Day 1: Hanoi - Ba Be
Departing Hanoi in the moing, we drive north towards Ba Be Lake. This drive of 270 km, which will take approximately seven hours, takes us through the flatlands of the Red River Delta and up into the mountain areas north of Hanoi. Along the way we will visit the Thai Nguyen Ethnology Museum before arriving at the National Park Guest House in Ba Be. Arriving in Ba Be town by around 1630 we will check into our Guest House and then head out for a bit of exploration before the sunsets. (B)

Day 2: Ba Be
After breakfast we drive the short distance to the jetty where we board our private boat for a cruise on the lake. We visit the Puong cave and the Dau Dang waterfall. Following lunch we continue cruising along the lake, before docking at the village of Pac Ngoi. Home of the Tay minority people where we will spend the night. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Ba Be - Cao Bang
This moing we drive 90km drive to Cao Bang. En route, we are passing numerous villages of H'mong, Zao, Tay and Nung ethnic minority people, all living in harmony. We will arrive at Cao Bang slightly before lunchtime and spend a little exploring this little town, and visiting the local market. After lunch we will visit Pac Po, the hideout used by Ho Chi Minh when he came back to Vietnam after 30 years of self-imposed exile. It was here that he organized his resistance army against the French. Late this afteoon we drive back to Cao Bang for our oveight stay at the local hotel. (B)

Day 4: Cao Bang Trek
We drive to Ta Lung border, the border of China, for lunch. Later we begin our trek with a 15km walk to the Tay village of La and stay oveight in a local homestay. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Cao Bang Trek
Today we trek from La village to Na Mieng village, another Tay community. The trek is approximately 16 kms long. Oveight in Na Mieng. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Cao Bang Trek
Another serious day's trekking through several minority hamlets. We stop for lunch at the village of Dong Khe before venturing on to the Red Dao settlement of Pac Khoang. (B/L/D)  

Day 7: Cao Bang Trek
Our final full day of trekking takes us to the Tay village of Na Pang, a 17km trek. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Cao Bang - Hanoi
Bidding our hosts farewell, we continue walking a further 12kms until we reach the village of That Khe. After lunch in the village we meet up with our vehicle, which will transport us back to Hanoi. (B/L)