After breakfast, we will go on a ‘marathon loop,’ but even if there are many km to cover a large part of easy roads where we make up the distance at quite a speed. We go south out on Highway QL 2 till we reach Viet Quang, where we turn into road TL 279, and we will reach the small town of Na Hang, where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we ‘finally’ meet beautiful mountain roads taking us over a spectacular mountain pass before reaching the town of Cho Ra in the late afternoon, where we branch off and go down Ba Be Lake. Here, we check into a nice homestay by the lake, providing us with a wonderful dinner, bed, and breakfast. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2: Ba Be Lake

We will spend the whole day on and around the lake. After breakfast, we will enjoy a boat ride and explore the lake and its surroundings. The lakes have much to offer, including waterfalls, rivers, valleys, and caves, all set amidst picturesque landscapes. We will have lunch and dinner at the homestay. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3: Ha Giang – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfalls, approx 205 km drive

After breakfast, we travel north up and down the ‘snake pass’ and stop for lunch in Cao Bang City. We continue towards the Chinese border, where, at the end of the day, we will meet the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall, which spans over 300 meters and is split half and half between Vietnam and China. We will spend the night in a Nungethnic homestay and enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast, we start the morning to discover the Nguom Ngao Cave, an impressive natural wonder with a cave that stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites. Then, it is time to ride through a beautiful landscape and nine roads until we reach the small town of Ba Lac, where we take into a hotel for the night. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

From Bao Lac town, we continue north, connect to QL 4C or ‘Road of Happiness,’ and start driving north towards Meo Vac, where we take lunch. After that, we will climb up the majestic Ma Pi and reach the most northern town of Vietnam, Dong Van, but we continue to reach the North Pole. Anyway, that is what the most northern point of Vietnam is jokingly called – Lung Cu and its famous flagpole tower, which we climb and view China from the top. We will return to Dong Van, where we will stay in a hotel or homestay as agreed. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

If we wake up on a Sunday in Dong Van, the weekly big local market meets you before or after breakfast. More ethnic minority groups than you can count have traveled on Saturday or extremely early on Sunday to reach here; it is colorful, and people from near and far do their weekly shopping and gossiping. After that, we start our journey south. Soon, we reach Sa Phin, where we find the one-hundred-year-old palace of Vuong Chinh Duc – the King of H’mong people. We will go down the Highland of Stone and reach Yen Minh, where we will have lunch and then climb a mountain pass covered in pine forest and sweeping rice terraces along our drive. We will go down to the Song La River valley until the road takes us up to Tam Son, over the Quan Ba mountain pass, and back to Ha Giang. (The day includes breakfast and lunch)

Disclaimer: While the above itinerary outlines the broad and most likely inclusions. At QT, we are not firm believers in absolute programs. There are many reasons why things might have to be modified to situations and facts that may be both within our control and beyond when we embark on a tour.