Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights

I had contacted Mr Linh’s Adventures got a quick response and planed private trip to Ba Be -Ban Gioc for 4 days/ 3 nights, for 20th September. Paid my deposit of 30% late June. Was really looking forward to our trip, but then typhoon Yagi hit North Vietnam on 7th September, once I had heard about the typhoon 10th September , I contacted the tour operator asking the impact the typhoon had on the area we be going to, and wanted to make sure the trip would be safe. His reply was since your trip the 20th September it will be fine and I will update you. 13th September, I get a text saying the is over in Ba Be and has almost receded and SHOULD be back to normal in 3 days. After do a bit of research myself, and having friends reach out to colleagues they knew in VIetnam, I just didn’t feel this trip would be safe to take, specially as I would have someone else child with me. I emailed the company to cancel the trip stating my concerns about roads, bridges and landslides. After a few text it was pointed out to me that I was cancelling 5 days out from my trip and I would lose my deposit plus they wanted another 25% which I wasn’t going to pay and made that very clear. At no stage did the tour operator point out to me, when I first inquired about the typhoon that I lose my deposit and if I waited 7 days out they want another 25% and if I waited like he had asked until the Tuesday before the trip to cancel I would have been asked to pay the full amount for the trip I was planning on cancelling. After speaking to other people who had trips planned for Halong Bay and Northern parts of Vietnam (clearly with other companies ) who cancelled their trip just after I cancelled mine, were refunded their full deposit. As, I was cancelling for safe reasons and just not a change of mind, I feel the company should have refunded my deposit, specially since they were not give me basically no information of what areas were hit by the typhoon and where the damaged had occurred.

This was a great tour exactly what we were after. We enjoyed spending time off the beaten track connecting with some of the local people. We went a month after the typhoon and ended up as the only two people on the tour. We enjoyed the sites as they weren't over crowded. Our driver was great as was the tour guide. Although our tour guide was young, he was still very engaging just lacked some of the deeper knowledge around culture/history.

The Tour over the three days was absolut amazing. Our Guide Lim was so nice and accompanied us to the different places of north Vietnam. Our driver Long drove us safe and sound everywhere. Even with the difficulties of the taifun we could enjoy the trip. As a vegetarian could try out many different dishes which were very nice. Only thing to note is that the drives in between take a long time. But we stopped regulary to get some cofee. All in all: 10/10