Another off-the-beaten path tour package has just been released by Lotussia Travel. This 6-day itinerary is an easy touring trip taking travelers to the less travelled places in Northern area of Vietnam such as Ba Be National Park, Bao Lac market, Dong Van ancient town and colorful local hill tribe ethnic minorities.
The first highlight of the trip will be the boat trip on Ba Be lake, Vietnam’s largest natural lake and is now the centrepiece of an extensive National Park. The park and the surrounding area is limestone country, so lakes, waterfalls, caves and unusual rock formations abound. The whole area is richly forested and home to many ethnic minority communities.
The second highlight will be the local market in Bao Lac. This market offers travelers the chance to meet peoples from some local small ethnic groups only inhabiting in the area such as Black Lolo, San Chay. They always wear beautiful traditional costumes and jewelleries when they go to the market.
The next highlight will be the area of Dong Van with its ancient town and spectacular sceneries travelers will experience along the road. Dong Van is very beautiful with mountains, forests, hidden grottoes and caves, multicoloured orchid forests, plum and peach trees, persimmon orchards, and more. Visiting Dong Van, one can see Pho Bang, also called Pho Bang Street, which was built a long time ago and features multi-storey houses made of clay bricks and tile roofs.
The 6-day trip will conclude with a relaxing and leixure journey in Nam An lake, used to be a narrow and deep valley, built into a lake for water storage to run a hydraulic power plant. Nam An lake now has become spectacular eco spot with a peninsular for eco-tourist sport. Travelers may swim in the emerald clear water or moving around the lake on bamboo rafts or boats.
The trip can also be extended with a beach vacation, a boat cruise or a easy-touring bicycle tour.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be National Park (L;D)
You will be met up at your hotel in Hanoi by Lotussia Travel guide, driver and transferred northwards along national road 3. Stop in Thai Nguyen City after about 2 hours driving for paying visit to the Museum of Ethnology. Leaving Thai Nguyen and continue the road ride to Cho Moi townlet for lunch break and then continue the road ride to Na Phac junction. Visit a local Dzao village before arriving hotel around late afternoon. Dinner & overnight in Ba Be guest-house.
Day 2: Ba Be National Park – Bao Lac (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will take a short walk to the boat pier and then enjoy the whole morning mainly on boat for exploring the pure nature of Ba Be lake and national park with some highlights including visiting to Dau Dang Waterfall and Puong Cave. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town. After lunch, transfer uphill for 160 km to Bao Lac with several stops along the way for admiring spectacular scenery of the western part of Cao Bang Province and paying visit to villages of the Nung peoples.
Arriving in Bao Lac in late afternoon, check-in hotel. Dinner and overnight in a local hotel in Bao Lac.
Day 3: Bao Lac – Meo Vac, Ha Giang
Get up early and attend to Bao Lac market which offers chances for meeting peoples from some local small ethnic groups such as Black Lolo, San Chay,…who always wear beautiful traditional costumes. Leaving Bao Lac at about 09.00 for a drive along the Gam River for an hour before turning right and traveling uphill to the higher land, heading north to Meo Vac Townlet of Ha Giang Province. Stop along the way for visiting several small hamlets of the Nung, Tay and H’mong ethnic peoples scaterring along the Nho Que River. Arriving in Meo Vac at about 13.00, having lunch and check in hotel for a short rest.
Spend the the afternoon by walking along the stunning Nho Que River, admiring scenery of the spectacular Ma Pi Leng Pass, paying visit to villages of the H’mong, Zao and Red Lolo ethnic peoples.
Dinner and overnight in Meo Vac.
Day 4: Meo Vac - Dong Van – Yen Minh (B,L,D)
Leaving Meo Vac at, the clients will enjoy one of the most stunning landscapes of the northern mountain - The Ma Pi Leng Pass. Visit a small H’mong hamlet, set amongst the rocks featuring the very tough life on this famous limestone highland before continuing along the road 4c to Dong Van, the northernmost townlet of Vietnam. Walk along the ancient street of Dong Van before settle down for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy an hour drive to Lung Cu, the northernmost commune of Vietnam, walking to visit a Red Lolo village for half an hour and then driving downhill 24 km to Xa Phin to pay visiting to the famous historical site of the Vuong Family’s Palace famous for its mixture of H’mong architectural style.
Continue our road to Yen Minh where will spend the night.
Day 5: Yen Minh – Nam An Lake (B,L,D)
Leaving Yen Minh for a drive up and downhill over the spectacular Yen Minh mountain pass with some stops for overviewing scenery and visiting a Red Zao village.
Leaving the main road, crossing the Nho Que river by suspension bridge and walk along the bank of the river for an hour through a H’mong village before taking the road ride again to Quan Ba Townlet.
Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant en route.
In the afternoon, we will take another short walk in a H’mong village before driving downhill all the way to Ha Giang Township and onto Nam An eco spot.
Day 6: Nam An Lake – Hanoi (B,L)
Full day road trip from Nam An to Ha Noi along national road 2 with several stops and break along the way. Arrive Hanoi in the afternoon at about 05.00 PM, trip ends.
