Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive at Hanoi's airport and head to your hotel, a 40 to 60 minute drive through the city. The afternoon is yours to walk around and get your bearings on your own. By evening, you'll meet the group at Cau Go Restaurant on the 5th floor with views over Hoan Kiem Lake. They'll brief you on what's coming while you try contemporary Vietnamese food.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Cau Go Restaurant overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake with contemporary Vietnamese cuisine)
Landmarks Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 2
Hanoi
This morning covers Hanoi's key historical spots, so you'll see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh's House, and the Temple of Literature. Back in the Old Quarter, you'll meet a water puppet artisan for a 30-minute private show and get hands-on with the puppets. After a massage at Omamori Spa, head out on a street food walking tour finding local coffee, snacks, pho, and banh mi before finishing at Beer Corner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Street food tour including local coffee, pillow cake, fried sweet cakes, Pho Ga, Banh Mi Pate, and Bia Hoi at Beer Corner)
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Tour One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's House
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Water puppet artisan performance and workshop (30 minutes)
- Massage at Omamori Spa
- Hanoi Old Quarter street food walking tour
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Ho Chi Minh's House Temple of Literature Dong Xuan Night Market Beer Corner (Bia Hoi Corner) - Day 3
Hanoi - Mai Chau
You'll leave Hanoi for Mai Chau valley, a 3.5 hour drive covering 140km through mountain roads. There's a lookout stop for photos, and if timing works you might help local farmers with rice planting. Lunch happens in Pom Coong village with your hosts, who'll talk about minority cultures in the region. After eating, you'll cycle through the area on small paths and past rice paddies surrounded by mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch with local cuisine examples in Pom Coong village)
Included Activities
- Travel to Mai Chau valley with scenic stop at lookout
- Traditional lunch in Pom Coong village
- Cycling trip through local villages and rice paddies
Optional Activities
- Help local farmers plant rice seeds (subject to timing)
Landmarks Mai Chau Valley Pom Coong Village - Day 4
Mai Chau - Moc Chau - Son La
An early start takes you toward Moc Chau to see an H'mong village with peach gardens and mountain roads. You'll grab lunch in Moc Chau town, then continue on to Son La, about 120km and 2 hours away. There you'll tour the French colonial Son La Prison, a historic building where revolutionary soldiers and political prisoners were held. By evening you're in Mong village surrounded by mountains and forests, relaxing in hot springs with views of red stilt houses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit H'mong village with peach gardens
- Visit French colonial Son La Prison
- Relax in local hot springs in Mong village
Landmarks Son La Prison Mong Village - Day 5
Son La - Dien Bien Phu
The drive to Dien Bien Phu covers 153km over 3.5 to 4 hours through northwest Vietnam's scenery. You'll pass terraced fields of corn, beans, and bananas with stops for photos and to see local villages. The main highlight is Pha Din Pass at 1,500m with panoramic views of valleys and wildflower-lined roads. You'll arrive in late afternoon with free time to settle in or wander around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive through Pha Din Pass with panoramic valley views
Optional Activities
- Explore local villages along the route
- Stop for photos and leg stretches
Landmarks Pha Din Pass - Day 6
Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau
Heading north to Lai Chau means a 200km drive taking about 6 hours. You'll arrive in the afternoon with time to explore back roads and see real rural Vietnam. The area has mostly local residents, and you won't run into many other tourists, giving you a genuine look at everyday life in remote regions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Explore back roads and rural areas around Lai Chau
- Day 7
Lai Chau - Sapa
From Lai Chau you'll drive 40km toward Sapa in about 1.5 hours through villages and mountain passes. Tram Ton Pass at 1,900m, called 'Heaven's Gate', marks Vietnam's highest crossing with incredible views. There's an option to stop at Tac Tinh Waterfall, which involves a 15 minute climb about 10km off the route. In the afternoon you'll trek 2 to 3 hours to Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai villages to see Zay and Red Dzao ethnic groups in terraced rice fields with Mount Fansipan views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cross Tram Ton Pass ('Heaven's Gate') at 1,900m
- Guided moderate trek to Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai villages (approximately 2-3 hours, 4km)
- Visit Zay village in Muong Hoa Valley
- Visit Red Dzao village of Giang Ta Chai
Optional Activities
- Stop to visit Tac Tinh Waterfall (10km)
Landmarks Tram Ton Pass (Heaven's Gate) Tac Tinh Waterfall Muong Hoa Valley Ta Van Village Giang Ta Chai Village Mount Fansipan - Day 8
Sapa - Bac Ha Sunday Market - Ban Pho - Bac Ha
You're heading to Bac Ha Sunday Market, the largest minority market in Northwest Vietnam. The experience includes vibrant colors, elaborate costumes, and meeting Flower Hmong, Black Dzao, Tay, and Phu La tribal groups. You'll browse goods and livestock while practicing bargaining. Later you'll walk 2 hours to Ban Pho, a Flower Hmong village with about 500 homes built like nests on a mountainside cliff.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Bac Ha Sunday Market (largest minority market in Northwest Vietnam)
- Walk to Ban Pho Flower Hmong village (approximately 2 hours)
Landmarks Bac Ha Market Ban Pho Village - Day 9
Bac Ha - Ha Khau Border
You'll transfer to Ha Khau, a border town where you cross into Hekou County, Yunnan, China independently and meet your Chinese tour leader. After a local lunch in China, you'll drive about 4 hours to Zheke village to see one of the region's most traditional Hani settlements set in mountains with rice terraces and authentic local life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch upon arrival in China), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Zheke village (traditional Hani village)
- Experience local Hani life and rice terrace views
Landmarks Ha Khau Zheke Village - Day 10
Yuanyang
Rise early to watch sunrise over the Yuanyang rice terraces in Duoyishu, where colors, shadows, and water reflections constantly shift and change. After breakfast you'll explore the local morning markets, then spend about 4 hours trekking through the terraced fields meeting local minority groups. These UNESCO terraces show Hani engineering across slopes ranging from 15 to 75 degrees on the southern Ailao Mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Yuanyang rice terraces
- Explore local morning markets
- Trek along terraced fields with visits to local minority groups (approximately 4 hours walking and visiting time)
Landmarks Yuanyang Rice Terraces Duoyishu Ailao Mountain - Day 11
Jianshui
The 4 hour drive to Jianshui takes you to an ancient town with 1,200 years of history, filled with old buildings and traditional houses. You'll see Tuanshan Village with its cobblestone streets, ancient family mansions, gardens, and lineage temples. The Double Dragon Bridge, built in the 1700s from local stone, stretches nearly 150m with three elegant lofts and views of green fields, mountains, and clear water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tuanshan Village
- Visit Double Dragon Bridge (Seventeen Span Bridge)
Landmarks Tuanshan Village Double Dragon Bridge (Seventeen Span Bridge) - Day 12
Kunming
Traveling toward Kunming, you'll stop at several spots including Xiushan Hill in Tonghai Town with temples and pavilions showing Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian influences dating back to the Han Dynasty. Xingmeng, Yunnan's only 'Mongolian Village' established in 1253, shows Mongolians in traditional dress and customs. The Stone Forest wraps up the day, a 200 million year old karst formation spanning 400 square kilometers with towering pillar-like rock formations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Xiushan Hill in Tonghai Town with temples and pavilions
- Visit Xingmeng (Mongolian Village)
- Visit Stone Forest (World Natural Heritage site)
Landmarks Xiushan Hill Xiushan Park Xingmeng (Mongolian Village) Stone Forest - Day 13
Departure from Kunming
Your schedule is free until your airport transfer for your onward flight. If you're interested, consider adding the Tribes of Yunnan tour to visit the remote Dulong tribe and extend your time in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tribes of Yunnan extension tour to visit remote Dulong tribe
