Itinerary
Day 1 — Ha Giang or Cao Bang city to Pac Bo
- Breakfast and route briefing before departure.
- The Bac Me valley: quiet mountain roads, terraced hillsides and Tay stilt houses.
- Lunch in Bao Lac, a market town where several ethnic groups trade side by side.
- Khau Coc Cha Pass — the switchback climb, and the photograph everyone stops for.
- Pac Bo historical site: Lenin Stream, Coc Bo Cave and an optional short hike up Karl Marx Peak.
- Homestay near Pac Bo, surrounded by hills and rice paddies.
Day 2 — Pac Bo, Nguom Ngao Cave, Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Morning ride through minority villages and open valleys.
- Nguom Ngao Cave — two kilometres of chambers under the karst.
- Ban Gioc Waterfall in the afternoon, with an optional bamboo raft under the falls or a swim in the pools.
- Golden hour among the rice fields below the cliffs.
- Homestay close to the waterfall.
Day 3 — Ban Gioc, Phuc Sen, Ma Phuc Pass, Cao Bang city
- A slow morning at the falls before the road back.
- Phuc Sen blacksmith village, where knives are still forged by hand.
- Ma Phuc Pass and Angel Eye Mountain, the limestone peak with a hole through it.
- Sugarcane juice at a roadside stall, then into Cao Bang city around 13:00 to 14:00.
Prices
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Self-riding motorbike, per person | 4,990,000 ₫ |
| Easy rider motorbike, per person | 5,500,000 ₫ |
| Private SUV, 1 passenger | 9,070,920 ₫ |
| Private SUV, 2 passengers | 11,173,680 ₫ (5,586,840 ₫ each) |
| Private SUV, 3 passengers | 12,654,360 ₫ (4,218,120 ₫ each) |
Prices exclude transport between Ha Giang and Cao Bang outside the tour itself. We do not sell bus or limousine tickets — tell us your plan and we will point you at the right service.
What is included
- Two nights in a dorm on the road plus two nights in village homestays with local families.
- Local guide with the group for all three days.
- New-generation semi-automatic motorbike with fuel and damage cover, or a private SUV with driver.
- Three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners.
- Entrance tickets on the route, including the boat at Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Not included
- Travel to the start point.
- Travel insurance.
- Private-room supplements.
- Personal spending and drinks outside meals.
Frequently asked questions
Can we start in Cao Bang instead of Ha Giang?
Yes. The itinerary runs in either direction — starting in Cao Bang city means Khau Coc Cha comes on day one and you finish back in Cao Bang on day three.
Do I need a licence for the self-riding option?
Yes, the same as in Ha Giang: a 1968-convention international driving permit endorsed A or A1 plus your national licence. Otherwise take the easy rider or SUV option.
Is Ban Gioc worth the ride?
It is the widest waterfall in the country and you can get within a few metres of it on a bamboo raft. In our view the pass on the way there is the better half of the trip, but nobody has ever come back disappointed by the falls.
What are the homestays like?
Family houses with shared bathrooms, mattresses and mosquito nets, and dinner cooked in the kitchen. Simpler than the Ha Giang homestays and, because there is less traffic, quieter.