Adventure in North Vietnam

A journey to the remote and stunningly beautiful highlands of Northern Vietnam, to meet its proud and colourful minority people. Truly one of the greatest adventures that you will ever have in the Far East.

Hanoi – Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Sapa – Hanoi

Shaped like an elongated 'S', Vietnam stretches along the east coast of the Indochinese Peninsula and is likened by its people to a long bamboo pole hung with two baskets of rice, represented by the two fertile regions at either end of the country.

The mountainous northern part of Vietnam, sharing borders with Southern China, without the least doubt features some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Asia. Many different, colourful - and still quite isolated tribes living as they did hundreds of years ago - inhabit the barren mountains and lush valleys. A visit to these remote parts of the country, meeting these strong and proud people is one of the greatest adventures that you will ever have in this part of the Far East!

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Day to day itinerary

Day 1. Hanoi – Lao Cai by train
In the evening we board the overnight sleeper train in Hanoi – bound for Lao Cai on the Chinese border in the far North.

Day 2. Lao Cai – Coc Ly – Bac Ha
In the morning we arrive to Lao Cai from where we drive to Coc Ly. We will explore its fantastic market and have a first meeting with some of the minority people of the area. Later we take a boat cruise on the Chay River, stopping at a riverside cave and Trung village to meet the Tay minorities. We disembark at Bao Nhai Bridge and transfer to Bac Ha town. In the afternoon we can take a walk (or car drive) to Thai Rang Pho to visit a school and a H’Mong village before proceeding to the H’Mong King’s Palace.

Day 3. Bac Ha – Sin Cheng Market - Sapa
Morning is for exploring the Wednesday market of Sin Cheng with its colourful array of ethnic minorities including the Flower H’Mong, Red Dzao, Tay and Nung people before proceeding up to Sapa. Situated in the remote mountains of North Vietnam, Sapa is ‘capital’ - the meeting spot and trading post for many indigenous minorities inhabiting the area. We arrive in Sapa in the afternoon and the rest of the day is free to relax, enjoy this exotic mountain village and the breathtakingly beautiful surroundings.

Day 4. Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Ta Phin – Hanoi
Drive to Lao Chai, the starting point for today's beautiful mini-hike. We begin the 6 km trek down into a rice-terraced valley and walk though remote villages, rice paddies and thatched-roof homes of the H’mong. We continue hiking to the village of Ta Van, one of the few villages in Sapa inhabited by the Zay tribe. Later we return to Sapa along a dramatic winding trail. In the afternoon we visit Black H’mong, Zay and Red Dao minorities in picturesque Ta Phin valley, before proceeding down hill to Lao Cai train station for the return train journey to Hanoi.