Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Sapa
Your guide picks you up around 7:30am for the 5-hour drive north to Sapa. The scenery shifts gradually from Hanoi's urban energy to rolling hills covered in rice paddies. After grabbing lunch in town, you'll ride up Fansipan mountain on Asia's longest cable car, with views of terraced fields stretching out below. At 3,143m, the summit has temples to explore and you can tackle the final 600 stairs or use the funicular. Overnight back in Sapa Town.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local lunch in Sapa Town)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Fansipan mountain
- Visit temples at Fansipan summit
- Final 600-stair climb to summit or funicular option
Landmarks/POIs Fansipan Mountain - Day 2
Sapa
Today you're trekking through the valley's rice paddies and flower fields, passing through Black Hmong villages. You'll stop at a local house to talk with residents about how they live and work. After lunch at a restaurant in the area, the trek continues toward Lao Chai and Ta Van Village where the Zay people live. The rice terraces here are some of the best in the region. You'll have dinner cooked at your homestay in Ta Van and sleep there overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in a local restaurant), Dinner (Dinner in Ta Van Village homestay)
Included Activities
- Trek to rice paddy fields Ý Linh Hồ and flower valleys
- Visit Black Hmong villages
- Visit local house and meet villagers
- Trek through rice terraces to Lao Chai and Ta Van Village
- Discover Zay people culture
Landmarks/POIs Ý Linh Hồ Ta Van Village Lao Chai - Day 3
Sapa to Ha Giang
Leaving Sapa behind, you drive into Ha Giang, Vietnam's remote frontier territory. Lunch happens in Pho Rang, then a walking tour takes you through Vinh Yen where Tay communities live. The drive continues deeper into mountains with dramatic scenery all around. By 6pm you'll reach a Tay village where a home-cooked meal waits, and you'll sleep in a traditional stilt house that night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Pho Rang), Dinner (Home-cooked dinner in traditional Tay stilt house)
Included Activities
- Walking tour to Vinh Yen
- Explore Tay communities
- Home-cooked dinner
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Yen - Day 4
Ha Giang to Dong Van
After getting your mandatory permit at the Immigration Office, the journey heads to Dong Van through mountain passes with incredible views and unique plants and wildlife. Lunch comes in the mountain town of Tam Son, then you'll visit H'mong villages including Lung Cam B and see the former palace of H'mong King Vuong Chinh Duc. Reaching Dong Van around 6pm, dinner happens at a local restaurant before your hotel overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Tam Son mountain town), Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant in Dong Van)
Included Activities
- Visit villages of H'mong Lung Cam B
- Visit former palace of H'mong King Vuong Chinh Duc
Landmarks/POIs Vuong Chinh Duc Palace Tam Son - Day 5
Dong Van to Cao Bang
Start with breakfast then walk through Dong Van Market where locals buy and sell daily goods. Climbing to Pu Lo fortress (built 1890, abandoned 1945) takes some effort but rewards you with wide regional views. The 8 km hike up to Ma Pi Leng Pass cuts through dramatic limestone peaks and stone forests, passing the Sky Path overlook at Nho Que River. Descending into Meo Vac valley, lunch is in Bao Lac village before driving to Cao Bang for your hotel stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Dong Van), Lunch (Lunch in Bao Lac village)
Included Activities
- Visit Dong Van Market
- Trek to Pu Lo fortress
- Climb to Ma Pi Leng Pass
- View Sky Path at Nho Quế River Viewpoint
- Descend into Meo Vac valley
Landmarks/POIs Pu Lo Fortress Ma Pi Leng Pass Nho Quế River Viewpoint Dong Van Market Meo Vac - Day 6
Cao Bang to Quang Uyen
A roughly 2-hour drive gets you to Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of Northern Vietnam's most striking natural spots. This 300-metre wide cascade sits right on the China-Vietnam border surrounded by mountains. You'll have time to relax and take photos, then board a bamboo boat to float closer and feel the spray. Nguom Ngao Cave is your next stop for exploring underground rock formations shaped by water over centuries. Later, drive through mountains to Quang Uyen where you'll meet blacksmith Mr. Hung Dao, have dinner at his house, and stay overnight in a traditional Nung stilt house.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at blacksmith Mr. Hung Dao's house)
Included Activities
- Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Bamboo boat ride near waterfall
- Explore Nguom Ngao Cave and rock formations
- Meet blacksmith Mr. Hung Dao
- Dinner at blacksmith's house
Landmarks/POIs Ban Gioc Waterfall Nguom Ngao Cave Quang Uyen - Day 7
Quang Uyen to Ba Be National Park
You'll drive from Quang Uyen through Ma Phuc pass toward Ba Be National Park. The day involves exploring the park's features, from the main lake to Puong Grotto caves, Dau Dang Waterfall rapids, and Widow Island. Overnight you're staying in a traditional Tay stilt house with a local host family.
Included Activities
- Explore Ba Be Lake
- Visit Puong Grotto caves
- View Dau Dang Waterfall rapids
- Visit Widow Island
Landmarks/POIs Ba Be National Park Ba Be Lake Puong Grotto Dau Dang Waterfall Widow Island - Day 8
Ba Be National Park to Hanoi
After breakfast, a walk along the river takes you through surrounding villages. Hiking up one of the higher points around the lake gives views of limestone formations and mountain peaks in all directions. You'll then explore Hua Ma Cave, famous for its thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, it's the biggest dry cave in Northeastern Vietnam. Lunch comes at a local restaurant, then the drive back to Hanoi begins, arriving at your hotel around 5pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Ba Be National Park), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Riverfront stroll and village visits
- Hike to viewpoint around lake
- Explore Hua Ma Cave
Landmarks/POIs Hua Ma Cave
