Our guide will collect you from your hotel lobby at 8 am, beginning your journey from Hanoi to Bac Ha by car. This journey is expected to take approximately 7 hours. Bac Ha is commonly referred to as the "White Tea", a name acquired due to the vast number of poppies grown here since the mid-80s. En route, there will be opportunities to visit various ethnic minority villages and pause for photo opportunities. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Yen Bai, prior to our arrival in Bac Ha in the late afternoon. Upon checking in, you will spend the night at Ban Pho village. 

During your stay in Bac Ha, you have two options depending on the day of the week.

Option 1: Sunday - Visit the Bac Ha market, a vibrantly colourful highland market where locals gather to sell their homemade products. These range from rice and brocatelle to farming tools, corn wine, and even live animals. The market is not just a shopping hub for the minority ethnic groups, but also a place to socialise and exchange local news.

Option 2: Other days - After breakfast, visit the Hoang A Tuong palace, once the residence of the H'mong king. This grand edifice exhibits both Oriental and European architectural influences and dates back to the early 20th century.

Leaving Bac Ha, marvel at the breathtaking landscapes of Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi as you journey towards Ha Giang province. En route, expect encounters with various hill tribe groups, such as Nuong Ing, Tay, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi, and Co Lao.

You will spend your second night at a homestay located in a quaint village approximately 5km from Ha Giang. Thon Tha village

After breakfast, we embark on a brief walk through a nearby jungle to visit the Ha Thanh waterfall. Our driver will be awaiting us at this point to begin an approximately 150km drive. We will traverse a dramatic route leading to Dong Van, which is punctuated by extended passes and deep valleys.

Our first destination is the Heaven Gate in Quan Ba Tam Son town, home to the mystical Fairy Twin Mountain. We then travel through a landscape characterized by pine forests and arrive at Lung Tam village. Here, we will visit an embroidery cooperative where local women work together to produce hemp clothes and an array of other products from this remarkable material.

We then continue by car to Yen Minh town, where we will pause for lunch. Our journey resumes with a drive through the spectacular sweeping valleys of Pho Cao, boasting breathtaking mountain views. We will also explore Fox Street, a cultural intersection where four ethnic communities - Mong, Dao, Pu Péo, and Han - coexist harmoniously. Life here is idyllic and peaceful; the locals are cheerful, warm, and hospitable, always ready to welcome distant visitors. Notably, the lively and unique early market at Fox Street is a sight to behold, creating a colorful and affectionate tableau that attracts numerous tourists.

Before entering the Sung La valley and reaching Dong Van town, we drive over the Chin Khoanh pass, also known as the Nine Ramps due to its nine varying levels. This well-maintained pass offers stunning valley views. As we head north towards Dong Van, we can visit Sa Phin village, home to the ancient H'Mong King Palace. From there, we proceed directly to Dong Van and check in at our hotel. 

After enjoying a local breakfast in Dong Van town, we will depart for the Ma Pi Leng Pass, which, at an altitude of 1,500 metres, is considered the most remarkable mountain pass in Vietnam. Situated between Dong Van and Meo Vac, two cities in the far north of Vietnam within Ha Giang province, it is in close proximity to the border with China. Known as the most astonishing mountain road in all of Vietnam, the Ma Pi Leng Pass can be quite treacherous.

The optimal time to travel through the Ma Pi Leng Pass is during the dry season from October to February. As this period also coincides with winter, expect very cold temperatures. Due to the pass's high elevation, you can anticipate rain and fog throughout the year.

After this exciting journey, we will proceed to Meo Vac for lunch. Our adventure continues to Bao Lac, and then onwards to Ba Be National Park. Here, we will stay overnight with the Black Tay family, situated by the Ba Be Lake in the Pac Ngo Bac Ka province. 

The Dau Dang Waterfall, situated between two limestone mountain ranges, flows into the Nang River, which forms the boundary between Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang Provinces. The river streams under Lung Nham Mountain, giving rise to Puong Cave. Descending from the 500m-high rocky slopes, it creates the spectacular Dau Dang Waterfall. This area also hosts a rare species of giant catfish, some weighing over 10kg.

The Fairy Pond is a charming body of water neatly nestled within the limestone mountain, standing apart from the main lake. To visit Ao Tien, you must traverse on land. Fed by underground water, the pond's water level remains consistent with that of Ba Be Lake.

Despite its secluded location and tranquillity that offers slim chances for large hauls of fish, local fishermen occasionally visit for angling. Like many features of Ba Be, the Fairy Pond also has its local legend about a hunter who was enchanted by the sight of fairies bathing in the pond.

Ba Goa is a petite island in the middle of Pe Leng, a branch of Ba Be Lake. The island comprises variously-sized rocks stacked over one another. Lush green trees with roots entwined around the stones lend the island a resemblance to a giant penguin surfacing from the lake. Like an emerald reflecting in the clear blue water, the island is an ideal spot for tourists to sightsee and capture memorable photos of their trip to Ba Be National Park.

After exploring these beautiful locations, we return to the homestay for a shower and relaxation. Dinner will be served around 7 pm. 

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our local hosts and commence our journey to the Ban Gioc waterfall, situated three hours away in Cao Bang Province. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant en route.

The Ban Gioc waterfall is the largest and most splendid waterfall in Vietnam. Nestled in the northern province of Cao Bang, the water tumbles down three levels, reaching a height of 30 metres and spanning a width of 300 metres, making Ban Gioc the widest waterfall in the country. The waterfall cascades into the Quay Son River, set amidst a mountain range. From a height of 30 metres, the thunderous flow of water elicits an awe-inspiring sense of power. Ban Gioc is often considered the most breathtaking and beautiful waterfall in Southeast Asia.

Straddling the border, the waterfall splits between Vietnam on one side of the Quay Son River and China on the other, meaning that half of the waterfall resides in Vietnam, with the other half in China. Bamboo rafts are available on both sides, ferrying visitors close to the waterfall.

Located a mere three kilometres from the Ban Gioc Waterfall, we will drive a short 10 minutes to visit the limestone Nguom Ngao Cave. Stretching over a total length of more than 2,100 metres, it is an ideal spot for cave enthusiasts. Visitors can traverse a significant portion of the beautifully lit, impressive cave. Its beauty is partly due to the water dripping through the limestone walls, although this can occasionally make the path slippery.

After visiting the exquisite cave, we will take a leisurely walk to Ms. Yen Nhi Homestay, where we will spend the night with a local Tay family living near the cave. There, you will have the option to learn how to prepare traditional Tay cake, a delightful sticky rice delicacy. 

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our hosts and begin a drive of approximately 57km to visit the craft-making village of the Nung An people in Phia Thap. This village has a rich and lengthy history. Although the founder of their traditional craft remains unknown, incense-making has been passed down through generations, earning recognition for the village. Phia Thap incense is made entirely from natural materials found in the karst region, including bamboo.

After visiting Phia Thap village, we will return to our car and start the drive back to Hanoi, stopping for lunch on the way. Before returning to the city, we will also pay a visit to a tea plantation. We aim to arrive back in Hanoi around 5 pm.