Hanoi - Ba Be Lake (L,D)

Morning, we drive straight to Ba Be lake (three lakes).

Lunch on the road.

After crossing 240kms from Hanoi by road surrounded by tea fields, houses on stilts, we arrive in the Tays' land (or Tho).

This water reserve is picturesque, charming us by the waterfalls, rivers, valleys and caves in the area of 500 ha.

Dinner at the local restaurant. Night at local guesthouse.

Ba Be Lake - walking tours (B,L,D)

After the breakfast, you'll walk around the lake, it's a large national reserve where it protects more than 417 species of plants, 299 breeds of mammals, 11 species of birds ... We cruise is a boat in the lake to Dau Dang waterfall. 

In return, our boat access to a large cave (Puong grotto) where thousands of bats who greet us with their special sound features. Lunch is prepared in a small hut of Tays on the lakeside. Ba Be is also the home of the H'mong and Red Yao. 

Afternoon, we will meet them in their homes, they always lead the autarky and keep the traditional ways of life. Dinner is prepared by the women.

Overnight at homestay.

Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the Tays, we set off to Cao Bang. The beautiful road moves towards the neck Bao Lac (neck of the Wind), a stop at the top of the pass we made some interesting impressions. We meet at the roadside the Thos (Tay) and Yao Tien (in aspect), the women go to the market on foot, they are smiling and asking us "Where you come?" "This is our beautiful country?". Check-in Cao Bang noon. 

After lunch, we continue our trip to Pac Bo, a border region with China very complex terrain covered by the karst peaks and vegetation. This was the first refuge of Ho Chi Minh in 1941 after 30 years abroad, and also the first military base of Viet Minh during the Indochina war. 

Dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfalls (B,L,D)

This morning, we make a trip to the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam, Ban Gioc. However, to achieve this happiness, we will cross the Ma Phuc pass (the horse knee)! The grandiose serious neck in our memory the beauty of the North East. 

Ban Gioc is in the midst of the waters, is a tree-covered limestone prominence, which divides the current three, creating a beautiful view and pleasantly refreshing atmosphere.   
 
At the foot of the waterfall flows a large stream, clear as a mirror. China is on the other side of the waterfall.

Return to Cao Bang for the night at the hotel.

Dinner at the local restaurant and overnight in Cao Bang.

Cao Bang - Dong Khe - That Khe - Lang Son (B,L,D)

After the breakfast, we'll continue by the road along the old "RC 4" (colonial road No. 4) to Lang Son. We go through the Dong Khe valley, surrounded by karst peaks. Dong Khe and That Khe, were recorded in the books of the Indochina war as the bloodiest fields. Blockhouses scattered along the road were witnesses of the battles of two troops. 

In the late afternoon, we arrive at Lang Son. The small town at the border became the largest center of Chinese goods, smuggling flowers after 1988, which is the prosperity of this city.

Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Lang Son.

Lang Son - Halong Bay (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we continue our route No. 4 to Halong Bay, the road still crosses fields: Tien Yen and Dinh Lap. We arrive in Halong at noon, then board the junk for cruising 5 hours. 

Lunch on the boat. An extraordinary landscape, "one of the wonders of the world", nearly three miles of limestone islands and fantastic shapes: turtle, sailing sampan, etc ... scattered in the emerald water with a surface of 1,500km². 

Stop at the "Surprise" cave, we are thrown into the mysterious atmosphere of thousands stalagmites and stalactites, swim at Ti Top beach if time permits.

Dinner and night on the boat in the middle of Halong Bay.

Halong Bay - Cat Ba (B,L,D)

Morning, after breakfast, we'll continue our visit to Halong Bay, a cruise to the cave of tunnels, we admire the various forms created by waves and wind. We then climb to the top of the peak of Ti Top, the beauty of Halong Bay is below our feet, 428 steps worth what happiness to note that Ho Chi Minh arrived there 72 years! 

In the early afternoon, after visiting the magnificence of the Lan Ha Bay, farms pearl oysters and floating fishing village, we land in Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay. Possibility of swimming on the beaches of fine sand Cat Ba.

Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in the seaside.

Cat Ba - Hanoi (B,L)

Morning, after breakfast, we'll take a motorcycle to visit Cat Ba Island, a very good road through the forest takes us to a cave, a veteran of the war against the United States us around the kitchen cave which served military base Viet Minh. The island is also the national reserve where the monkeys in white panties, endemic animal in Cat Ba is protected. We admire the beautiful nature Gia Luan port, no beautiful scenery around Halong Bay is comparable! then back to Cat Ba noon. 

After lunch, we embark on board the hydrofoil to Hai Phong (1 hour), our driver will wait for the visit to the city: colonial district, flower market and municipal theater.

In the evening, we attend the spectacle of water puppet show.