Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

This Vietnam adventure tour will take you from the vast lakes and chalky karsts of Ba Be National Park to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall. You will be travelling through remote areas in Northern Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to learn about and experience the unique cultures and customs of rural Vietnam.

Destination:

Ba Be National Park - A wild treasure home to one of the biggest natural freshwater lakes in Asia
Cao Bang - Cao Bang is an immensely beautiful, sparsely populated frontier region of North Vietnam
Hanoi - Bustling capital city of Northern Vietnam

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Tour code: GPT06E
Departure date: Join tour on Tuesday & Friday. Private tour on request
Duration: 3 days 2 nights
Price USD: $249 per person

SET DEPARTURE ON TUESDAY & FRIDAYS
Join tour: $249 per person

Day 1: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen (L/D)
- Are you ready to start a fabulous adventure tour Vietnam ? Our tour guide will pick you up by car at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter or Mr Linh's Adventures office around 7:30 - 8:00am, transferring you to Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before stopping at Chi Lang Pass a 20kmlong gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains.
  
  This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as far back as 981AD. As such it bears the reputation of Vietnam’s strongest citadel and bastion. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as “The Gate of Monsters”, named for the many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.
  
  After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.
  
  In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.
  
  Highlights and activities: Chi Lang pass, Quy Mon Quan gate, Dong Khe battle site, ethnic villages, and a 3-5km walk
Day 2: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ba Be National Park (B/L/D)
- After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.
  
  Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.
  
  Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
  
  You will then return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family. Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home cooked meal.
  
  Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ba Be National Park, ethnic villages.
Day 3: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B/L)
- After breakfast, you will board a boat to cross the lake to the north shore. From here you will start a hike in the rainforest of the central area of the Ba Be National Park. Along the shores of the lake, you will reach a prehistoric cave dating back 500 million years, hidden in an ancient forest composed of rare and hard wood trees, as strong as steel.
  A little further, a fire station allows to observe the birds.
  
  Resume your hiking to reach the An Ma temple (a sacred temple of the Tay people venerating the snake god and military general of the Mac dynasty).
  
  It is now time to choose how to spend your time on the boat: relax and admire the landscape or take a dip in the fresh waters of the lake? Anyway, enjoy the scenery with its beautiful karst formations lined with jungle.
  
  Note: visitors who do not wish to participate in the walk can ask to stay on the boat to join Widow Island or do some shopping
  
  Return to Ba Be Jungle Houses restaurant for lunch before ending the tour, you will be taken about 230 km back to Hanoi and stop at a tea plantation located among rolling hills. When we arrived in Hanoi, it was time to say goodbye, creating lifelong memories and bonds.

Tour Includes:

•    Professional vehicle transportations and commercial vehicle insurance. Professional driver.
•    Air-conditioned vehicle, Round-trip transportation from selected hotels.
•    Accommodation at Nung’s homestay in Cao Bang, at Tay’s houses in Ba Be national park.
•    Experienced English-speaking guide.
•    Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner).
•    Bottled water.
•    All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier.
•    Kayak & boat tour on Ba Be lake.
•    Hiking tour in Ba Be national park.
•    Bamboo raft tour on Ban Gioc waterfall.
•    Nguom Ngao Cave walking tour.
•    All Taxes and Fees.
•    No extra charge after confirmation.
•     24/7 hotline support guaranteed.

Tour Excludes:

•   Personal expenses, tips and gratuities.
•   Travel insurance.
•   International & domestic flights and taxes.
•   Beverage.
•   Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenir, etc.

What To Take:

• Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.

• It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat.

“ENJOY YOUR WONDERFUL JOURNEY”

Enquiry Now

Accommodation List

Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value

Mr Kim's Homestay

Address: Phia Thap Village, Quoc Dan, Quang Uyen, Cao Bang province

Mr Kim’s Homestay stands out in green rice paddy fields of Phia Thắp Village, home to 50 families from the Nùng ethnic minority in Cao Bằng Province.
The traditional structure of Kim’s stilt house is still preserved. The house’s first floor, which used to be a cattle holding area, has been extended to make a cozy living room with wooden tables and chairs. The well-organised second floor is where tourists can sleep, providing more than 20 mattresses and eco-friendly decoration. Each mattress is well prepared with a pillow, a mosquito net, a lamp and an electricity socket.

Ba Be Jungle Houses

Address: Coc Toc village, Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province

A step up in amenities to Ba Be's homestays, this lakeside place in Coc Toc village takes the form of six small, spic-and-span, wood-panelled private rooms, and a dorm. Visitors are well looked after by friendly English-speaking staff.

Review

4.8 average based on 159 reviews.

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Francis Sandmeier

Wrote a review 8 - 2023

Une excellente (et delicieuse!) escapade buissonnier - An excellent (and delicious !) getaway

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

Une excellente escapade buissonniere, avec un tres bon equilibre entre marche, decouvertes et rencontres. Guide au top, hebergements parfaits et nourriture locale savoureuse ont egalement fait partie du plaisir ! An excellent getaway, with a very good balance between walking, discovering and encounters. Guide at the top, perfect accommodation and tasty local food were also part of the fun!

Date of experience: 8 2023

DinksOnTour

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

3 Day 2 Night Ba Be and Ban Gioc, Vietnam

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We booked the tour through another travel agent and discovered on pick up, that the tour was with Mr Linh's Adventure Tours. Whilst we knew that we had a few 100 kms of driving, we were not expecting the long windy road to Ba Be NP. Thankfully we had a very comfortable and clean van and an excellent driver.

Ba Be NP is beautiful and worth the drive if you want to get away from the majority of tourists, motor bikes and shops. The scenery along the way is also beautiful so there is always something to look at (unless you have been rocked to sleep).

Our stay at Mr Ling's homestay was comfortable, but it is not really a homestay, more like private rooms with shared bathrooms.

The following day, it was another long day of driving to get to Ban Gioc but so worth it. Whilst it was overcast the waterfall was still very beautiful.

The traditional homestay on the second night was a surprise. We were prepared to stay in a family's home, but was not prepared for the smell and noise of the pigs that live under the floor of the home which is the traditional way of looking after their animals. Initially this was very off putting and it would have been helpful to have known this before booking the tour.

In saying this, the food that was prepared was beautiful and some of the best that we had eaten in Vietnam. Although the hosts could not speak English, they were welcoming.

Our guide Tung (Joey) was excellent and with a sense of humour, provided a very enjoyable few days exploring a part of Vietnam that not a lot get to see.

If you are considering this tour, I would strongly recommend, if you have the time and budget, to do a private tour and stay at Ba Be for an extra night, one to recover from the drive, and two, just to appreciate the scenery.

Date of experience: 4 2023

Mr Linh's Adventure

Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for booking with Mr Linh's Adventures and writing us a review. We are glad to bring you a new experiences in discovering beautiful Ba Be national parkand Ban gioc waterfalls. In our tour, we are always care about the quality of our service and customer satisfaction. Our staffs always welcome travellers from all over the world to come to Mr Linh’s Adventures . Our company is passionate about ensuring that our customers have a fabulous holiday. Thank you...Read More for recommended us and hope to see you again in our next tour. For any questions about our tours , please feel free to contact to us by email : tours@mrlinhadventure.com Best Regards, Mr Linh's Adventures. Read Less

Written 0/0/0

pmw

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

Ban Giocc falls/ BaBe Lake

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

By far one of the most wonderful excursions ever over decades of travel….two night,three days with both nights at home stays
They were both good but staying at BaBe lake was phenomenal. It allows you to meet and share the experience with other people. Giang (Tour Guide) and Long (Driver) could not have been better
I realize that many tourists don’t tip in Viet Nam but I think this excursion deserved acknowledgement over and above the every day ones offered

Date of experience: 4 2023

CASSIE D

Wrote a review 1 - 2023

Beautiful Scenery

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We had a wonderful experience. The first homestay (Phia Thap Incense Village) was very authentic and rustic. Our hosts were lovely and really friendly. The second homestay on Ba Be Lake was great as well. Our guide, Nha was friendly and informative. Thanh, our driver was drove safely and was friendly.
The waterfalls and caves are worth seeing. There is a lot of time in the car, but I enjoyed this tour.

Date of experience: 1 2018

gmador

Wrote a review 10 - 2023

Custom trip

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We wanted to arrive Ba be national park but to see, in the way, the Ban Gioc waterfalls and to homestay at the Pac Rang village that is known for making all types of knifes.
In the next morning a ford transit with 14 seats came to pick us (we are a family with two teenagers). It was great as in the long drives the kids could sleep comfortably (relative to a chair of course 😉)
The driver was very calm during the drives (important as huge trucks arrives in the narrow winding roads). Each morning the car was very clean.
The tour guide was just great!! So sweet, so much knowledge she shared with us including about her life and her family.
The waterfalls are very impressive and worth the drive and the village is interesting and the people are extremely nice. Their place is a traditional house but with modern toilet as they were told that this is what is important for western tourists...
The dinner was one of the best we ate in Vietnam.

We enjoyed very much.

Date of experience: 10 2016

Mr Linh's Adventure

Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to write the review. We are really happy that we could provide you and your family with your ideal trip. Here at Mr Linh’s Adventures we enjoy creating custom made trips to ensure you are truly satisfied with your adventure. It was a pleasure to be able to show you some of the beauty that Vietnam has to offer. We are happy to hear such lovely things about members of our team and believe that it is these personal touches that mak...Read Moree for a unique and unforgettable trip. We will be sure pass along your praise. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay and happy to hear you enjoyed the food! Once again thank you for your custom and review and please do get in contact with any inquiries about future travel for you and your friends, we hope to see you again someday! Best Regards, Linh Read Less

Written 0/0/0

pirts04

Wrote a review 12 - 2023

trip to the North of Vietnam

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We did very beutufull trip to the North of Vietnam - Babe lake and Ban Gioc waterfool. Thanks to our guide who took care for us all three days. Very good service.

Date of experience: 12 2014

Julia F

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

Amazing Ban Gioc

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We have just completed a 3 day 2 night tour up to the Chinese boarder with Mr. Linhs tour company.
Mr. Long our tour guide was a fantastic source of information. This tour offers a great experience into Vietnamese country life. It involves 2 nights in different home stays. The first home stay is dormitory style with mattresses on the floor and the 2nd is on Ba Be Lake and is luxury!
This tour takes you up to the Chinese boarder to see the most beautiful waterfall Ban Gioc. It's a lot of driving but Mr. Long makes sure you get to visit the "happy room" regularly. All meals are included and everything was amazing. We like a beer or 2 and the home stays even catered for that!!!
Thank you Long and Long for a 3 day tour we will never forget.

Date of experience: 4 2023

Mr Linh's Adventure

Dear Julia, many thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour very much and we managed to help you discover the traditional life of Vietnamese people in the countryside in between amazing visits. 'Happy room' and 'Happy water', the secret for happy travelers :) Until next time! Mr Linh's Adventures Team

Written 0/0/0

Greenclifflady

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

Fabulous Experience

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We’ve just returned from this wonderful trip and are absolutely delighted that we did it. Yes, of course, it was a long way from Hanoi. That was made very clear in all the marketing and at the beginning of the tour. The minibus was very comfortable and with 10 of us in the group, we each had a double seat to spread out. Our guide, Mr Long and driver, Mr Duy, we’re both helpful, polite and friendly, as well as superbly professional at all times. From the start, Mr Long gave interesting information about Vietnam, Hanoi and then the North East region of the country. He stopped at a village on route to the first Homestay to show us the simple life of the local people- which was fascinating. We saw the gateway to China up in the mountains and Long explained the full history of that area. The restaurants on route are basic, but food was very good and tasty. At different spots the toilets are basic, but that’s not a problem. Some English toilets can be horrid!! Just remember- take tissues and your anti-bac hand wash everywhere!!
The first Homestay is very simple but beautiful. You sleep on mattresses on the floor. The ‘walls’ of each ‘bedroom’ are curtains, but it’s possible to be very private and the shower is excellent and toilets are excellent. Everywhere is spotlessly clean. An early morning walk round the Village was just amazing, meeting the locals and seeing real life. Food there is great and the Nung family are so hospitable.
The Ban Gioc falls are spectacular- we had a good hour there, after visiting the Tiger caves nearby. Then a long drive to Ba Be lake, but so so worth the drive!! We arrived in the dark and our luggage was loaded on to a boat to go to Mr Linh’s Homestay, which is actually a beautiful lodging house, with luxury bedrooms. WiFi is fast and facilitated are excellent. The food is very good. We were able to go kayaking at dawn before fantastic breakfast, then a sail of one hour, a walk, visit to a village of the Tuy people before setting off back to Hanoi at lunchtime, stopping on the way for lunch at s gorgeous place owned by a Frenchman and his Vietnamese wife. Here the food was first class.
All in all, this tour is excellent and a exceptional value for money. The experience of seeing authentic North Vietnam with such a fabulous guide was just amazing and we are so happy to have done this. Highly recommend

Date of experience: 4 2023

Mr Linh's Adventure

Thank you so much for both your review and recommendation! We have enjoyed reading every word and feel very proud to have given you a memorable experience, authentic and off the beaten tracks. This trip is very special and, as you summarised it so well, offers a great opportunity to meet locals away from the main cities, share a privileged moment with them, and discover less crowded places such as Ban Gioc and Ba Be. Your kind words will be passed on to Mr Long and Mr Duy with no hesitat...Read Moreion! So a thousand thanks and until next time! Mr Linh's Adventures Team Read Less

Written 0/0/0

Sascha K

Wrote a review 2 - 2023

Amazing trip to Northern parts of Vietnam with Ban Gioc Waterfall and Ba Be Lake

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

We did the 3d/2n tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall and Ba Be Lake / National Park and loved it. Booked a group tour, but ended up going as a private tour, as we were the only ones for that specific day. Went with a private SUV and toured through the northern parts of Vietnam. Stunning landscapes and friendly local people and tribes. It was the least touristic area we've witnessed so far in Vietnam. Local homestays where amazing as well, as we slept in a little Nung village with Mr. Kim's homestay. Food was always great as well and always too much to eat. :-)
Our guide Mr. Linh was knowledgeable and friendly as well. He took good care of us.
Nature higlights were the Ban Gioc Waterfall and Ba Be Lake for sure.
So we can highly recommend this tour with Mr. Linh's adventure! Maybe it would be better to do this trip longer if you can, as a lot of driving is involved in this tour.

Date of experience: 2 2020

Mr Linh's Adventure

Such an amazing review thank you so much! Hosting curious travelers just like you is a pleasure. We are very pleased to have provided you with so many memories and an unforgettable time in Northeast Vietnam thanks to our team and especially tour guide Mr Linh. Reaching Ban Gioc Waterfall through mountains passes takes some time indeed, we settled for 3 days because visitors mainly want to see the whole of Vietnam and their time is therefore limited. Thanks again for travelling with us! M...Read Morer Linh's Adventures Team Read Less

Written 0/0/0

MaritS24

Wrote a review 1 - 2023

Very Nice Experience

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

I did the tour. It was a very good experience. The first night you stay at a real homestay. It was a bit cold, but nice to experience the real life. The second night you stay in a beautifully located hotel. You see things without other tourists. As said in other reviews, you do spend a lot of time in the bus.

Date of experience: 1 2020

Mr Linh's Adventure

Thank you so much for this review, we are very proud to have participated in your discovery of Northeast Vietnam! We do our best to focus on less touristy destinations and help visitors what Vietnamese culture is about. Ban Gioc and Ba Be are both worth the trip, even though it includes some time spent in the bus. Thank you again for travelling with us and we hope you will keep great memories of your experience in our beautiful country. Mr Linh's Adventures Team

Written 4/19/2023

Globepouncing

Wrote a review 6 - 2023

The Way to Ban Gioc

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

Getting up into Vietnam's wild northeast is not easy, and Mr. Linh's outfit is a pretty clear best option among relatively few decent operators. The 3-day Ba Be and Ban Gioc trip was as advertised and about what we expected - rural homestays and lots of driving. Seeing Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Viet-Chinese border was worth it, and the 'Tiger Cave' was quite a sight to see, too. On this tour we also hiked along the border with China to Ho Chi Minh's digs upon his return to Vietnam. Long stretches in the back of the van are the key drawback of this tour, but at this point, if you want to see Ban Gioc, there's really no better way.

Date of experience: 6 2022

Ashley L

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

Wonderful three days with Mr Long

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

My 5 friends and I did the 3 day tour to Ba Be Lake and Ban Gioc Waterfall guided by Mr. Long. He was very knowledgable and passionate about sharing Vietnam with us. Mr. Long was very in tune with our interests and adapted the tour accordingly. We swam, rock-jumped and kayaked in the beautiful lake, had a delicious BBQ dinner, visited caves and learned many interesting facts at different pit stops along the way. Highly recommend. A shoutout to Dr Duy for being a safe and patient driver who stopped every time I needed to use the restroom.

Date of experience: 4 2022

Mr Linh's Adventure

Hi 878ashleyl, Thank you for taking your valuable time to review the trip “3-Day Ba Be Lake - Ban Gioc Waterfall”. We are so glad to hear that you had wonderful experiences on your trip. What a real adventure! It looks like you had many exciting moments in Ba Be National Park and Mr Linh’s Homestay with an outdoor BBQ dinner. So amazing! Hope that we can meet on your next trip to Vietnam. We would like to take you to the rest of the pretty parts of Vietnam. Thank you so...Read More much for trusting in us! Mr Linh’s Adventures’ Team Read Less

Written 4/19/2023

Lisa

Wrote a review 11 - 2023

AMAAAAZING

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

I had a fantastic trip to Ban Gioc & Ba Be Lake with a small group tour, once of the few places that actually provide this and not a private tour. As a lone traveller I wanted to meet some others along the way.

The homestays were lovely and catered for us very well, our bellies were full and the accommodation was great. They were also great fun.

It’s a long trip but with plenty of stops along the way, our driver along and tour guide Giang were fantastic, I couldn’t fault them. Giang would stop and show us various temples and significant places with the war and tell us about them.

Ba Be Lake was lovely and not too crowded, it is very peaceful apart from the cockerels who will wake up when they get up haha.

Ban Gioc was beautiful, you can’t swim there but can get your feet in and can get very close, a little boat goes close to the waterfall for some good pictures which is included in your price with Mr Linh’s.

Giang was a great laugh, always joking and was an AMAAAAZING tour guide.

I would definitely recommend if you want something a bit different to other tourists spots like Ha Long Bay, I much more enjoyed this trip.

Date of experience: 11 2022

Amanda F

Wrote a review 4 - 2023

Best Authentic Vietnamese Experience of Our Trip!

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

What an amazing trip! Loi our guide and Bau our driver were the the best. This experience is perfect if you’re looking to get away from more touristy activities and take in some beautiful landscapes. We met wonderful people, had delicious food and even got to partake in a traditional Vietnamese minority wedding. I will be highly recommending this tour to others traveling to Northern Vietnam!

Date of experience: 4 2023

Kathryn C

Wrote a review 8 - 2022

One of the best things we did in Vietnam

Review of: Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

My partner and I had an absolutely amazing time on our tour with Ninh on the Ban Gioc and Ba Be lake tour. Our tour guide Ninh was just amazing. His English was really good and he went above and beyond to describe the country and the landscape to us. We really enjoyed the small village we stayed at the first night and the hostess Ms. Kim was just the most precious host.
We actually enjoyed the Ba Be lake more than we did the waterfall because the waterfall was pretty packed with tourists. At the lake we stayed at the home stay of Mr. Linh and it was actually his wedding and so we celebrated his wedding day which was just a blast. His family was super welcoming and I thought we got to see a lot of culture through this experience.
We loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone!

Date of experience: 8 2022