Private & Guided
Ha Giang Loop – Cao Bang Extension – 8 Days and 7 Nights Eco-Odyssey
Investment
Trekking price
Trekking price
Booking Payment
You must book this tour in advance. We will email your official invoice within 1 business day. To confirm your booking, please pay a 30% deposit within 72 hours. We accept Bank Transfers in VND or USD, PayPal, and Revolut. We highly recommend Revolut. Traditional SWIFT transfers often charge fees of $25 to $50. Revolut bypasses these international fees.
Please follow these 6 steps to pay via Revolut and avoid bank charges:
- Step 1: Exchange your currency into Vietnamese Dong (VND) in the Revolut app to get the best interbank exchange rate.
- Step 2: Tap Transfer, select New, and choose Add bank recipient.
- Step 3: Select Business and choose Vietnam as the country.
- Step 4: Select VND as the sending currency to ensure the transfer travels through fast, local networks.
- Step 5: Enter the account name, account number, and bank name from your invoice.
- Step 6: Write your invoice number or full name in the reference field.
Cancellation, Postponement, and Refund Policy (EU-Friendly)
Life happens, and we strive to be as flexible as possible. Our policy ensures fairness for your travel plans and our local team’s preparation:
- Standard Cancellation & Refunds:
- 30+ days before departure: 100% refund (minus the non-refundable deposit/transaction fees).
- 15–29 days before: 70% refund of the total tour value.
- 7–14 days before: 50% refund of the total tour value.
- Less than 7 days (including No-show): No refund (0%), as all logistics, vehicles, and guides are fully committed.
- Flexible Postponement:
- 15+ days before: Free postponement! Reschedule your adventure within 6 months at no extra cost.
- 7–14 days before: Postponement is available with a 30% adjustment fee to cover guide and logistics changes.
- Force Majeure: includes natural disasters (floods in Ha Giang/Cao Bang), epidemics, road damage, or sudden health issues (with medical certification). In such cases, 100% refund (minus transaction fees ~2-5%) or free postponement.
- Special Benefits & Flexibility:
- International Travelers: We offer an additional 3-month postponement window if you can provide proof of international flight changes.
- Repeat Adventurers: Enjoy a free first postponement and priority rescheduling.
Terms & Amendments
We pride ourselves on personalized hospitality and flexibility. Our amendment policies are designed to be fair and stress-free:
- Deposit: 30% of the total tour value (or a minimum of VND 500,000 for day tours), non-refundable in all cases to confirm booking and cover preparation costs. Deposits can be transferred to another tour within 6 months if canceled early.
- Notification: Must be in writing (email, website form, or confirmed message) to record the time.
- Insurance: Customers are encouraged to purchase personal travel insurance. TVPalm provides basic tour insurance (covering accidents and emergency medical), but it does not include personal cancellations.
- Updates: Policy may be adjusted seasonally (rainy season in Northwest from June-September) or per legal regulations (Vietnam Tourism Law 2017). Always check the website before booking
- Free Adjustments: We are thrilled to tweak your dates or customize services for your perfect trip! Written requests made more than 15 days before departure are completely free of charge. (Note: Adjustments within 15 days may incur a small fee of VND 1,000,000 to cover logistics setup).
- Participant Swapping: You may transfer your spot to another person free of charge up to 3 days before departure, provided the new traveler meets our health and fitness guidelines.
- Tailor-made for Families: We are especially accommodating to groups with children or seniors. We can easily help you switch from motorbikes to a private car tour to ensure maximum safety and family-fun readiness.
- Midway Changes: If you feel under the weather during the tour, our caring guides will support you every step of the way and ensure your safe return. While unused portions of the tour cannot be refunded, your well-being remains our absolute priority.
Tour Details
Tour Information
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Group size
2 - 8 guests
Difficulty
Moderate
Daily distance
Approx. 120 km - 180 km/day
Language
English / Vietnamese
Start/End
Hanoi – Ha Giang – Cao Bang – Ba Be – Hanoi
Transport
Expressway limousine; Premium motorbike (Day 2–4); private 7-seat eco-van (Day 5-8)
Accommodation
Private rooms
Dive into a transformative 8-day pilgrimage through the UNESCO Global Geopark, led by the Tay Con Linh Sustainable Ecotourism Cooperative, where the raw adrenaline of Ha Giang’s peaks meets the emerald serenity of Cao Bang’s waterfalls. This is a journey of regeneration, blending high-octane motorbike loops with private eco-van, all while honoring the land through sustainable homestays and reforestation initiatives.
For those attuned to the earth’s rhythm, this odyssey reveals not just landscapes, but the soul of Vietnam’s Northeast: where Dao shamans share herbal wisdom, Tay weavers spin threads of heritage, and every vista whispers of conservation’s quiet triumph.
Tour Highlights
Intimate & Personal Immersion: Limited to a maximum of 8 guests, ensuring your connection with the land and its people remains profound and private.
The “Six Cherished Gems” Included: We have seamlessly woven six of the region’s most spectacular, off-the-beaten-path locations into our route at no extra cost:
- Phong Nam – Ngon Lon Valley: Serene, untouched terraced beauty.
- Khau Coc Cha Pass: A legendary 14-storey serpentine ascent.
- Truc Lam Phat Pagoda: Sacred grace overlooking the frontier.
- Khuoi Ky Stone Village: A 400-year-old Tay legacy carved in rock.
- God’s Eye Mountain: A mystical, neotectonic marvel.
- Cao Bang Nocturnal Tapestry: Immersive evening culture at the city’s vibrant night market
Who Should Join The Private Ha Giang Loop Tour?
This Tour Is Perfect for:
- The “Slow & Deep” Traveler wants to see the icons (Ma Pi Leng, Ban Gioc) but also wants to linger in forgotten valleys like Phong Nam and stay in authentic, stone-carved villages.
- Adrenaline-Seekers with a Soft Spot for Comfort, crave the thrill of the motorbike through Ha Giang but appreciate the transition to an air-filtered eco-van for the long-range vistas of Cao Bang.
- Culture & Heritage Enthusiasts are interested in the specific nuances of ethnic groups—from the Dao shamans and Tay weavers to the sacred traditions of the borderland pagodas.
- You value sustainable practices, such as zero-plastic initiatives and carbon-offset contributions to the Tay Con Linh groves.
- The 8-day pace provides the “golden hour” lighting needed for the perfect shot of God’s Eye Mountain or the misty curves of Khau Coc Cha
- Travelers seeking 5-star luxury resorts or high-end urban hotels.
- Individuals with severe motion sickness or a fear of heights.
- Those who prefer short, urban sightseeing over immersive outdoor adventure.
Accommodation & Meals
- Accommodation: Private rooms at handpicked ecolodges, hotel, or traditional homestays
- Daily Breakfast: Served at your accommodation
- Lunch: Authentic local dishes at regional restaurants
- Dinner: Hearty family-style meals at homestays or guesthouses
Responsible Travel & Community Impact
At TVPalm, we don’t just visit the Northeast; we invest in its future. Our 8-day odyssey is a Regenerative Journey designed to leave the land better than we found it.
Our Core Commitments
- Direct Wealth Distribution: 100% of our stays are in locally-owned ecolodges and heritage homestays. Your visit directly empowers Dao, Tay, and H’Mong families, keeping ancestral traditions alive.
- The Tay Con Linh Initiative: A portion of every tour profit is dedicated to our tree-planting projects. We are actively reforesting sacred groves to protect the watershed and biodiversity of the region.
- Zero-Plastic Mission: We have eliminated single-use plastic bottles. We provide a reusable metal bottle and high-capacity purified water refills throughout the 1,130 km route.
- Heritage Preservation: By including sites like the Khuoi Ky Stone Village and traditional blacksmith forges, we provide the economic incentive for these communities to preserve their unique architectural and craft legacies.
- Tread Lightly: Stay on marked trails during our “Sky Path” and valley treks to prevent soil erosion in the UNESCO Geopark.
- Cultural Respect: Always ask for permission before taking portraits of ethnic minorities. Your guide will help facilitate meaningful, respectful interactions.
- Support Local Crafts: We visit authentic weaving and forging workshops. Purchasing directly from the artisans ensures their craft remains viable for the next generation.
- Traveler’s Impact: By choosing this 8-day pace over a rushed loop, you reduce carbon intensity per day and allow for deeper, more ethical engagement with the communities that call these mountains home.
Day by Day
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi → TVPalm Ecolodge – Trek to Dao Village
- 7:00: Depart Hanoi in sustainable comfort via expressway limousine
- Upon arrival at TVPalm Ecolodge, settle into your private room
- Guided Dawn Trek to Pristine Dao Village (1.5–2 hours): Wander 3–4 km through bamboo labyrinths and terraced paddies on low-impact trails. In this untouched hamlet—100% Dao, free of crowds—meet shamans and weavers, pause at hidden
- waterfalls for eco-snaps
- Evening Sanctum: Dine at The Palm Restaurant on farm-to-table
Day 2: TVPalm Ecolodge → Dong Van
- Post-breakfast safety briefing (helmets, gear from our recycled-equipment kit), mount with easy riders
- Pac Sum Pass (~35 km): Serpent through 20 sinuous curves to a 360° valley panorama
- Heaven Gate (1,200m, ~10 km): Gaze through limestone citadels into abyssal gorges, a portal to Ha Giang’s fossilized heart.
- Nam Dam Village (~30 km): Delve into Dao clay longhouses and have lunch
- Lung Tam Valley (~20 km): Witness handicraft rebirth
- Lung Cu Flag Pole (~40 km): Stand at Vietnam’s northernmost edge
- Lo Lo Chai (~10 km): Marvel at Lo Lo minority’s clay abodes, etched with motifs of enduring earth ties.
- Dong Van Old Quarter (~20 km): Twilight coffee in stone echoes footsteps of silk-road traders.
- Overnight: Dong Van (private stone homestay/hotel)
Day 3: Dong Van → Du Gia
- Ma Pi Leng Pass (~20 km): Ascend the “Sky Path” for a 360° embrace of Nho Que River’s turquoise vein. Trek lightly to viewpoints, honoring the pass’s hand-hewn legacy by 1,300 builders.
- Meo Vac (~20 km): Pulse with H’Mong market vibes
- Lung Ho & Mau Due (~20 km): Peer into remote highland rhythms
- Du Gia Village (~20 km): Alight in a 7-ethnic haven; evening Tay homestay feast with “happy water” (Ruou cần)
- Overnight: Du Gia (private room)
Day 4: Du Gia → Bao Lac
- Mau Due & Meo Vac Link (~30 km): Misty trails where fog dances with maize terraces
- QL34 Border Traverse (~40 km): Flank limestone walls guarding maize’s golden harvest, vital for local seed banks.
- Niem Son & Tinh Tuc (~20 km): Dao & Lo Lo hemp weaves—fiber from regenerative fields, dyed with forest gifts.
- Bao Lac Town (~10 km): Bazaar immersion: blacksmith forges (ethical metal from recycled sources), viewpoint hikes yielding vistas of verdant valleys. Lunch: thang co or sticky rice, slow-cooked over communal fires.
- Overnight: Bao Lac (private riverside homestay/hotel)
Day 5: Bao Lac → Cao Bang City → Phia Thap
- Ease into the van—air-filtered, low-emission—for a seamless shift to Cao Bang’s Non Nuoc Geopark
- Incense-Making Village: Roll and scent herbal sticks from community-sourced botanicals
- Pac Rang Blacksmith Village: Witness tool-forging from recycled ores, a forge of frontier ingenuity.
- Phong Nam – Ngon Con Valley (~1 hr detour): Untouched trails where Tay farmers practice regenerative rice cultivation
- Khau Coc Cha Pass (~1 hr): Conquer this “14-storey serpent”—2.5 km of zigzag mastery at 1,100m, flanked by emerald forests.
- Overnight: Phia Thap (private homestay)—earth-toned sanctuary amid conservation corridors.
Day 6: Phia Thap → Ban Gioc Waterfall → Nguom Ngao Cave → Cao Bang City
- Khuoi Ky Stone Village (~1 hr): Enter this 400-year-old Tay enclave, where stone stilt houses (100% heritage) rise like ancient monoliths against limestone backdrops.
- Truc Lam Phat Pagoda (~15 mins en route): Ascend this 2014 border beacon—the North’s first pagoda—perched on Phia Nham’s slopes with panoramic Ban Gioc views, where spiritual serenity meets UNESCO geological grace.
- Ban Gioc Waterfall + Quay Son River Canoeing (2 hrs): Glide through 300m-wide veils (53m drop)
- Nguom Ngao Cave: Traverse 2,144m of glowing stalactites, a 300-million-year-old underworld
- God’s Eye Mountain & Thang Hen Lake (~1 hr): Summit Mat Than (~50m ascent) for the “Eye’s” 50m-diameter gaze—a neotectonic fossil piercing tower-karsts at 650–700m. Below, Thang Hen’s 36 interconnected lakes (part of Non Nuoc Geopark)
- Cao Bang Night Market: immerse in this vibrant crossroads of ethnic bounty
- Overnight: Cao Bang City (private hotel)—urban oasis with Geopark views.
Day 7: Cao Bang City → Ba Be Lake
- A languid 2–3 hour glide to Ba Be National Park—Vietnam’s karst jewel, home to 62 mammal species and old-growth Dipterocarps.
- Arrival (~11:30 AM): Check into lakeside haven
- Free Afternoon Bliss: Kayak crystalline coves (low-impact paddles), fish with bamboo traps, or stroll ethnic hamlets—opt for a guided Dao trek (~3.5 hrs) through stilt-house clusters
- Lakeside dinner: fresh perch grilled over driftwood, greens from permaculture plots.
- Overnight: Ba Be (private hotel/homestay)—whispers of water, a cradle for tomorrow’s wilds.
Day 8: Ba Be Lake – Boat, Caves, and Cultural → Hanoi
- Energized morning on Ba Be’s bosom
- Private Boat Cruise (2.5 hrs, 08:00): Drift through triple lakes, threading Puong Cave’s limestone tunnel
- Picnic Interlude (~11:30): Lakeside feast of foraged salads and stream fish.
- Dao Village Trek (3 hrs, ~12:30): Ascend to stilt enclaves for “then” serenades and Ty Ba lute harmonies—UNESCO-intangible echoes where women lead cultural revivals.
- Departure (~15:30): to Hanoi
- 19:30–20:30; drop-off at your hotel
- End of Odyssey: Depart with a TVPalm journal—your sketches of sustainability etched eternal.
Day-by-Day Intensity Snapshot
| Day | Riding / Driving Time | Difficulty | Key Highlights | Overnight |
| Day 1 | ~4 – 5 Hours | Low | 2026 Expressway transit; Heritage Village Trek. | TVPalm Ecolodge |
| Day 2 | ~6 – 7 Hours | Moderate + | Pac Sum Pass; Heaven Gate; Lung Tam Weaving; H’Mong King Palace. | Dong Van |
| Day 3 | ~4 – 5 Hours | Moderate + | Ma Pi Leng Pass; Sky Path Trekking; Nho Que River Viewpoints. | Du Gia Village |
| Day 4 | ~5 – 6 Hours | Moderate | Mist-veiled off-roads; Lô Lô hemp weaving; Bao Lac Blacksmith Forges. | Bao Lac |
| Day 5 | ~5 – 6 Hours | Moderate | Khau Coc Cha (14-storey pass); Phong Nam-Ngon Lon Valley trails. | Phia Thap Village |
| Day 6 | ~5 – 6 Hours | Moderate | Ban Gioc Waterfall; Khuoi Ky Stone Village; God’s Eye Mountain. | Cao Bang City |
| Day 7 | ~3 – 4 Hours | Low | Scenic drive to Ba Be; Kayaking crystalline coves; Lakeside bliss. | Ba Be Lake |
| Day 8 | ~4 – 5 Hours | Low | Puong Cave Boat Cruise; Dao “Then” Singing; Expressway return. | Hanoi |
What's Covered
Included / Excluded
- Cost Includes
- Transport: Expressway Limousine, Premium Motorbikes with Easy Riders (Days 2–4), and a private 7-seat Eco-Van (Days 5–8)
- Expert Team: English-speaking guide and professional local riders
- Entry: All entrance fees and border permits
- Safety Gear: Quality helmets and protective pads
- Sustainability: Reusable metal water bottle
- Insurance: Basic travel insurance during the tour
- Cost Excludes
- International/Domestic flight, visa
- Personal drinks (alcohol/soft drinks) and personal expenses
- Tips for guides and riders (Suggested: 200k VND/day/person)
- Personal medication or additional comprehensive insurance
Before You Travel
Useful Information
Safety & Fitness
- Fitness Requirement: Moderate health; ability to hike 5km in 1,5 – 3 hours on varying terrain and sitting as a pillion passenger for several hours
- Health: Not recommended for those with severe back/neck issues or extreme motion sickness.
- Age Limits: Ages from 10 to 15 with parents; from 16 to 65: recommended * Over 65: Welcome if physically fit (regular hikers/cyclists) and have no chronic back/joint issues.*
- Protocols: Daily safety briefings and weather checks are mandatory
- Gear: High-quality rain gear and protective safety equipment are provided for all guests.
- Risk Management: Guides carry first aid kits; nearest hospitals are identified for all routes
- Adaptability: Mountain roads are unpredictable. We may adjust routes in real-time due to weather or road construction, always prioritizing your safety over the itinerary.
Preparation & Packing
- Clothing: Pack lightweight, quick-dry clothes and a windproof/waterproof jacket, as mountain weather can shift rapidly. Don’t forget your swimwear if you wish to cool off in the local waterfalls.
- Footwear: Sturdy trekking shoes or sports sneakers with good grip are essential. For safety reasons, flip-flops or sandals are not recommended for riding or trekking on mountain passes.
- Personal Gear: Sunscreen, insect repellent (DEET 30% recommended), and polarized sunglasses to protect against the mountain sun.
- Luggage: Bring a small daypack for your essentials. Larger suitcases or heavy luggage can be safely stored at TVPalm Ecolodge while you are on the loop.
FAQ
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Our team responds within 24 hours. Tell us your dates and we will handle the rest.
Journey at a Glance
Top Seller
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / End
Hanoi – Ha Giang – Cao Bang – Ba Be – Hanoi
Difficulty
Moderate
Group Size
2 - 8 guests
From
$925 / person
🔒 Non-refundable deposit -
Flexible rescheduling
(see policy)
