Print program
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI – MUONG LO
Arrival in Hanoi at ... on flight ...
Customs formalities and baggage claim (Estimated time: approximately 45 minutes).
Welcome by your guide and driver at the airport.
A short drive will take you to the Moc Chau Plateau, a region well-known for its tea plantations, temperate climate, and dairy farms. Along the departmental road, you will encounter several Hmong, Thai, and Muong villages..
Breakfast at the restaurant on the way.
Cross one of the largest reservoirs in the country by local ferry. Picturesque landscapes with terraced rice cultivation, aquatic product farming in bamboo rafts, traditional wooden houses...
Lunch at local restaurant en route.
In the afternoon, you'll head to the Thai capital. Flooded rice paddies, vegetable gardens, and peaceful villages at the foot of the mountains will provide you with beautiful photo opportunities..
Arrival in Muong Lo at the end of the day.
If time permits, walk in the Thai villages or participate in the preparation of dinner.
Dinner and overnight stay with locals.
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- Car transfer time and distance: 5.5 hours/210 km
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- Road condition: Average
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- Walking time and distance: 1.5 hours/6 km on trails and paths
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- Difficulty level: Easy
- Meeting with ethnic groups: Hmong, Thai, Muong
Note : In case of water shortage in the reservoir (between May and July), we are forced to change the program.
DAY 2: MUONG LO – MU CANG CHAI
Breakfast at a local's house.
Departure by car, the road winds through the Hoang Lien Son range where the highest mountains in Indochina are located.
Stop at the entrance to the village of Lim Thai for a beautiful walk through terraced rice fields. The Black Hmong and Thai people in traditional dress will welcome you with open arms..
On the way via Khau Pha Pass (Heavenly Horns) 1580m.
Meet Mr. Mua La Chua for an in-depth exploration of the Mong culture. Chua will be pleased to tell you about his family, the history of his ethnic group, and also the daily life of the Hmong..
Lunch arranged by the guide at a local home or restaurant.
Then, 2nd walk on a balcony path to reach the La Pan Tan village – capital of Vietnam's rice terraces.
The car will be waiting for you at Nga Ba Kim to take you to Mu Cang Chai.
Dinner and overnight stay with locals.
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- Car transfer time and distance: 2.5 hours/100 km.
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- Road condition: good.
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- Walking time and distance: 3.5 hours/12 km on trail.
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- Difficulty level: medium.
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- Total elevation gain: 300 m.
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- Meeting with ethnic groups: Hmong, Thai
DAY 3: MU CANG CHAI – SAPA
Breakfast at a local's house.
After breakfast, departure for Sapa.
You will continue along the Hoang Lien chain with its highest mountains, its villages lost in nature and its ethnic minorities. The road will cross small towns : Than Uyen, Tan Uyen where tea cultivation is very important.
After two hours of transfer, the road will climb up to the col de O Quy Ho, the highest in Vietnam (2047m).
Stop at this pass to enjoy the cool air and admire Mount Fanxipan (3143m), also called the “Roof of Indochina”.
Arrival in Sapa around noon.
Lunch then you will take a superb walk in the villages Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van to discover the daily life of Hmongs, of the Dzaos and the Dzays.
Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
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- Travel time and distance by car: 4 hours/150 km
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- Walking time and distance: 2 hours/8 km on footpath
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- Difficulty level: Easy
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- Meeting with ethnic groups: Hmong, Dzao, Dzay
DAY 4: SAPA – BAN KHOANG – TA GIANG PHINH – SAPA – HANOI
Breakfast at the hotel.
On the way to Ban Khoang, an authentic and isolated region, still little known to travelers.
This village is inhabited by the et les Red Dzaos. You'll pass through several hamlets nestled beneath the lush greenery of tropical forests. Encounters with Black Hmong villagers will give you a glimpse into their daily lives and culture.
Your walk will end at Ta Giang Phinh village.
Lunch on the way.
Return to Sapa by car then continue to Hanoi.
Arrival in Hanoi in the afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
- Car transfer time and distance: 1 hour/30 km
- Walking time: 3 hours/10 km
DAY 5: HANOI – MAI CHAU
Breakfast at the hotel.
A mountainous road will lead you to the Mai Chau basin where the White Thais.
Hoa Binh marks the entrance to the Northwest region. Along the road, you'll encounter ethnic groups: Thai, Muong, Dzao, Hmong...
The women retain their formal attire. Terraced rice fields and traditional stilt houses: typical scenes of Vietnam.
Lunch at Mr. Cuong's, then you will leave by bicycle to discover the pretty Mai Chau basin.
Bicycles will take you inland, discovering an authentic countryside truly unknown to mass tourism. You will be charmed by the traditional houses on stilts, the smiles of the Thai people, the warm welcomes and the greenery of the rice fields, vegetable gardens and bamboo forests near your path..
Crossing the villages: Chieng Sai, Cha, Cha Long, Na Tang, Tong Dau … where people still live like their ancestors did 100 years ago.
Dinner and overnight stay with locals.
- Car transfer time: 3.5 hours/150 km
- Cycling time: 2 hours/15 km on an easy track
DAY 6: MAI CHAU – MAI HA – NA MEO – BAN TE – MAI CHAU
Breakfast at a local's house.
After breakfast, transfer to Mai Ha, known for its production of rice and corn alcohol, to begin your pleasant hike.
You will pass through Thai villages at the foot of the Pu Poc mountain range and then a large bamboo forest. Lush landscapes.
The walk will take you to Ban Te, a Thai village still little known to travelers.
Stop at a Thai family's house for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will cross more tropical forests before reaching the Na Meo village, inhabited by the Hmong and Thai people where your driver will be waiting for you.
Back to Mai Chau.
Dinner and overnight stay with locals.
- Car transfer time and distance: 30 minutes/20 km.
- Trekking time: 4.5 hours/14 km.
- Difficulty level: Medium.
- Total elevation gain: 600 m
DAY 7: MAI CHAU – PU LUONG
Breakfast at a local's house.
After breakfast, head to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Stop at Co Luong to visit a bamboo chopstick factory.
Stop at Ban Hang village to begin a hike to discover the nature and local life of ethnic minorities in the Heart of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
You will pass through authentic villages, rice terraces and vegetable gardens. Your car awaits you at Eo Ken village to take you to the Pu Luong village.
Overnight stay with locals.
- Car transfer time and distance: 1 hour/40 km.
- Road condition: average
- Hiking time and distance: 3 hours/8 km
DAY 8: PU LUONG
Breakfast at a local's house.
A beautiful day of hiking offers stunning views of lush valleys, tropical forests, and winding rivers.
You'll pass through authentic villages and rice paddies for several hours. Meet the locals who will greet you warmly along the way..
After 5 hours of walking in nature, you will finally arrive at the Ban Hieu village.
Lunch in the village.
Dominated by the Thais, Ban Hieu is still very authentic with its houses on stilts and its hospitable inhabitants. You can swim in the very clear water of the Hieu waterfall.
Back to Pu Luong village to spend the second night.
Dinner and overnight stay with locals.
- Walking time and distance: 5 hours/17 km
- Difficulty level: medium
- Total elevation gain: 800 m
DAY 9: PU LUONG – NINH BINH
Breakfast at a local's house.
After breakfast you will leave the pretty Pu Luong Nature Reserve to join Tam Coc – named terrestrial Halong Bay.
There Ho Chi Minh Trail will cross an immense region dominated by the Muongs. Sugarloaf Mountains along the way.
Upon arrival, you will take a bike ride to the Bich Dong Pagoda located on the side of a karst mountain.
The afternoon is dedicated to exploring a magnificent region adorned with limestone peaks and rice paddies by local sampan. You will pass through the 3 Tam Coc caves piercing the mountains... a spectacle that is both sublime and relaxing.
Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh.
- Driving time and distance: 3.5 hours/140 km
- Cycling time: 1 hour
- Boat time: 2 hours
DAY 10: NINH BINH – HANOI – HO CHI MINH CITY
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, you make a short climb to the Hang Mua Cave to have a panoramic view.
Then back on the road to Hanoi.
Arrival at Hanoi.
Then transfer to the airport of Hanoi for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Takeoff on flight … to …
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City at…
- Driving time and distance: 3h30/140km
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