Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Ha Noi - Ha Giang (Quang Binh) (L, D)

After breakfast we depart for Ha Giang at 7.30am with Lotussia Travel guide. This is a private car and takes approximately 6 hours to get there. It is very interesting as you get to see and pass through several Provinces. It is really scenic, and will stop for lunch and drinks. After arriving in Ha Giang (Quang Binh), we will check out a local Cave, called PacT ham. This cave is very interesting and has a stream running through it and a big pool which is deep. You can have a swim here if you desire! You will be taken by bike or car to stay over night in a stilt house and meet and dine with a local family.

 Day 2: Ha Giang (Quang Binh) (B, L, D)

After breakfast, the Tour guide will take you either trekking or motorbike riding through the magnificent mountain ranges. On the way up to the mountain top, you will pass through several little villages. This is an excellent chance to get some great photo's and take in the absolute beauty of the place. After arriving back to the stilt house you will have traditional food with the family and spend the night with them, having fun chatting and may be a few drinks or to.

Day 3: Ha Giang (Quang Binh) - Bac Ha - Sapa (B, L, D)

After breakfast, and saying goodbye to the Local Family we depart for Bac Ha. After arriving in Bac Ha (approx 3 hours) you can visit the Bac Ha local markets where there are many traditional foods, drinks, clothing and handicrafts as well as all the local produce such as pigs, dogs, cats, horses and buffalo for sale. This is interesting as you also get to meet all the different Minority people also doing their shopping. Later in the afternoon, we depart, and on to Sapa. After arriving there you check into the hotel and have the rest of the evening at your own leisure. 

Day 4: Sapa (B)

After breakfast, your guide will arrange for you to explore the Sapa Markets, and Sa Pa town. The location of the town is 1, 650 metres above sea level and is really the most beautiful place. There is so much to see and experience there. In the afternoon, a trek to the village of Cat Cat. This is pleasant, along the way you will meet the Black H'Mong people, see all the rice terraces, and admire the highest peak of Mount Fanisfan....The roof of Indo China. You will see the waterfall in Cat Cat and nearby the Hydro Water Station which was built by the French. Arriving back to your hotel. If your trip coincides that you are there on a Saturday, you can go to the Love Markets of the 5 different Minority Peoples. Ask your guide to recommend places to visit for local entertainment in the evenings.

Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi (B)

After breakfast and check out, the car will take you to Ta Phin village. You will meet the Red Dzao, Black H'mong, and Tay People. This valley is beautiful. You will no doubt be un-indated with offers for you to buy their handicrafts and jewelry. After a refreshing drink in the local Cafe we again depart for Hanoi.

Contact Lotussia Travel for more information and Book this tour.

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Hanoi
 

Arrival in Hanoi. Welcome from the Lotussia Travel guide and transfer to your hotel. Free time to rest and get acquainted with the town. Welcome diner and night at the hotel. Diner included.

 Day 02: Hanoi bicycling and visits
 

In the morning, we go to our friends Vincent and Huong for a bicycle ride in the Hanoi countryside. Lunch with them. In the afternoon, visit of the capital of Vietnam, the Small Lake or Lake of the Restituted Sword of the Giant Turtle; then the Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Quan Thanh Temple. Hanoi by night in a cyclo-pousse. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 03: Hanoi – Ba Be
 

Direction: the Tay country, the territory of several ethnic groups. And the fantastic Ba Be national park, a true sanctuary of over 550 species of plants and some 300 of animals. Jungle, lakes, waterfalls, mountains...nature lovers will be overwhelmed. Night in stilted Tay home on the edge of Ba Be Lake. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 04: Ba Be
 

We start our day of discovery of that magnificent national park with a boat ride to the Dau Dang Waterfalls. Lunch at M. Hien’s, a very colorful person and a chef renowned in the region. Then trekking in the surrounding mountains, covered with forests, the habitat of Tay, H’mong, and Dzao minorities. Diner and night with our lake friends. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 05: Ba Be – Cam Son
 

Breakfast on the lake, then drive to Thai Nguyen, visit of the Ethnographic Museum. Lunch in a restaurant, then, we reach Cam Son Lake on a beautiful countryside road. Night at the hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 06: Cam Son – Halong Bay
 

Arrival at the bay around noon. Checking on our junk boat for a fairy tale cruise on the jade checkerboard. Sumptuous seafood on board. Visit of the grottoes and swimming on a sleeping beach. At sunset, we drop the anchor in the calm waters near an isolated island and savor a seafood diner served by the crew. Night in a boat private cabin. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 07: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Night Train to Hue
 

Breakfast in the middle of the City of Lime Palaces enrobed in a morning mist. We continue our cruise of the mirrored waters. Return to the pier around 11AM and drive to Hanoi, transfer to the railway station for the night train to Hue in comfortable sleeping wagons. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 08: Hue
 

Welcome at the railway station. Checking in our private house superbly located in a green environment. Visit of the mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, who reigned over the Nguyen Dynasty. After lunch, excursion in a sampan on the famous Perfume River until Thien Mu Pagoda (Pagoda of the Celestial Lady), one of the most ancient and beautiful religious monuments in Hue. Then, visit of the Forbidden Citadel. Small stroll through the city and return to our host’s house nestled among gardens, located in the town green suburbs. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 09: Hue – Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
 

Morning departure to the province of Quang Binh, to reach Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, at the foot of the Truong Son mountain chain. The oldest karst region of Asia, the park offers a spectacular scenery of grottoes, underground rivers, archeological sites, and a tropical forest of rich and varied floras. Since 1993,  the park is registered as a Unesco World Heritage. Visit of the Phong Nha Grottoe, famous for its kilometers of galleries, underground rivers, and numerous stalagmites and stalactites. Night in Dong Hoi. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 10: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – Hoi An
 

Early in the morning, we drive to Hoi An via the Mandarin Road and the spectacular Pass of the Clouds, which offers a magnificent view of Danang and the surroundings. Arrival in Hoi An at the end of the afternoon. Night at the hotel. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 11: Visit of Hoi
 

Stroll and visit of the ancient harbor city of Hoi An: small antiquities museum, Japanese Covered Bridge, the old houses, the silk stores, the talentuous tailors, etc. In the afternoon, bicycling to the Tra Que vegetable village, encounter with local farmers. Swimming on Cua Dai Beach (according to the season) before returning to town. Night at the hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 12: Hoi An – Danang – Pleiku
 

Transfer to Danang for the noon flight Danang-Pleiku. Arrival in Pleiku, in the heart of the High Central Plateaus, a wild region inhabited by numerous ethnic groups. Welcome and visit of T’nung Lake, located in an ancient crater, and of the Jorai minority’s village of Dektu. Night at the hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 13: Pleiku - Buon Ma Thuot
 

Drive in the heart of magnificent hills, stops on the way to visit primitive forests and rubber and coffee plantations. Night in the stilted house of a minority village. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 14: Yok Don National Park
 

Day trekking in the Yok Don National Park, which shelters 316 species of animals, including 67 of mammals, 196 of birds, 40 of reptiles, 13 of amphibians, 38 of rare and precious animals on the way to extinction : elephants, gayaux, axis deers, gibbons, tigers, crocodiles, etc. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 15: Buon Ma Thuot - Dalat
 

Breakfast and departure for on National Road 27. Arrival in the village of Jun, inhabited by the M’nong, a tribe highly experienced in capturing wild elephants. Pirogue boating on the lake and lunch. Arrival in Dalat, the « Town of Eternal Spring . Night at the hotel. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 16: Dalat – Cat Tien National Park
 

Visit of the town: the church and the railway station, the French villas, the market, and the summer residence of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. Lunch, then drive to Nam Cat Tien National Park. Night in a park guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 17: Cat Tien National Park
 

Superb trekking in the national park, renowned for its 600 species of plants, 240 of birds, and 50 of mammals, including rare ones such as elephants, tigers, or the last Java rhino. Night in a park guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch, and diner included.

Day 18: Cat Tien – Saigon
 

Morning departure to Saigon, the economic capital of Vietnam. Checking at the hotel. Lunch, then visit of the Chinese district of Cholon, the Central Post Office, and the cathedral. Breakfast included.

Day 19: Saigon - Can Tho
 

We leave Saigon in the morning to join the fantastic universe of the Mekong Delta. Arrival in My Tho, from which we go on a boat excursion on one of the Mekong numerous channels. Stop at Dragon Island to discover luxuriant orchards, where we taste delicious tropical fruits just picked from the trees. Taste of the “Elephant Ear” fish for lunch, then visit of a farm which produces rice and honey alcohol and coconut candy. We return to My Tho and drive to Can Tho, the Mekong Delta metropolis. Night at the hotel. Breakfast included. 

Day 20: Can Tho - Saigon
 

Early in the morning, we go on a boat to discover the extraordinary floating market of Cai Rang, then we stroll among green orchards. After lunch, we drive back to Saigon. Night at the hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 21: Departure from Saigon
 

Free time for your shopping and own discovery of the town before transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure. Breakfast included.

This is an adventure tour we customize for active travelers traveling to the northern Vietnam.

Day 1: Lao Cai – One of the regional minority markets – Bac Ha 
- Early arrival to Lao Cai station at 05.30, welcomed by tour guide and driver. Freshen up and breakfast in local restaurant near the station.
- 07.30: Leave Lao Cai for one of the following regional minority markets which play an important role in spiritual and social life of the ethnic peoples in the far north region of Vietnam: Bac Ha Market on Sun Day; Ban Cam Market on Tuesday; Lung Khau Nhin Market on Wednesday; Cao Son Market on Thursday; Can Cau Market on Saturday. 
- 09.30: Arriving at one of these markets, the clients will spend about 2 hours attending the local ethnic peoples such as Flower H’mong, Zao, Tay, Zay… who always wear best traditional costumes, unique of each group to the market not only for shopping but also for socializing.
- Transfer to Bac Ha town let after lunch break and check in the hotel upon arrival to Bac Ha.
- In the afternoon, the group will enjoy a leisure walk for about one and a half hour to explore the stunning valley nearby Bac Ha, paying visit to Ban Pho, a large village of the Flower H’mong and Tay peoples.
- Back to Hotel in late afternoon and time is set for free walk to explore Bac Ha town let.

• Driving about 120 km. Walking about two and a half hours.
• Staying overnight at Sao Mai Hotel: Air-coned and clean room, private bathroom with hot shower, western toilet.
• Lunch & Dinner: Vietnamese set menu

Day 2: Wednesday: Bac Ha – Xin Man –  Hoang Su Phi – Thung Nguyen commune (B,L,D)

- Breakfast, check out hotel at 08.00. Driving uphill for 12 km and stop for a short walk to visit Pa Chu Ty 2 village of the Phu La ethnic, located at the bottom of a stunning valley.
- Continue driving 9 km further to Gia village, take a short walk to visit Nam Ma and Gia village of the H’mong. Then continue the road trip 17 km to Xin Man town let. Lunch break in Xin Man.
- 13.00 leaving Xin Man for Hoang Su Phi along the road 176. For 32 km the road weaves its way on steep side of mountains and offers stunning view of a long and narrow valley created by high mountain ranges and the Chay river winding at the bottom. There are several photo stops along the way and a coffee break at Hoang Su Phi.
- Leaving Hoang Su Phi and driving downhill for 18 km to Nam Ty commune. Here the group will walk for about 30 minutes to visit a small village of the Red Zao peoples. (For those who love walking can take a 2 hours walk along the village path, mostly downhill, along the side of a mountain range with spectacular landscapes and paying visiting to some small villages of the Red Zao nearby the path until arriving to Thuong Nong commune where the group will stay overnight at the Penhouse)
- Continue by road to the top of the mountain pass and enjoy a long break here for spectacular landscapes of the surrounding mountains and valleys before driving 18 km downhill from the mountain pass through a lush valley to Thung Nguyen commune. Check in the Penhouse Eco-lodge here and relax for an hour.
- Enjoy late afternoon walk along the small river to explore the Giang village of the Tay ethnic peoples.
• Total driving is 128 km. Walking about 3 hours for sightseeing and visiting villages.
• Staying overnight at Penhouse Ecolodge: Clean room, private bathroom with hot shower, western toilet.
• Dinner: Vietnamese set menu

Day 3: Thung Nguyen – Nam An –  Me village – Ha Giang – Bac Me (B,L,D)

- Breakfast and leaving the Penhous Ecolodge at 08.00 and driving 18 km to the top of the mountain, short stop for great view of the region in the morning sunlight before descending to the lowland and then continue for nearly an hour to Nam An. This is a special tip of the day! At the top of the mountain pass about 3 km for the main road, great view of the below valleys, the Lo river… opens wide and far. Nam An used to be a narrow and deep valley, built into a lake for water storage to run a hydraulic power plant and now has become spectacular lake with a peninsular for eco-tourist sport. The group will spend an hour walking around the lake to pay visit to a Red Zao village whose culture and living style is remaining as its was for hundreds of years. Lunch in a house built by the water and relax. Clients may swim in the emerald clear water or moving around the lake on bamboo rafts or boats.
- Leaving Nam An at about 13.00 driving 45 km to Ha Giang. Clients will enjoy stunning landscapes along the Lo river. Paying visit to a beautiful valley located 3 km from Ha Giang township. Walk about 3 km around Me village of the Tay ethnic peoples, visiting local homes for discovery of the Tay’s way of life.
- Continue the road trip through Ha Giang, along national road 34 for an hour and arrive to the upstream region of the Na Hang reservoir. Stop for visiting the village of the immigrants who have given their land for the construction of the Na Hang hydraulic power plant and some other small hamlets of the Tay and Zao scattering around a stunning valley, surrounded by high mountains and lush forest.
- Drive the last portion of the road to Bac Me town let, arriving in Bac Me at about 17.00. Check in hotel and free walk to explore this charming town let, which is beautifully set on the bank of the Gam river.

• Total driving is 154 km. walking about two and a half hours for sightseeing and visiting villages.
• Staying overnight at Song Gam hotel: Air-coned and clean room, private bathroom with hot shower, western toilet.
• Lunch & Dinner: Vietnamese set menu

Day 4: Bac Me – Meo Vac – Dong Van( B,L,D)

- Breakfast, check out hotel at 08.00 and departure for Meo Vac. The first portion 47 km of the road weaves its way along the the Gam River amongst high mountains and thick forest offers beautiful scenery with several photo stops. 
- Crossing the Gam River and following the newly built road uphill for about 27 km, the group will arrive to Niem Son commune and spend almost an hour here for visiting the local market and paying visit to a small village of the H’mong ethnic peoples.
- Driving 25 km uphill through the remote and deserted region to Meo Vac. From here visitors will see the contrast between the tough topography and climate of this remote highland and what they have seen in two days before while traveling through the lower land. Getting close to Meo Vac, there appeared some small hamlets of the H’mong built on the immense limestone hill sides. Stop for visiting one of these hamlets for the first impression of the very hard life on this mysterious limestone highland.
- Arriving in Meo Vac at noon, take a quick look at the market and lunch break.
- After Lunch, the group will pay visit to a small village of the Lolo, an ethnic group with only about 3,700 peoples near the town before leaving Meo Vac for the real discovery of the limestone highland. The narrow road winds its way on the wall-up and deserted limestone mountain side with the view of a valley deep down where the Nho Que river sneaking, bending…amidst mountain feet. This is Ma Pi Leng, one of the most famous mountain passes in Vietnam for its magnificent beauty and danger! After several stops for spectacular landscapes, the group will take a walk for half an hour to visit Ma Pi Leng village of the H’mong which is consisted of only about 20 houses built on the rocky land. Here visitor will see unimaginable and hard life of the H’mong living on this highland for hundreds of years. Also here the true value of cultivated land and water can be seen!
- Continue along the road for 16 km to Dong Van. Check in hotel upon arrival and having a short rest.
- At about 17.00, the group gathers again for a leisure walk around the market place and the old street of Dong Van. It is really a good chance to see one of the uniqueness of local minority life If on Saturday. This part will be crowded and lively for many H’mong and Zao peoples come from remote and isolated villages to attend the week-end market which took place from early Sunday.

• Total driving is 160 km. walking about 2 hour for sightseeing visiting to villages
• Staying overnight at Rocky Highland Hotel: Air-coned and clean room, private bathroom with hot shower, western toilet.
• Lunch & Dinner: Vietnamese set menu

Day 5: Dong Van – Lung Cu - Vuong Palace – Pho Bang – Yen Minh – Quan Ba (B,L,D)

- Breakfast, check out hotel at 08.00 and drive 26 km to Lung Cu commune located on the northernmost tip of Dong Van highland and Vietnam as well. Here clients will pay visiting to two villages: One of the H’mong ethnic – majority of Dong Van district - and one of the Red Lolo – A very small ethnic group. 
• If on Friday: The group will leave Dong Van earlier for having about an hour more to attend the communal market of Lung Cu, which is colorful and interesting.
• If on Sunday: Spend 2 hours in the morning for attending the famous Dong Van market and leave for Lung Cu at 09.30. In this case arriving in Quan Ba late at about 19.00.

- Leaving Lung Cu down hill for about 25 km, the group will enjoy sightseeing at the famous historical and cultural site: The Vuong Family Palace once ruled over the H’mong in the region and popularly known as King of the H’mong.
- Continue by road for 17 km to Sung La commune beautifully set at the foot of Pho Cao mountain pass. Here the group will walk around the Lung Cam village, paying visiting to H’mong families, especially the very old typical and beautiful house here.
- Driving uphill a stunning mountain pass, enjoy viewing stop before turning right for 5 km to Pho Bang ancient town let. This town let was built hundreds of years ago as a regional trading center between the local and Chinese traders. Walking for about an hour to explore this charming town let which is featured with two storey wooden houses, clay walled, Yin and Yang tiled roofs and leisure atmosphere.
- Leaving Pho Bang for a driving down hill to a lush valley where Yen Minh town let located for late lunch break.
- Leaving Yen Minh for a drive uphill of a long and high mountain pass, enjoying marvelous scenery the lush forest and stop at the top of the pass for great view of the surrounding region.
- Take a break at the foot of the pass far walking to visit a village of the La Chi, another small ethnic group with only over 3,000 individuals in Vietnam whose culture is really unique and strong.
- Continue by road 4C along the Mtem river for an hour, walking to visit Nam Dam village of the Zao ao dai (Zao with long dress) located at the center of a large and stunning valley before arriving in Tam Son town let of Quan Ba district. Check in hotel for freshen up and relax. Evening is at leisure.

• Total driving is 132 km. Walking about 8 km for sightseeing visiting to villages
• Staying overnight at Tam Son Hotel: Air-coned and clean room, private bathroom with hot shower, western toilet.
• Lunch & Dinner: Vietnamese set menu

Day 6: Quan Ba – Ha Giang – Ha Noi (B,L,D)

- Breakfast and check out hotel for a long driving day back to Hanoi today. 
- Driving uphill 5 km to the top of Quan Ba mountain pass, stop for admiring the magnificent scenery and great view of Quan Ba valley. Then driving few kilometers further for visiting the Quyet Tien Commune locating near the top of Quan Ba pass at 1000 m above sea level. Hear the group will spend an hour enjoying marvel of nature and paying visit to 2 villages: One is Lung Muoi village of the H’mong with traditional living style of the highlander ethnics and the other, Vinh Tien village of the Kinh peoples immigrated to the region in 1980s in a government project attempting to give local minority ethnic peoples an example about intensive farming so that they can learn better farming technique from these immigrants.
- Driving downhill for another hour and take a coffee stop at Ha Giang before continue along national road 2 to Bac Quang. Lunch break.
- The whole afternoon is for traveling along national road 2 for Hanoi with several stops along the way.
- Arrive in Hanoi in late afternoon at about 19.00 to end up the trip
• Total driving is 360 km. Walking about 4 km for sightseeing visiting to villages
• Lunch: Vietnamese set menu