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Code: |
VNBKTD97 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi
- Yen Binh - Bac Ha - Luc Yen - Vu Linh
- Bac Can - Ba Be - Quang Hoa - Ban Gioc
- Na Tau - Mau Son - Bai Chay - Halong
- Cat Ba. Boating - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
14 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Yen Binh. ~170
km
We drive to the west direction by the small road
towards Son Tay to the Da River which we cross a
ferry to penetrate in the valley of artisans,
thus named because it is here that one bleeds
the trees with lacquer to extract the invaluable
substance from it. We will have the honour to
meet the two uncles / artisans, last heirs in
date to this prestigious artisan tradition of
which the ancestor was the first to discover
their secrecies in Vietnam. There are many
generations.
We have lunch with the uncles and visit their
field. We then carry on our road, cross the Red
River and go to Yen Binh, at the edge of the
Thac Ba lake.
Day 2: Yen Binh - Bac Ha. ~150 km
Go up by following the main road of Yen Bai
province to the solid massif of the Chay River.
We leave the Dao village to meet the flower
H'Mong.
Day 3: Bac Ha.
Located at the heart of a mountainous circus,
near the Chinese border, the ethnic groups on
both sides of the border meet every Saturday
morning at the market of Can Cau. It is one
moment very moving which takes us out of time.
The afternoon, we visit artisan workshops Ban
Pho held by the association of the H'mong women.
Day 4: Bac Ha - Luc Yen - Vu Linh. ~150 km
We start the day by strolling around Bac Ha to
meet with many ethnic villages in this area. We
then move towards Thac Ba lake. From Bac Ha to
Luc Yen, the road is easy.
After Luc Yen, we take a small dirt track
bordered by palm trees, in the middle of the
karsts. A boat is waiting to take us cross the
lake of West in East while skirting the northern
bank. (3 hours). We arrive at a traditional
village of Dao where we sleep in the family of
our friends. The welcome is exceptional.
Day 5: Vu Linh - Bac Can. ~200 km.
Quite a long journey across Dao and Tay
territory. We stop in Bac Can, about 4 hours
drive before Ba Be lake.
Day 6: Bac Can - Ba Be. ~50 km
Arrived at Mr Dang's house, where we will have
dinner and spend the first night in his
stilt-house.
Mr. Dang brings us through one of the last
bastions of primary jungle of Vietnam, crossing
the lake, and then descending the Gam river
until Dau Dang fall. Memorable meal at Ong
pirate, the cook of the jungle. Then there are
choices, digestion with the fall or promenade
with the meeting of the surrounding villages.
We will spend the night in our captain Mister
Dang (Zi Dang for the close friends) or with the
forest guards' stilt-house close to Ong Pirate.
Day 7: Ba Be - Quang Hoa. ~170 km
Beautiful drive up to Cao Bang province. Few
passes from where you can dominate the area. The
road is easy but many curves. We can stop a lot.
All together, stop for drinks and food it should
be an 8-hour journey. Then drive 1 more hour to
reach the beautiful village of Quang Hoa, in the
middle of a mountain cirque. This is the
territory of Nung An people.
Spend the night in our friend's house.
Day 8: Quang Hoa - Ban Gioc - Quang Hoa. ~100
km
Having obtained permission from the border
police, we make our way through spectacular
scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfalls.
Weather permitting we can swim right up to where
the 50 m high falls hit the river.
Day 9: Quang Hoa - Na Tau - Quang Hoa
Na Tau is a completely unknown area that we
propose to discover it by raft and motorbike.
Rivers and waterfalls everywhere are extremely
beautiful and wild. It is only 15 km from Quang
Hoa. On the return, we invite you for the
aperitif at the village of Phuc Sen, artisan
village Nung An, the owner is the brother of our
host.
Day 10: Quang Hoa - Mau Son. ~190 km
We slowly leave the region of the karsts to find
the forest. Then descending by famous colonial
road N. 4 until the frontier city of Lang Son.
We then climb Mau Son mount (1.541 m) to spend
the night at its top from where we dominate all
the area to which China is near.
Stay in a hotel in a former French atmosphere,
which is recently restored.
Day 11: Mau Son - Bai Chay. ~200 km
We have a long ride mainly on secondary road,
passing many coalmines along the road. The road
goes down towards the plains. Some sections are
in bad conditions.
Arrive in Bai Chay. Check in.
Day 12: Bai Chay - Halong. ~170 km
Arrived at Bai Chay wharf, a private boat is
waiting for us to cruise through myriads of
limestone in Halong Bay. Depending on mood, we
could visit caves, in particular Thien Cung
cave, meet people at the floating village of the
anglers or make stopover in a wild creek...
At the end of the day, the boat drops anchor in
a creek not far from "Ba Trai Dao" island.
Dinner and sleep on boat.
Day 13: Halong - Cat Ba. Boating.
Cruise to Cat Ba. Cat Ba is the far end of
Halong Bay. Cat Ba still live from the resource
that the sea offers. The tourism is developed
and of high quality. The Cat Ba Bay is a
condensed of Halong Bay, its labyrinth of
limestone so dense that it is difficult to
imagine we are on the sea.
We created this itinerary - the floating village
Van Gia. They are our personal friends and the
relation with them is intimate, even knowing
that some companies now also pass through there.
Finally yet importantly, Monkey Island (Cat Dua
Islet) was totally ignored by mass tourism when
we propose to stop there. It has got nothing
special beside the fact that there is nobody
except monkeys and one family who takes care of
their security.
Arrive Cat Ba and check in hotel. Take a sampan
to the floating restaurant for dinner.
Day 14: Cat Ba - Bai Chay - Hanoi. ~170 km
After breakfast, we take another 4-hour boat
cruise to see the East part of Halong Bay (Bai
Tu Long) which was beautifully framed in the
French film Indochina starred by Catherine
Deneuve. Lunch at Hai Ninh restaurant before
driving back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at ~5 pm.
Included
* English Speaking tour leader (other languages
upon requests)
*All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel,
guesthouse and Home stay.etc…
* Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast
, L = Lunches ,D = Dinners)
* A/C transfers and transportation.
* Boat trip mention in itinerary
* Mountain bicycle 24 or 27Speed (LA bike or
Trek bike. etc…)
* Sightseeing excursions as outlined in
itinerary
* Pump, bike tools, spares tubes.
* Spare bike
* Cold water box, small fresh towel.
* Mineral water drinking.
* Seasonal fruits.
* Snacks
Excluded:
* International airfares
* Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
* Items of a personal nature
* Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
* Mineral water beyond that supplied
* Optional excursions
* Additional transport required due to any
emergency situation
* Personal expenses such as telephone and
laundry bills
* Visa fees
* Departure taxes
* Tipping for guiding
Note
This itinerary allows for 12 field days on the
cycling section. You will be able to decide for
yourself at any time during each of these days
how far you want to cycle. Average daily cycling
distances are approximately 60 -100 km. These
distances may vary according to weather, road
conditions and group fitness and preferences.
This is a sightseeing cycle tour, not a marathon
or time trial.
What to bring:
1. Bike Helmet
2. Small backpack
3. Shoes and shorts for cycling
4. Sunglasses
5. Gloves
6. Professional Pedal
7. Sun block
8. Camera + Film
9. Insect repellent
10. Original Passport
11. Wide brim hat
12. Bike water bottle (if you don't want to use
Green Trail Tours bottle)
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