Gently the North (#905)

Day 1 (Monday): Hanoi -Mai Chau (L/D)

9.00 am: Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi, transfer to Hoa Binh with visit of Muong ethnic minority village on the way. Lunch en route. Hoa Binh province, approximately 75 km from Hanoi, is home to several ethnic minorities, particularly the White Thai and Muong ethnic group. Their traditional stilt houses are large structures with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the weaving of the colorful tho cam, the material used to make their clothes, takes place there. Arrive Mai Chau Valley.
Dinner and accommodation at Villager’s House (Note: Shared accommodation/shared bath room)

Day 2 (Tuesday): Mai Chau – Xa Linh – Son La (B/L/D)

Breakfast
Depart Mai Chau for Son La with visit of Xa Linh (Sua) ethnic village of Flower H’mong. It is a village with the settlement of over 100 houses. Culturally, the H’mong people are one of the North Vietnam’s most interesting ethnic minorities, and since the costume of the Flower H’mong people of Sua village is subtlety different from that of the Flower H’mong further north it is well worth making photos here. Lunch at local restaurant at Moc Chau town. Continue road to Son La. Upon arrival Son La, visit Son La Penitentiary and check in at hotel.
Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at simple hotel

Day 3 (Wednesday): Son La – Muong Phang – Dien Dien (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel
Departure to Dien Bien with visit of Hin Thai village and Thuan Chau market. On the approach to Thuan Chau, large groups of ethnic people may be seen making their way to and from the market, laden with baskets of goods. Continue road to Dien Bien with cross the most spectacular pass in Vietnam, which is famously named by local people as Pha Din Pass meaning “the Heaven and the Earth” heading to Pa Khoang manmade lake, that is served the Thac Bay hydro-electric plant and the watering purpose of a huge surrounding area. Lunch at Tuan Giao town. Continue  to the General Vo Nguyen Giap’s underground headquarter at the height of Dien Bien Phu campaign, you will visit the newly – rebuilt bunker of General Vo Nguyen Giap in the Muong Phang Forest. Arrival in Dien Bien Phu and check in at simple hotel. Dinner and accommodation at hotel

Day 4 (Thursday): Dien Bien – Lai Chau (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel.
A short visiting of Dien Bien central market before visiting of A1 Revolutionary Heroes’s Cemetery Dien Bien Phu Historic Victory Exhibition Centre, General De Castries’s Bunker, Old Muong Thanh Bridge and Nam Rom river and Dien Bien Phu central market. Lunch at Lien Tuoi Restaurant. Proceed to Lai Chau along the bumpy road. Passing of series of ethnic villages of Kho Mu (Xa), Huoi Chan and Bung Giat. Arrive in Lai Chau. Dinner and accommodation at simple hotel

Day 5 (Friday): Lai Chau – Binh Lu -Sapa (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel
Boat trip on Da River to visit one ethic minority village and enjoy the beautiful scenery around the river banks
Depart Lai Chau town to Sapa along the most spectacular scenery on the way leading to Sapa crossing the junctions of Da and Na rivers by the way of the Chinese – built Hang Tom suspension bridge. From here, the road weaves its ways northwards through the picturesque and steadily more spectacular Na River valley, past more ethnic villages of White Thai, Kho Mu and later Red and White H’mong minorities. Lunch stop at Tam Duong town. Leaving Tam Duong area, the National Road 4D climbs steadily, affording spectacular views of the surrounding hills. Once over the summit, the road begins its descent towards the town of Binh Lu, immediately you will begin to see groups of Black Dao people, who villages are located in the surrounding hills. Arrive in Sapa and check in at hotel. Dinner and accommodation at hotel

Day 6 (Saturday): Sapa (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel
A full day trekking to discover Sapa begin with visit of Sapa central market then 40 minutes walk to Cat Cat village and walking through the Lao Chai and Ta Van villages of Black H’mong an Dzay people. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Ta Phin village of Dzao and H’mong. Drive back hotel. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at hotel.

Day 7 (Sunday): Sapa – Muong Khuong market- Lao Cai-Hanoi (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel
Sunday: A scenic 3-hour drive to visit famous Muong Khuong Market, situated on the border to Yunnan. Every Sunday the otherwise sleepy town is transformed into a bustling place full with various ethnic minorities. Here visitors can meet more of Lao Cai’s colourful Flower H’mong people, plus Nung, Dzao Tuyen, Tu Di and a number of other ethnic groups such as the Thu Lao, the Pa Di, the La Chi and the highly-photogenic Lo Lo. Lunch box by Bagguette and Chocolat restaurant in Sapa. Transfer to Lao Cai station.
Dinner at local restaurant in Lao Cai
By train to Hanoi (soft sleeper 4 berth compartment with air-conditioning ). Overnight train trip.

Arrive Hanoi train station at around 04:30 a.m next morning, own arrangement taxi to your hotel or transfer to airport for departure.

Prices for 2024 – 2025 (except Xmas, New Year and Public Holidays)

Price is net per person in US$, double/twin shared basis, tax, service charge included in the party of

Travel in the Summer, 4% off rate applied for May, June, July, and August

Interested in other class of hotels or customizing this tour as per your wish? Please email us for details

Price inclusive

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a double/twin room.
• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned with experienced safe driver.
• The services of experienced English speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
• Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary)
• Mineral water and wet wipe
• Train ticket Lao Cai – Hanoi(A/c soft sleeper 4 berths sharing cabin)

Price exclusive

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas
• Dinners, except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Camera fees (if any)
• Diving fees
• Tips
• Insurance.

Hotels used for Standard class

Hotels used for Superior class