itinerary in DETAIL

DAY 1: HANOI - MAI CHAU (-/L/D)

Morning drive from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley inhabited by the Thai people in Hoa Binh province. As soon as we get out of Hanoi, the limestone mountain ranges rush up and give the scenery an imposing view. Arrive in Mai Chau late noon, have lunch in Mai Chau and hike around the villages full of house-on-stilts, pretty handmade textile products and vast paddy fields to enjoy the routine life of the Thai people. Dinner and overnight in a house-on-stilt in Mai Chau.

DAY 2: MAI CHAU -  MOC CHAU - SONLA - TUAN GIAO - DIEN BIEN PHU (B/L/D)

It’s a long day today since the mountain roads do not allow the car’s highest speed exceed 45km per hour. In return, you are crossing the most magnificent part of the Hoang Lien Son range – the Tonkinese Alps, the home of most colourful-dressed montagnards, who still maintain lots of their long-

term culture and traditions. From Mai Chau, we will drive to Son La via Moc Chau, where located hundreds of immense farms of dairy cows and where the best tea of Vietnam is produced. Surrounding Moc Chau is the inhabitation of various tribes including the H’mong, Thai, Muong and Dzao. Let’s stop en route to visit the villages and / or stop at Sonla (200km from Mai Chau) at an old French Prison used during the 1^st Indochinese War. Have lunch in Son la. Afternoon head to Dien Bien via Tuan Giao. The most picturesque scenery is that of Pha Din Pass, which is wellknown as a historical site during the French War in 1954, a high and dangerous pass at elevation 1,300, and a breathtaking view. Arrive Dien Bien in the evening for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: DIEN BIEN PHU - LAI CHAU - TAM DUONG – SAPA (B/L/D)

Dien Bien is only 35km from the border with Laos and used to be the last battlefield of the French and Vietnamese during the first Indochinese War. Not so long after 1954, Dien Bien Phu turned to be a green valley inhabited by dozens of the ethnic groups. Visiting the historical sites in Dien Bien will make your trip more memorable, to name a few, they are Dien Bien Museum, A1 Hill, the shelter of the French General De Castries and the memorials of the Vietnamese and French soldiers died during the fierce Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954. Head North to Tam Duong via Lai Chau, the old chief town of Lai Chau province before Dien Bien took over this role in 1993. Before 2010, this nice valley of Lai Chau will be immerged underwater in a construction of the biggest hydropower station in Southeast Asia. The visit and communication with the people from tribal groups living surrounding Lai Chau like Black Thai, White Thai, Muong and Dzao people will sweep away your tiredness of the long trip. Stop at O Quy Ho pass for a magnificent view of Northwest mountains. Dinner and overnight in Sapa.

DAY 4: SAPA (B)

Have a climb to the “Dragon Peak” of Sapa to have a panoramic view of the town with pinewoods and gardens looming in the mist. Visit Sapa market and the church before heading to Taphin valley to reach the villages of the H’mong and Red Dzao people, who are skillful in dying and making clothes and embroidery by traditional, old silk thread. Go on to  Lao Chai (10km from Sapa) and walk thru 3km to Tavan with stops at the villages of the tribal people H’mong, Tay and Dzay en route. Back to Sapa for overnight. (lunch and dinner at your own arrangement for more leisure time).

DAY 5: SAPA – HILL TRIBAL MARKET – BAC HA (B/L/D)

If today is Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, nothing will be better than driving overland to a market of the hill tribal people, mainly from Flower H’Mong ethnical group. Depending on the day, you can choose either Can Cau (Sat), Bac Ha (Sun) or Coc Ly (Tue).

Early morning drive toward Bac Ha, about 110km from Sapa. With a dozen of tribes living in the surroundings, including Flower H’Mong, Chinese, Nhang, Dzao, Nung, Phu La, Thai and King (or Viet), the market is extremely exciting esp. in the early morning. The winding road to Bac Ha helps maintain the colours (in both literal and figurative sense) of the area. The distance to Can Cau and Coc Ly from Bac Ha is 30 – 50km. In all these markets, you can meet hundreds of beautiful women from Flower H’Mong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics, or intermingle with people from Black H’Mong, Dzay, Dzao and other ethnic groups coming to the market not for purchasing stuffs, but for meeting and chatting – just once a week - like in a real cultural center. After lunchtime, you can hike around, following the mountain people to their villages for a visit, or take your car heading to further hamlets in Ban Pho, Trieu Cai, or Na Hoi. Back to Bac Ha in the afternoon and overnight Bac Ha. (lunch and dinner included).

DAY 6: BAC HA - HANOI (B/L)

Back to Hanoi (350km) via Yen Bai. Lunch en route. Arrive at your accommodation in Hanoi late evening. End of services.

NOTE: Sapa love market organized in the Saturday night while Bac Ha market organized in the Sunday morning. Please try to arrange your schedule appropriately to both markets. Nevertheless, Day 5 must be Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday. 

Packing list: Passport, towels, toiletries, flash light, change of clothes, sun block, sun glasses, sun hat, insect repellent, proper hiking shoes and rain coat.