Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
The far north end to end, along the border
The Ha Giang loop and the Cao Bang waterfall country joined by the mountain road that follows the Chinese border, then a night on a lake before the drive home.
Overview
The long way round the far north
Ha Giang and Cao Bang share a border with China and a landscape of karst, rivers and minority villages, but very few travellers see both, because the road between them is a full day of mountain driving. This trip does exactly that: three nights on the Ha Giang loop, then east through Bao Lac to Cao Bang, the Ban Gioc waterfall and Nguom Ngao cave, and a night at Ba Be lake to break the drive back to Hanoi.
It is a demanding week, and we say so. The driving adds up to well over thirty hours. Our Ha Giang partner, an operator we have worked with for years, runs the loop and the border stretch; our Hanoi partner handles the Cao Bang end. We would suggest nine days for anyone who wants a slower version, and we will build it on request.
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Driving
- 4 to 7 hours most days
- Nights
- Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc, Ba Be
- Best months
- September to October
- Stay
- Homestays and simple hotels
- Run by
- Our Ha Giang and Hanoi partners
Nights
The route and the nights
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Hanoi to Ha Giang and Quan Ba
Leave Hanoi at 06:30 for the six-hour drive to Ha Giang city, where you meet your guide and, if you have chosen them, your riders. The permit is checked and you climb for about an hour and a half to Quan Ba for the night.
Day 2
Across the plateau to Dong Van
North through Yen Minh’s pine forest and onto the stone plateau, with the Hmong king’s house at Sa Phin after lunch and the flag tower at Lung Cu if you want the northernmost point. Dong Van by late afternoon.
Day 3
Ma Pi Leng and the Nho Que river
The Ma Pi Leng pass in the morning light, then down to the Nho Que for a boat ride through the gorge. Afternoon in Meo Vac, a town built around its market, and an early night.
Day 4
The border road east to Cao Bang
The longest day: from Meo Vac through Bao Lac and across into Cao Bang province, six to seven hours of mountain road with almost no other traffic. The riders, if you used them, hand over to the car at the start of this stretch. Arrive in Cao Bang city in the late afternoon.
Day 5
Ban Gioc waterfall and Nguom Ngao cave
About two hours east over the Ma Phuc pass to Ban Gioc. Walk the base of the falls and take a raft towards the spray, then an hour inside Nguom Ngao cave after lunch. The night is at a homestay close to the falls.
Day 6
West to Ba Be lake
An early look at the falls, then four and a half to five hours west to Ba Be, a freshwater lake among limestone hills. An afternoon boat on the lake and a quiet evening in a stilt-house homestay by the water.
Day 7
Ba Be to Hanoi
Breakfast by the lake and about five to six hours back to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 995 | from 1245 | from 1890 |
| 4 travelling | from 815 | from 1020 | from 1550 |
| 6 travelling | from 735 | from 920 | from 1400 |
The table above is for a car and driver throughout. Easy riders on the Ha Giang section add to the cost for groups but little for a couple. Accommodation is simple in every tier here, so the tiers make less difference than elsewhere; the main variable is how many of you share the car.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Private car and driver for seven days, or easy riders on the loop and the car after
- Local English-speaking guides on both sections
- Six nights in homestays, guesthouses and a city hotel, breakfast included
- All meals as listed
- Border-area permit, entrance fees, the Nho Que boat, the raft at Ban Gioc and the Ba Be boat
- Helmets and rain gear for the easy-rider option
What it does not include
- Self-drive motorbike hire
- Travel insurance, which is compulsory for this trip
- Visas, drinks and tips
Practical
Riding, weather and the border
If you want the loop on two wheels, ride pillion behind a professional local driver; it is the safe way to do it. Self-riding without a motorbike licence valid in Vietnam will almost certainly void your travel insurance, and the nearest proper hospital can be many hours away.
September and October are the months when both halves work: the air is clear on the plateau, and the Ban Gioc falls have water from August to October. March to May is good for Ha Giang but brings a thin waterfall. From December to February the north is cold, with single digits on the plateau. June to August is the wettest period, with landslides on the border road.
Carry your passport every day. There are police checkpoints on the border roads in both provinces.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Anyone who dislikes long days in a vehicle should not book this one; take the four-day loop or the three-day Cao Bang trip instead, or ask for the nine-day version. Rooms are simple throughout, and on some nights the bathroom is shared. And first-time visitors with less than two weeks in Vietnam will usually get more from a trip that includes the centre or the south.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is seven days enough for Ha Giang and Cao Bang?
It is enough, at a brisk pace, with one six-to-seven-hour day between them. Nine days is the comfortable version.
Can I ride a motorbike myself?
Only with a motorbike licence valid in Vietnam; otherwise your insurance is almost certainly void. We recommend riding pillion with a professional.
When is the best time?
September to October for both halves: clear skies on the plateau and water in the Ban Gioc falls.
Related
Read next
Northern Vietnam
Ha Giang
The loop: routes, timing, and car versus motorbike.
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Northern Vietnam
Cao Bang
Ban Gioc, Nguom Ngao and the empty north-east.
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Example journey
Ha Giang loop
The full loop by car or easy rider, three nights on the plateau.
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Example journey
Cao Bang and Ban Gioc
The border waterfall, a kilometre of cave and a homestay near the falls.
View this journey
Tours
Tours
Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
View this journey
Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
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Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399