Itinerary
This Northern Vietnam Adventure Expedition Tour is provided in the remote Northern Vietnam – Bac Kan province, Ha Giang province and Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province. This 8 days trip allows you to travel through the remote hill tribe villages, inhabited by the H’mong (Black Hmong, Blue Hmong and Flower Hmong), the Dzao (Black Dzao and Dzao Tien), the Tay, the Nung, Pho Xa, Lolo ethnic minorities…
Tour Route: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake – Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Can Cau Saturday Market – Bac Ha Sunday Market – Lao Cai – Hanoi
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1/ Sunday: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake (~240 km)
Day 2/ Monday: Ba Be – Tinh Tuc – Bao Lac (~ 178km)
Day 3/ Tuesday: Bao Lac – Meo Vac – Dong Van (~ 96 km)
Day 4/ Wednesday: Dong Van – Yen Minh – Quan Ba – Ha Giang (~ 150 km)
Day 5/ Thursday: Ha Giang – Hoang Su Phi (~ 120km)
Day 6/ Friday: Hoang Su Phi – Bac Ha (~ 95 Km)
Day 7/ Saturday: Bac Ha – Can Cau Market – Bac Ha (~30 km)
Day 8/ Sunday: Bac Ha Sunday Market – Lao Cai – Night train to Hanoi(70 Km)
Day 9/ Hanoi – Arrival.
DETAIL ITINERARY:
Day 1/ Sunday: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake (~240 km) (- / Lunch/ Dinner)
In the morning, we will be picked up and depart to Bac Kan province. We will drive through Thai Nguyen city; keep moving through many other timeless villages linked to the road, which is the main artery of trade between the Northeast region and the Hanoi Capital.
This is our first glimpse of rural Vietnam and sets the tone for the days ahead. Lunch will be served at local restaurant on the way. We will arrive at Ba Be Lake about midday. What is more to take a local boat trip to explore one part of Ba Be Lakes, visit Goa & Han Mai island then more cruise to the village. After arriving at our home stay in Pac Ngoi village, you are welcome by the host family of Tay people. Free time then to have shower, walk around the village. Dinner and overnight in Ba Be.
- Accommodation: Tay Ethnic’s home-stay in Pac Ngoi village
Day 2/ Tuesday: Ba Be – Tinh Tuc – Bao Lac ( ~ 178km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
In the morning, we will check-out home-stay, say goodbye to our home-stay owner and family, then we will drive to Hua Ma cave, spend couple hours for exploring this amazing cave, then keep driving forward Ha Giang. We will soon be enjoying the wonderful sightseeing of mountain, drive through villages. Lunch will be served on the way at a local restaurant then continue our journey to Bao Lac. Arrival at the town in the late afternoon. Check in hotel and free on your own leisure to have shower and rest. Dinner and stay overnight in Bao Lac.
- Accommodation: Song Gam Hotel
- Room Type: Superior Room – Double/ Twin Sharing
Day 3/ Wednesday: Bao Lac – Meo Vac – Dong Van (~ 96 km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
After breakfast, we leave Meo Vac to Ha Giang. Remember to prepare your camera with lots of films for today since we will be hitting the Heaven – a more beautiful place, here we are surrounded by many rocks of all shapes and sizes, chances to see and even visit the traditional houses of the hill tribes here.
The scenic route climbs over a pass, and then we descend down to Meo Vac valley, a beautiful valley situated very close to Chinese border. Have lunch in Meo Vac then we take time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass where we can enjoy beautiful mountain ranges and the the Nho Que river – just an amazing place to be! We keep hitting the zigzag roads to Dong Van, visiting these remote areas, we will witness how hard the locals struggle with their environment for survival and development. We will stay in town to get the chances to visit the ancient streets with old houses of the H’mong made of clay bricks and tile roofs, built centuries ago. Overnight in Dong Van town.
- Accommodation: Hoang Ngoc Hotel
- Room Type: Superior Room – Double/ Twin Sharing
Day 4/ Thursday: Dong Van – Yen Minh – Quan Ba – Ha Giang (~ 150 km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
A leisurely drive from Dong Van, back to Yen Minh & Quan Ba, this day will make your itinerary a good pace, not in a rush. We will visit the infamous Vuong Palace, a H’mong family of high rank during French colonial rule – this palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. We then hit the road back to Quan Ba and downhill to Ha Giang for the night.
Notes: Quan Ba Sunday market is worth an arrangement!
- Accommodation: Ha An Hotel
- Room Type: Superior Room – Double/ Twin Sharing
Day 5/ Friday: Ha Giang – Hoang Su Phi (~ 209km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
In the morning, we will drive from Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi. The rough but scenic route traverses a dense jungle before crossing over a pass and descending to Sin Man. Along the way we may encounter the Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi and Co Lao, just some of the many hill tribe groups who have settled in the area. Overnight at Pan Hou Village Resort in Hoang Su Phi.
- Accommodation: Pan Hou Village Resort
- Room Type: Superior Room – Double/ Twin Sharing
Day 6/ Saturday: Hoang Su Phi – Bac Ha (~ 95 Km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
A long but stunning scenery along the zigzag road from Hoang Su Phi to Bac Ha will make today a little busier, some parts of the road might be difficult to travel so make sure that you depart early this day from Hoang Su Phi to arrive to Bac Ha in time before dark. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha town.
- Accommodation: Ngan Nga Hotel
- Room Type: Superior Room – Double/ Twin Sharing
Day 7/ Sunday: Bac Ha Sunday Market – Sapa (120 Km) (Breakfast/ Lunch/ -)
Bac Ha Market is held every Sunday and is the biggest minority peoples market in Northwest Vietnam. Alive with the bright colours and extravagant costumes of the local people, here you will meet Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Black Dao, Tay, Nung, La Chi, Phu La and other minority groups who come from far and wide to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock, to exchange news and to renew friendships. In the past the market was a centre for trading horses but now that motorbikes have replaced them it is more common to see buffalo, cows, goats, fish and other livestock being traded. The market opens at around 7.30am and closes mid-afternoon, so an early start is advisable.
Take time to wander around the market, enjoy the atmosphere and have fun trying out your trading skills with the friendly local people.
Our lunch will be served at local restaurant in Bac Ha town. After lunch, we will drive back to Sapa.
Arrive Sapa in the afternoon. You will have free day at your own leisure. Tour ends.
The itinerary above could be customized to suit your desire, feel free to get in touch with us for the ideas and best quotation
SPECIAL OFFERED PRICE OF TOUR PACKAGE
The price is valid till the end of Sept, 2015
Price is quoted in American USD dollar at the newest exchange rate
What’s included?
- Entrance Fees: To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
- Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary with authentic Vietnamese food.
- Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver and English-speaking guide (as listed above). Your comfort is our priority!
- Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city they will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available.
- Hotels: Hotel fees are based on two people sharing with Double (Twin) Rooms. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily Western or Local breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
- Home–stay in Pac Ngoi Village, Ba Be National Park
- Private boat trip in Ba Be Lake (04 Boats)
- Daily 02 bottle of mineral water/ person/ day
- Ethnic Villages admission fees and documents
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
What’s excluded?
- Excess Baggage Charges. Passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 20kg, for economy class. Total weight of carryon baggage each passenger may not exceed 5kg. The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm.
- Personal Expenses: Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.
- Tip
- Single Room Supplement
- International insurance
