and arrival around 18:00 in Ha Giang, where we have diner and spend the night in a bungalow resort alongside the River Lo. Spa services available at your own charge.
Day 2 : HA GIANG – DONG VAN (3 meals)
We take a first spectacular road, which leads to Dong Van, a series of long passes and deep valleys. After climbing up to the Gate of Paradise (Quang Ba), we go down to the h'mong weavers village of Lung Tam, where we observe the ancestral tradition of hemp spinning and weaving. Lunch in the small mountain town of Yen Minh. We then cross a landscape of pine forests and arrive in Dong Van, where we have diner and spend the night. |
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Day 3: DONG VAN - MA PI LENG PASS - MEO VAC - BAO LAC (3 meals)
| An absolutely unforgettable day! It starts with the visit of the market of Dong Van, where the locals shop before returning to their eagle nest. We then climb a pass up to the French Fortress of Pu Lo, built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945, from which we enjoy a spectacular view of the entire region. We then drive back to the site of the H'mong Palace and up north to Lung Cu, the most septentrional village in Vietnam. Back in Dong Van for lunch and then, take the most astonishing road in Vietnam, which climbs on 15 km up to the top of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of lime peaks, "stone forests", and canyons unique in the world. |
 The Market of Dong Van |
We then go down into the valley of Meo Vac, where we have lunch. We then continue snaking through the mountains, cross the river, and arrive in the village of Bao Lac, where we have diner and spend the night.
Day 4: BAO LAC - BABE LAKE (PAC NGOI) (3 meals)
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We start early to take the mountain road Bao Lac - Cao Bang. Before Cao Bang, another one of our little secrets : a gorgeous small road snaking through the mountains to the Thai village of Cho Ra and then down to the White Thai village of Pac Ngoi, where you are welcomed by Mr. Duy Tho amazingly friendly Thai family in their traditional stilted house. If it’s hot, do like the local kids, just jump in the river! Superb diner (Mrs Duy Tho is a true Cordon bleu) on the river terrace. |
Day 5: BABE LAKE (GROTTO AND WATERFALLS) (3 meals)
| A treat! Breakfast on the river terrace, then short drive to the house owner’s boat, who takes you through the entire length of the 3 connected lakes (Ba Be - “3 bays”) and up the Nang River, to an astonishing site: Dong Phuong, an enormous tunnel 300-long that the river has dug through a lime mountain. The boat then goes up river to the small village of Hua Tang. As simple and authentic as you have been dreaming of! Lunch in a local house alongside the river. |
 The Nang River before Dau Dang |
After lunch, a short walk through the jungle takes you to the very scenic Thac Dau Dang Waterfalls, a series of spectacular cascades between sheer rock walls. Return by boat for another delightful evening at your Thai house.
Day 6: BABE LAKE - HA NOI (breakf, lunch) Late morning departure to reach the small village of Cho Ra and then join the main mountain road passing through the small town of Bac Kan. Lunch and we continue the road direction Thai Nguyen and Hanoi, where we arrive around 16:00. |
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Rates per person in US dollars:
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