Northern Loop Adventure

After breakfast, we leave Hanoi for a three-hour drive to the town of Mai Chau. Upon arrival, get onto the house on stilts of a Thai family where we will stay tonight. Have a short walk to explore the neighbouring villages before lunch. In the afternoon, we have a 2 hours walk through the various ethnic minority villages in the area. Overnight at home-stay.

Optional activity: an in-house music show performed by local artists. 30USD/ show

Driving section: ~ 150km
( Lunch & Dinner included)

Depart Mai Chau, and we make our way west to Son La with a stop at the small township of Moc Chau en route for a short tea break. We then have a tour around this little hill town. Arriving in Son La in the afternoon, check into our local guesthouse, where we will spend the night. Son La is in a scenic valley – inhabited by Thai, Muong and Hmong minority people.

Driving section: ~ 170km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Following breakfast, we will visit Son La prison, the remains of a former French prison. We then drive to Dien Bien Phu with a stop for lunch at Tuan Giao town. Upon arrival in Dien Bien Phu, visit General Vo Nguyen Giap Bunker – which uses in the war against the French. Overnight at a hotel in Dien Bien.

Driving section: ~ 180km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Morning, visit more of Dien Bien, including General De Castries bunker and the Dien Bien museum. Continue our adventure to Paso. Though the way is on rough roads (5 – 6 hours), it is worth it as the scenery is dramatic. We will also encounter and communicate with ethnic groups of White Thai, Black Thai, and Hmong. Lunch will be en route to Muong Lay town. Arrive in Paso tơn around 18 00 pm.

Driving section: ~ 200km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

In the morning, leisurely with a late breakfast, we go to a hot spring for a bath and back to the hotel for check-out.

After lunch in the hotel, we depart for our drive to Sapa and enjoy the scenic landscape en route. Once reaching Tam Duong Townville, we will visit the local market, continue onto the highest road traffic point at 2143m above sea level, and stop at Silver waterfall. We arrive at the most beautiful Sapa in the late afternoon.

Driving section: ~ 91km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

In the morning, start trekking down the valley along trails and across rice paddies to visit the Black Hmong village of Lao chai and the Dzay village of Tavan. Via San 2 school, catholic family church, and explore the valley Muong Hoa on foot. We get picked up and drive back to the town to have late lunch. In the afternoon, we have a relaxing afternoon for personal activities or having a drink to see the sunset on the roof of Indochina, the Fanxifan mountain 3143m above sea level.

Optional activity: visit Ham Rong Mt. for good panoramic views of Sapa town and the surrounding valleys.

Driving section: ~ 20km, trekking section: ~ 14km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Departure early from Sapa, take away breakfast, we drive to see a market – which is set on a fixed date weekly for all tribes: Tay, Nung, Dao, Flower Hmong, Giay, Phu La…, Having breakfast in the market.

Depending on your arrival date, we will arrange to see one of the different markets, such as Coc Ly market on Tuesday (20km from Bac Ha), Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursday (100km from Bac Ha), Can Cau market on Saturday ( 15km from Bac Ha), and Bac Ha markets in town or Simacai Border market on Sunday (30km from Bac Ha to border China).

In the afternoon, we drive from the market to Bac Ha town. For the rest of the afternoon, we visit Bac Ha King’s palace (1914 – 1921), the palace of father King Hoang Yen Chao and King Hoang A Tuong, the symbolization of French architecture in XVII and the Asian style of Tay ethnic minority.

O/N in Bac Ha tourist town.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Driving section: ~ 140km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Easy ride 15km toward Can Cau, we turn right for un-touch town Xin Man, town Hoang Su Phi, where is the most beautiful area for step-paddy fields beyond Northern loop. Stop at different villages for sightseeing and lunch halfway en route the worst road condition for the best experience route and see the lovely livelihood of the inhabitant here. It is worthwhile since you will enjoy the spectacular scenery and great views along the Chay river. O/N at home-stay in the suburb of Ha Giang town.

Driving section: ~ 150km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

After breakfast, we start the mountain route into the remote areas – which are such a real-life experience exploration of many ethnic minority villages and markets. Sometimes we stop to see markets and drive up Heaven Gate pass (Cong Troi Quan Ba) when locals take pictures. After lunch, we drive to the border of Lung Cu to visit the Flag tower is determined to be the top point of Vietnam country. Before nightfall, visit the palace of King Vuong Chi Sinh and his family tree exhibited inside the place. It is a great relic, a great stronghold under many kings’ self-control for hundred years. We will overnight in a mini hotel – which is considered the best one in the town of Dong Van.

Driving section: ~ 180km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

After breakfast, we drive to the marvellous historic Ma Pi Leng pass toward Dong Van town. Take photos at this charming pass, then go to Meo Vac market. Have lunch on the way and keep going for another half day driving straight to Ba Be lake. Arrived at Ba Be National Park center in the late afternoon and checked in the guest house. O/N in Ba Be lake National Park guest house.

Driving section: ~ 200km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Ba Be lake, The Three Lakes in English, is in Vietnam’s rugged north mountainous area, bringing us into contact with these fascinating and colourful tribes and studying the tropical forest. We spend two days tour exploring the dramatic countryside in and around BaBe National Park where we will stay as guests of the homestay of the Tay tribe, boating to a cave and swimming in the crystal water of the lake.

After breakfast, check out of the guesthouse and drive to the dock to take a dug-out canoe trip which crosses the first and the second lake of The three lakes to CocToc village of Tay ethnic people. After visiting the village fishers and seeing some weaving handicrafts products, we continue to enter an easy trail through the tropical forest to Bo Lu village. And have lunch at a house. We then trek to the dense forest path to visit the tree Dracontomelon of thousand years old. We finally arrive at the panorama of Pac Ngoi village. It is between the forest and limestone cliffs at the mouth of the Cho Leng River. Overnight at a local house on stilts of Tay ethnic minority.

Driving section: ~ 2km, trekking section:~ 5km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

This morning, we drive 90km to Cao Bang. En route, we pass numerous villages of Hmong, Zao, Tay and Nung ethnic minorities, all living in harmony. We will arrive at Cao Bang slightly before lunchtime and spend some while exploring this little town and visiting the local market. After lunch, we will drive 60km to visit Pac Po, the hideout used by Ho Chi Minh when he returned to Vietnam after 30 years of self-imposed exile. It was here that he organized his resistance army against the French. Late this afternoon, we drive back to Cao Bang for our overnight stay at the local hotel. 

Driving section: ~ 210km, trekking section:~ 5km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

This morning, drive 100km toward the North to Ban Gioc waterfall – between the border of China and Vietnam. En route, we pass numerous villages of Tay and Nung ethnic minority people. Having a picnic lunch on the leg of this most beautiful, biggest waterfall in Vietnam, You will have two options: swimming or renting a bamboo raft to float around or visiting a cave on top of the waterfall where you can have some chance for a photo taking. Refresh-end up before continuing to Nguom Ngao grot to where we must walk following the dim light for 3km under the limestone mountain to expert the spectacular natural creation. Afterwards, drive back and arrive in Cao Bang town late afternoon.

Driving section: ~ 210km, trekking section: ~8km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Morning drive to Lang Son, stop in Lang Son for lunch before visiting Tam Thanh Cave and Dong King market and then follow our way to Ha Long.
Overnight in Ha Long

Driving section: ~ 280km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Have breakfast in our hotel and have a relaxing morning roaming around the beach in Bai Chay town of Ha Long. Check out before noon and go to the dock.
Have seafood lunch on the boat and roam around the bay with a deluxe cruise to visit caves, kayaking, beach, fishing…,
Overnight on the cruise.

Driving section: ~ 2km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Have breakfast and cruise back to Bai Chay town. Meet the car for a drive back to Hanoi. On the way, we can visit Dong Thanh ceramic factory or the handicraft village nearby. Stop at a humanity center to see the disabled make embroidery products. Arrived in Hanoi City in the late afternoon. After a refreshed up, we go for a farewell dinner.

Driving section: ~ 170km
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

Tour End