Trail of Vietnam by bycycle

This trip puts you right in the heart of upland Vietnam in a remote National Park that is set in limestone Karst Mountains. Babe means "Three Lakes". In fact, there is only one large lake with three different sections.
Rivers flow into the lake from all directions and you paddle one river that flows through a large cave. Early morning hikes and paddles from Park headquarters offer rewarding wildlife sightings and sunrise vistas. All the paddling is easy; this trip puts you right inside Vietnam's Thai-speaking hill tribe culture.

Brief of itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be Lake
Day 2: Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang - Pac Po - Cao Bang
Day 3: Cao Bang - Trung Khanh - Ban Doc Waterfall - Cao Bang
Day 4: Cao Bang - Hanoi

Details of itinerary

Day 1 : Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be Lake (-/L/D)
Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi and drive to Thai Nguyen. Visit Ethnology Museum to see its rich displays of the cultures of the various ethnic groups of Vietnam, continue drive to Ba Be with lunch en route. Arrival and take a 3-hour boat trip downstream the Nang River into Ba Be Lake, enjoy the peace and tranquility of the unspoiled tropical jungle, emerald waters, limestone mountains and the tribal lifestyle. Dinner and overnight at simple guest house.

Day 2 : Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang - Pac Po - Cao Bang (B/L/D)
Depart to Cao Bang (120 km - driving time approximately 4 hours). Transfer to hotel, lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Pac Po to visit the former headquarters of the Vietnamese revolutionaries, where Ho Chi Minh used to live in a cave nearby a beautiful stream early 1941, when he re-entered Vietnam after 30 years of living abroad for studying communism. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes dotted with the villages of the Tay and Nung minorities. Drive back to Cao Bang. Dinner and overnight at simple guest guest house.

Day 3: Cao Bang - Trung Khanh - Ban Doc Waterfall - Cao Bang (B/L/D)
Depart Cao Bang to Ban Doc Waterfall (Trung Khanh) and enjoy the very nice scenery with water reeling handmade by the Nung People, which brings water from the stream to the rice fields. Peaceful feeling will let you comfortable. Short trek to visit Ngam Ngao Cave, a big and yet unexplored cave with extraordinary natural stalactites (please wear appropriate shoes and shorts, since you most likely will get wet). Continue to Ban Doc Waterfall, which shares the river border with China. Take a boat trip to the waterfall, where you will meet visitors from China, who also come here to enjoy the atmosphere of the famous waterfall on the same river. Boxed lunch will be provided. Drive back to Cao Bang for dinner and overnight at a basic guest house.

Day 4: Cao Bang - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Spend whole day drive back to Hanoi with a stopover to watch the Nung people making sticky-rice in the bamboo. Have lunch en route. Arrive Hanoi and transfer to your hotel (accommodation in Hanoi not included).

Tour package price in usd per person

Tour includes:

•   Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
•   English, German & French speaking guide ( other languages on request)
•   Meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner),
•   Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition and private bath room,
•   Entrance fees,
•   Excursion boat fees.

Tour excludes:

•   International flight from/to Vietnam and airport tax
•   Visa arrangement ( available on request)
•   Personal nature expenses (laundry, phone calls etc.)
•   Drinks
•   Tips and gratuities

Accommodations on tour

Day 1: in Ba Be Lake
Day 2: in Cao Bang
Day 3: in Cao Bang
Day 4: in Hanoi