Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-) <Sunday>
Upon arrival, you will be picked up and driven to downtown Hanoi for the check-in at the hotel.
Overnight: at the hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi – Duong Lam – Suoi Giang – Nghia Lo (B, L, D) <Monday>
In the morning, a bus will pick you up and drive you to the Northwest and more precisely to Nghia Lo. On the way, you will stop at Duong Lam village, where you will enjoy a short bicycle ride to visit this place famous for its ancient architecture. It is the birthplace of two Vietnamese kings and many local heroes.
Lunch at a home of local people.
After lunch, you will resume your trip to go to Nghia Lo while passing by several tea plantations. Drive up to Suoi Giang to visit the old tea garden and a village of inhabited by H’Mong people.
Finally, you will reach Nghia Lo. Check-in at the hotel and dinner with a local family.
Overnight: at the hotel.
Day 3: Nghia Lo – Tram Tau (B, L, D) <Tuesday>
After a good breakfast at the house of a local family, you will head to the Tram Tau and participate in the community service project designed to help the local people. The whole day will be dedicated to this work, and it will be a good time to work with locals and also an opportunity for team building.
Overnight: at a guest house.
Day 4: Tram Tau (B, L, D) <Wednesday>
Today, you will continue with the project in Tram Tau.
Overnight: at a guest house.
Day 5: Tram Tau – Tu Le – Khau Pha – Nga Ba Kim – La Pan Tan – Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D) <Thursday>
After breakfast, you will say goodbye to the local people in Tram Tau and hope onto the bus for a scenic drive. You will admire the rice terraces of Tu Le, go through Khau Pha Pass and continue up until Nga Ba Kim. While on the way, you will have the opportunity to take amazing pictures.
Then, you will start an uphill 3-km trek from Nga Ba Kim to La Pan Tan, where you will visit a local school. After that, you will start a downhill 5-km trek up until reaching the main road: you will be amazed at the beauty of rice terraces and mountain forests during your hike, while also stopping to visit a local family. Upon reaching the main road, you will board the bus and be driven to Mu Cang Chai, where you will be the guests of a local family for the night.
Overnight: homestay.
Day 6: Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – O Qui Ho – Tram Ton – Sapa (B, L) <Friday>
Today, you will be driven in the direction of Sapa, a famous destination for tourists. You will stop at Than Uyen Market, before being driving up to one of the highest passes in Vietnam: O Qui Ho Pass. Then, you will reach Tram Ton Pass and visit the nearby Silver Waterfall.
You will reach Sapa around noon. Check-in at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will have free time to visit Sapa and discover this beautiful town. If you wish, you can also climb to the top of Ham Rong Mountain: from there, you can have a perfect view on Sapa and mount Fansipan.
Finally, you will attend a traditional show performed by local artists (ethnic people living in Sapa). In the evening, you will be free to have dinner on your own and enjoy select a place of your choice among the numerous BBQ spots in Sapa.
Overnight: at the hotel.
Day 7: Sapa – Lao Chai Village – Ta Van Village – Bac Ha (B, L) <Saturday>
Breakfast at hotel, before starting a trek that will lead you to the rim of a deep valley. On your way, you will have the chance to meet the Black H’Mong community at Lao Chai Village and the Dzay ethnic group of Ta Van Village.
You will have a picnic lunch while on the way.
After lunch, you will head back to the main road, where the bus is waiting for you. You will be driven to Sapa, pick up your luggage, and depart for Bac Ha.
Check-in at the hotel upon reaching Bac H. You will have dinner on your own and free time in the evening.
Overnight: at the hotel.
Day 8: Bac Ha – Yen Bai (B, L, D) <Sunday>
Wake up early in the morning to have a nice breakfast. Then, you will go to Bac Ha Market.
Bac Ha Market is the largest in the area. It is a place where ethnic groups leaving in the region (most notably Flower H’Mong, Black H’Mong, Fula, Ha Nhi and Dzao minorities) meet up and trade many items such as fabrics, cereals, vegetables & meat, and animals such as buffalos, dogs, and pigs. The market is at its shiniest around 10:00am, when a lot of locals are gathered, cladded in their colorful traditional costumes.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will be driven on a 160-km strectch of road up until reaching Yen Bai Province. Upon arriving at your hotel, check-in and free time for the rest of the day. You will have dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: at the hotel.
Day 9: Yen Bai – Thac Ba Lake – Vu Linh – Hanoi (B, L) <Monday>
After breakfast, leave the hotel and hop onto the bus. After a 15-km drive, you will reach Yen Binh. There, you will board a boat and enjoy a splendid cruise on Thac Ba Lake.
You will have the opportunity to swim, visit a village on an island, and enjoy the calmness and the peaceful atmosphere of this beautiful lake. You will arrive to Tu Ngoi Village in Vu Linh Commune and walk through this place home to many palm trees.
You will have lunch at the house of a Dzao family.
After a good meal, you will walk to the main road and get into the bus. You will be driven to the capital.
You will reach Hanoi in late afternoon. End of the program.
