Private Tour: The Peaceful waters of Ba Be Lake – 2 Days, 1 Night
Day 1
Ha Noi – Ba Be Lake
Meals included: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mr Linh’s Homestay
You will depart for Ba Be National Park and take a road which passes through the mountainous province of Thai Nguyen. You can relax on the journey and take in the superb landscapes of terraced rice paddies and bamboo water wheels which sit at the sides of the river. You will stop for lunch along the way. Upon arrival at Cho Ra, you will take a boat ride on the Nang River which slips through patches of cultivated land before entering the rugged landscape of chalky cliffs and wild gardens. Your boat ride will then take you to the Puong Cave in Ba Be National Park which features a fascinating array of rock formations. You will continue your boat trip to Bo Lu – a village belonging to the Tay community. Their stilt houses with thatched roofs are dispersed throughout surrounding landscapes. You will have dinner and stay overnight in Coc Toc Village on the banks of Ba Be Lake.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be Lake, Boat trip, Puong Cave, a 2 – 3 km trek
Day 2
Ba Be lake – Hua Ma Cave – Ha Noi
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: No accommodation included
After breakfast, you will travel past Ba Be Forest where you can discover spectacular rivers, deep valleys, natural caves and limestone mountains. On the way, you will visit Pac Ngoi village which has retained the traditional stilt houses. You will then enter Hua Ma Cave which features thousands of stalactites and columns. After drinking in the magical atmosphere of the cave, you will drive back to Ha Noi, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant on the way. You will arrive in Ha Noi at about 17:30 where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be Forest, Pac Ngoi, Hua Ma Cave, a 3 -5 km trek
Private Tour: Ba Be National Park Discovery – 3 Days, 2 Nights
Day 1
Ha Noi – Ba Be National Park
Meals included: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mr Linh’s Homestay
You will be collected from your hotel at 07:30 to begin your journey to Ba Be, stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, your route will take you through the winding mountains and tea plantations to Hua Ma Cave. You will have time to look around the cave, take some great photos, and if you wish you can have a swim at Silk Waterfall. After that, you will visit the Tay village of Coc Toc, where the Tay people make their living from fishing and from rice and corn cultivation. They live in wonderful pretty stilt houses that you will be able to see as you explore the area. In Coc Toc you will join the amazing family of Mr Linh and enjoy their food and hospitality in their beautiful traditional house. In the area, there are many spectacular rivers, caves, and mountains to discover. The later part of the day can be spent on Ba Be Lake, before returning to the homestay for a beautiful dinner of local specialities cooked by your host. During this time, you will also have the option of walking or cycling around Coc Toc Village, kayaking on the lake, or simply relaxing and enjoying the views.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be NP, Hua Ma Cave, Silk Waterfall, a 2 -3 km trek
Day 2
Trekking in the National Park
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mr Linh’s Homestay
You will have the chance to explore the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Ba Be as you trek through the national park. To begin with, your local guide will take you to visit Coc Toc Village where the Tay people make a living through fishing in the lake. You will cross Pelu Stream and navigate some steep terrain, but as you gain height you will begin to see the beautiful views of the mountains. As you journey further towards the uplands, you will stop in a Hmong ethnic village where you will have a picnic lunch. Your guide will then take you through the vast mountain ranges and valleys to see the stilt houses and the school of the Dzao people and along the trail to visit another Hmong ethnic village. You will then return to your homestay where you can enjoy a dinner of local home-cooked food.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be NP, Hmong ethnic village, a 12 -15 km trek
Day 3
Ba Be Lake – Puong Cave – Ha Noi
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: No accommodation included
After breakfast at the homestay, you will set out on foot to Bo Lu Harbour. From here you will take a three-hour boat trip, touring peacefully around the lake. This is a great time to jump into the water for a swim to cool off or just relax on the boat. The trip will take you along the slow-flowing river, giving you gorgeous views of the dramatic mountains, valleys, and natural caves. There is also a good opportunity here for some bird and butterfly spotting – the national park is home to a wonderful diversity of flora and fauna. The boat will then take you through the tunnel of Puong Cave, with its spectacular array of stalactites and stalagmites. You may also get the chance to see some bats here, as the cave is home to a colony of thousands. You will then get the chance to rest on the trip back to Hanoi, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant on the way, arriving in Hanoi at about 17.30 where you will be let off at your hotel.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be Lake, Boat trip, Puong Cave, a 2-3 km trek
Group Tour: Ba Be National Park – 2 Days, 1 Night
Day 1
Day 2
The boat will continue along the Nang River, where you will be given the chance to explore the Puong Grotto cave. As well as some very impressive stalactites and stalagmites, there is also a huge bat colony here.
After the boat trip, you will be driven back to your accommodation in Hanoi, aiming to arrive at around 17.30. On the way back, there will be a lunch stop at a local restaurant.
Group Tour: Ba Be National Park – 3 Days, 2 Nights
Day 1
At around 7.30 – 8.00, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Hanoi and taken to Ba Be National Park. it is a long journey so you will stop in a local village en route to have lunch. The journey will then take you up through the mountains while you can admire the tea plantations by the roadside.
Eventually, you will arrive in the Tay village of Coc Toc. Here you will be able to learn about the traditional way in which the houses are built and also learnt about the rice-farming and fishing which plays such a large part in the lives of these people. The Tay people are very friendly and will be your hosts than night when you stay in a local homestay. This will allow you a true insight into the lives of the Tay people and how they live.
The afternoon is yours to spend as you choose. There are optional activities including kayaking on the lake and guided walks and bike rides. For all those who want to explore the area on foot without paying for a guided walk, this is fine too. After the free period, you will be taken on a mini excursion to Hua Ma Cave where you can see the remarkable stalactites and stalagmites.
Day 2
The second day offers the ultimate opportunity to experience the beautiful scenery and diverse landscapes of the Ba Be National Park. You will begin by visiting the local Tay fishermen before you cross the Pelu Stream. It is a tough trek with some steep terrain but once you reach a higher altitude, you will be rewarded by fabulous views of the mountains.
A picnic lunch will be provided when you stop in a Hmong village along the trekking route. After you have filled your stomach, you will continue to hike through the vast mountain ranges to see the stilt houses of the Dzao people. You will also get an opportunity to visit one of the local schools before visiting a second village and returning to your homestay by bike.
The day’s walk will be around 12 – 15 km.
Day 3
You will eat breakfast in your homestay before you head off to explore Ba Be Lake by boat. If you want to go for a swim in the cool waters this is not a problem. Alternatively, you can lay back and take in the stunning views of the National Park. There are beautiful karst formations all around you which make a postcard-perfect scene.
Eventually, you will travel along the Nang River which will provide the opportunity to explore the incredible Puong Grotto. In these caves, you will be able to see the thousands of bats that live here, along with the stalagmites and stalactites. Once the boat trip is over, there will be the opportunity to rest before you are driven back to Hanoi. Lunch will take place at a local restaurant along the way back to the city.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region!
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