Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Lao Cai
You'll head to your hotel at 8 PM to get ready for your transfer to Hanoi railway station. From there, you'll board an overnight first-class train with air-conditioning in a 4-bed cabin heading toward Lao Cai near the Chinese border. The train arrives the next morning, though if trains aren't running, you'll take a sleeper bus instead.
- Day 2
Pha Long Market - Cao Son
After arriving at Lao Cai Station, you'll meet your guide, freshen up, and have breakfast. Then you'll drive 55 km to Muong Khuong and another 25 km along the Chinese border to reach Pha Long Market, where local tribal peoples gather in traditional dress to trade and socialize. You'll spend time exploring the market before heading back to Muong Khuong for lunch. Later, you'll continue on to Cao Son village in the mountains and check into Cao Son Ecolodge, with the rest of the day free to wander around the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Muong Khuong)
Included Activities
- Visit Pha Long Market and interact with local tribal peoples
- Drive through scenic countryside along Chay River valley
Landmarks/POIs Pha Long Market Cao Son Village - Day 3
Cao Son Village Trekking
This day involves walking through tribal villages around Cao Son on quiet village paths. You'll pass through valleys and fruit gardens, visiting Nung villages and Lung Sen, a larger village of the Flower H'mong people known for their spacious earthen-walled houses. After having lunch in the village, you'll trek through rice and corn fields to visit Seo Lung Cheng village before returning to the lodge by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the village)
Included Activities
- Walking trek to explore Nung villages
- Visit Lung Sen village (Flower H'mong community)
- Visit Seo Lung Cheng village
- Home visits in local villages
Landmarks/POIs Lung Sen Village Seo Lung Cheng Village - Day 4
Chay River Boat Cruise - Hanoi
After breakfast, you'll drive along a rough country road to Coc Ly, stopping to see small Black Zao villages on the west bank of the Chay River. At noon, you'll board a boat and cruise downstream to explore local river life and visit Trung Do Village with its nearly 100 traditional stilt houses belonging to the Tay people. You'll get off at Bao Nhai, then drive back toward Lao Cai station with stops at tea plantations along the way. Catch the bus back to Hanoi, arriving around 10 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Black Zao villages along Chay River
- Boat cruise down Chay River
- Visit Trung Do Village (Tay people stilt houses)
- Tea plantation stops along return route
Landmarks/POIs Coc Ly Chay River Trung Do Village
