The mountainous North West provides the perfect terrain for trekking routes. The Thai minority, a warm and friendly ethnic group, will welcome you into their homes and share their stilt house lifestyle. The roads wind precariously across the mountain ranges, capturing the intensely varied lifestyles of Vietnamese people. The final two days of your journey will be spent trekking to stay in minority villages around Sa Pa.
Tour itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Lai Chau - Son La
(320kms / 8 hours)
8h00 pick up at the hotel. Travel through the verdant Red River Delta and witness the day to daylilies of the peasant farmers. Stop in Mai Chau for a short walk then drive onto Son La - the capital of Son La province. Overnight in hotel.
Day: Sonla - Tuan Giao - Muong Lay
(220kms / 7 hours)
Son La has an old French prison and museum, perfect for a small walk to visit in the morning before your departure. From here you'll carry on to Tuan Giao, then onto Muong Lay (formerly Lai Chau) for the night. You'll enjoy the picturesque scenery as you pass the villages of Black Thai, White Thai, Meo and Muong peoples.
Day 3: Muonglay - Sinho - Laichau
(200kms/7 hours)
From Muong Lay, the drive to Sin Ho is stunning with tiered tea plantations and verdant rice terraces carved into the landscape. Continue to Lai Chau (formerly Tam Duong) for the night. If you happen to be in Lai Chau on a Sunday morning, the town is bustling with activity as the local hill tribes gather for their weekly market day here. Overnight in a hotel or guesthouse.
Day 4: Laichau - Sapa
(80kms / 3 hours)
From Lai Chau to Sa Pa you pass through Tam Duong (formerly Binh Lu), up over the 1900 meter Tram Ton pass, and considered the most beautiful stretch of road in Vietnam. Sa Pa is nestled at over 1600 meters in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains and the valley truly is breathtaking. Enjoy lunch and relax before a 3 hour short trek down this stunning valley, which is sculpted with steep rice terraces, to Ta Van village for a homestay. Your guide will cook you a savory dinner of traditional Vietnamese food that you'll be raving about, as you enjoy the hospitality of your Dzay hosts.
Day 5: Sapa
A good day trekking along rice terraces, through lush bamboo forest and local villages including that of the colorful Dzao hill tribe, and down to a rolling stream for a picnic lunch. After lunch, continue trekking along the rice terraces, trails and dirt roads into Ban Ho for an insightful night with your Tay hosts, where you'll sleep in the cozy loft complete with comfy mattress and a mosquito net.
Day 6: Sapa - Laocai - Hanoi
(Overnight train)
Short trek to the dirt road for the jeep ride back to Sapa. Enjoy an afternoon exploring Sa Pa town, great shopping in the market for local produce and you can buy handicrafts from many of the local hill tribes selling their wares there. Bus departs Sapa at 16:30 P.M, arrive Lao Cai 18:00 P.M. Night train back to Ha Noi (soft sleeper aircon). Trip ends 5:00 A.M at Ha Noi station.
Inclusions
• Russian Army Jeep or Land Cruiser and driver
• Trekking tour in SaPa: 2 nights' homestay
• Meals as mentioned (B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner)
• Soft sleeper train Lao Cai - Ha Noi, all transfer as in the tour
• Hotels based on double/twin standard room
• All entrance fees and permits, English/French speaking tour guide
Exclusions
• Travel insurance (upon request)
• Airfares, visa arrangement
• Personal expenses, tips, gratuities, drinks
• Things not mentioned clearly in the itinerary
Note
• This itinerary can be changed a little bit without prior notice
• Surcharge may apply when there is an increase in fuel price etc.
• High season surcharge can be applied for this travel package
