15 Days Adventure Tour Northeast and Northwest Vietnam

This morning, we go on a half-day city tour, beginning with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This historic location houses the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh’s tomb, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s residence on stilts, and the One Pillar Pagoda. The Shrine of Literature and the calm lake of Hoan Kiem with its hallowed temple are well worth seeing.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

We also visit the spectacular Ethnology Museum, which is dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities, some of which we will visit in the following days. We leave town and drive by road to Mai Chau, an attractive valley populated by numerous White Thai people.

O/N in Mai Chau

One Pillar Pagoda

After leaving Mai Chau, the roads continue to degrade; nonetheless, various settlements dot the slopes, making for an intriguing excursion.

Moc Chau Plateau

We stop at Xa Linh for a two-hour journey through various timeless hill villages that are home to the Hmong hill tribal people. As we go over the Moc Chau Plateau, we witness several tea plantations and the Black Thai hill tribe people.
They are of the same Thai ethnic group as the White Thai in Mai Chau, although they differ in their traditions and behaviors.

O/N in SON LA.

Some of the prominent attractions in this hill town are the provincial museum and the surrounding old jail. We will have the opportunity to visit these before departing for our next destination. The tortuous roads traverse the Pha Din Pass before arriving at Dien Bien Phu, the location of the pivotal battle in Vietnam’s independence movement in 1954.

Pha Din Pass

We take a tour around town after settling into our centrally placed hotel to explore this rapidly rising town. Our first trip is the Dien Bien Phu Museum, which provides information about the current event. We go go to the former battleground, where lush greenery grows behind various military artifacts, such as old French tanks and artillery pieces.

O/N in DIEN BIEN PHU.

Dien Bien Phu Museum

The travel north continues to Lai Chau Town, which will serve as our headquarters for exploring the surrounding landscapes. These remote roads are an excellent way to discover the real Vietnam. We see relatively few other passengers, primarily rural residents who are as curious about our lives as we are about theirs.
After settling into the hotel, we board a boat for a two-hour journey along the DA River, passing through breathtaking mountain scenery. The pace is leisurely, making it ideal for observing the local way of life up close.

LAI CHAU O/N.

Lai Chau Town

Lai Chau Town

Today we continue our journey into northern Vietnam, stopping at Sin Ho, the home of the Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Mang, and Dao ethnic minorities. They have lived there for a long time and have kept their traditional culture and practices.

Sin Ho – Lai Chau

The travel to Sin Ho is periodically halted owing to local official restrictions. We leave Sin Ho and go across the hilly countryside to Tam Duong. This classic town is surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery and lush tea plantations.

TAM DUONG O/N.

Despite the fact that the conditions are basic, the landscape in the north is unparalleled.

After breakfast, we drive along the main commerce route in the northwest region. This winding route connects several highland towns and villages. Sapa, located at an elevation of 1,500 meters, was established in the early twentieth century as a highland retreat for French officials when the heat on the plain grew oppressive.

Sapa from above

After settling into our hotel, we may enjoy the fresh air as much as we wish by seeing this attractive town and some remnants of the French period.

O/N in SA PA.

This hill station’s surroundings provide an alpine sense because to the vast range of Fansipan, which contains Vietnam’s highest peak.

Fansipan

Today we have ample time to visit the lively Sapa Market, where ethnic minorities like as the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay, and Xa Pho congregate from adjacent mountainsides and valleys to barter products and buy groceries.

We step off the main path as we set out on a stroll to explore this magnificent alpine location. We pass through various primitive settlements and witness many mountaineers going about their everyday activities such as logging, grazing buffalo, and tilling the field.

In SA PA, O/N

Sapa Market

We leave town and make our way to Bat Xat over the gorgeous mountain scenery. Because of the great altitude, the weather in this region is chilly. We begin our journey with a short walk through many villages inhabited by the ethnic minority Phu La, Dao, and Giay.
They are impoverished, yet they have an intriguing local culture and a fascinating past. The sheer satisfaction of meeting hill tribe people is part of the enjoyment of traveling in this region. We continue on our journey to the border town of Lao Cai, our final target.

LAO CAI O/N.

Bat Xat Village

Muong Khuong’s weekend market also draws a diverse range of ethnic minority groups, including Hmong, Dao, Thu Lao, Pa Di, Tu Di, and Phu La. After breakfast, we set off on a two-hour trip to Muong Khuong Town. Wandering among this colorful gathering is a delightful experience. We drive by car to Bac Ha in the early afternoon.
This is essentially a stopover to break up our lengthy travel. We may take a walk after checking into the hotel to see the Hmong King’s former house and Ban Pho, where people produce the strong native corn whiskey.

In BAC HA, O/N

Muong Khuong Town

We left Bac Ha for a full day travel through Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang Town. The hard but picturesque trek winds through deep forest before crossing a pass and descending to Sin Man. This is a difficult day for our driver because we are traveling on twisty roads with several uphill and downhill trips.
We may come across the Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi, and Co Lao, to name a few of the many hill tribal tribes that have lived there.

HA GIANG O/N.

Hoang Su Phi

Dong Van and Meo Vac are rural regions with rough mountains and lovely hill villages that have remained unaltered for decades. Today we leave Ha Giang Town and proceed north-west towards Vietnam’s northernmost point.
The historic H’mong royal residence at Sa Phin is the region’s main attraction, but the combination of hill tribe people’s colorful costumes and the breathtaking mountainous surroundings make this lengthy and difficult journey unforgettable.

DONG VAN O/N.

Dong Van

This hill village is frequented by ethnic minority groups, and tiny merchants along the street offer indigenous fabrics and handicrafts. We have time to tour Dong Van Town before heading to Meo Vac, which has been occupied by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority groups.
They still maintain their age-old cultural customs and may be distinguished from one another by their clothing.
Despite the fact that circumstances are quite poor, the remoteness and simple lifestyle of the locals are highlights of Meo Vac. We take a detour back to Ha Giang through Yen Minh.

O/N in HA GIANG.

Meo Vac Village

An early start to drive across the undulating hills and scenic landscapes to Ba Be National Park. The roads are quite uneven and zigzagging, but we will have the opportunity to encounter the Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung ethnic minority that make up the majority of the population in this region.
We will undoubtedly get their notice, as this section of the nation receives extremely few visitors. We arrive in Ba Be in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on road and traffic circumstances, but it has been an eventful day.

O/N in CHO RA

Ba Be Lake

Despite its name, the famous lake of Ba Be is only one continuous body of water. Today we board a boat and go down the Nang River, the lake’s major water source. This thrilling river journey will provide us with a taste of the peaceful countryside as well as a delightful exploration of the Ba Be National Park.
We pass via the Poong Grotto on the way before stopping at some neighboring hill tribal settlements and venturing off the main path to the picturesque Dau Dang Waterfalls.

O/N in CHO RA.

Ba Be Lake

Enjoy a full day drive from Ba Be lakes to HA NOI. 

Tour ends.