Hiking in the Northeast Mountains of Vietnam

Breakfast at the homestay.

Hike to the Dzao villages of Lung Vai and Xa Phin. Follow a shaded path of broad-leaved palm trees at the beginning of the hike, then cross the beautiful rice valley of Lung Vai. Continue walking to Xaphin, crossing the forest at the foot of Tay Con Linh. Enjoy the lush vegetation, bamboo forests, and ancient tea trees. Visit the Red Dzao village of Xa Phin.

Back to the homestay.

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Fairy Twin Mountains, Hmong ethnic commune, Hmong King's Palace, Lung Tam linen craft village.

On the way to Dong Van via Quan Ba. Walk to visit the Nam Dam Dzao village.

Then head to the extraordinary Dong Van Geopark Plateau. Located between 1000 and 1600 meters above sea level, covering an area of ​​approximately 2350 km2, it offers stunning landscapes. Begin a journey that takes you back in time, crossing a region where Ethnic Minorities are the majority. You will see hamlets with stilt houses or mud cottages. Encounter people carrying firewood on their bent backs and barefoot children. It's a very poor region with tough living conditions but has a unique charm with winding roads amid fantastic karst landscapes and inhabitants preserving their ancestral habits.

Stop at the Lung Tam craft village to see the ancient art of linen spinning and weaving by the H'Mong.

The road winds through the karst mountains. From the town of Yen Minh, you will enter the heart of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and contemplate lunar landscapes: limestone cirques, roads perched among terraced fields.

Visit the Hmong King Vuong Chi Sinh's Palace, over 100 years old. The region comprising Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac was predominantly inhabited by the Hmong. These groups created an autonomous area with their own king. Opium was their main crop, and they traded with the Chinese.

Overnight at the homestay.

Visit the Dong Van weekly market held every Sunday, where you'll see various ethnic minorities.

Then a short transfer to Hau De; you'll walk through terraced rice fields and Hmong villages Thien Huong, Ma Pang, Thin Ngai along the Chinese border to the Nho Que River. Cross a suspension bridge and cruise to admire the Nho Que Canyon.

Overnight at the homestay.

Cross Ma Pi Leng Pass, explore Hmong minority culture, hike on an elevated stone path.

Hike from Dong Van to Meo Vac.

A magnificent 5-hour trek in one of the most picturesque areas of Northern Vietnam on elevated paths through stone forests and remote Hmong villages nestled on mountain slopes. After passing through 2 villages and 2 passes, you will have a panorama of the opposite side to fully appreciate the grandeur of the karst landscapes. Continue your walk along a stony path through the villages to an overlook where you will have a beautiful panoramic view of the Nho Que Canyon.

You hike through the white cliff (Vach Da Trang). Your driver will be waiting for you at the foot of Ma Pi Leng Pass near Pa Vi.

Stop at Ma Pi Leng Pass to discover a breathtaking landscape with an incredible view of limestone mountains, the Nho Que River, and Hmong villages nestled on mountain slopes. Drive to Meo Vac. Overnight at the homestay in Meo Vac .

Weekly market in Meo Vac, exploration of Hmong minority culture.

Visit the Meo Vac weekly market held every Sunday, where you'll see various ethnic minorities. After selling and buying goods, locals gather at the restaurants for a drink or a bowl of "Thang Co." It is said that if they drink too much, they hold onto their horse's tail for it to take them home.

On the way to Bao Lac, upon arrival, take a walk to visit the surroundings of the Lolo village.

Continue to Nguyen Binh, overnight in a family of Dzao

Coach trip to Quang Uyen, visit the Nung ethnic village of Nung An.

Visit a Dzao village with coins. Coach trip to Quang Uyen, located at an altitude of 500 meters, this region, famous for its numerous limestone peaks covered with vegetation, is mainly populated by the Nung An ethnic group.

Discover the Nung An village of Phia Thap, specialized in making incense sticks and hidden behind limestone peaks.

The Nung An live in traditional stilt houses and have chosen to maintain an ancestral way of life, uninfluenced by modernity.

A 2-3 hour walk to explore the craft villages of the Quang Uyen region. You will discover the bamboo weaving village, the Ri Lung village specializing in Ying Yang tile production, and finally, the Phuc Sen village specializing in knife making.

Breakfast at the homestay.

Short transfer to the trekking point.

Embark on a hike to the Luoc Dac Plateau towards the burnt grass hills of Vinh Quy, traversing breathtaking landscapes and peaceful villages.

A walk to the top of a hill will provide an impressive panoramic view. Picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Visit to Ban Gioc Waterfall, located on the Sino-Vietnamese border. Known for their beauty and ranking fourth globally after Iguazu, Victoria, and Niagara, these falls will leave you spellbound. The best time to visit is during the rainy season (July to October), but they remain breathtaking year-round. Swimming is possible during certain periods.

Optional: Take a short bamboo raft ride on the Quay Son River for an up-close view of Ban Gioc Falls.

Take a walk to visit Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda for a panoramic view of Ban Gioc Falls. Then head to Nguom Ngao Caves, situated 3 km from the falls. With stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations, these caves are considered some of the most beautiful in Vietnam after those in Phong Nha and Ke Bang. Your guide will then take you near the Chinese border, tracing historical trade routes locals used to transport goods between China and Vietnam.

Then your guide will take you near the Chinese border, you will continue the trade routes that the local population had taken to transport goods on horseback between China and Vietnam.Then, a short transfer before starting the hike along the Quay Son River through villages and beautiful karst landscapes. Along the way, you will stop to visit villages and discover the water wheels that allow the mountain ethnic groups to irrigate their land.

Explore the picturesque Ngoc Con Valley, scenic views along the Quay Son River, immerse in Tay culture Early risers can witness the sunrise around 6:00 AM.

Head to the Ngoc Con Massif situated near the Chinese border in the extreme north of Vietnam. Upon arrival, ascend to the summit of Ngoc Con for a panoramic view of the massifs and a glimpse of the Chinese border on the horizon. Enjoy a picnic breakfast.

Your vehicle will head towards a Tay hamlet in the Gioc Rung Massif. The hamlet is located in a stunning valley with expansive rice fields, traversed by the Quay Son River. A short walk uphill will provide panoramic views of the valley, showcasing chaotic rock formations beloved by photographers. Witness the sunset, capture the tranquil natural scenery, and take captivating photos. Overnight with the locals.

Depart for Ba Be, discover the cultures of Tay and Dzao, bike ride.

On the way to Ba Be Lake.

Upon arrival in the village of Pac Ngoi on the shores of Ba Be Lake, you will start a bike ride that will take you to the village of Peng. This is where you will start your journey to Hua Ma Cave, known for its magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations. Located 350 m above sea level, the cave extends over 700m with an average height of 40m.

Overnight at the homestay, in a stilt house by the lake.

Trek in the heart of the park, discover the local life of the Hmong and Dzao.

Breakfast at the homestay, then depart for a day of trekking to explore the beauty of the natural park and local life.

At the beginning of the trek, the terrain will be a bit rugged and the trail steep, but the small effort required will quickly take you to a panoramic viewpoint of the hilly mountains covered with vegetation. You will then cross fields of corn, cassava, and sweet potatoes, stopping regularly to visit Hmong and Dzao ethnic villages.

Dinner and overnight at the homestay, in a Dzao family's home with coins.

After breakfast, resume your trek on a less steep trail than the previous day. Your walk will take you to the river at the mouth of Ba Be Lake.

On your way, a stop will allow you to visit a Black Hmong village before descending, through the forest, to the Dau Dang Waterfalls. They are located on the border of Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang provinces.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, take a cruise on the Nang River and a short crossing of Ba Be Lake. Admire sumptuous landscapes composed of limestone cliffs and lush mountains.

Disembark at the central pier, then drive back to Hanoi.