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
Lori A
Wrote a review 11 - 2023
Ba Be National Park
Review of: Ba Be National Park trekking & kayaking 3 days 2 nights
Super friendly guides providing a great experience. The scenery was beautiful and the local people so friendly. Would definitely recommend this trip!
Date of experience: 11 - 2015
Dear Lori A, I was delighted to have your sharing; it made me happy to know you were satisfied with the trip. Your compliments on our services as well as staff are the great encouragement forcing us moving forwards. You are always welcome and have good time traveling with us. Best Regards, Linh
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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 ...Read Moreso 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.
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Date of experience: 4 - 2023
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.
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AlysFur
Wrote a review 4 - 2023
3 day 2 night Ba Be trip
Review of: Ba Be National Park trekking & kayaking 3 days 2 nights
I did the 3 day 2 night Ba Be trip in October and I thoroughly recommend it. It's an amazing place & everything was perfect. Very comfortable transport, delicious food, lovely accommodation & incredibly friendly guide (Long). Thank you so much for a wonderful experience!
Date of experience: 4 - 2023
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...Read More 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.
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Date of experience: 10 - 2016
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
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CornishPixie91
Wrote a review 4 - 2023
Fantastic way to escape the tourist traps!
Review of: Adventure to Ba Be National Park 3 days 2 nights
From start to finish, this company went above and beyond to make sure this was a truly unforgettable trip. All of the staff were friendly and helpful when booking the tour and as soon as we met Mr Linh, we knew we had chosen the right company! Our trip to Ba Be was a definite highlight of my time in Vietnam. As well as seeing all of the main attractions, which really are breathtaking we also enjoyed getting off the beaten track and experiencing some of the local villages and meeting the ...Read Morepeople that live there.
The home stay was a fantastic experience. The traditional Tay house was really beautiful and the hospitality was amazing, exactly what you need after a day of exploring!
The caves in Ba Be deserve a special mention and I would really like to thank our fantastic guide for sharing his amazing bank of knowledge it really made this trip so much more special being able to find out about the history and traditions of the area.
I would definitely recommend this company and would like to say thank you to everyone at Mr Linh's travel agency for making this such an amazing experience.
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Date of experience: 10 - 2016
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 lake , trying local foods and learning cultures of local people there. 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 h...Read Moreave a fabulous holiday. Thank you 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.
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eckh20
Wrote a review 4 - 2023
Great 5 day trekking trip to Ba Be!
Review of: Ba Be National Park trekking & kayaking 3 days 2 nights
While my husband was working in Hanoi, I decided to take the plunge and do some trekking further north in Vietnam before heading south from the capital once his conference was done. As a woman travelling alone, and with an immune disease that renders my capacity to do physical activity unreliable, I was definitely looking for a company who could provide me with a guide and a good itinerary. Kevin (Mr Hien) at the B-Tourist did just that!
ITINERARY
I can't find t...Read Morehe exact itinerary but it was:
Day 1: Pick up at my hotel in Hanoi in a private car. Drive to Ba Be, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant half way, plus a stop at the ruins of a French prison for Vietnamese POWs. In the evening a short walk to a nearby cave. Overnight at Mr Linh's homestay.
Day 2: 24km from Coc Doc via the school at Na Nghe for lunch, then via Dan May to Ta Ken where we stayed at a simpler but very comfortable homestay. Quick visit to the nearby Dau Dang waterfall. A long day for anyone not used to walking distances / in the heat / up and down hills. Incredible scenery though.
Day 3: 14km Short boat ride to avoid a difficult rocky patch, and then along the river to Ban Cam. Stop at a school to meet the kids. Quick stop for tea with a family before a steep hill climb for about half an hour (with regular stops) before lunch with the teachers at a school. Then onwards uphill (mostly concrete road from here though) to Cam Ban for an overnight at a very simple homestay (see below).
Day 4: 10km/16km Two hours down the concrete road, with it's amazing views, to Ban Tau, and then just 1km further to Khuoi Tang to catch the boat (also run by B-Tourist). From here a couple of hours visiting Phuong Cave, the Fairy Lake, An Ma Temple before either returning straight to Mr Linh's homestay by boat, or being ped off further along the coast for a final 6km back.
Day 5: Short walk along the bank of the lake through Pac Ngoi village until you ask to be picked up. Head for Hanoi via lunch at another local restaurant and a visit to the Ethnography Museum where the guide will walk you around the replica buildings outside to tell you about them, before leaving you to explore inside by yourself (exhibits are in English). Back to Hanoi and the hotel.
GUIDE
Overall this was a hugely well organised tour. Long, my guide, was incredibly reassuring, especially about stopping whenever I wanted. He maybe went a little overboard nagging me about eating more fresh fruit (like it would cure my incurable immune disease) which felt very patronising after a while. But in general he was friendly, respectful and judged very well my preference for walking without talking so I can take it all in. Long carried all the water for the trip, plus umbrellas for when it rained or was very sunny. He also translated along the route so that we could meet local villagers, give candy to kids at local schools, eat lunches with teachers, and converse with our homestay hosts. His organisational capacity was amazing, calling ahead to places to arrange food for us, including vegetarian for me. He always walked ahead of me in case it was slippery or dangerous, and there was always a hand waiting to help if it proved so. For someone who works several weeks without a break, and spending 5 days with me, he was incredible. He even made me another steam bath with local medicinal herbs when I got back to help me relax!
The driver didn't speak much English but his driving felt pretty safe. Can't really comment much more!
ACCOMODATION
The homestays were great. Mr Linh's homestay justifies the revues - welcoming, extremely comfortable and a great way to begin and end the trek. Mr Linh didn't help my anxiety about starting the trek by suggesting I change my plans the morning we were due to start walking, but I think that may have been prompted the nerves showing on my face. But the showers were hot, the beds huge and the duvets sumptuous. They kept my room for me the whole time so that I could store my stuff, which was nice. The second homestay is similar, though there hadn't been enough sun for a hot shower so I was provided with a large container to stand in and plenty of hot water. After such a long trek this was certainly good enough for me. The food and company was good and I slept well. The third homestay was more simple with a squat toilet outside and again it was a large container for a shower in a shed outside, but they gave me the steam bath with medicinal leaves in to use as washing water and it smelt and felt great! The toilet was clean and flushing so I had no problem using it, and while the bed was in a large dorm room (which I had to myself), I was warm and comfortable enough to sleep. Back to Mr Linh's for the last night, and back to luxury!
OTHER STUFF
- No problems if you're vegetarian (let them know before you go) but if you don't eat a great deal, prepare to be nagged and hassled. There were times I was really frustrated with being told to eat more like a child.
- You'll need to be able to carry enough stuff for the three trekking days and two nights away from Mr Linh's (changes of clothes and toiletries & medication etc.) so if you can't manage that, this isn't for you.
- You also need to be able to walk up hill a bit, though the pace is up to you to set. However, the plans are always adaptable so if you decide you can't do the full day, your guide will be able to change plans to shorten it for you.
- If you have questions or concerns, let them know. My husband emailed for reassurance that I'd be well taken care of and the reply did just that. It was also clear by my guide's manner that he had been briefed and was always keen to reassure me about our trek.
OVERALL
If you have time to take 5 days out of your trip, this is absolutely a trek to do. Yes, at times it is hard and tiring, but that's trekking! The views were breathtaking and it was such a different experience meeting and staying with local ethnic minority families, to the bustling cities and hotels I experienced on the rest of my trip. I felt amazing at the end having achieved something I (and apparently some staff) wasn't sure I could do. All with a dedicated guide and driver (the latter staying at the homestay for the entire time) and all for about £100 a day (my only additional costs were sweets for the school kids and tips).
There's not a huge amount I'd suggest to improve. The nagging over food I could have done without, but I reminded myself that my husband and I had wanted a tour company and guide who would take care of me, and this was that (if a little unwelcome/overboard). They hadn't made clear to me that I would be carrying my stuff, I had thought the driver would bring it to wherever we were staying, so that was a surprise but I managed it. I would also have happily skipped the museum at the end, as by then I was tired and ready to get back to Hanoi.
My huge thanks to the whole team, and especially to my guide Long for such an incredible trip.
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Date of experience: 2 - 2015
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. ...Read MoreIt'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.
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Date of experience: 4 - 2023
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
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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 in...Read Moreteresting 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
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Date of experience: 4 - 2023
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
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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'...Read Mores 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.
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Date of experience: 2 - 2020
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
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BarryJM
Wrote a review 3 - 2023
Great trip through Northern Vietnam
Review of: Trekking The Northern Trails of Vietnam 9 days 8 nights
What a fabulous 9 days trekking in Northern Vietnam with Mr Linhs Adventures It was very special to see and experience such a diversity of ethnic minority groups still living a traditional lifestyle and take in the stunning scenery along the way and we can’t speak highly enough of our driver and guide who got us through unscathed In such remote country there are always challenges that arise but they were all dealt with in a most efficient manner
Would recommend Mr Linhs Adve...Read Morentures to anyone
Barry and Tanya
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Date of experience: 3 - 2020
Thank you so much Barry and Tanya for sharing your experience. We had plenty of fun organizing this tour and giving you the best team to help you experience paths known by locals only, and homestay with different ethnic minority families. A trek is definitely one of the best ways to explore the North of Vietnam. We hope to see you again someday! Mr Linh's Adventures Team
Written 4/20/2023
Cathy V
Wrote a review 3 - 2023
Great
Review of: Trekking The Northern Trails of Vietnam 9 days 8 nights
Trekking with Mr Linh’s Adventures was fantastic! Well organised, knowledgeable local guide (Loi) & bus driver. We went as a group of 13 hikers from Brisbane. Great response from Cathy Ha in Mr Linh’s office for payment & planning. Combination of hotels & home stay accommodation in traditional minority homes. Great hiking days, through villages, jungle & across the Sky path. Highly recommend this company
Date of experience: 3 - 2020