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 (B,L,D)

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.

Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

The 5-day North Vietnam tours is customized by the Hanoi based tour operator Lotussia Travel which focus on Ha Giang province, a new travel destination for those looking a less traveled place in Vietnam. Begin the tour from Hanoi, you travel through Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang province where you spend one night before continue your road trip up to the Dong Van Kart plateau. The highlights of this 5-day overland tour are visit ethnic highland markets of Meo Vac or Dong Van markets are open on Sunday only; meeting up with different ethnic groups; visiting local hilltribe villages which stay untouched from mass tourism. This North Vietnam tour, provided on private basis is highly recommended for family travelers, individuals and small group size.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang (L,D).

7:00am: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi (please advise your hotel name upon your confirmation). Enjoy a full day road trip along the national road 2 via Viet Tri Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang. Have some photo stops and short walk along the way to visit Tay Ethnic villages near by the road and enjoy beautiful scenery of lush palm forests, tea plantations and stunning valleys.
Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang.
After lunch, we continue our drive towards Ha Giang. Arrive in Ha Giang town at about 04.00pm. Check into a local stilt house in a Tay village. If time permit, enjoy a short walk around the village before having dinner. Overnight in a local stilt house.
 

 Day 2: Ha Giang – Bac Me – Meo Vac (B,L,D).

After breakfast, depart for Bac Me following the national road 34. Several stops will be made en route for taking pictures. We arrive Bac Me  around noon. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.
After lunch, we continue our drive toward Meo Vac. The first portion of the road weaves its way along the Gam river amongst high mountains and thick forest. Other stops will be made en route for you to enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the wild nature.
Crossing the Gam river and following the newly built road uphill for about 27 km to Niem Son commune where we will spend almost an hour for visiting a small village of the H’mong and Nung ethnic peoples.
Continue driving uphill through the remote and deserted region to Meo Vac with the tough topography and climate of this remote highland which is in high contrast with what have been seen the day before. Getting close to Meo Vac, there appeared some small hamlets of the H’mong built on the immense limestone world. Stop for visiting one of these hamlets for the first impression of the very hard life on this mysterious limestone highland.
Arrive in Meo Vac and check into a local hotel for overnight.
 
Day 3: Visit Meo Vac Sunday market. Travel to Dong Van (B,L,D).

Breakfast at hotel.
The whole morning will be spent on visiting the Meo Vac market. Meo Vac market in Ha Giang Province is held every Sunday. It is the only one of its kind in the entire northern mountainous region of Vietnam. The market is not only for buying cows by the locals living in the karst plateau, it is also a time for the Mong ethnic people to get together.
Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.
After lunch, we depart for Dong Van. We will stop en route to visit a small village of the Lolo. The narrow road winds its way on the wall-up and deserted mountain sides offering great view of a narrow valley where the Nho Que river sneaking, amidst mountain feet. This is Ma Pi Leng, probably the most famous mountain passes in Vietnam! We will visit a village of the H’mong for witnessing the hard life on this highland. Also here the true value of cultivated land and water can be seen!
Upon our arrival in Dong Van in the late afternoon, we will check into a local hotel for overnight.
 
Day 4: Dong Van – Quan Ba (B,L,D).

Check out hotel at 08.00 and drive 26 km to Lung Cu, located on the northernmost tip of Dong Van highland and Vietnam as well. Here you will visit two ethnic villages: One of the H’mong ethnic – majority of Dong Van district - and one of the Red Lolo – A very small ethnic group.
After visiting these villages, we will leave Lung Cu driving down hill for about 25 km to The Vuong Family Palace, once ruled over the H’mong in the region and popularly known as King of the H’mong.
Then we continue driving to Sung La where we will have a short walk to visit a H’mong village that has very old, typical and beautiful houses.
Driving uphill a stunning mountain pass, then turning right for 5 km to Pho Bang ancient town. This town was built hundreds of years ago as a regional trading center between the local and Chinese traders. Walking for about an hour to explore this charming town which is featured with two storey wooden houses, clay walled, Yin and Yang tiled roofs and leisure atmosphere.
Leaving Pho Bang, we drive down hill to Yen Minh, located in a lush valley. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.
After lunch, we leave Yen Minh for Quan Ba. Enjoy marvelous scenery the lush forest and stop at the top of the pass for great view of the surrounding region.
Take a break at the foot of the pass and walk to a village of the La Chi, another small ethnic group with only over 3,000 individuals in Vietnam whose culture is really unique and strong.
Continue by road 4C along the Mtem river for an hour, walking to a village of the Zao ao dai (Zao with long dress) is located at the center of a large and stunning valley before arriving in Tam Son town.
Upon our arrival in Quan Ba, we will check into a local guesthouse for overnight. 
 
Day 5: Quan Ba – Ha Giang – Ha Noi (B,L)

Leaving Tam Son, we drive uphill to the Quan Ba Heaven Gate which is famous for the great view of the Tam Son valley with the “ Twin Hills”. You may wish to take a short walk to a small hamlet of the H’mong before continuing our drive to Ha Giang and onto Hanoi.
Lunch en route.
We will arrive Hanoi around late afternoon. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi. End of our service.
Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

This 4-day North Vietnam Tours is the second option we arrange in Ha Giang province. Begin your North Vietnam venture with a car transfer from Hanoi to Ha Giang. The journey takes about 6 hours. You spend the first night at local home in a Tay village. The second day you continue your road trip to Meo Vac and then Dong Van through Yen Minh, Quan Ba. If you comes to Dong Van on Saturday afternoon, you have the opportunity to visit the Dong Van market the following morning, Sunday. This is one of the most interesting open air market of different ethnic groups in Vietnam mountainous areas. Visit the old town of Pho Bang before you travel back to Hanoi by car.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Drive Hanoi – Ha Giang

8:00: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang province.

We arrive in Ha Giang around early afternoon. We will check into a local village house and have lunch. After lunch, we will have a short walk around this village.

Meeting and talking with local villagers will help you understand more the culture of the Tay ethnic group.

Dinner will be provided at the village. Overnight in a stilt house.

 Day 2: Ha Giang – Meo Vac – Dong Van.

After breakfast, we depart for Meo Vac. We make stops en route for admiring the scenery of the wild nature and the numerous of untouched tribal village.

After lunch, provided in a local restaurant in Yen Minh, we have a short rest before taking road trip to Meo Vac.

Arriving in Meo Vac, we visit a Lolo village. Then continue our journey to Dong Van Karst Plateau. Another stop will be made at the Ma Pi Leng pass. Enjoy great view over the Nho Que river.

We arrive in Dong Van late afternoon. Check into a local hotel. Overnight in Dong Van.

Day 3: Dong Van – Yen Minh – Quan Ba.

After breakfast, we continue our tour traveling to Quan Ba. Stop en route for visiting the Lung Cu flag tower – the North pole of Vietnam.

A visit will also made at Saphin village, the historical vestige of the H’mong King palace.

Then we continue our road trip to Pho Bang.

After Lunch at Pho Bang, we continue driving towards Quan Ba. Stop en route for visiting a local H’mong village in Pho Cao. We will have the opportunity to visit the weaving brocatelle village in Lung Tam.

We arrive in Quan Ba town late afternoon. Check into a local hotel or homestay in a local village.

Day 4: Quan Ba  - Ha Noi

After breakfast, you may have the opportunity to visit the Quan Ba market before taking your journey back to Hanoi. End of Lotussia Travel service.

Notes: The Quan Ba maket is open on Sunday.

Contact Lotussia Travel for more details. 

This 4-day North Vietnam Tours is customized by the Hanoi based tour operator Lotussia Travel. The overland tour includes such travel highlights as Dong Van rocky highland, Meo Vac market, open on Sunday morning. You have the opportunity to visit different hilltribe villages along the way, to spend a night at local home (homestay), to eat local food and to experience the real life. This overland tour is provided with English-speaking tour guide, basic hotel accommodation, homestay, meals, and vehicle. The best time to do this 4-day Hagiang tour is the dry season starting from October until April.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Drive Hanoi – Ha Giang

8:00: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang province.

We arrive in Ha Giang around early afternoon. We will check into a local village house and have lunch. After lunch, we will have a short walk around this village.

Meeting and talking with local villagers will help you understand more the culture of the Tay ethnic group.

Dinner will be provided at the village. Overnight in a stilt house.

Day 2: Ha Giang – Dong Van

After breakfast, we will have a short visit of the Ha Giang museum before enjoying our road trip to the Dong Van rocky highland. We make stops en route for admiring the scenery of rocky highland. If you're lucky, in the days of market fair, you'll be enjoyed the culture of highland market.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Yen Minh.

After lunch, we continue our road trip to Dong Van plateau. Stop en route for visiting a local Hmong village in Pho Cao village. We will also visit the Hmong King palace in Saphin village and have a short walk in a Lo Lo village.

After that, we come back to Dong Van town. Overnight in a local hotel.

Notes: Most of local markets are open following Vietnamese lunar calendar.

Day 3: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ha Giang

After breakfast, we visit the Dong Van ancient town before we continue traveling to Meo Vac. We make some stops en route for admiring the scenery and taking pictures.

Arriving in Meo Vac, we visit a Lolo village. There will be possibility to attend to a traditional music show are performed by local villagers (contact your Lotussia Travel consultant for availability).

After  lunch, we travel back to
Ha Giang. We arrive in Ha Giang around late afternoon. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Ha Giang – Hanoi.

Enjoy a full day drive traveling back to Hanoi. We will arrive Hanoi around mid-afternoon. End of Lotussia Travel service.

Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Day 1: Hanoi - Nghia Lo (~250 km, ~7 h).

Before the ride, it takes 30 minutes to double check the bikes and insure that we have all necessary tools and equipment to guarantee maximum fun. We head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then head up the mountain to Nghia Lo. The road í easy and flat from Hanoi to Thanh Son, from Thanh Son to Thu Cuc and then Ba Khe to Nghia Lo is beautiful, snaking the foot of Hang Lien Range. Nghia Lo is a big mountain town where we stop for the night.

Day 2: Nghia Lo - Than Uyen (~180 km, ~5 h).

Wild and bumpy road with Lung Lo Pass as the first challenge. The next one is the higher Khau Pha Pass. We ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding.

Night in a hotel.

 Day 3: Than Uyen - Sapa (~140 km, ~5 h)

The area of Than Uyen is mainly populated by Flower H'mong and Dzao people. Then direction Sapa. Easy track for 100 km and asphalted mountainous road for the last 40 km. Stay in Sapa and you will find out the reason Sapa is one of the most popular places for tourists in Vietnam.

Ha Giang Motorcycle Vacation, Ha Giang Motorbike expedition Day 4: Sapa - Bac Ha (~100 km, ~3h).
The drive from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~3 hours, down from Sapa to Lao Cai (34 km), a border city where we can take photos with China as the background. After lunch, ride up to Bac Ha (70 km) with stunning landscape. Overnighting in Bac Ha.

Day 5: Bac Ha - Ha Giang (~200 km, ~6 h)

After breakfast, ride on the track to Xin Man and on many small/back roads with scenic mountain views before joining the main road heading up to Ha Giang where we stop for the night and apply for a permit.

Day 6: Ha Giang - Dong Van (~180 km, ~6h)

After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang's Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful mountain hill-tribes.

Ha Giang Motorcycle Adventure Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a zig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wonder the ancient streets lined with H'mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago.

Day 7: Dong Van - Bao Lac (~80 km, ~4 h)

The road is still under construction and tracks what make the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. The landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and the slow tempo is only more appreciable.

We cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of Northeast Vietnam. Many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.

Day 8: Bao Lac - Cao Bang (~150 km, ~5 h)

Beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. We can stop very often for photos. All together, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. Stay in a hotel.

Ha Giang motorcycle holiday, motorbike voyage Day 9: Cao Bang - Quang Uyen (~140 km, ~5 min). B, L, D

Ride in 1 hour and half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Home stay in a host family and the hostess is a great cook.

We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.

Day 10: Quang Uyen - Lang Son (~180 km, ~6 h)

Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can shop for cheap Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 11: Lang Son - Hanoi (~150 km, ~3 h)

Easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 10 long riding days.

Arrival at Hanoi around 3pm.