Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi -Sapa
Day 2: Sapa Trekking
Day 3: Sapa - Ha Giang
Day 4: Ha Giang - Dong Van
Day 5: Dong Van - Meo Vac - Cao Bang
Day 6: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall
Day 7: Cao Bang - Ba Be lake
Day 8: Ba Be lake - Hanoi
Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa (L, D)
We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at 7:30am and drive you to Sapa, and you can spend the 5 hour drive there simply relaxing and taking in the views. You will arrive around midday and check in at your hotel and enjoy a quick lunch before we set out on a 3-4 hour trek along small trails and through the small, charming villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van. You will meet many locals from the H’mong and Dzay tribes en-route.
Once we reach Ta Van, our driver will be waiting to take you back to Sapa for dinner and an overnight stay.
Highlights and activities: Sapa, Lao Chai, Ta Van, a 5 - 7 km trek
Accommodation: The View Hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant
Day 2: Trekking in Sapa (B, L, D)
After having breakfast, we trek towards the Red Dzao village of Ma Tra, and then onwards to Ta Phin. There will be plenty of amazing scenery along the way, as well as small villages in every direction. Our day will end in Ta Phin, where we will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a local homestay.
Highlights and activities: Ma Tra, Ta Phin, a 12 - 15 km trek
Accommodation: Homestay in Ta Phin
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 3: Sapa – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Today we head for Sapa by car, stopping at Hoang A Tuong (“The Cat King’s House”) and then at Chang Village for lunch. We then continue deeper into Ha Giang, making sure to enjoy the scenery as we pass by it, before arriving a small Tay village around 6pm, at which point we’ll be served a home-cooked meal and settle in for an overnight stay in the homestay.
Highlights and activities: Bac Ha town, Ha Giang
Accommodation: Mr Doan's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant
Day 4: Ha Giang – Dong Van (B, L, D)
After getting the permits from the immigration office in Ha Giang, you will be taken across a succession of stunning passes with absolutely jaw-ping views until you reach the mountain town of Tam Son where lunch will be served.
Once you’ve eaten, we will take you to the H’mong palace which once belonged to the “King of the H’mong” and was constructed by French and Chinese architects, leading to an interesting fusion of styles. The palace was once infamous for being used to store opium and weapons but was abandoned in the 1950’s and the descendants of the family now live in France and Canada.
After the palace we continue on to Dong Van, arriving at 18:00, where you’ll have dinner and stay the night in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: H'mong King, Dong Van
Accommodation: Hoa Cuong Hotel
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 5: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Cao Bang (B, L, D)
After breakfast we might get a chance to visit the Dong Van market, if we’re here on the right day. The day of the market changes every week, moving 1 day back for each week that passes.
We then make the climb up to Pu Lo Fortress situated on a mountain behind the town, and then travel along Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered by many to be the best scenery in all of Vietnam. We then descend into Meo Vac Valley and stop in Bao Lac Village for lunch, followed by a drive to Cao Bang where you will spend the night in a hotel.
Highlights and activities: Dong Van market, Pu Lo fortress, Ma Pi Leng, a 12 - 15 km trek
Accommodation: Thanh Loan Hotel
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 6: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall (B, L, D)
Most of our guests consider this day the highlight of the tour, as we visit one of the most amazing sites in all of Vietnam: Ban Gioc Waterfall. After breakfast we set out for the two hour dream before reaching this breath-taking cascade located right on the border with China. In fact, this location makes it the 4th largest frontier waterfall in the world, aside from also being the largest waterfall period in Southeast Asia. We’ll spend quite some time here, allowing you to explore, take photos, enjoy the views and even take a bamboo boat so close to the waterfall you can feel the water hitting your face!
We then proceed to Nguom Ngao Cave, which features some stunning rock formations formed by millennia of erosion. Once we’ve explored the cave, we travel down a beautiful road to the Nung village of Quan Uyen, where Mr. Hung Dao, the local blacksmith, will welcome you into his home for dinner and an overnight stay.
Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Kim's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant
Day 7: Cao Bang – Ba Be National Park (B, L, D)
Once we’ve had breakfast, we say goodbye to our host and set out for Ba Be National Park by travelling through Ma Phuc Pass. Once in the park, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the lake in any way you wish, whether it’s by trekking, cycling or on the waters themselves.
Highlights and activities: Ba Be National Park, Dau Dang waterfall, a 2 - 3 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Linh's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch, Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 8: Ba Be National Park – Hanoi (B, L)
Once you’ve enjoyed a home-cooked breakfast at the homestay, we’ll take you for a stroll along the riverfront to visit some other villages that are nearby, like Pac Ngoi, followed by a short hike to a viewpoint that will provide some impressive views of the surrounding mountains. After this we enter Hua Ma Cave, famous for its staggering number of stalactites and stalagmites.
Once finished in the cave, it’s time to have lunch and return to Hanoi, arriving back in the capital around 5pm.
Highlights and activities: Hua Ma cave, a 3-5 km trek
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch at local restaurant