Northern Vietnam Adventure - LATITUDE

Northern Vietnam Adventure – 12 Days

Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Pu Luong & Lan Ha Bay

Northern Vietnam Expedition — 12 Days

Northern Vietnam is all scale and texture: color-shifting terraces, limestone canyons, stilt-house villages, and quiet water between forested cliffs. This route links the far north to the coast without rushing: Ha Giang’s high passes, Cao Bang’s Ban Gioc waterfall, Pu Luong’s rice-valley trails, and a softer finish among Lan Ha Bay’s islets via Cat Ba. It’s active but not extreme: most days mean 2 to 6 hours on farm tracks or ridge paths, balanced by scenic drives and time to take in the view.

Culture is part of the journey, not a show. Walk with local guides through Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung hamlets; talk planting and harvest cycles; and step into traditional homes with simple etiquette. In Cao Bang, pair Ban Gioc and Nguom Ngao cave with small workshops (textiles, bamboo, blacksmithing) when schedules line up. Markets are included when they fit, never staged; your guide handles introductions and photo etiquette.

Pu Luong resets the tempo: waterwheels, bamboo rafts, and terrace paths you can dial up or down. Nights range from hosted homestays (private rooms, hot showers) to eco-lodges with big balcony views. On the coast, Cat Ba gives you the quiet side of the limestone-islet seascape: a small boat threads Lan Ha’s less-trafficked channels, with an easy kayak and sunset on calm water. We keep the practicals clean: private vehicle, vetted community partners, permits handled; and we adjust for seasonality. Want more trail time, fewer homestays, a photography focus, motorbike passenger segments, or a slower two-night bay cruise? Easy to customize.

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ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi
Easy Old Quarter warm-up walk and café stop. Optional street-food tasting in the evening.

Day 2: Hanoi → Ha Giang City
Head north to the gateway town. Border-zone permits set, sunset viewpoint, and route briefing with your local guide.

Day 3: Ha Giang → Yen Minh → Dong Van
Enter the Dong Van Geopark (limestone plateau): Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Twin Mountains, and short village walks to Hmong hamlets and limestone lookouts. Optional stop at the Vuong “Hmong King” Palace. Overnight near Dong Van’s old quarter.

Day 4: Dong Van → Ma Pi Leng Pass → Meo Vac
Signature ridge day: walk a section of the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk for canyon views; optional calm boat on the Nho Que River below. Market tastings when timing aligns. Night in Meo Vac (small lodge).

Day 5: Meo Vac → Bao Lac → Cao Bang
Scenic mountain-to-valley drive with photo stops and a short terrace walk. Evening at leisure in Cao Bang.

Day 6: Ban Gioc Waterfall & Nguom Ngao Cave
Border-country highlights: multi-tiered Ban Gioc and the limestone halls of Nguom Ngao. Add a Nung weaving or blacksmith village on the return. Second night in Cao Bang.

Day 7: Cao Bang → Hanoi
Return to the capital with a countryside lunch stop. Free evening for a calm dinner or a craft-street browse.
Optional stretch to 13 days: add a Ba Be Lake night here for boat/kayak and forest paths.

Day 8: Hanoi → Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Transfer southwest to stilt-house country. Afternoon terrace walk (2 to 3 hrs) past waterwheels and bamboo groves. Overnight in a Tay/Thai-style homestay or a comfortable eco-lodge.

Day 9: Pu Luong — Villages, Terraces & Bamboo Rafts
Choose a longer ridge-and-valley loop (4 to 6 hrs) or a gentler circuit with a bamboo-raft float on the Cham River. Local lunch and a slow evening.

Day 10: Pu Luong → Cat Ba Island
Cross back toward the coast and on to Cat Ba. Seafront stroll and fresh seafood at dusk.

Day 11: Lan Ha Bay Overnight (via Cat Ba)
Board a small boat focused on Lan Ha’s quieter channels. Limestone-islet panoramas, a floating-village or grotto visit, and an easy kayak in calm water. Sunset on deck; dinner onboard.

Day 12: Lan Ha Morning → Hanoi Departure
Light tai chi or a short cave visit; brunch as you cruise back. Transfer to Hanoi for your onward flight (or add a final city night).