Having breakfast at hotel in Hanoi, then get out of the city noise and traffic jam heading towards Northeast of Hanoi on comfortable Highway. A drive through the Red river delta and peaceful countryside of Vietnam where we will see spectacular scenery of rice paddies field, rivers, mountains and hills. This is the best chance to overview the vietnamese village in peace and quite. Stop at Tho Ha village by the Cau river where we will learn how to make pottery of white clay. Keep going to Lang son province, before leaving the main road and climb up to the peak of Mau Son mountain. An old French hill station, Mau Son was ravaged during war with the Chinese and the buildings have recently been rebuilt in traditional style. A winding road leads us to the summit and at over 1,500 metres altitude we enjoy fantastic views out over China and down towards Ha Long Bay. We enjoy dinner here and drink local rice wine in the asmostphere of the cold weather. Overnight in Mau Son.
Breakfast, dropping down from the heights of Mau Son we strike directly north, skirting the border city of Lang Son, visiting the Dong Dang 'Friendship Gate' on the Chinese border, then we join the legendary 'Highway 4' where the Viet Minh forces carried out numerous raids over uncountable passes in this remote border region. We will have picnic lunch enroute, then we follow the border all the way to Vietnam's major city in the north-east: Cao Bang (literal translation: 'High Plateau'). Arrival Cao bang late afternoon after a long drive from Lang Son city. Welcome by host where we will enjoy dinner and chatting with local people. Dinner and overnight in Cao Bang.
Day 3: Cao Bang, ~120 km, ~3 hours
In the morning we strike north-west to the border, marked by a massive range of peaks, and pass over to Pac Po Cave where Ho Chi Minh lived during French colonist war his return to Vietnam in 1941. Then we head straight up on challenging road, pass through deep, remote karst country and rest at a secluded lake deep in the forest. Late afternoon ride on sealed road back to Cao Bang and a soothing massage. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Day 5: Cao Bang - Ba Be lake, ~180 km, ~7 hours
We move south-west from Cao Bang and breach several passes enroute in an area hosting huge mountain scenery. The Cao Bac Pass offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Descending the pass we see hillsides carpeted with apiaries, Vietnam's most famous honey-producing areas. We will have picnic lunch enroute, In the afternoon we arrive at Ba Be Lake in the heart of a National Park. Having dinner and have drink with a family in a Tay minority stilt house on the shores of the lake. Overnight at Babe.
Having mixed vietnamese & western breakfast, then take a motor boat along BaBe Lakes(three lakes such as Pe Lu, Pe Lam and Pe Leng)(this is one of the biggest fresh water lakes in asia) to visit Puong Cave, Fairy Pond, and Dau Dang waterfall. Picnic lunch meanwhile stop nearby waterfall. Pm head back to the village with a stop at Widow iislet to see the temple and then walk around the village to visit Tay and Dao minorities people. Dinner and overnight at the village.
Day 6: Meo Vac - Bac Me. 150 km, ~5-7 hrs.
he Meo Vac market lasts till the mid-afternoon. However the tour will hit the road before lunch, as today is a real challenge as the group travels by a track through a forest. This 80 km motorcycle ride is a measure of your bravery and skills. The rolling rocky roads take you to hell on a rainy day. However the breath-taking scenery makes the hardship all worthwhile.
Meo Vac is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful hill villages remaining unchanged for centuries. The Meo Vac market attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups who walk all the way from their mountain villages to Meo Vac market in order to trade goods and produce. Market sessions provide a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colourful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts. For this reason, markets in the northern mountainous areas are often called the Love Markets. Visiting Meo Vac on Sundays, one can shop in a very original mountain market where all kinds of goods and multicoloured clothes can be purchased.
Day 7: Ba Be lake - Hanoi, ~240 km, ~8 hours
Breakfast, say farewell to host for a peaceful home stay and unforgettable meals so far. A stop at Cho ra market in 30 minutes before driving back to Hanoi, Staying off the main road for as long as possible we head back towards the Red River Delta, passing through areas inhabited by Hmong, Dao, Tay and Nung minority peoples. A mixture of both challenging track and glorious sealed road all the way back to Hanoi.
Lunch in the middle, arrive in Hanoi late afternoon. Thanks for joining with impress travel & tours and hopefully to serve you next time.
