The area along the Chinese border still receives very few foreign visitors and, as such, the cultural identity of the people here remains largely unchanged by the twentieth century. This trip will take you to the beautiful Ba Be Lake and Cao Bang to visit the spectacular Ban Doc Waterfall. The majority of this trip will be spent on a truly adventurous 10-day trek through mountainous rainforest areas. We cover about 20 km a day. Some of the hiking is very difficult as we encounter remote tribes whose lives have remained virtually untouched by the 20th century.
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Hanoi - Ba Be Lake - Pac Po Cave - Ban Doc Waterfall- Long Hill Tribe Trek
The area along the Chinese border still receives very few foreign visitors and, as such, the cultural identity of the people here remains largely unchanged by the twentieth century. This trip will take you to the beautiful Ba Be Lake and Cao Bang to visit the spectacular Ban Doc Waterfall. The majority of this trip will be spent on a truly adventurous 10-day trek through mountainous rainforest areas. We cover about 20 km a day. Some of the hiking is very difficult as we encounter remote tribes whose lives have remained virtually untouched by the 20th century.
Day 1. Hanoi - Ba Be Lake (L/D)
With an early departure from Hanoi this morning we head north towards Ba Be Lake. This drive of 270 km, which will take approximately seven hours, takes us through the flatlands of the Red River Delta and up into the mountain areas north of Hanoi. As we progress north, the scenery becomes more and more picturesque. From our scheduled lunch stop it is only around two and a half-hours to our destination. Arriving in Ba Be town by mid afternoon we check in the host family Tay and then stroll around the village or a bit of exploration before sunset. We spend the night in the traditional long house on stilts of Tay people.
Day 2. Full day in Ba Be Lake (B/L/D)
After breakfast at the host family we board on our private boat for a cruise on the Ba Be Lake. We can have a swim in crystal clear waters before having lunch in the local restaurant near the Water Fall Dau Dang. Following lunch we have the opportunity to work off our feast with a trek to Tay ethnic minority villages. A visit to this small hamlet will enable us to witness how little the lives of the people in these remote areas have changed. We cruise further to Puong Cave and head back to Pac Ngoi village for overnight.
Day 3. Ba Be Lake - Pac Po Cave (B/L/D)
This morning we take to the road again for the 90km drive to Cao Bang. Here the H'mong, Zao, Tho and Nung ethnic minority people live together in harmony. We will arrive at Cao Bang slightly before lunchtime and spend a little time learning more about the people and their culture. After lunch we will visit Pac Po, the hideout used by Ho Chi Minh when he came back to Vietnam after 30 years of self imposed exile. It was here that he organized his resistance army against the French. From Pac Po we trek for three hours until we arrive at a village inhabited by the Nung minority people. Late this afternoon we drive back to Cao Bang for our overnight stay at the local hotel.
Day 4. Cao Bang- Ban Doc Waterfall (B/L/D)
We will be traveling to Ban Doc Waterfall near the Chinese Border. It is great to see the forest, mountain, tribes, hidden rice fields. Overnight in Cao Bang.
PLEASE NOTE: From nights 5 to night 15, to respect the traditional customs of local hill tribe people, ladies and gentlemen are not allowed to share the same bed if you are unmarried.
Day 5 - 14. Hill tribe Trek (B/L/D)
We embark on a 10-day trek covering a distance of over 200km through mountainous rain forest. We will be sleeping and eating in villages of various ethnic minorities and generally living as the locals do. BE WARNED! Some of the hiking is very difficult as we follow buffalo paths and trails. There will also be some steep climbs over the mountain ranges. If you are up to this trek you will be rewarded with some beautiful scenery that the majority of people never see. As we trek we will witness the hardships and joys of people whose way of life has been virtually untouched by the 20th century, and, despite their extreme poverty, the people we meet are some of the friendliest and hospitable in Vietnam . At the end of the trek on day 14 we arrive in That Khe, the local district town. We will spend our first night in a real bed for nine nights at the local guesthouse of the Nung people. (All meals included on the trek)
Day 15. That Khe - Lang Son - Hanoi (B/L)
We will depart That Khe early this morning for our return journey to Hanoi . We will travel via the border-trading town of Lang Son , arriving in Hanoi early in the afternoon.
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