Ba Be Lake & Ban Gioc Waterfall Tour : Ultimate 3-Day Nature & Culture Escape in Vietnam

Today, we will start the journey to Northeast Vietnam capturing the majestic beauty of mountains & valleys en route, exploring Ba Be national park & its pristinely natural lake by boat, and homestaying at a local family of Tay ethnic in Pac Ngoi village.You will interact with Tay ethnic minority who still preserve their traditional culture and live in houses on stilts.

Boat ride to visit Ba Be lake & its highlights

As scheduled,our guide and driver will pick you up early at your hotel in Hanoi then take a scenic 5 hour drive to Ba Be national park. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant en-route.

Arriving in Ba Be national park, you will start a boat trip along Nang River, giving you a chance to explore Puong grotto where you can marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites created through river erosion, as well as observe the thousands-strong bat colony that lives here.The boat ride is continued to Ba Be lake, a beautiful freshwater lake, surrounded by stunning karst formations with patches of wild vegetation and a rich wildlife, you can stop between to visit An Ma temple & tiny Widow Island or to swim in the cool water to refesh yourselves.These poetic landscapes will surely bring you relaxing time with fresh air and green environment, so don’t forget your camera for nice photos.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Pac Ngoi village, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home-cooked meal

You can get up early for a nice stroll and peaceful beauty around the lake, then be ready for our today’s adventure to explore some of Cao Bang’s top attractions : Ban Gioc waterfall, Cao Bang Global Geopark, Phat Tich Truc Lam pagoda & Nguom Ngao cave.

The view of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark

After breakfast with the coffee or tea served at the homestay, we say a goodbye to the local host and start the journey further to Cao Bang, the frontier province of Vietnam with China. You will have a stunning capture of majestic limestone mountains along UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, the second one in Vietnam to be honoured after the Dong Van limestone plateau in Ha Giang Province.

En- route, you will have a stop to visit Pac Rang village of Nung ethnics, famous for their traditional forging business for generations, where you can not only learn more about the daily life of the locals but also enjoy the peace and tranquility.

Arrive at Ban Gioc waterfall, you will captivate its spectacular beauty, which is worthy to be the Vietnam’s most beautiful waterfall. After spending some time relaxing and taking nice photos, you will have an opportunity to raft nearer the fall ( on your own account) for a better sense of its charm.

Proceed to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda, a holy pagoda to worship Buddha & national heroes in Vietnam.A bit steep to conquer the pagoda but it is worth your efforts beacause the higher you climb to the main temple, the more captivating landscapes of mountainscapes, greenish rivers & Ban Gioc waterfall in the valley you can capture into your eyes.

The rest of the day is to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.

Check-in the hotel & overnight in Ban Gioc area.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our journey to Lang Son. Along the way, we’ll stop at Dong Khe, a significant historical site where the Battle of Dong Khe took place during the First Indochina War. This battle, fought from September to October 1950, marked the first major conflict of the Indochina Wars and ended in a decisive victory for the Viet Minh forces.
Next, we’ll head to Dong Dang town to see the Mother’s Temple, a revered spiritual site dedicated to the Mother Goddess in Vietnamese folklore. The temple holds great cultural importance, especially during festivals when locals gather to perform traditional rituals and offer tributes to the Mother Goddess.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in Lang Son city before heading back to Hanoi. On the way, we’ll drive through the Chi Lang Pass, a 20 km long gorge nestled between two mountains. This historic pass has been the site of numerous victories against Chinese invasions dating back to 981 AD. Known as Vietnam’s strongest citadel, Chi Lang Pass is home to the Quy Mon Quan Gate, or “Gate of Monsters.
17:30-18:00. Arrive in Hanoi, check-in the hotel & be free at your leisure
After breakfast, be ready with your belongings for a journey to Cao Bang city.