DAY 1: HANOI – BABE LAKE

Depart from Hanoi to Ba Be via Thai Nguyen where you visit the Ethnology Museum. After Thai Nguyen, you will follow the road snakes up through scenic landscapes of the North East of Vietnam to Ba Be Lake.

Photo Opportunities of the day: The beautiful drive from Hanoi to Cho Ra. Hill tribe people on the way.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel at Cho Ra.

DAY 2: BA BE LAKE

In the morning, we will enjoy a tranquil boat trip downstream Nang River to Ba Be Lake exploring the unspoiled tropical National Park with stop to visit Puong limestone grotto, Dau Dang waterfall. After the picnic lunch, continue by boat to Tay people village. Visit the village and experience the local activities.

Photo Opportunities of the day: Discover Ba Be lake and the Tay people.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at the village of Tay people.

DAY 3: BABE LAKE – PAC BO GROTTO – CAO BANG

Our journey continues to Cao Bang. The roads are very bumpy and zigzagging, but the spectacular mountainous landscapes with undulating terrace rice field and hill villages make our hardship all worthwhile. Upon arrival to Cao Bang, check in your hotel then have lunch in local restaurant in town. In the afternoon you will have a short drive to visit Pac Bo grotto, where Ho Chi Minh returned on February 1941 after 30 years of living abroad in search of a way to liberate the country. The scenery along the way is beautiful with great green rice field and local water wheel everywhere. Return to Cao Bang in the late afternoon then have dinner at local restaurant.

Photo Opportunities of the day: The beautiful drive from Cho Ra to Cao Bang. Hill tribe people on the way. Beautiful area on the way driving to Pac Bo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang

DAY 4: FULL DAY TO BAN GIOC WATERFALL – NGUOM NGAO GROTTO

We will start our trip early today to Ban Gioc waterfall, the most tranquil waterfall in Vietnam via the scenic pass of Ma Phuc. Arrive to Ban Gioc before it will be crowded by the other tourist. After having great time to visit and taking picture at Ban Gioc, transfer to Nguom Ngao Grotto. Take a short hike to visit Nguom Ngao Grotto, one of the nicest grottoes in the North-East of Vietnam. Drive back to Cao Bang with lunch en-route. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Photo opportunities of the day: Impressive drive on the plateau from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc waterfall. Amazing scenery of Nguom Ngao Grotto. Great picture of Ban Gioc – the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. Hill tribe people on the way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang

Day 5: CAO BANG – LANG SON

Morning transfer to Lang Son. This border town was once destroyed by war. On arrival in Lang Son we spend a couple of hour drive around the town, stopping at the bustling market of Ky Lua, Visit Tam Thanh grotto and the legendary rock formation named ” wife waiting for husband” and the beautiful Ki Kung River, which is Vietnam’s unique river flowing to China.

Photo Opportunities of the day: The beautiful drive from Cao Bang to Lang Son. Hill tribe people on the way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Lang Son

DAY 6: LANG SON – HALONG BAY

In the morning drive from Lang Son to Halong Bay from mountain road to sea coast. Upon arrival to Halong, embark to Dragon Pearl Junk. You will be greeted by the hospitable cruise. Enjoy the welcome drink and cruise briefing on board. Check in your lovely room then enjoy lunch while the Junk start sailing to Bai Tu Long Bay with beautiful topography and scenery of lime stone mountain. The Junk will cruise to Cap La and anchor by the fishing village there. From here, you can have a beautiful one and half hour discovery of Halong Bay on the Kayak. Back to the junk for swimming in emerald water of Halong Bay. Then you can relax on the sun deck and enjoy the beauty of Halong in the sunset while the Junk sailing to Cong Do.

Photo Opportunities of the day: The beautiful drive from Lang Son to Halong. Hill tribe people on the way. Great scenery in Halong bay on the boat trip.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on Dragon Pearl Junk

DAY 7: HALONG BAY

You can great the sunrise of Halong Bay on the sun deck with cup of tee or coffee available on the junk. Then enjoy the breakfast in fresh air and beautiful scenery of the Bay. The Junk will start cruising to Cong Dam while discovering geological values of Bai Tu Long Bay. Upon arrival, you can enjoy kayaking through the hidden lagoons and geological park in Cong Dam then back to the Junk for sailing to Tra Gioi beach for sunbathing, relaxing or swimming. In this secluded beach, you can have the beautiful time to relax and enjoy BBQ seafood lunch. After lunch, we will sail to Cong Dam Fishing village. The villager will take us to their village on the traditional basket boat, rowing by their village, visit the beautiful lagoon then visit the school, local fish farm and interact with local fish man in the village. The basket boat will take us back to the junk then we sail back to Cong Dam area. The rest of the day is for swimming and relaxing on the Junk. In the evening, enjoy the impressive deluxe dinner in Thien Canh Son Cave.

Photo Opportunities of the day: Great scenery of Halong Bay from hidden part in the bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on Dragon Pearl Junk

DAY 8: HALONG BAY – THO HA – HANOI

In the morning we will cruise around Bai Tu Long Bay. The junk will stop in a beautiful place for your last swim on the cruise. Then we will cruise towards the harbor while A la carte lunch is served. On the way back to Hanoi, visit Tho Ha the famous village of terracotta products before 20th century. Upon arrival, take a short local ferry to the village. Visit a local home of Mr. Viet, where you can see how rice paper has been made and have the interesting talk with him about his family and his life. Mr. Viet was NVA (Northern Vietnamese Army) who liberate Saigon in 1975. After spend time in his house and talk to the owner for deeper understand about life of local people in the village, we will visit 400 years old pagoda that still remains all original architecture and Buddha statues, specially the holly and peaceful atmosphere that have not been touched by the tourist. Discover village through narrow and zigzag alleys with the old houses had been constructed from broken part of terracotta from the past. Walking over to the end of the village to the dike, where you can see the village from distance over the beautiful lake. Drive back to Hanoi. End of North East Vietnam Photograph Tour 8 Days.

Photo opportunities of the day: Walking tour to Tho Ha village, take the picture of another typical village in the Red River Delta. Visit local family and unique pagoda in the village.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch