The 6-day north Vietnam tours is one guided, off the beaten path tour which takes you to the less traveled region of the northern Vietnam. The overland tour begins with an overnight train trip from Hanoi up to Laocai where you start your road trip from Lao Cai to Bac Ha, and then Hoang Su Phi, Thong Nguyen, Ha Giang, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Lung Cu, Pho Bang, Ba Be national park. Enjoy scenic landscapes, historic, culture heritage; meet up with H’mong, Dzao, Tay people; Spend the night at local home. Try to arrive to Bac Ha or Dong Van or Meo Vac on Saturday, you will have the opportunity to visit the Sunday colorful market. Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi – Laocai. Overnight train.
You will be met up at your hotel in Hanoi by Lotussia Travel guide, driver and transferred to Hanoi railways station. Take the night train to Laocai. SP???. Departure at???. Overnight on board train.
Day 2: Lao Cai – Bac Ha (B)
Early arrival to Lao Cai station at 05.30 (to be confirmed), you will be welcomed by Lotussia Travel team and transferred to a local restaurant for early breakfast and a short rest. Enjoy two hour drive uphill to Bac Ha. Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town. In the afternoon, enjoy an easy walk to a H’mong village to explore the stunning valley nearby Bac Ha. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 3: 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 a Phu La village, located at the bottom of a stunning valley. Continue some more drive for visiting a H’mong village. Arrive Xin Man around noon. Lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, continue our drive to Thung Nguyen. Check in the Pan Hou Eco-lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Thung Nguyen – Nam An – Ha Giang – Bac Me (B,L,D)
Driving to the top of the mountain, short stop for great view of the region before descending to the lowland and then continue for nearly an hour to 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. Spend an hour walking around the lake visiting a local Red Zao village. Lunch in a house and relax. It is possible for you to swim in the emerald water or moving around the lake on bamboo rafts . Then continue our road trip to Ha Giang. Have a short walk to a Tay village in Ha Giang. Then drive to Bac Me. Overnight in Bac Me.
Day 4: Bac Me – Meo Vac – Dong Van( B,L,D)
Check out hotel at 08.00 and depart for Meo Vac. The first portion of the road weaves its way along the the Gam river amongst high mountains and thick forests. Crossing the Gam river and following the newly built road uphill, we will arrive Niem Son commune where we will spend almost an hour for visiting the local market and a small village of the H’mong ethnic peoples. Drive uphill through the remote and deserted region to Meo Vac. 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 (Sunday)and lunch break. After Lunch, visit to a small village of the Lolo, an ethnic group with only about 4,700 peoples near the town before leaving Meo Vac . Then 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.
Day 5: Dong Van – Lung Cu - Vuong Palace – Pho Bang – Yen Minh – Quan Ba (B,L,D)
Check out hotel at 08.00 and drive to Lung Cu. Visit a village of the H’mong ethnic and a village of the Red Lolo in Lung Cu then move on to the Vuong Family Palace once ruled over the H’mong in the region and popularly known as King of the H’mong. Continue our drive to Pho Bang ancient town. Walking for about an hour to explore this town 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 Yen Minh. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Yen Minh. After lunch, drive uphill of a long and high mountain pass. 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. Arrive in Quan Ba around late afternoon. Check in hotel for freshen up and relax. Overnight in Quan Ba.
Day 6: Quan Ba – Ha Giang – Ha Noi (B,L,D)
Breakfast and check out hotel. Driving uphill to the top of Quan Ba mountain pass, stop for admiring the great view of Quan Ba valley. Then driving few kilometers further for visiting two more hill tribe villages - one village of the H’mong with traditional living style of the highlander ethnics and the other, a village of the Kinh peoples immigrated to the region in 1980s. Driving 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. Arrive in Hanoi in late afternoon. End trip.
