HS07: Beautiful Northeast and Northwest Vietnam tour – 11 days 10 nights
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The tour program is suitable for those who want to travel, but are not clear about the attractions, do not know how to arrange a reasonable itinerary, or simply have not found a travel companion.
Destinations: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sapa – Bac Ha – Xin Man – Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac – Ban Gioc Water fall – Ba Be lake – Hanoi departure
Highlights: In recent years, Mu Cang Chai has become one of the favorite destions of Vietnamese young adventurers, as well as foreign tourists. You will certainly be surprised by the natural beauty of the “Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai – Sapa” road, as well as by the diversity of minority ethnic groups that you will come across along the way. This 9 day tour visiting Mu Cang Chai – Sapa – Ha Giang – Cao Bang – Ba Be is a best choice for those who loves adventure and nature.
Brief Beautiful Northest and Northwest Vietnam tour:
Day 1: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai (200Km – 5 hours)
Day 2: Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sapa (130Km – 4 hours)
Day 3: Sapa trekking tour
Day 4: Sapa – Bac Ha (170Km – 4.5 hours)
Day 5: Bac Ha – Xin Man – Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang (170Km – 5 hours)
Day 6: Ha Giang – Dong Van (150Km – 4.5 hours)
Day 7: Dong Van – Nho Que boat trip – Trekking – Dong van
Day 8: Dong Van – Lung Cu – Bao Lac (150Km – 4 hours)
Day 9: Bao Lac – Ban Gioc Waterfall (180Km – 5 hours)
Day 10: Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ba Be (130Km – 3.5 hours)
Day 11: Ba Be – Hanoi (225Km – 6 hours)
| Condition | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Advanced Booking | – Up to 2% discount for 60 days advance booking |
| Group Booking | – Up to 5% discount for group with more than 8 travelers |
| Loyal Discount | – Up to 2% discount for booking more than 2 tours at Le Toan Travel (Accumulate for next travel) |
| Elder Discount | – Enjoy from 2% to 6% discount when there are 1, 4 or 8 elders that is over 50+ years old |
| *Contact us to know more about promotion | |
After breakfast in Hanoi, embark on a scenic 5-hour journey (190km) to Mu Cang Chai, renowned for its breathtaking rice terraces. Witness the changing landscapes as you approach the rice fields, which boast young shoots in April, lush greenery from May to July, golden hues from August to mid-September, and a resting phase from October to March. Along the way from Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai, encounter diverse ethnic groups, including the Thai, Dzao, and Black Hmong. Stop at the Khau Pha Pass for panoramic views of the Tu Le rice valley. Optional: Explore a Lim Mong village on foot. Discover the nationally recognized heritage sites of Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and Su Phinh, with an optional 6km trek through the stunning La Pan Tan rice terraces. Enjoy an overnight homestay in Mu Cang Chai.
Enjoy breakfast before embarking on a 4-hour (130km) drive to Sapa. Admire the remaining rice terraces for the first 15km outside Mu Cang Chai. From Than Uyen, marvel at the vibrant green tea hills. Several stops are planned to observe local life, including tea production and the customs of the Lao Lu ethnic group. Traverse the Tram Ton Pass, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Northern Vietnam, en route to Sapa. Check in to your hotel in Sapa for the night.
Embark on a captivating Sapa trekking tour through the terraced hills and mountains, where the vibrant colors of the local hill tribe population add life to the expansive green landscape. Visit Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van villages, home to the Black H’mong and Day people. Enjoy fresh air, stunning mountain scenery, and trek through the world’s most beautiful terraced rice fields. Visit local families to learn about their unique culture and way of life. Return to Sapa for an overnight stay.
Depart Sapa and journey to Bac Ha town (170km, 4.5 hours), home to one of the largest and most interesting markets in the region. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Bac Ha market, a meeting place for hill tribes. After the market tour, take a short trek to Ban Pho Village, inhabited by the Flower H’Mong people, known for their unique lifestyles and cultures. Overnight in Bac Ha.
Explore the colorful Bac Ha market in the morning, engaging with the friendly locals and trying your hand at trading. Enjoy lunch at the market before continuing to Ha Giang province (170km, 5 hours), bordering China. Admire the grandiose mountains and unique rock formations along the way. Ha Giang is home to diverse ethnic minorities, including the Hmong, Tay, Dao, and Nung. Drive through Xin Man and Hoang Su Phi, considered the best route for discovering the region. Check in to your resort in Ha Giang city for the night.
After breakfast, journey to the remote northern part of Ha Giang province (150km, 4.5 hours), known for its picturesque and varied scenery. Drive over high passes, enjoying views of deep valleys. Stop at The Vuong Palace, a Chinese-style architectural gem that served as the seat of government for the Hmong during the First Indochina War. Overnight in Dong Van and explore the old streets of the town.
Start the day with a visit to the Nho Que River. Drive to Ta Lang village and take a local ride to the river pier. Enjoy a 1-hour boat trip along the Nho Que River, admiring its turquoise blue waters and the surrounding limestone mountains. Visit Tu San alley. Optional: Consider kayaking on the river. Have lunch in Dong Van. In the afternoon, drive to Ma Pi Leng for a 1-2 hour trek. Stop at the Ma Pi Leng museum and trek through a small road, enjoying the stunning views and meeting local children. Climb to a viewpoint for sunset and photos of the Nho Que River. Return to Dong Van for the night.
Take a short drive to visit the Lung Cu Flagpole, the northernmost point of Vietnam. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the top. Return to Dong Van for lunch before heading to Bao Lac via Meo Vac. Overnight in Bao Lac.
Drive to Ban Gioc Waterfall (180km, 5 hours), located on the border with China. Enjoy the scenic walk across rice paddy fields to reach the base of the falls. Stop at giant irrigation water wheels overlooking villages. Visit Nguom Ngao Cave, known for its natural beauty. Check in to your hotel in Ban Gioc for the night.
Transfer from Ban Gioc to Ba Be Lake (130km, 3.5 hours), famous for its immense crystal waters. Arrive at Ba Be Lake and take time to walk around the village, enjoying the magical atmosphere. Have dinner and overnight at a homestay in Ba Be.
Spend the morning exploring Ba Be Lake with a spectacular boat trip. Stroll along the riverfront, visit lovely villages, and hike the upper reaches of the lake, surrounded by limestone cliffs and mountains. Have lunch with your host and then begin the drive back to Hanoi (225km, 6 hours). Note: Drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi or at Hanoi airport for your onward journey.
Question 1: Best time for Northeast and Northwest Vietnam tour
The Northwest
The Northwest are very famous for their endless beautiful rice fields that look really like a picturesque landscape. And you can fully enjoy that beauty while traveling to those areas from May to Sep. In May & June, it is called the water falling season by the local people as it is the time they fill in the terraced rice fields with water. Everywhere is like a giant mirror reflecting the natural beauty and the sunlight. In Jul & Aug, the rice fields are being colored green and arising as a charming green picture. The most beautiful time to enjoy terraced rice fields in Sapa and the Northwest is at the end of August and in the beginning of September when they turns yellow – a perfect color of a masterpiece created by nature and human.
How about the other months? In fact, the other months are also a good time to travel to those areas as you can see many other amazing things like peach and plum trees & flowers in Spring time from January to March or snow sometimes covering everywhere in Winter time from December to February.
Just be aware that many days in Winter can be sunk deep in fog and frost with short views and make your trip out of our expectation. However, discovering the daily life of local people during Winter gives you memorable experience, for sure, as their hard conditions are really shown on those days.
The Northeast
Northeast region includes mountainous provinces in the far North of Vietnam where the weather is cool/cold all year round. It will be severely cold from December to February with average temperature of 8 degree C and cool in the rest of year with average temperature of 25 degree C.
Be aware that it will be wet and foggy in cold season and you can’t enjoy the spectacular and beautiful sceneries. However, there will be drizzly weather during cold season only, not typhoon. Furthermore, visiting local ethnic people during cold days will be different experiences as you can see and entirely understand their life of deprivation and misery.
Rainiest months in those areas are July and August, however, those 2 months are also best time for traveling to the Northeast as you can enjoy yellow rice fields in other areas in general and in Bac Son Valley in particular. Ban Gioc Waterfall is also more beautiful during rainy season.
Question 2: Trekking routes and trekking distances
Trekking is a must-do activity while traveling in those remote areas, then it plays an important role in that trip, of course. So you should clear all information with your travel consultant or tour guide about your trekking tours as some of them are very hard and dangerous that are just suitable for young and energetic people only. A suitable trekking distance will help you fully enjoy the trip, the culture, the local people as well as the nature, otherwise, tiredness of a hard and long trekking distance will surely make you have many negative thoughts.
The trekking routes are also important as it should really be arranged based on your traveling time. In beautiful time, it is advised to do popular trekking routes even though they can be crowded with tourists as those routes pass amazing terraced rice fields that you have never seen. However, when the harvest season is over, you should consider the trekking routes that are not crowded and passing remote villages.
Question 3: What should be prepared for Vietnam Northeast Loop Tour
Clothes: Traveling in cool season, you should prepare summer clothes with some light jackets as it will be pretty cold in the early morning and evening. Whereas warm coats are highly recommended for traveling in cold season as it can be even dropped to 5 degrees under zero.
Rain gear: Weather in the Northeast is not stable that can be changed continuously. It can be rain in the early morning but sunny at noon and rain again in the late afternoon. Then rain gear should be well prepared.
Personal drugs: The far north is really lack of medical infrastructure as well as pharmacy. Then it is advised to bring your personal drugs as well as popular medicines like paracetamol, thermometer, anti-itching lotion, oral rehydration preparation and bandaids.
Mosquito and insect repellent: Those stuff are necessary as you may trek through the wet jungle or stay at local houses near the forest.
Question 4: Traveling to the Northeast in cold season
Hotel with heat: It is better to stay at a hotel with heater (of course, air-conditioner with heat is not available in those areas) if you are planning to travel to the Northeast in cold season. Homestay is not a good idea during that period as you can’t sleep well for sure due to low temperature and privation of warming facilities.
Question 5: Traveling in rainy season
You should consider traveling to those areas in rainy season as it can be dangerous sometimes. When it rains a lot in those areas for many days, erosion is pretty popular and may much affect to your trip.
Question 6: Traveling to the Northeast and Northwest with kids
Traveling to the Northeast with infants and small kids under 6 yrs old is not advised because of the simple life condition and poor infrastructure in those areas, but older kids and teenagers are really fine as they can bear a pretty hard trip and more important, a lot of life-time experiences are waiting for them.
Question 7: Is it safe for traveling to untouched areas
It is safe, for sure, while traveling to the Northwest Mountains or even border regions as those areas are highly controlled and protected by local government. That’s why you have to apply for permission before visiting to the border regions and it will be arranged by your local travel agent. The local ethnic groups are also friendly and hospitality even they can’t speak both Vietnamese and English.
Question 8: Interact with local people
Local people are not familiar with tourists but you are surely warmly welcomed by them as Vietnamese in general and ethnic people in particular are very open and kind and so love to see you as well as to help you in case you need. Then, you should show your good attitudes all the time if you want to visit their houses as well as make a short chat with them. Remember to ask for acceptance when you wish to take their photos.
Question 9: Road condition
Road condition is not a big problem when traveling in the Northeast and Northwest as they are mostly big and smooth roads
Question 10: Donation
Donation is highly recommended and it can be money or not. Normally, you can bring along warm clothes for both adults and kids as it is cold there all year round. Quilted Blanket is another great idea. Or at least, you should prepare some small gifts for local kids like cakes, notebooks, pencils, etc.
HS07: Beautiful Northeast and Northwest Vietnam tour – 11 days 10 nights
Tour Price:
Contact for more USD
