Self-Drive Vietnam 4x4 Tour from Hanoi to Ha Giang - 6 days

From Hanoi, you get on the car and move a distance of 18 km to reach Vu Linh. It will take you around 5 hours to drive between the two destinations. On the way, you move through the Red River, where you can enjoy the surrounding countryside with the agricultural lands that are covered with vast rice fields and tree-covered areas. Seeing the daily life of the people here, you certainly cannot hide your surprise. It seems to be far different from the bustling and noisy atmosphere of Hanoi. 

Keep your drive before having a stop in Viet Tri or Doan Hung town where you will enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. After taking some rest, you continue your journey and get to Vu Linh in the late afternoon. Here you will stay overnight in the stilt house of the Yao people.   

The second day will be a great day when you spend 5 hours driving to Ha Giang, which is 180km from Hanoi. This land makes a deep impression on domestic and foreign tourists due to its karst plateaus and towering cliffs. While being on the move, you have to conquer numerous sharp curves. Taking a smooth drive along the Thac Ba lake, you will go through several ethnic villages that you should pay a visit. Have lunch in Tuyen Quang Town. 

Continue driving your car to reach Ha Giang, where you take overnight in the house of an ethnic family. This place is also home to ethnic minorities such as Yao, H’mong, Tay, and Nung. Therefore, visiting Ha Giang is a good opportunity for you to learn more about ethnic cultures and traditions.

Your 180-km drive for 7 hours through Dong Van and Meo Vac today is the highlight of the whole trip. Coming here Ha Giang, you cannot miss the opportunity to explore Dong Van Karst Plateau, which is almost covered with limestone and recognized to be a Global Geopark by UNESCO. On the trip to Dong Van Karst Plateau, you can move to the center to visit Dong Van Old Quarter, where you have an occasion to admire the unique architecture that has maintained for thousands of years. There are also many regional cultures you can discover when reaching this land. 

In addition to Dong Van Karst Plateau, you go on a journey through the Heaven Gate in Quan Ba, Vuong Family Palace, and Ma Pi Leng Pass before arriving in the ultimate destination - Meo Vac town before nightfall.  

After having breakfast, you take the 180-km road from Meo Vac to Ba Be. During 6 hours of driving, you will gain a lot of enjoyable experiences. Along the way, you can take pleasure in seeing the surrounding mountainous landscape and enjoy the charming beauty of Nho Que River while crossing many passes. After that, you get to a local restaurant in Bao Lac for lunch. After leaving Bao Lac, you drive 30km on a paved road before turning to a trail through the forest. You also take various off-road drives to cross rivers and streams. 

Finally, you come to Ba Be Lake, which is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Here you also experience living at the homestay. You will have dinner with a Tay family and spend one night here.  

Located in Ba Be National Park, Ba Be lake is regarded as the largest natural lake in Vietnam. Around the lake are majestic mountains and pristine forests. It is also the residential area of ethnic communities. You can go to visit a local market if you want to discover the culture of the locals.  But one of the most interesting activities you cannot miss is taking a boat trip around Ba Be lake. Then, you will feel excited when admiring the fantastic scenery of Ba Be National Park.

After that, you come back to the local homestay for lunch before going on the trip to Cao Bang. After 4 hours of driving, you arrive in this town and stay overnight here.

It is the last day of the self-drive 4x4 car tour. You have to spend about 6 hours moving from Cao Bang to Hanoi. While going back to Hanoi, you drive on numerous off-road paths before going through the Red River Delta. On the way, you also meet a lot of people of ethnic groups such as H’mong, Yao, Tay, and Nung. Tour Ends.