Our ‘Amazing North Vietnam Adventure’ tour will take you off the beaten track and introduce you to a Vietnam that few visitors get to experience. The northern region of Vietnam borders with Lao and China is mostly made up of mountains, containing some of the highest peaks in the country. The best time to visit this region is from September to November and from March to May. During these months you can expect dry sunny days and clear cold nights, which is the perfect environment for walking in the area.
On arrival your Vietnam adventure tour will leave the busy capital behind and start by travelling west to the highlands of Mai Chau. Mai Chau is located in the Hòa Bình Province approximately 135 km from Hanoi. This region is home to the Ban Lac People, originally from Thailand, who settled in the North-Western area of Vietnam. The two tribes, White Thai and Black Thai, settled in the same area and make up the largest ethnic population of the region. Mai Chau is well known for its stilt houses, mountain vistas, picturesque rice fields and stunning countryside.
After Mai Chau and night in Hanoi you drive north to the tranquillity of the Ba Be Lake before venturing further into the magical Highlands. Along the way, you will visit Ha Giang and some local markets, before continuing through deep valleys and hair-raising windy roads that boast spectacular views of the villages of Hoang Su Phi and Bac Ha, home to several minority groups. At the western edge of a high plateau, you finally reach the dramatically perched city of Sapa. The city is surrounded by villages of many different ethnic minorities, particularly the Red Dao and the Black Hmong. Once there you will witness real rural existence before ending your Vietnam holiday by boarding a sleeper train back down to the bright dizzy lights of the exciting cosmopolitan city of Hanoi.
Highlights
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Mai Chau Valley
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Mai Hich Cycling Trip
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Rafting Experience at the Xia Spring
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Poom Cong & Lac Villages
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Thai Nguyen & Museum of Ethology
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Ba Be National Park & Be Be Lake
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Palace of the Vuong family
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Ms Mai’s traditional dancing
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Hoang Su Phi’s magical rice terraces
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Hoang A Tuong Castle
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Cat Cat Waterfall
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Sapa & the Ma Tra Valley
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Hanoi City Tour
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Dinner with a local Vietnamese family
We are here to make your dream holiday a reality.
Our travel experts live and breath Asia all year long making them the perfect fit to plan your holiday.
Upon arrival in Noi Bai Airport you are welcomed by a ‘See Asia Differently’ representative and then transferred to the beautiful mountainous province of Hoa Binh. On the way, you will see gorgeous scenery dotted with limestone and rice paddies while passing several small indigenous villages, home to the Muong, Thai, H’Mong and Dao people.
Overnight in Mai Chau Valley (Meals: _/_/D)
Day 2
Mai Chau
Mai Hich Cycling Trip
Today you will enjoy an amazing bike ride seeing the spectacular scenery of rice fields, mountains and hill tribe villages as you cycle to Mai Hich. The village has not yet been touched by tourism and is home to ethnic Thai people. After exploring the village you continue to Xia Spring to enjoy a fun rafting experience before cycling back to Mai Chau.
Overnight in Mai Chau Valley (Meals: B/L/_)
Day 3
Hanoi
Mai Chau to Hanoi | Drive: 3.5 hours
After breakfast you will enjoy an easy walk around the lovely village and valley of Poom Cong and Lac Village, which is nearby to Mai Chau. You really get to experience the fresh, peaceful atmosphere and clean air of the area. Later in the day, you will drive back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi (Meals: B/L/_)
Day 4
Ba Be
Hanoi to Ba Be | Drive: 5 hours
Leaving Hanoi behind again your journey out to the fascinating province of Thai Nguyen. Once there you will visit the Museum of Ethnology to learn about the tribal people of Northern Vietnam before continuing to Na Phac and Cho Ra. After lunch at Cho Ra Town, you head out to Ba Be to explore the National Park and Lake on a local cruise. Your day ends in the village of the Tay in Pac Ngoi, where you will spend the night.
Homestay overnight in Pac Ngoi Village (Meals: B/L/D)
Day 5
Meo Vac
Ba Be to Meo Vac | Drive: 7 hours
Today you will take a scenic drive out to Tinh Tuc to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Colia Pass. Once there you will take a short walk to Zao Tien village and then head to the fascinating Bao Lac to see some ethnic people. After lunch, you then drive along the Gam River up steep mountain grades to Ly Bon to discover the remote lands between Cao Bang and Meo Vac town.
Overnight in Meo Vac (Meals: B/L/D)
Day 6
Ha Giang
Meo Vac to Ha Giang | Drive: 4.5 hours
If today lies on a Sunday, you have an opportunity to visit the weekend market of local tribal people and see them dressed in their best traditional costumes. If not you journey over the stunningly beautiful Ma Pi Leng pass to Meo Vac. From here you continue to Dong Van to enjoy its ancient streets and visit the historical palace of the Vuong family and then onward to Yen Minh and finishing the day in Ha Giang. On your travels today you will also witness some traditional dancing.
Overnight in Ha Giang (Meals: B/L/D)
Day 7
Hoang Su Phi
Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi | Drive: 3 hours
Another wonderful walking day awaits as you head out to Me Village which lies in a large valley near Ha Giang. Your first transfer out to Ouang Vinh (Hoang Su Phi), which has very different scenery compared to other areas in the region. Hoang Su Phi rests at the top of the Chay River Massif and it is covered by lush, green forest, tea farms and very impressive terraced rice fields. Your journey finishes on some windy roads, through high mountainsides and beautiful landscapes to Su Phi.
Overnight in Hoang Su Phi (Meals: B/L/D)
Day 8
Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi
Today you follow your trekking guide and walkthrough mountain passes that overlook magical rice terrace all the way to the village of the Dzao hill tribe. After enjoying lunch at a local house of Thai minority people you travel back by road to your resort in Su Phia.
Overnight in Hoang Su Phi (Meals: B/L/D)
Day 9
Sa Pa
Hoang Su Phi to Sa Pa| Drive: 6 hours
This morning you will walk from Sapa downhill along a narrow trail through delightful fruit gardens and vegetable farms to Cat Cat Village. Once there you can follow some steps down to the Muong Hoa River and take a swim in the Cat Cat waterfall. After lunch, your trek continues along the Vang stream and pass rice paddies and rain forest to Y Linh Ho Village and then onwards to Lao Chai and Tan van village home of the Black Hmong and your resting place for the night.
Overnight in Sa Pa Town (Meals: B/L/_)
Day 10
Ta Van Village
Sa Pa to Ta Van Village | Drive: 1.5 hours
This morning you will walk from Sapa downhill along a narrow trail through delightful fruit gardens and vegetable farms to Cat Cat Village. Once there you can follow some steps down to the Muong Hoa River and take a swim in the Cat Cat waterfall. After lunch, your trek continues along the Vang stream and pass rice paddies and rain forest to Y Linh Ho Village and then onwards to Lao Chai and Tan van village home of the Black Hmong and your resting place for the night.
Overnight in Sapa (Meals: B/L/_)
Day 11
Sa Pa
Ma Tra & Ta Phin
Today starts by travelling to Ma Tra Valley which boasts some of the most impressive terraced rice fields in Vietnam carved out by the Hmong people. After some time soaking up the area you then continue your journey to Sa Pa. You then walk mostly downhill to the village of Suoi Ho Village and then onwards to the villages of Ma Tra and Ta Phin, which is home to the Red Dzao people. From here you then transfer back to Sa Pa.
Overnight in Sapa (Meals: B/L/_)
Day 12
Hanoi
Sa Pa to Hanoi | Drive: 5.5 hours
You have one last morning to explore more of Sa Pa before you travel back to the big smoke of Hanoi. Once in town, you are free to enjoy the fast pace of life which is a million miles away from the highlands of Sa Pa and where you have just been.
Overnight in Hanoi (Meals: B/_/_)
Day 13
Hanoi
Full Day City Tour & Home Hosted Dinner
Today you will spend the day exploring Hanoi and learning about its history and legends which will deepen your appreciation for the city. In the evening, instead of having dinner in a fancy restaurant, you will be treated to a traditional Vietnamese dinner with a local family in their house. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Hanoian’s way of life and culture.
Overnight in Hanoi (Meals: B/_/D)
Day 14
Hanoi
Departure
Today you will be free to enjoy your last day in Vietnam before being transferred to the airport for your departing flight back home.
(Meals: B/_/_)
Tour includes
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Airport pick up and drop off
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Overnights as mentioned
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Excursions as mentioned
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Transportation in private A/C vehicle
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English speaking guide
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Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – excludes drinks)
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All taxes
Tour excludes
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All flights unless included in itinerary & Visa fees
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International airport tax (Included in Airline Ticket)
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Meals, unless mentioned differently
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Beverages and personal expenses
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Other excursions and entrance fees
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Travel insurance (cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses, including repatriation and evacuation in the event of accident of illness)
Please note: You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining on it as well as bringing with you 4 passport size photos with you for your visa, as well as having a couple spare.
Call us on 0208 150 5150, for International callers 004420 8150 5150, send us an e-mail [email protected] or just use the form opposite.
Your next steps:
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Get in touch and talk to our specialist Asia travel team
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We then craft a unique and tailor-made itinerary just for you.
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We will stay in touch with you all the way through your holiday experience
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Pack you bags and get ready for your Asia holiday of a life time
On arrival in Asia we will meet you at the airport, transfer you to your hotel and then sit down to run over your holiday program again. We then introduce you to your local guides and give you some helpful local travel tips; such as local restaurant and bar suggestions and some cultural insights.
Towns & Cities in Vietnam
Vietnam has no shortage of captivating destination to visit on your holiday. Refer to our Towns & cities guide to plan the perfect trip.
There are so many beautiful hotels to choose from in Vietnam. So we have selected a few of our most favourite and characterful hotels; giving you a taste of what you can expect.
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