Hill Tribes Of North Vietnam 9 Days 8 Nights

For early risers, it is time to get yourself an early bike ride around the paddy fields, enjoying the peaceful sight of cattle and pets while observing the serene work of the villagers. Have a picnic breakfast along the way before we check out and cross the striking Khau Pha mountain pass and the spectacular Tu Le's paddy fields.

Stop for lunch. Then we continue to Nam Co village where we'll see the H'mong ethnic groups in their lovely traditional costume, and the local market (if opens). After that, La Pan Tan and Mam Soi terraced rice fields are our next stops with a short walk up the hill to a viewpoint, then have dinner and spend the night at Mrs Chon's Homestay in Kim Noi village.

Accommodation: Homestay

After breakfast we will drive from Mu Cang Chai to Sapa. The road is very zigzag with many hairpins, each opening up a new scenery of the mountains. You will have lunch in Sapa before trekking to Giang Ta Chai village, where you will have dinner and overnight in a Dao's ethnic house.

Accommodation: Homestay

We set off early and drive to Bac Ha. If it is Sunday we will make for the market, one of the most colorful markets in the north, which makes you an expert in differentiating these unique ethnic costumes, and enjoy the ludicrous of the livestock market. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit the palace of Hoang A Tuong, a curious mixture of baroque and oriental, built in 1920 with the aid of the French.

Then we will drive up the small road to Ban Phung villageand have a chance to see the La Chi ethnic people, the ladies in black knee length skirts and jackets, with a little delicate colored embroidery, their heads wrapped in a strip of cloth knotted about their hair. They have a truly hard life as they often carrying a heavy load in a bag from a band on their heads. We will descend to Hoang Su Phi for dinner and overnight at a hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoang Su Phi

Hoang Su Phi is prominent for rice terraces which curl around the hills like contour lines. We continue via the Tan Su Phin pass and the Cong Troi pass to find ourselves a full of striking views. We will have lunch on the way at a local restaurant, then continue north again to Ha Giang. Overnight at a stilt house of a delightful Tay family.

Accommodation: Homestay

You will begin your journey to Dong Van via Cong Troi pass and Yen Minh. We head to the imperial King's palace in the H’mong ethnic village of Sa Phin, which was designed in a fascinating architecturally and historically important to the local H'mong people,. The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark is an enchanting area, and most notable are the black limestone rugged peaks, where the H'mong people manage to plant corn in any soil they can. We continue to Dong Van, which also has a few ancient houses around and lunch will be served on the way.

The Ma Pi Leng pass between Dong Van and Meo Vac is justly considered one of the most beautiful roads in the country as we trek through the pass. The views are astonishing, looking down over the river valley and across towards the mountainous frontier with China. We overnight in Meo Vac.

Accommodation: Homestay

Meo Vac is a small town, home to the ethnic groups of Tay, Dao, H'mong and Lo Lo. If on Sunday, we can go to the market to see the world of color. There is a lot of clothing, fabric, and sometimes watching men works on the men's indigo jackets on old sewing machines. There is a livestock section consists of screeching birds and squealing pigs etc,.

We drive to Bao Lac for lunch on a pretty uphill and downhill roads with several passes. We visit the Nung ethnic village in Pac Rang, a traditional farming village which is known for its blacksmiths and their work in making farm tools. We have dinner and overnight at a Nung house.

Accommodation: Homestay

After breakfast, you are taken to the Ban Gioc waterfalls which must one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam. The falls indicate the border between China and Vietnam so it is definitely the high spot of the border. There will be time to appreciate the breathtaking waterfalls before making our way to an amazing limestone formations and various stalactites shapes - Nguom Ngao. This is the most famous limestone grotto in the northern mountain ranges, and you will be impressed by its size!

Then heading towards Ba Be National Parkto feel the peaceful surroundings before dinner and overnight at local homestay.

Accommodation: Homestay