Peaceful Northern Vietnam : 2-Day Escape to Thac Ba Lake & Duong Lam Village

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2 Days/ 1 Night From HANOI
Private Tour
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Overview

Tour Map
Start/End: Hanoi/ Hanoi
Route: Hanoi - Duong Lam Ancient Village - Thac Ba lake/ Ngoi Tu Village - Hanoi
Duration: 2 Days/1 Night - Private Tour
Tour guide in: English

Trip Highlights

Overview of Duong Lam ancient village- Thac Ba lake 2 day from Hanoi.

Thac Ba is a beautiful lake with more than a thousand of green islets emerging on its water surface – creating stunning landscapes, so it is likened as “ Halong bay on mountain”.Travelling to Thac Ba lake, it is good to admire the pristine landscapes of this lake by boat ride.You will have a really relaxed journey cruising between those pristinely luxuriant islands, witness locals fishing by net and stop en route for a hike to explore Thuy Tien cave

We tailor-make this 2 day Thac Ba lake tour in a good combination with Duong Lam ancient village, you will have a good understanding of local Vietnamese & Red Dzao cultures, therefore bring you more interesting travel experiences .

This tour is operated following our responsible travel policy, so joining in this trip, you will contribute your small part to better locals’ incomes, to preserve the cultural features of Vietnam ethnic minorities and develop the local community.

Special highlights of this 2 day trip to Duong Lam village – Thac Ba lake.

  • A great hideaway from the city’s hustle & bustle to the peaceful & quiet atmosphere of rural life in Vietnam : Duong Lam ancient village & Thac Ba lake.
  • Chance to explore Thac Ba lake which is considered as “ Halong bay on mountain” with boat ride to admire the natural landscapes of different green islets & caves.
  • Get to know Vietnamese local culture ( in Duong Lam ancient village) & Red Dzao’s daily life ( homestaying in Ngoi Tu village next to Thac Ba lake)
  • Enjoy interesting talks & authentic meals with a local families in their traditional houses.
  • Travel resposibly to better the local’s income when homestaying in Ngoi Tu village.

Itinerary

8:00 am, our guide & driver pick you up and transfer to Duong Lam ancient village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses.

Upon arrival, we stroll around Mong Phu hamlet, where still keeps its original architectures intact. Firstly, we pay a visit to Mia pagoda, which was built in 15th century to worship Buddha. You can admire 287 beautiful statues of all sizes & artful sculptures, notably the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of Eight Vajra Deities.

Continue walking along small alleys of the hamlets with stops to visit some typical ancient houses dated back to 400 years ago, have interesting talks with the host about the house’s history & its architecture.Then we are heading to the village center where are standing a massive & old communal house – the meeting place of locals in important events of the village.It is nice to find down about the village’s symbols in Vietnam : banyan tree, water wells, entrance gate & communal house.

Lunch in Duong lam village

Lunch with local family in Duong lam village

Have a lunch in an ancient house with local dishes prepared by the host.

Continue with our 3 hour drive along the countryside roads viewing scenic mountain landscapes & numerous local villages with their rice fields & tea plantations.

Arrive in Thac Ba lake at 4h30 p.m, pay a visit to Thac Ba hydro-power station and its dam – good to know about the hard time of Vietnam building up this important construction.Also, it is a good spot to have good shots of the sun setting down on Thac Ba lake.

Drive to Ngoi Tu village – a very peaceful & rustic one on the bank of Thac Ba lake, where you will spend your night homestay in local Dzao ethnic.

Dinner of the home-cooked dishes prepared by the local host.

Enjoy your quiet night in a traditional house on stilts.

Peaceful Thac Ba lake view

Calm & peaceful scenery on Thac Ba lake

Inclusions : private car transfer with driver, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees, ,meals (L- Lunch,D-Dinner), private double/twin-shared room at the homestay

You get waked up by the song of rousters and get the sense of the village’s lifestyle : quiet with the sound of ducks or cows ….somewhere around the village – that you could not experience in your modern world.

Have breakfast with the coffee or tea served in the homestay.

Thuy Tien cave view

The scenic landscape from Thuy Tien cave

After breakfast, we board a boat ride to explore Thac Ba lake.You will have chances to admire the quiet & peaceful scenery around the immense lake; to learn more about the lifestyle of Dzao people – who live on thousands of islets; as well as a scenic hike to Thuy Tien cave & capture an amazing panoramic view of the lake from the peak.

Back to the homestay for lunch.

Then meet our driver for a 4 hour journey back to Hanoi.

Inclusions : private car transfer with driver,tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees, meals (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch), boat ride fee

Inclusions :

  • Private car transfer  with driver following the travel itinerary.
  • Local tourguide of English speaking following travel program
  • Accommodation in a local homestay : solf-sleeper berths with blanket & mosquito nets.
  • Entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places.
  • Boat ride to visit Thac Ba reservoir.
  • Meals as stated in the program (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D- Dinner)

Exclusions :

  • Tips to guide & dirver , drinks, online payment fees, travel insurance, personal expences…

Frequently Asked Questions

Thac Ba Lake earned this poetic nickname because its vast, 20,000-hectare emerald water surface is punctuated by over 1,300 large and small green islets. Much like the iconic limestone karsts of Halong Bay, these forested hills rise beautifully out of the calm, clear water, creating a breathtaking, labyrinth-like landscape hidden deep within the mountain ranges of Yen Bai province.

This tour offers a rich double-dose of Vietnamese culture. On Day 1, you will explore the ancient architecture and centuries-old houses of Duong Lam Ancient Village. In the evening, you will stay at a traditional stilt house in Ngoi Tu Village, where you can enjoy authentic home-cooked meals, share stories by the campfire, and learn about the unique customs of the White-Pants Dzao ethnic minority.

The scenic boat ride is a relaxing highlight of the second day. As you glide between the lush islands, you will witness local fishermen utilizing traditional nets to catch shrimp and fish. The cruise includes a stop to hike up to Thuy Tien Cave, a mystical limestone cavern filled with fascinating stalactites that once served as a hidden military base during the war, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the reservoir from its peak

Absolutely. This tour is operated strictly under our responsible travel policy. By choosing to stay at the community-based homestay in Ngoi Tu Village, eating locally sourced ingredients, and engaging with indigenous guides, a direct portion of your tour investment goes toward bettering local incomes and preserving the delicate cultural heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.

Since this trip combines rural walks, cave hiking, and a homestay experience, we recommend packing comfortable walking shoes with good grip, lightweight clothing, a sun hat, and insect repellent. While the homestay provides clean mattresses, blankets, and mosquito nets, bringing your personal toiletries and a light jacket for the cooler mountain evenings is highly advised.

Good to Know

Before travelling to Vietnam, please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date and has at least two blank pages for immigration stamps and visa purposes.

Citizens from several countries, including France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, can currently enter Vietnam visa-free for stays of up to 45 days. Visa policies may change from time to time depending on nationality and travel regulations.

If you intend to stay longer than the visa exemption period, or if your nationality is not included in the visa-free list, you can apply for an e-visa online.You are also welcome to contact our team for updated visa information and travel assistance before your trip to Vietnam.

Travel insurance is not included in our tour package; however, valid travel insurance is mandatory for all participants joining the tour. Your policy should provide adequate coverage for:

  • Emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and repatriation
  • Trip cancellation, delays, or interruptions
  • All activities included in your itinerary, including outdoor and adventure excursions

We also recommend checking whether your credit card offers travel insurance coverage and purchasing additional protection if needed to ensure comprehensive coverage throughout your journey.

The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). While some hotels and tourist-oriented businesses may accept US dollars or euros, payments are generally preferred in local currency.

Visa and MasterCard are commonly accepted at most hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and larger establishments, especially in major cities and tourist destinations. However, cash is still widely used for local markets, small shops, and rural areas.

ATMs are easy to find throughout Vietnam, particularly in cities and popular travel destinations. Currency exchange services are available at international airports, banks, hotels, and licensed exchange counters.

Also, please make sure your banknotes are clean and undamaged, as torn, heavily worn, or marked foreign bills may not be accepted for exchange or payment in Vietnam.

Vietnam is a year-round destination, offering diverse weather patterns across its different regions. In general, spring (February to April) and autumn (September to December) are considered the most comfortable times to visit, thanks to pleasant temperatures, lower humidity, and less rainfall.

As Vietnam stretches over 1,600 km from north to south, the climate can vary greatly depending on where you travel:

  • Northern Vietnam: Experiences four distinct seasons, with cool and sometimes chilly winters (December to February) and hot, humid summers (May to August).
  • Central Vietnam: Usually enjoys warm weather, though the rainy season typically occurs between September and November.
  • Southern Vietnam: Has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year, alongside occasional tropical showers during the rainy season from May to October.

We recommend packing light, comfortable clothing as well as seasonal items suited to the regions included in your itinerary.

International flights are not included in our tour prices, giving you the flexibility to choose the airline and flight schedule that best suit your travel plans and budget. If needed, our travel consultants are happy to assist you in finding the most convenient and competitive flight options.

For international departures, we highly recommend arriving at the airport at least 3 hours before your flight to allow enough time for check-in, immigration procedures, and any unexpected delays or issues that may arise.

If your itinerary includes domestic flights within Vietnam, all flight schedules, airline information, and booking details will be included in your final travel documents before departure.

For a smooth journey, we recommend arriving at the airport at least 2 hours prior to your flight. Please make sure to carry your passport along with your e-ticket or booking reference.

Baggage Allowance: Checked baggage allowance typically ranges from 20kg to 23kg depending on the airline and ticket class, while cabin baggage is generally limited to 7kg per passenger.

Important Notice: Extra baggage fees may apply for your overweight or oversized luggage. We strongly recommend reviewing the baggage policies of your airline in advance, such as Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, or Bamboo Airways.

Please note that domestic flight schedules may occasionally change due to airline operations or weather conditions. Should there be any updates, our team will inform you as soon as possible.

If your journey includes a connecting domestic flight within Vietnam, please keep the following information in mind upon arrival:

  • Collect your checked luggage after landing.
  • Complete immigration and customs procedures.
  • Proceed to the domestic terminal for your onward flight. At some airports, this may involve a short walk or shuttle transfer between terminals.
  • Airport staff are usually available to assist passengers, so feel free to ask for directions or support if needed.

Recommended connection time: at least 2 hours 30 minutes

This allows enough time for immigration clearance, baggage collection, customs procedures, terminal transfers, and possible flight delays.

Practical Tip: At major airports such as Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport, international and domestic terminals may be located in separate buildings. Please follow airport signage carefully and allow sufficient transfer time.

There are currently no compulsory vaccinations required for travelers entering Vietnam. However, depending on the length of your stay and the areas you plan to visit, several vaccinations are commonly recommended by health professionals, particularly for rural or remote travel.

Recommended vaccinations may include:

  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Typhoid
  • Tetanus, diphtheria & pertussis (booster shots advised)
  • Rabies (recommended for extended stays or frequent contact with animals)

If you take regular medication, we strongly advise bringing an adequate supply to cover your entire trip, as certain medicines may not be easily available locally.

Please also carry your medical prescription, ideally translated into English, to assist with customs procedures or in case medical attention is needed during your stay.

Upon your arrival in Vietnam, our driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrival exit according to your flight number and landing time. The driver will be holding a welcome sign displaying: “Golden Holiday Travel – [Your Name]”

Please take a moment to carefully look for your name among the signs at the arrival area. In case you cannot locate our driver immediately, kindly stay near the meeting point and contact our 24/7 support team for quick assistance:

Hotline / WhatsApp: +84 988 451 530

Useful Tip: We recommend activating international roaming or ensuring internet access on your phone upon arrival so we can easily communicate if necessary.

Important Note:At busy airports, many drivers may be waiting in the same area. If you do not see our representative right away, please do not leave the arrival hall – simply contact us and our team will assist you promptly.

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