Ba Be Lake - Ban Gioc Waterfall Exploration

General information of 3 day Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall exploration tour

This 3 day Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall tour will take you to off-the-beaten-track Northeast Vietnam exploring two hidden gems of nature : Ba Be lake & Ban Gioc waterfall.Meanwhile Ba Be Lake is famous for its largest freshwater lake on high limestone mountains ( at the altitude of 145m above the sea level) created by the confluence of three river tributaries after earthquakes tens of millions of years ago, Ban Gioc - the biggest waterfall in Vietnam, is outstandingly attractive for its picturesque landscapes of majestic fall scales, gorgeous mountains and stunning rice fields. This journey also offers you chances to captivate magnificient mountainscapes & tropical rained forests, inhale the fresh air and get to know local ethnics's rich cultures in Northeast mountain region of Vietnam.Surely that it will be your great trip of lasting impression & memorable experiences in Vietnam.

Brief travel itinerary of 3 day tour exploring Ba Be lake & Ban Gioc Gioc waterfall.

• Day 1. Hanoi - Ba Be lake, boat ride to explore Ba Be lake & its highlights.Homestay in Pac Ngoi village (L,D)
• Day 2. Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall - Nguom Ngao cave - Phat Tich Pagoda.Hotel overnight in Ban Gioc (B,L)
• Day 3. Cao Bang - Lang Son city- Hanoi (B,L)

Travel route map Hanoi- Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall - Nguom Ngao Cave - Cao Bang - Hanoi

What you can expect to get from this 3 day Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall trip?

• A nice escape to immense the untouched natural landscapes of karst mountains, hidden grottoes, paddy fields & waterfall in Northeast mountainous region of Vietnam.
• Scenic boat ride to admire the peaceful scenery of Ba Be national park & its lake, the most special & largest freshwater lake created in the limestone area of Vietnam.
• Great admiration of the spectacular beauty of Ban Gioc – the world’s fourth largest waterfalls.
• Interact with local ethnic minorities of Tay and Nung and enjoy their authentic home-cooked meals - chances for your great insight of their unique cultures.
• Travel responsibly to better the locals' income when using their service ( homestay, meals, boat...)

More photos of this trip :

Boat ride to admire the lake's scenery

Puong grottos view to the Nang river

Rafting to view Ban Gioc waterfall

The view of Non Nuoc Cao Bang from Tuc Lam pagoda 

Ba Be lake view

Ban Gioc waterfall

The detailted travel program of 3 day Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall Exploration Tour from Hanoi.

Day 1. Hanoi - Ba Be lake, boat ride to explore Ba Be lake & its highlights.Homestay in Pac Ngoi village (L,D)

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

Day 2. Ba Be lake - Ban Gioc waterfall - Nguom Ngao cave - Cao Bang.Hotel overnight in Ban Gioc area (B,L,D)

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.

Arrive at Ban Gioc, you will marvel at 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 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.

Day 3. Cao Bang - Lang Son city- Hanoi (B,L)

The final day of this trip is a full day driving along Cao Bang Geopark, then thru Lang Son province, a bordering area with China to go back to Hanoi, with stops to visit local handicraft village & beautiful landscapes along the journey.

After breakfast, be ready with your belongings for a journey to Cao Bang city.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. There will be stops for lunch or photos if you love to take before getting back to Hanoi city and ending the trip.

Inclusions :

• Private car transfer with driver following the travel itinerary.
• Local tourguide of English speaking following travel program
• Accommodation in local homestays : solf-sleeper berths with curtain, blanket & mosquito nets.
• Entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places & travel permits on frontier
• Boat ride to visit Ba Be lake & Ban Gioc waterfall
• Meals as stated in the program (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D- Dinner)

Exclusions :

• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• Travel insurance
• International & domestic flights and visa to enter Vietnam
• Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenir, etc.

What to take?

• Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
• It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat.