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Northwest Vietnam Adventure

Off the beaten track route with stunning landscapes of the northwest mountainous areas of Vietnam. A discovery tour which covers culture, custom and way of life of different tribal ethnic peoples living in remote northwest of Vietnam. The last two days of your journey takes in a full day hiking in Sapa. The trip can be extended if you have more time and can be customized to your wish.
  • hiking-in-sapa
  • Mai chau lodge
  • Bac Ha Market Sapa

TRIP OVERVIEW

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Destinations: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Lai Chau - Sapa
Starts in/Finishes in: Hanoi/Hanoi
Highlights:

Your first visit will be Giang Mo, the village of the Muong minority and stroll through the rice fields. You will also visit Muong Cultural Space nearby to have an overview of Muong people and its culture.

Drive through the stunning valley of Mai Chau for lunch at a stilt-house, followed by a stroll around interesting surroundings and ethnic minority tribes of Pom Coong village

Join the 3- hour trek passing by authentic villages and lush paddy fields

Interact with local tribe people of black Thai, White Thai, H’mong, Muong

Visit a tea plantation in Moc Chau plateau, one of the best Vietnam tea-growing region in Vietnam

Embark on a colorful journey to Muong Lay passing the stunning gorges and the Nam Na River

Duration: 7 days

Travel Style: Active & Adventure
Suitable: Couple

TRIP IN DETAILS

After breakfast, your guide will meet and take you on 2,5 hours journey to Hoa Binh. Your first visit will be Giang Mo, the village of the Muong minority and stroll through the rice fields. You will also visit Muong Cultural Space nearby to have an overview of Muong people and its culture.

Continue driving to stunning valley of Mai Chau for lunch at a stilt-house, followed by a stroll around interesting surroundings and ethnic minority tribes of Pom Coong village.Then a short drive will take you to a remote village of the valley for approximately 3- hour trek passing by authentic villages and lush paddy fields. Spend the night in a Thai family.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast at your homestay, embark on a scenic drive north to Son La, passing by fruit orchards, tea plantations along the route. There are plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with local tribe people of black Thai, White Thai, H’mong, Muong. You will also visit a tea plantation in Moc Chau plateau, one of the best Vietnam tea-growing region in Vietnam.

Upon your arrival in Son La, visit Son La prison and the small museum next door dedicated to the dress, tools and lives of the ethnic minorities of Son La, mainly H’mong.

Note: If today is Sunday, visit the weekly ethnic market en-route, some 40km from Mai Chau before driving to Moc Chau & Son La.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Continue your drive on winding roads, passing longer passes with chances to see more colorful minority groups. After lunch, drive through the impressive Pha Din pass which will be the highlight of the day. Stop on the top of the pass, your guide will explain an interesting local legend about this pass.

Arriving in Dien Bien Phu in the early afternoon, enjoy a guided visit of the historical sites including Dien Bien Phu Museum, A 1 Hill, De Castries’s bunker.

Dien Bien Phu is 35km from the Laos border, and is situated in the Muong Thanh Valley. For centuries it has been a major town on the transit route for traders between Myanmar, China and the north of Vietnam, but more recently in May of 1954 it became a place of special significance in the creation of a modern state of Vietnam. It was the site of a decisive battle that led to a 57 day siege of the French garrison and consequential end of the French colonial occupation.

The history of Dien Bien Phu is the main attraction here and now being the capital of Lai Chau province the once small town is growing considerably.

On the site of the battle there now stands Dien Bien Phu Museum were old French tanks and artillery can be seen along with the re-building of the bunker headquarters of the French commander Colonel Christian de Castries.

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Stroll around the local market and the city centre before embarking on a another journey to Muong Lay passing the stunning gorges and the Nam Na River. You will stop en route to visit the authentic villages of H’mong and Dao people. Arriving in Lai Chau in early afternoon where you will have lunch and enjoy free time at leisure.

A motor-boat trip can be arranged (at additional cost) to visit different villages along the Black River. You can make a stop to visit a village of Thai minority and learn about their daily life on the riverbank. A friendly atmosphere makes your trip more enjoyable. The boat takes you further downstream and you will be transferred back to the hotel in the late afternoon.

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Today the route takes you to Sapa on the side of Fansipan Mountain range. The road is a bit bumpy at times but the magnificent scenery of the surrounding fertile valley, pristine rivers and towering mountains compensates. You will stop en route at Heaven’s Gate to have bird-eyes view of the enormous picturesque Muong Hoa valley and Fansipan Mount. Visit Silver Waterfall before driving straight to Sapa town, arriving in the afternoon.

Note:
The Thursday and Sunday ethnic market in Tam Duong is very colorful, frequented by different ethnic minorities in the region.

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

At 9h00, you will start the day with a walk through the town of Sapa and along a dirt trail through vegetable gardens and rice paddies. The spectacular scenery of Muong Hoa valley gradually appears. You will then reach the river running at the bottom of the valley and continue the walk on the bank of the river. Eventually you’ll arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black H’mong minority. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the river.

After lunch, the hike from Y Linh Ho village to Lao Chai village of Black H’mong minority is almost on the hillsides. The view of the valley is more and more extending and stretching to the horizon. Stop at Lao Chai village to visit a local house before following the dirt path linking the village with Ta Van village, the only one in the valley inhabited by Giay minority. From Ta Van village you will be picked up by vehicle to Sapa, then to Lao Cai for overnight train to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Transportation: Private vehicle, Overnight Train

You will arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. Tour ends.

Meals:
Accommodation:
Transportation: Private vehicle

PRICE GUIDE & NOTES

From: US$ per person for a private tour of minimum 4 guests traveling together
Valid till October 31, 2024

Meals: 6 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 5 Breakfasts
Transportation: Private vehicle, Overnight Train
Accommodation: 6 Nights

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • All pick-ups and transfers by private vehicles with experienced drivers.
  • 5 night accommodation in local guesthouses an hotels
  • Experienced local English speaking guide
  • One-way train ticket: Lao Cai – Hanoi (sharing 4-berth cabin on Chapa Express Carriage)
  • All breakfast and lunches at local restaurants as indicated in the programme
  • All entrance fees and permission fees as mentioned in the programme
  • All government taxes

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Entry visa to Vietnam
  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Travel Insurances
  • Drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not mentioned on the program.
  • Additional cost for upgrade to full cabin of 4 berths on Lao Cai – Hanoi train.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

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FAQ

Can I buy antiques in Vietnam?

Yes. However, exporting an artifact with cultural significance requires an official license. Without a license, anything old is liable to be confiscated at the airport.

Can I enter Vietnam earlier or later than my granted arrival date in visa approval letter?

No, you can not. You need to enter Vietnam WITHIN approval dates as mentioned in your visa approval letter.

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MEET OUR HAPPY TRAVELERS

A dream trip with my father

I had three weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia last year. I travelled with my father (70 years old) and Tuan put the best itinerary for us. We had the chance to have Spanish speakers guides everywhere so my dad could have a full experience of what this two beautiful countries have to offer. I will be forever grateful for this wonderful experience! Thank you Tuan!

Ms JOHANNA

Spain

December 26, 2017

2-Week Itinerary Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

A wonderful, well organized holiday

I was tasked by friends to organize a holiday in the Far East. I was put in touch with Tuan at Absolute Asia Travel and from that time on had the concern and hassle taken off my shoulders. From giving him an idea of what we wanted to see and do he organized our trip to be exactly what we desired. We did make some small changes to the itinerary and these were catered for without any problem.

5 friends from Australia met my wife and I in Bangkok and we flew into Luang Prabang to start our 15 day tour of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The hotels booked for us throughout were of high standard with excellent, friendly service. The flights, the mini-bus trips, the boat rides, were always organized and there on time.

The guides we had were all very knowlegable, with good English and were pleasant and always ready to put themselves out to suit our wishes.
We visited Hanoi, Halong Bay (a 2 day trip), Sa Pa(a short trek through the hills), Saigon (incl. Cu Chi tunnels), Mekong Delta and Siam Reap (the Angkor complex and Tonie Sap lake).

We parted back in Bangkok with all of us raving about the holiday.

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Australia

November 2, 2016

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