08:00 Depart for Ba Be, passing through the mountainous regions of Tonkin. The lush vegetation, terraced rice fields consist of stunning scenery. Visit the Museum of Minorities in Thai Nguyen en route. 

Continue to the mountain road of Ba Be through Bang Lung. Upon arrival in Ba Be, visiting the Hua Ma cave. Check-in home of Tay ethnics in the Pac Ngoi village. Enjoy your free time to explore the village & the scenic, panoramic views. Dinner and ovenright at a traditional wooden house on stilts in Ba Be.

Have breakfast with your Tay hosts.

08:00 Take the boat trip on Ba Be lake to discover the Ba Be national park, surrounded by rugged limestone mountains, which is Vietnam’s only natural mountain lake. This important eco-system is best known for its huge amount of butterfly species, over 330! The lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains is your backdrop as you explore the lake. Discover Nang river until the Puong cave.

In the afternoon, head north through the lush mountain passes to the city of Cao Bang. Dinner on your own. 

Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Breakfast at hotel. 

08:00 Drive to Ban Gioc and visit the waterfall. On this day you’ll take a scenic in insightful day trip north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters. The drive there offers unique landscapes, limestone karst formations that soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Along the way, you’ll see Tay, Hmong and Dzao ethnic minority groups.

In the afternoon, on heading back to Cao Bang, stop to explore the expansive 2,144 meter Nguom Ngao cave to discover its brilliant stalactites. Return to Cao Bang.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Breakfast at the hotel in Cao Bang. Drive back to Hanoi.