*NORTH WEST LOOP (6-8 days)

OFF THE TOURIST TRACK: 4WD EXPEDITIONS NORTHWEST VIETNAM

(6 days, 6 nights)

The mountainous North West provides spectacular scenery and perfect terrain for trekking routes. Winding roads through mountain ranges take you past communities with varied lifestyles. The final two days are spent trekking to stay in ethnic minority villages around Sa Pa with warm, friendly people in their stilt houses.

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Son La (~320 km, ~8 hours)

07:30 - Depart from Hanoi early since we have a long day today. Travel through the Red River Delta before stopping in Mai Chau for a short walk, and then drive onto Son La. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 2: Son La - Dien Bien Phu (~220 km, ~7 hours)

Son La has an old French prison and museum, perfect for a small walk to visit in the morning before your departure to Dien Bien Phu. You'll enjoy the picturesque scenery as you pass the villages of Black Thai, White Thai, Meo and Muong peoples. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 3: Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau (~200 km, ~7 hours)

From Muong Lay, the drive 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. Overnight in a hotel or guesthouse.

Day 4: Lai Chau - Sa Pa (~90 km, ~3 hours)

From Lai Chau to Sa Pa you pass through Tam Duong, and over the 1,900 meter Tram Ton pass, Viet Nam's highest mountain pass and considered the most beautiful stretch of road in the country. Sa Pa is nestled at over 1,600 meters in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. After lunch, take a short 3-hour trek down this stunning valley sculpted with steep rice terraces to Ta Van village for a home stay. Enjoy the savoury food and the hospitality of your Giay hosts.

Day 5: Sa Pa - Ban Ho.

A good day trekking along rice terraces, through lush bamboo forest and local villages including that of the colourful 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 cosy loft complete with comfy mattress and a mosquito net.

Day 6: Ban Ho - Sa Pa - Lao Cai

Short trek to the dirt road for the jeep ride back to Sa Pa. Enjoy an afternoon to explore 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. At 17:00 take the bus to Lao Cai.

21:20 - Night train back to Ha Noi (soft sleeper with air conditioning).

05:00 - Trip ends at Ha Noi Railway Station.

Options

* You can choose to ride from Sapa to Hanoi with a stop at a Dao village near Thac Ba Lake in 8 days, 7 nights.
* Vehicle options: Russian UAZ, Japanese TOYOTA Land Cruiser or NISSAN Patrol or MITSUBISHI Pajero.

*MIDDLE ROAD (5-7 days)

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: 4WD EXPEDITIONS THE MIDDLE ROAD OF NORTHERN VIETNAM

(5 days, 5 nights)

A more challenging and remote alternative to the Northwest loop, this incredible route takes you through verdant vistas and mountain ranges, along lakes and rivers, and through jungle and tiered paddy fields rising and falling as far as the eye can see. Along the way, You'll be hosted by different hill tribes wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes. These are people who have been living in the hills for a centuries, and their ways of life have little changed from generation to generation.

Day 1: Hanoi - Nghia Lo (~210 km, ~7 hours)

07:00 - Depart from Hanoi through the Red River Delta into the mountains of Yen Bai province and on to Nghia Lo. The area is home to Thai, Nung, H'mong, La Ha and Ma ethnic minority peoples. Overnight in a hotel or guest house.

Day 2: Nghia Lo - Than Uyen (~150 km, ~5 hours)

Exploring the local market in Nghia Lo is a good chance to shop for local handicrafts. Today's drive is along an exciting stretch of road which climbs over the mountain pass to Mu Cang Chai past H'mong, La Ha and Dzao hill tribe communities. At the bottom of the valley is the town of Than Uyen. Overnight in a hotel or guest house.

Day 3: Than Uyen - Sa Pa (~100 km, ~3 hours)

The road follows the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and winds through tea plantations and rice terraces as it hugs the Nam Ma River. This stunning valley is dotted with Tay, Dzao and H'mong hill tribe villages. Over the 1,900 meter Tram Ton Pass to Sa Pa located in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountains. After lunch, a 3-hour trek to Ta Van village for a home stay and savoury food with your Dzay hosts.

Day 4: Trekking

Trek along rice terraces, through a lush bamboo forest and past local villages. Stop to enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, trek to 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 5: More trek

Short trek to the dirt road for the jeep ride back to Sa Pa. Explore the town or go shopping in the market for local produce. At 17:00 take the bus to Lao Cai.

21:20 - Night train back to Ha Noi (soft sleeper with air conditioning).

05:00 - Trip ends at Ha Noi Railway Station.

Options

* You can choose to ride from Sapa to Hanoi with a stop at a Dao village near Thac Ba Lake in 7 days, 6 nights.
* Vehicle options: Russian UAZ, Japanese TOYOTA Land Cruiser or NISSAN Patrol or MITSUBISHI Pajero.

 

*NORTH-EAST LOOP (4 days)

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: 4WD EXPEDITIONS THE NORTHEAST VIETNAM

(4 days, 3 nights)

The North East mountainous areas of Ba Be Lake, Cao Bang and Ha Giang offer breathtaking views and interesting subcultures. It is the least travelled area of the north and attracts hardier travellers craving a glimpse of some of the more remote ethnic minority people.

Day 1: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be National Park (~240 km, ~6 hours)

07:30 - Depart early from Hanoi for a long drive through the Red River Delta north along Hwy 3 to Thai Nguyen. Of interest here is the Museum of the Cultures of Viet Nam's Ethnic Groups. Leaving the delta behind, you'll start climbing into the mountainous area of Ba Be National Park. Take a short boat trip (30 minutes) to a Tay village for dinner and home stay in a local house.

Day 2: Ba Be - Cao Bang (~120 km, ~4 hours)

Ba Be Lake, surrounded by rugged limestone mountains, is Viet Nam's only natural mountain lake. This important eco-system is well known for over 330 species of butterflies! Have breakfast with your Tay hosts before exploring the lake with lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains. Reach the end of the lake and trek to Dau Dang Waterfall before heading north through the mountains to the city of Cao Bang. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 3: Ban Gioc Waterfall (~85 km, ~2.5 hours)

Take a scenic day trip north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border for a picnic lunch. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters. The unique landscape includes limestone karst formations soaring from the verdant rice paddies of Tay, H'Mong and Dzao ethnic minority groups. On the way back to Cao Bang, explore the expansive 2,144 meter Nguom Ngao Cavern to discover its brilliant stalactites. Overnight in the hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 4: Cao Bang - Lang Son - Hanoi (~300 km, ~7 hours)

Before departing Cao Bang, consider climbing the hill up to the War Memorial for a great panoramic view. The famous Highway 4 winds its way through steep mountain passes with spectacular vistas! Lang Son, the capital of this mountainous area, is an important crossing and trading route with China. The area is home to Dzao, Man, Tho and Nung ethnic minority groups. Lang Son has two markets, the Old Market and the Dong Kinh Market, where shoppers can find everything from electronics and gadgets to textiles and house wares. Just a couple of kilometers from town are two large, beautiful caves and the ruins of the Mac Dynasty Citadel that are worth a visit, time permitting. Tam Thanh Cave contains a pond and offers great views of the surrounding farmlands. Nhi Thanh Cave, formed by the river that flows through it, has poems carved into the entrance by the man who discovered the cave in the 18th century. The late afternoon trip back to Hanoi from Lang Son is along a modern 4-lane divided highway. Trip ends in Hanoi around 20:00.

Options

* Vehicle options: Russian UAZ, Japanese TOYOTA Land Cruiser or NISSAN Patrol or MITSUBISHI Pajero.

*BIG NORTH LOOP (14 days)

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: 4WD EXPEDITIONS THE BIG NORTH LOOP OF VIETNAM

(14 days, 13 nights)

Adventure tours to Northern Vietnam, exploring the most splendid area of where concentrates various obstacles of limestone mountains ranges and incredible terraced paddy fields. Suitable to those love green eco tours, prefer untouched areas and explore customs of the hill tribal people. Extremely attractive to picture-hunting travelers.

Day 1: Hanoi - Ba Be

AM: Depart for Babe Lake, a mountain area which is nearly 200 km far from Hanoi. Arrival on midday.

PM: Visit Ba Be area: Nang river, grottoes, waterfall, O/N at ethnic village Pac Ngoi where visitors can learn about the Tay people's customs. Enjoy meals of ethnic minorities. O/N in guest's house.

Day 2: Trek to a Tay village

7 hours hard trekking to visit a Tay village accompanied by local guide. Take away lunch will be arranged. It takes 5 hours walk to the village - spend time with ethnic people. O/N in the village of Tay people.

Day 3: Back to Ba Be Lake

Trekking back to Babe Lake. At leisure on the day. O/N in Babe guest house.

Day 4: Ba Be - Tuyen Quang

Depart for Tuyen Quang. Lunch on the way. Overnight in Tuyen Quang.

Day 5: Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang

Off for Ha Giang, the remote northern province of Vietnam, where H'mong people consider as their capital. Meet many ethnic villages en route with rich culture. O/N in Ha Giang.

Day 6: Ha Giang - Meo Vac - Dong Van

Depart early morning to visit the wonderful world of ethnic people. Get picture of many impressive scenery en route and colorful weekly market. visit the palace of H'mong king.

Day 7: Dong Van - Ha Giang - Tuyen Quang

Transfer back to Tuyen Quang. O/N in Tuyen Quang.

Day 8: Tuyen Quang - Bac Ha

Continue your trip to North West. Leave Tuyen Quang for Bac Ha. This day is a hard travelling by car but the scenery on route is incredible. O/N in Bac Ha.

Day 9: Bac Ha

Visit Can Cau Market, an outstanding feature of ethnic people in the North. Buying souvenirs from ethnic people. Short walk to discover some surrounding villages. O/N in Bac Ha.

Day 10: Bac Ha - Sapa - Tam Duong

Depart for Tam Duong. Stop en-route to visit Sapa market which is organized weekly only in Saturday. 5 hours trekking to discover villages of ethnic minorities such as Sandiu, Hanhi, Xa that remains natural and unspoiled by mass tourism. O/N in Tam Duong.

Day 11: Tam Duong - Sin Ho - Lai Chai

Trekking by shortcut to Sin Ho villages. Car will run free and meet you at Sin Ho village. Continue to drive to Lai Chau town. O/N in Lai Chau.

Day 12: Lai Chau - Dien Bien Phu

Leave Lai Chau for Dien Bien Phu. Visit the old battle field. O/N in Dien Bien.

Day 13: Dien Bien Phu - Son La - Mai Chau

Leave Lai Chau for Mai Chau. En-route visit the prison of French war. Arrival in Mai Chau, join the activities to Thai minority. O/N at house-on-stilt in Mai Chau.

Day 14: Mai Chau - Hanoi

Leave Mai Chau for Hanoi. Free time.

Options

* Vehicle options: Russian UAZ, Japanese TOYOTA Land Cruiser or NISSAN Patrol or MITSUBISHI Pajero.

 *CENTRAL HIGHLAND (14 days)

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: 4WD EXPEDITIONS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM

(14 days, 13 nights)