DAY 1 HANOI ARRIVAL – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival, meet our team at the airport and drive to city center, transfer to city center, check-in hotel and relax after spending a long flight. Night train to Sapa (private cabin). Overnight on train.
DAY 2 SAPA, EXPLORE MINORITY VILLAGES (LAO CHAI & TA VAN) (B,L)
Arrival Lao cai, local guide & driver will waiting you at the exit gate of Lao cai train with a sign board written your name then transfer you go up hill to Sapa town, where we arranged breakfast and shower places for you before start your trekking tour.
Trekking from Sapa to the Black H’mong village of Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai where excellent panoramas of the larger valley, paddy terraced fields and the H’mong village are offered. We take a small local path leading into the bottom of the valley, where some stalls are available that serve tea and fruits; a perfect spot to take a rest and have lunch. After lunch you will visit the Zay people of Ta Van, which lies in the middle of the Muong Hoa valley.
DAY 3 SAPA, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (BAN KHOANG & TA GIANG PHINH) (B,L)
Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short road transfer heading northwards of Sapa along national road 4C to O Quy Ho with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow road for half an hour getting through the wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing several waterfalls before arriving to Ban Khoang, a village of the Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The village looks prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with cardamom farming under the shade of trees in thick forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life. Leaving Ban Khoang and process along the road for about 10km to Ta Giang Phinh valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in some small villages scattering along a peaceful stream.
Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream before walking along village path which connects village to village to witness daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing some house work. In leisure months men often gather to built new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in mid afternoon, picked up for the road ride back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 4 SAPA – MUONG HUM MARKET – Y TY – SAPA (B,L)
After the enchanting drive, you will reach Muong Hum market. We will now show you around the market, while telling you the history and cultural significance of the market. Muong Hum market is a small hill tribe market which is frequented by 5 different tribal groups: Giay, Flower Dao, Green Hmong, Ha Nhi and Tay. The market is in its full swing from morning to noon, people from faraway villages come to buy and sell the agriculture products, livestock, brocades and handicrafts, etc.
The car will take you from Muong Hum Market to Y Ty commune via Den Thang village. You will also have ample to time to take pictures of your beautiful surroundings which will include Lu rice field, Den Sang cardamom forest and Nhi Cu San mountain. This place is next to the border between Vietnam and China. After lunch, you will get to visit a local house of Ha Nhi people. Their houses are made with mud, bamboo and wood. Drive back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 5 SAPA – MU CANG CHAI (B,L)
In the morning, drive to Mu Cang Chai. Enjoy lunch when arrive Mu Cang Chai. We will take you to visit and discover the most beautiful of terrace fields in Mu Cang Chai.
Take photograph Che Cu Nha Rice Terrace Field of Hmong people. And then visit as well as take photograph at Che Xu Phinh, La Phan Tan – it was recognized the national landscape of Vietnam in 2007 where have famous and nicest terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai District. Back Mu Cang Chai for having lunch at local foodstall.
DAY 6 MU CANG CHAI – MOC CHAU (B,L)
In the morning, Get up very early and enjoy the life at the village in Mu Cang Chai. Listen to different sounds of animals, chicken, pig which makes you love the peaceful atmosphere in the village. Enjoy breakfast and drive to Moc Chau. Moc Chau plateau in the northern mountain province of Son La has long been on the traveler’s radar because of its fields of flowers and green tea hills that stretch to the horizon. We will visit Green Tea Farm and Na Ka Valley. Na Ka plum valley puts on its best white garb when the plum trees blossom. This place draws visitors with its exquisite landscape, fresh mountain air, and juicy plums that can be eaten right off the tree. Overnight in Moc Chau.
DAY 7 MOC CHAU – MAI CHAU (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mai Chau – an idyllic valley home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong, and Thai. Arrive in Mai Chau around noon, check-in your room and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, cycle to explore Mai Chau's beautiful ethnic villages including Na Thia, Not, Pom Coong, Lac and Chieng Chau villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. Total cycling time is around 2 – 3 hours on flat village paths. Take it all in the spectacular scenery of Mai Chau and the relaxed rhythm of local life. Back to Mai Chau Ecolodge for dinner. Dinner and overnight in Mai Chau.
DAY 8 MAI CHAU – HANOI (B,L)
After breakfast, spend full morning to explore authentic beautiful villages as Na tang, Cha Long on foot. On the way back to Mai Chau Lodge you will walk through a bamboo-lined path. Check out and have lunch. Transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 9 HANOI DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free time until check-out hotel. Private airport transfer before 3-hours for your departure flight. Standard Check-out time: 12:00.
