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THE UNKNOWN NORTHEAST

By car, boat and on foot you travel through a beautiful area that largely borders China. You will be introduced to countless minorities and the overwhelming nature. And because this area is not yet on the "tourist map", you will often feel like the only tourist here.

 
 



DAY 1  HANOI - THONG NGUYEN
The first long travel day takes you on a well-paved road to the Northernmost province of Vietnam, Ha Giang. The destination is Thong Nguyen, located in a stunning valley where you'll stay at PanHou Village, a comfortable resort that serves as a basecamp for a two-day mountain trek.

HOTEL: Panhou Resort
MEALS: D






DAY 2  THONG NGUYEN - PIN HO
A breathtaking natural landscape, with waterfalls, rice terraces, and ethnic minority villages, sets the scene for a two-day trek. The goal is the village of Pin Ho, home to the Man Ta Pan minority. You'll need to overcome an altitude difference of about 400 meters.

MEALS: B, L, D






DAY 3  PIN HO - THONG NGUYEN
Today, you'll return to Thong Nguyen through a diverse mountain landscape with bamboo forests. The ethnic minorities you'll encounter today are mainly Tay and Dzao. Back at Pan Hou Village, you can treat yourself to an herbal bath and a traditional massage.

HOTEL: Panhou Resort
MEALS: B, L, D





DAY 4  THONG NGUYEN - HA GIANG - MEO VAC
In the morning, you'll travel to Ha Giang, the capital city of the province of the same name. Because this area is politically sensitive - it borders the arch- China - your guide needs to arrange a permit here for the following days. You'll then journey to Meo Vac via an endlessly winding road. The further North you go, the more "normal" Vietnam seems to fade away, and you'll mostly see people wearing their traditional, extremely colorful clothing. And it's not just you who will be amazed; the residents of Ha Giang, who rarely see foreigners, will be astonished as well.

HOTEL: Hoa Cuong Hotel Meo Vac
MEALS: B





DAY 5  MEO VAC - LUNG PHIN - MEO VAC
The main goal of this day is the Lung Phin market, a place where time seems to have stood still. Many kilometers before reaching Lung Phin, you'll see an endless procession of people walking with their livestock - goats, cattle, and dogs destined for human consumption - heading to the market on foot. Especially upon arrival at the market, you'll experience many curious stares as the "foreign guest." We expect our travelers to respect the local people. This certainly applies to taking photos: do so only if people are willing. If you take time to explore the town and the market, you'll find plenty of opportunities to capture your shots. In the afternoon, you'll take a trip to the Northernmost town of Vietnam, Dong Van. The journey there is one you'll never forget: the road leads along a steep cliff several hundred meters deep, through a spectacular mountain landscape, with a breathtaking view of China on your right. If time allows, you can visit the former palace of the H'mong king. Until the 1960s, he ruled over much of Ha Giang thanks to opium trading.

HOTEL: Hoa Cuong Hotel Meo Vac
MEALS: B





DAY 6  MEO VAC - BAO LAC - BA BE
Via a mostly rugged road, you'll travel Southeast to Ba Be, known for its national park and the lake of the same name. You'll spend the night in one of the desolate villages by the water, in a traditional stilt house.

MEALS: B, D






DAY 7  BA BE
From the town of Ba Be, you'll navigate Ba Be Lake with your own boat. On calm days, the water is perfectly still, reflecting the shores and the sky beautifully in the lake.

MEALS: B, L, D




DAY 8  BA BE - HANOI - THAI NGUYEN
After breakfast, you'll return to Hanoi. Halfway, in Thai Nguyen, you can optionally visit the small ethnic minorities museum.

MEALS: B



Included:
- Good hotels, including breakfast ()
- Overnight in a local home stay ()
- An English-speaking tour guide ()
- Private car with driver ()
- Transport and transfers as stated
- Meals as stated (B, L, D)


Not included:
- Flights to and from Vietnam
- Visa
- Insurance
- On-site expenses for meals and sightseeing, and personal expenses


Price per person (group of 2 people): USD 1.041,00
Price per person (group of 4 people): USD 720,00