This 4 days 3 nights trip provides a day hiking to the local ethnic minority village. Experiences of local culture and enjoying the landscpes of Dong Van Karst Geopark.
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Ha Giang
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Ha Giang
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Hotel/Homestay
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March–May, September–November
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Guided
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English
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Available
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4-6 hours
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Motorbike or SUV
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2 - 8
Overview
A 4-day journey combining 1 day of trekking and 3 days of motorbiking travel by car through remote ethnic villages, scenic mountain passes, and rich cultural sites in the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. Includes Nho Que River canyon boating, waterfall swimming, and tea tasting with Hmong music.
Itinerary
After eating breakfast in Ha Giang city, we depart to Thon Tha, a beautiful village of the Tay tribe, one of the area’s ethnic groups. From Thon Tha we begin the climb to Lung Vai village through palm tree fields and rice terraces along buffalo trails. On top of the mountain, we will see panoramic views of the small minority villages surrounded by jungle and rice terraces.
After lunch, you will take a leisurely walk along forest trails leading to another village of the Tay ethnic group. On hot days, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in a nearby waterfall before spending the night in a traditional Tay stilt house located right next to the waterfall. In the evening, enjoy a delicious local dinner, engage in friendly conversations with the host family, and try some corn liqueur – a local specialty that promises to add joy to your evening.
After breakfast we will visit Du Gia Waterfall for a swim in the beautiful clear water from the primal forest. This is a nature reserve, protected by our government. After driving back from the waterfall and passing through villages of the Tay and Hmong ethnic groups, we will have lunch in Du Gia market.
After lunch, we continue the journey to Meo Vac Town. On the way, you will admire the breathtaking views of the Dong Van Stone Plateau.
We will eat dinner and stay overnight in Meo Vac Town.
(Meo Vac – Nho Que River – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Dong Van Old Quarter – Chinese Border Belt – Yen Minh)
• After breakfast, we will go to the Nho Que River and spend one hour on a boat trip to admire the view of Tu San Canyon — one of the most famous canyons in Vietnam. After visiting the Nho Que River, we travel to Dong Van Old Quarter via Ma Pi Leng Pass — one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam, with majestic landscapes of the deepest valley in Southeast Asia.
• We will have lunch in the Dong Van Old Quarter. After lunch, we will visit a thousand years old banyan tree forest. On the way there, you can also see the Chinese border belt from the Vietnamese side. We will enjoy the mountain scenery in the northern frontier area of Vietnam near the China border.
• In the afternoon we’ll make a special stop at the center of the rocky highlands in Dong Van, where we will learn about the green tea growing in this area, taste the differences between various kinds of tea – such as black tea, green tea, red tea and others. While enjoying a hot cup of local tea, we will listen to traditional Hmong music played on bamboo instruments made by the locals in the high mountains — a truly relaxing experience!
• On the way to our dinner in Yen Minh, we will stop at some beautiful viewpoints for photos to enjoy the scenery in unique places such as the Moon Surface View, Tham Ma Pass, and Winding Pass. We will arrive to our overnight stay in a homestay in Yen Minh.
(Yen Minh – Quan Ba – Ha Giang)
• After breakfast at the homestay, we begin our day on a beautiful and quiet road back to Ha Giang City. We’ll stop in a village to enjoy the view of Angel Hill — one of the most beautiful places, a secret, unknown place to tourists. We will walk down the hill to play with the local’s friendly buffalo herd and feed them fresh green grass.
• On the way to Ha Giang, we’ll stop to visit a village of the White Hmong people called Lung Tam. In this Hmong village, we will learn how to make fabric from locally grown hemp in Northwest Vietnam. You’ll have the chance to talk with local people and learn about their lifestyle, culture, and customs, while enjoying the beautiful mountain landscape. Here, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the largest ethnic minority group in Ha Giang.
• We will have a delicious lunch with local food in a beautiful and peaceful village of the Dao ethnic group on the way back to Ha Giang City. After lunch we’ll enjoy the views from Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate — at an altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level — before descending into Ha Giang City for the end of our trip.
• We will arrive to Ha Giang city at around 4–5 pm (flexible depending on your preference). In our office and homestay in Ha Giang city, you have the opportunity to take a shower, relax and refresh yourself before the bus will take you to your next stop in beautiful Vietnam!
Includes/Excludes
The Trip Cost Includes
- Motorbike (110–150cc) + helmet + fuel
- 1-day trekking with local guide
- English-speaking tour guide
- 3 nights accommodation (homestays & hotel)
- All meals as mentioned: 4B, 4L, 3D
- Drinking water
- Nho Que boat ticket
- Entrance fees
- Luggage transfer & shower at office on last day
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Personal expensives
- Instructor gratuity.
- Frontier Area Permits
Frequently asked Questions
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
