3-Day Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Trek: Three Dawns 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.
Same forest as our 2-day trek, with two full days in the habitat instead of one. Day 2 goes into the northern sector, where there is no tourist trail, only ranger patrol routes. It starts at 05:30, to reach the habitat zone in silence before dawn.
Will we see the monkeys? We will not promise a sighting. The troop is wild. What this trek gives you is time: three early mornings instead of one, with a ranger who goes ahead to look for recent signs. More time in the forest is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your chances. The dry season, November to May, is best.
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
Nights 1 and 2 — Tung Ba Forest Ranger Station
Two nights at the same 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, and the second night feels more familiar: you know the forest sounds and the rhythm of the station.
Meals
- Day 1: breakfast with a Dao family in Tung Ba; picnic lunch at milestone A500; dinner at the ranger station.
- Day 2: breakfast at the station; picnic lunch deep in the forest; dinner at the station.
- Day 3: breakfast at the station; lunch in the Dao village at the forest edge.
All food is sourced locally. Vegetarian meals and food allergies can be catered for; please tell us when you register.
Tour Highlights
- Three dawns in the habitat. Three quiet early-morning approaches to the feeding grounds, the best chance we can offer.
- Beyond the trail. Day 2 follows ranger patrol routes into the northern sector, where no tourist trail goes.
- Two nights inside the conservation zone. At the Tung Ba forest ranger station, a working patrol outpost. By the second night you know the sounds of the forest.
- A ranger with you every step. He reads the forest, sets the route and the pace, and decides where we go each morning.
- Small groups only. No more than 6 guests.
- A Dao village start and finish. Breakfast with a Dao family in Tung Ba, and lunch in the village on the last day.
Who This Trek Is For
This trek suits you if:
- seeing the monkeys matters most to you, and you are willing to work for it;
- you are an experienced walker who can manage 7–8 hours of trail-less forest on day 2;
- you are happy with two basic nights: no bed, no hot water, no electricity.
Choose the 2-day trek instead if:
- anyone in your group is unsure about a long, hard day without a trail. You will enjoy it more;
- you want the forest and the ranger station with less effort.
This trek is not for children under 10 or pregnant guests.
Day-by-Day Snapshot
Day 1 — Into Tùng Bá’s Primary Forest
06:00 Depart from Hà Giang city / TVPalm Ecolodge. Transfer to Tùng Bá.
07:00 Breakfast at Dao family home. Cultural exchange, learn about community life tied to the forest.
07:30 Begin trekking through shallow streams and limestone hills. Morning mist blankets the valley.
3 km — Difficulty 4/10
09:00 Rest at forest protection team’s stilt house. Continue through pine forest, up fern slopes toward banana groves — Snub-nosed Monkey buffer zone.
1 km — Difficulty 5/10
10:30 Reach milestone A500. Picnic lunch under ancient ironwood canopy.
13:00 Enter deep conservation zone. Observe limestone forest ecosystem: orchids, tree ferns, primate traces.
4 km — Difficulty 7/10 — steep, slippery rock
16:00 Return to Ranger Station. Herbal tea, sunset.
19:00 Dinner at the station. Conversation with ranger about conservation work. Overnight.
Day 2 — Deep Exploration & Conservation Work
05:30 Rise before dawn. Silent approach to banana groves — golden hour for observing primates foraging. Sit quietly with the ranger.
08:00 Breakfast at station. Short rest.
09:00 Trek along northern ridge route — area with no tourist trail. Ranger leads through old-growth ironwood, hidden valleys, moss-covered limestone cliffs.
6 km — Difficulty 7/10 — no clear trail, stay close to ranger
12:00 Picnic lunch deep in the forest.
13:30 Join real conservation work: patrol with rangers, remove animal traps (if found), record wildlife track coordinates in monitoring log.
16:00 Return to Ranger Station. Stream bath near station (weather permitting).
19:00 Dinner. Share the day’s experience, discuss the future of Snub-nosed Monkey conservation. Overnight.
Day 3 — Final Dawn Observation & Return
06:00 Last observation chance — return to the habitat zone one final time before leaving the forest.
08:00 Breakfast at station. Pack up, waste check — leave nothing behind in the forest.
09:00 Trek down via alternate route through hillside, streams. Views of Tùng Bá valley from above.
5 km — Difficulty 5/10
12:00 Lunch at Dao village at the forest base.
14:00 Transfer to TVPalm Ecolodge or hotel in Hà Giang city.
16:30 Estimated arrival.
Day-by-Day Intensity Snapshot
| Day | Trek time | Distance | Terrain | Difficulty | Overnight |
| Day 1 | 6–7 hrs | ~10 km | Limestone forest, steep, streams | Mod.–Hard | Ranger Station |
| Day 2 | 7–8 hrs | ~12 km | Deep forest, no trail | Hard | Ranger Station |
| Day 3 | 4–5 hrs | ~8 km | Ridge, streams, Dao village | Moderate | Return Eco./HG |
Included / Excluded
- Cost Includes
• Round-trip transfer from TVPalm Ecolodge or hotel in Hà Giang city
• English/Vietnamese-speaking trekking guide + local forest ranger
• Forest entry fees and conservation zone permits
• 2 nights at Tùng Bá Forest Ranger Station
• Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
• 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 steep, slippery limestone rated 7/10. Day 2 is about 12 km over 7–8 hours through deep forest with no trail, the hardest day of the trip by a clear margin. Hard-soled trekking boots are required.
This is a wildlife trek in a working old-growth 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
- Two dry sets of clothes for the nights, 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 3-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. This trek gives you the best chance we can offer: three dawn approaches, a ranger who tracks the troop ahead of the group, and a small, quiet group. The dry season, November to May, is best.
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 hard is the 3-day trek?
Day 1 is about 10 km over 6–7 hours on steep, slippery limestone. Day 2 is about 12 km over 7–8 hours through deep forest with no trail, and it is hard. Day 3 is about 8 km over 4–5 hours along a ridge and out through a Dao village. If anyone in your group is unsure about day 2, choose the 2-day trek.
Can we join the rangers' work?
It depends on the permit conditions and on the rangers. Where they agree, guests can help with light work such as removing snares.
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 on the afternoon of day 3. We can arrange transport from Hanoi.
Do you run longer expeditions?
We are preparing 3–4-night expeditions for 2027, subject to permit approval. Tell us if you are interested and we will keep you informed.
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
3 Days 2 Nights
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)
