2-Day Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Trek in the Khau Ca Forest
Tour Information
The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey lives only in the forests of northern Vietnam, and it is critically endangered (Fauna & Flora). Khau Ca, in the former Vi Xuyen district of the Ha Giang region, is one of the few places where it still survives.
We walk in from Tung Ba, the Dao village at the edge of the forest. Khau Ca is the reserve; Tung Ba is where the trail begins and where the forest ranger station sits, inside the conservation zone. You trek through old limestone forest with a TVPalm guide and a local forest ranger, sleep one night at the station, and go back to the monkeys’ feeding grounds at dawn.
Will we see the monkeys? Maybe. The troop is wild and we will not promise a sighting. The ranger goes ahead to look for recent signs, we plan the walk around dawn, and we keep the group small and quiet. The dry season, November to May, gives the best chances. If seeing the monkeys matters most to you, the 3-day trek gives you three dawns instead of one.
Bookings open on 1 January 2027. We are completing the permits for this route with the Du Gia Special-Use Forest management board. Until then you can register your interest. We write to you first when dates open, and we take no payment before that.
Accommodation & Meals
Night 1 — Tung Ba Forest Ranger Station
A patrol outpost inside the conservation zone, where rangers stay when they are on patrol. Wooden floor, a roof, water from the stream. No electricity, no hot water, no beds. You sleep in shared space, in a sleeping bag or under blankets we provide. Toilet facilities are basic. You are a guest in the rangers’ place of work, not in a guesthouse. It is not comfort, and we would rather you know that now than on the night.
Meals
- Breakfast, day 1: with a Dao family in Tung Ba. Sticky rice, eggs, local vegetables.
- Lunch, day 1: zero-waste picnic at milestone A500, under old ironwood trees.
- Dinner, day 1: at the ranger station, cooked on site from local food.
- Lunch, day 2: picnic in the forest or in the Dao village on the way down.
All food is sourced locally. Vegetarian meals and food allergies can be catered for; please tell us when you register.
Tour Highlights
- A night inside the conservation zone. Sleep at the Tung Ba forest ranger station, a working patrol outpost, not a guesthouse.
- Dawn in the monkeys’ habitat. Walk back to the banana groves where the troop feeds, at the hour it is most active.
- A ranger walks with you. He reads the forest, looks for recent signs of the troop, and sets the route and the pace.
- One of the region’s last primary forests. Limestone ridges, old ironwood trees, orchids and tree ferns, and milestone A500, the gateway to the core zone.
- Small groups only. No more than 6 guests, because a quiet group is the only kind the monkeys tolerate.
- A Dao village start. Breakfast with a Dao family in Tung Ba before you walk in.
Who This Trek Is For
This trek suits you if:
- you walk regularly and can manage 6–7 hours on steep, wet ground;
- you care more about the forest and the animals than about comfort;
- you are happy with one basic night: no bed, no hot water, no electricity.
It is not for you if:
- you have knee or balance problems on steep, slippery descents;
- you need a guaranteed sighting. Nobody can honestly give you one;
- you are pregnant, or travelling with children under 10.
Not sure? Tell us how you usually walk, and we will tell you honestly whether this trek, the 3-day version, or one of our gentler Dao village treks fits you better.
Day-by-Day Snapshot
Day 1 — Into Tung Ba’s Primary Forest
06:00 Depart from Ha Giang city / TVPalm Ecolodge. Transfer by motorbike or car to Tung Ba.
07:00 Arrive Tùng Bá. Breakfast at a Dao family home, brief cultural exchange.
07:30 Begin trekking. Cross shallow streams, ascend limestone hills. Sunrise mist hangs over the valley.
3 km — Difficulty 4/10
09:00 Short rest at forest protection team’s stilt house. Continue climbing fern-covered slopes toward banana groves — prime habitat where the Snub-nosed Monkey occasionally forages.
1 km — Difficulty 5/10
10:30 Reach milestone A500 — gateway to the primary forest. Zero-waste picnic lunch under ancient ironwood canopy.
13:00 Penetrate deep into the conservation core. Navigate limestone terrain, observe the ecosystem: rare orchids, tree ferns, primate traces in the canopy. Ranger shares real conservation knowledge.
5 km — Difficulty 7/10 — steep, slippery rock, hard-soled trekking boots required
16:00 Return to Ranger Station. Rest, herbal tea, watch sunset over the forest canopy.
19:00 Locally sourced dinner at the station. Evening conversation with the ranger about the reality of Snub-nosed Monkey conservation and Tùng Bá’s forest. Overnight.
Day 2 — Deeper Into the Forest & Return
06:30 Early rise. Quiet approach back to the banana groves — best time to observe early-morning primate activity. Watch in silence, no disturbance.
08:00 Light breakfast at the station. Continue trekking via alternate ridge route, past milestone A500 in a different direction.
4 km — Difficulty 6/10
12:00 Lunch at forest rest point or Dao village. If weather permits, join light conservation work (trap removal, wildlife tracking).
14:00 Trek down to the village. If sunny — swim in the crystal-clear stream. If cool — ginger tea under the ancient banyan tree.
3 km — Difficulty 5/10
16:30 Transfer to TVPalm Ecolodge or hotel in Ha Giang city.
Day-by-Day Intensity Snapshot
| Day | Trek time | Distance | Terrain | Difficulty | Overnight |
| Day 1 | 6–7 hrs | ~10 km | Limestone forest, steep, streams | Moderate–Hard | Ranger Station |
| Day 2 | 5–6 hrs | ~8 km | Forest, ridge, streams | Moderate | Return Ecolodge/HG |
Included / Excluded
- Cost Includes
- Round-trip transfer from TVPalm Ecolodge or hotel in Ha Giang city
- English/Vietnamese-speaking trekking guide + local forest ranger
- Forest entry fees and conservation zone permits
- 1 night at Tùng Bá Forest Ranger Station
- Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 picnic lunches, 1 dinner
- Drinking water, herbal tea, and picnic equipment
- Protective gloves, trekking poles, basic trekking gear
- Reusable water bottle (yours to keep)
- Sleeping bag/blanket (seasonal)
- First-aid kit (carried by the ranger)
- PVI Inbound 2 travel insurance (cover up to USD 25,000 per guest)
- Cost Excludes
- International flights and visa
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide and ranger
- Personal travel insurance (mandatory, self-purchased)
- Optional Hà Nội pick-up/drop-off
Responsible Travel & Conservation
- Under permit. This trek runs under a permit from the Du Gia Special-Use Forest management board. Part of the price covers forest entry and conservation permits.
- Quiet and distance. We walk in small groups and stay silent near the troop. No flash photography. We never feed, call, chase or follow the animals, and we leave when the ranger says so.
- Nothing left behind. Zero-waste picnics and Leave No Trace on the whole route. What we carry in, we carry out.
- Local people first. The ranger and the Dao families in Tung Ba are paid for their time and their knowledge.
Read more: our wildlife conservation policy and why the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is endangered.
Your Team, Safety & Fitness
Your team
- A TVPalm English/Vietnamese-speaking trekking guide, and a local forest ranger who knows the troop’s range.
- The ranger sets the route and the pace, and can turn the group back. We follow his instruction at all times.
- A first-aid kit is carried on the trek. In an emergency, the team arranges a transfer to the nearest medical facility.
- Mobile signal is patchy: some points of the route have it, most do not. The ranger knows where it reaches.
- PVI Inbound 2 travel insurance is included (cover up to USD 25,000 per guest). Your own travel insurance is still mandatory.
Age and fitness
Minimum age 10, with an accompanying adult. Guests over 65 are welcome with a doctor’s clearance. Pregnant guests do not join this trek. Day 1 includes about 5 km rated 7/10 over steep, slippery limestone. Hard-soled trekking boots are required.
This is a wildlife trek in a working primary forest. The rangers may change the route on the day, depending on weather, trail conditions and recent signs of the troop.
What to Bring
Bring
- Hard-soled trekking boots, worn in (required)
- Light rain jacket
- Quick-dry long trousers and long-sleeved shirts
- One dry set of clothes for the night, and a warm layer for the evening (December to February can be cold)
- Head torch
- Insect repellent and your personal medicine
- Dry bags for your phone and camera
- Some cash for drinks and tips
We provide
Sleeping bag or blanket, trekking poles, gloves, basic trekking gear, and a reusable water bottle to keep.
FAQs about the 2-day Tonkin snub-nosed monkey trek
Can I book this trek now?
Not yet. Bookings open on 1 January 2027, once our permits with the Du Gia Special-Use Forest management board are complete. You can register your interest now; we will write to you first when dates open, and we take no payment before the itinerary is settled with you.
Will I see a Tonkin snub-nosed monkey?
There is no guarantee, and anyone who promises one is not telling you the truth. A forest ranger tracks the troop ahead of the group, and we plan the walk around dawn, when the monkeys are most active. The dry season, November to May, gives the best chances. The 3-day trek gives you three dawns instead of one.
Is Khau Ca the same place as Tung Ba?
Yes. Khau Ca is the conservation area that holds the monkey population. Tung Ba is the Dao village where the trek starts and where the forest ranger station sits, inside the conservation zone. Same forest, two names.
How fit do I need to be?
Day 1 is about 10 km over 6–7 hours, including about 5 km of steep, slippery limestone rated 7/10. Day 2 is about 8 km over 5–6 hours. You should walk regularly, be comfortable on steep descents, and wear hard-soled trekking boots.
What is the ranger station like? Is there a toilet?
It is a working patrol outpost: a wooden floor, a roof and stream water. There is no electricity, no hot water and no beds, and the toilet is basic. You sleep in shared space in a sleeping bag or under blankets we provide.
How many people are in a group?
No more than 6 guests, with a TVPalm guide and a local forest ranger. A small, quiet group disturbs the forest less and gives you a better chance of seeing the monkeys.
Who cannot join?
Children under 10 and pregnant guests. Guests over 65 are welcome with a doctor’s clearance.
What happens in an emergency?
The guide carries a first-aid kit, and the ranger team arranges a transfer to the nearest medical facility. Mobile signal is patchy in the forest; the ranger knows where it reaches. PVI Inbound 2 travel insurance is included (up to USD 25,000 per guest), and your own travel insurance is mandatory.
Can you cater for vegetarian or allergy diets?
Yes. All meals are cooked from local food, and we can prepare vegetarian meals or avoid allergens. Tell us when you register so the Dao family and the station can plan for it.
Where does the trek start and finish?
It starts at 06:00 from TVPalm Ecolodge or your hotel in Ha Giang city, and returns there at about 16:30 on day 2. We can arrange transport from Hanoi.
What Our Guests SayCe que disent nos voyageurs
This trek opens on 1 January 2027, so there are no reviews for it yet. You can read what guests say about TVPalm treks and the Ecolodge on TripAdvisor.
Travelled with us? We would be grateful for an honest review: write a review on TripAdvisor.
Ce trek ouvre le 1er janvier 2027 : il n’a donc pas encore d’avis. Vous pouvez lire ce que les voyageurs disent des treks TVPalm et de l’Ecolodge sur TripAdvisor.
Vous avez voyagé avec nous ? Un avis sincère nous aiderait beaucoup : laisser un avis sur TripAdvisor.
Our team responds within 24 hours. Tell us your dates and we will handle the rest.
Duration
2 Days 1 Night
Language
English / Vietnamese
Daily distance
~10 km
Group sizeTaille du groupe
Max 6 guests6 voyageurs max.
Best seasonMeilleure saison
Nov – MayNovembre – mai
Price
Contact TVPalm Adventure
🔒 Non-refundable deposit -
Flexible rescheduling
(see policy)
