Remote trails of Indochina, Cao Bang region

Tour of Hanoi starting with the West Lake District and the city’s oldest pagoda. Then One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum District. Visit of the ethnology museum, a good introduction to the trekking days to come. Finally, the temple of literature. Puppet show on the water, traditional art. Dinner and overnight.

Departure for the Cao Bang region with a very beautiful mountain road via the Bao Lac pass at the entrance to the border territories. The very complex relief constitutes a natural fortress based on the three points: Cao Bang, That Khé and Lang Son that we will discover. Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

We meet our local team, the liaison officer and the porters, before taking the bus to the Chinese border. After an hour and a half on the road, we arrive at a small village where we start our walk. The villagers come to see us with great curiosity! A small stage on a very flat path before joining the Nam La river. We enter more and more in the jungle, then follow the river to arrive at the hamlet of a few houses where we will spend the night … Homestay with Tay people. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 750m.

The track climbs gently towards a beautiful waterfall then leads to a well-marked path. We encounter more and more sugar cane plantations. The afternoon is quiet along the river in the village of the Tay ethnic group, which will welcome us warmly for the night. Night in a house on stilts surrounded by a large banana garden by the river, swimming possible. 5h walk, elevation gain 450m.

Get up early with the rhythm of the household. We cross a suspension bridge then green hills. We discover life of a Vietnamese market and we have lunch in a small school. We are now entering a region specializing in planting sugar cane. On board a tractor we join Ta Lung. This town is an important border post between Vietnam and China. The visit to the border post is impressive (you imagine yourself being the actor in a spy film …). Night in a school. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 500m.

After some fruit purchases at the market, visit of a cane sugar factory. The walk resumes, crossing the river in a raft. The path goes deeper and wilder. After a few pleasant “bumps”, then a passage through the jungle, the track leads to a huge basin invaded by rice fields. The peasants stare at us with curious eyes … Homestay with Tay people. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 515m.

In the morning, we follow an easy track that crosses several Tay and Nung villages. After lunch, a path under the trees leads us to an impressive ridge which leads to a beautiful valley with sumptuous rice fields, surrounded by superb limestone peaks. We arrive at our destination in the late afternoon. The children run behind us shouting “Lien Xo” (Soviets…!). Homestay with Tay people. Hosts are very hospitable. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 555m.

A 2 hour climb to reach the pass overlooking the Dong Khê basin. A splendid landscape awaits us. After a meal in a local restaurant in Dong Khê where there are some blockhouses built by the French army, we reach another pass overlooking Dong Khê. The path then descends to the small village of Daos where we will spend the night. 5h walk, elevation gain 630m.

After a 1/2 hour on an easy path under the trees, we follow down a torrent through a primary forest. This is the path that the French soldiers themselves took to escape the Dong Khê area… We then follow a small river before arriving at our stopover, a Tay village where the welcome is excellent. Unforgettable atmosphere for this last evening of the trek… Watch out for the rice alcohol… ! 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 435m.

A well-marked path along the river brings us around noon to the point where we find our vehicle. Departure for Lang Son, the most important Chinese border town, passage of most of the Chinese products which are imported into Vietnam. Visit of the central market. Night at the hotel. 5 hours of walking.

Charming cruise in Halong Bay. Road to Halong, boarding around noon and lunch on board. Beginning of navigation during lunch. Then, swim or sea kayak in the middle of the islands. Friendly evening on board and night in a comfortable cabin. This cruise takes a different route from the 500 or so other boats that sail the bay, ensuring you to have a peaceful cruise. This company is a local player in responsible tourism in the bay.

Last morning of cruise with a visit of a floating village. The majestic junk resumes navigation to bring you back to the port. Last lunch on the boat before disembarking. Return to Hanoi. End of the day free for some souvenir shopping. Dinner and overnight.

Free time until departure for the airport and international return flight.