Vietnam is a blend of diverse cultures. Thanks to its vast mountainous territory, the country boasts a rich cultural diversity and ethnic plurality. This Vietnam in 16 days tour takes you to the heart of remote villages in the north and the highlands of the central region to discover the daily life of the inhabitants. Prepare for a journey full of adventures and discoveries as you immerse yourself in the traditions and customs of different ethnic groups, including the Hmong, Dao, and Tay. With breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine, and the warm hospitality of Vietnam, this trip promises to be an unforgettable experience. Have a great trip!
Upon your arrival at the airport, your IDC Travel guide and driver will welcome you. You are plunged into another universe. On the way from the airport to the city center (the distance between the airport and the city center is about 45 min – 1 hour), you will be able to observe the strange traffic rules, a first big surprise for the foreigner setting foot on Vietnamese soil.
Check-in at your hotel. Free time to rest.
Then, your guide will introduce you to your excursion and take you to a good restaurant in Hanoi. Vietnamese cuisine is very rich, and you will have the opportunity to discover and taste a wide variety of specialties throughout your trip.
Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Meals: Welcome dinner
Early in the morning, leave the bustling streets of the capital to join Route 32, surrounded by green rice fields.
The Red River Delta gives way to the mountains of Yen Bai province.
The town of Nghia Lo is located on a beautiful mountain ridge, separating the Red River from the Black River. Between lush forests, tea plantations, terraced rice fields, and rubber trees, the valleys are surprising. The Thai, Nung, H’Mong, La Ha, and Ma live in this region.
Overnight in a guesthouse in Nghia Lo.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The day begins with a visit to the local market of Nghia Lo, which will allow you to discover local crafts.
You will then hit the road and cross one of the most lush and green landscapes in Vietnam. On the way to Mu Cang Chai, you will meet the H’Mong, La Ha, and Dao people. The road, which can sometimes be muddy, winds along the Nam Kim River descending into the valley.
Mu Cang Chai – Yen Bai
At the bottom of the valley, you will arrive in the town of Than Uyen where you can check in at your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast in a local restaurant, it’s time to head to Sapa.
The road stretches along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, home to Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan.
Mount Fansipan
Tea plantations and terraced rice fields embrace the Nam Ma River, which meanders along the valley where Tay, Dao, and H’Mong villages are located.
At the Binh Lu junction, you will join the main road and begin your ascent to Vietnam’s highest pass, 1900 meters, then descend towards Sapa.
Enjoy lunch and a break, before starting a short 3-hour hike in this amazing valley sculpted by terraced rice fields. You will reach the village of Ta Van where you can appreciate the hospitality of your Dao ethnic hosts and spend the night with them.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, you will walk to the bridge to join the car that will take you to Sapa.
You can stroll a bit in the market before starting a beautiful walk towards the village of Cat Cat, along the paths used by buffalo herds.
Cat Cat village
Along the way, stop at a waterfall and a hydroelectric station built by the English. You can rest for a while before walking to the village of Sin Chai.
Enjoy the beauty of the landscape on your return to Sapa, where you will have lunch.
Take advantage of your free afternoon to explore Sapa and its market more deeply.
Overnight at a hotel in Sapa.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After your breakfast, head out to visit one of the ethnic markets in the region. This is a great opportunity to meet and discover the culture and lifestyle of the different ethnic groups in Vietnam. On Tuesday, you can visit the Cocly market and enjoy a cruise on the Chay River. On Wednesday, it’s the Cao Son or Sin Cheng market that awaits you. Or you might have the opportunity to visit the Lung Khau Nhin, Can Cau, or Bac Ha market successively on Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Ethnic Minority Markets
Then, take a short walk in a village near the market to discover the daily life of the inhabitants.
Lunch in a local restaurant in Bac Ha.
Then, the car will take you to the start of the trail to begin your trek. You will pass through one of the most isolated roads crossing the rice field, and plum trees to reach the Ta Van Chu village of the Flower Hmong. Settle in with a local family.
Dinner and overnight stay with the family.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Breakfast with the host family.
Say goodbye to the host family. You will start your 2nd day of trekking. On the road, you will head towards Can Cau, visiting a few local families to discover their way of life. Picnic lunch at Can Cau.
After your lunch, you will cross a very beautiful road to the village of Lung Phinh where Hmong, Phu La live. You will be attracted by their very colorful life.
Settle in with a local family.
Dinner and overnight stay with the family.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Breakfast with the host family.
You will follow the beautiful road from Lung Phinh to the Chay River. Possibility of a cruise on the river (if the water level allows).
Then transfer to Lao Cai station to take your overnight train to Hanoi.
Stop to see the border gate between Vietnam and China.
Dinner on your own in a local restaurant.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Overnight train ticket Lao Cai – Hanoi (4-berth soft sleeper cabin, air-conditioned), Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Arrival in Hanoi around 5 am. We offer you a courtesy room in a small hotel to rest a bit, freshen up, and have breakfast before starting the day’s visit. The room will be available from 8 am.
After breakfast, depart by car for Halong Bay. You will arrive at Halong Port around 12 pm. After the welcome drink, you will start the cruise while enjoying a seafood lunch, an excellent menu consisting of refined dishes cooked with skill, elaborate decoration of the dishes, and attentive service by qualified staff.
Halong Bay Cruise
The cruise will head towards Bai Tu Long Bay, located within Halong Bay, but not very touristy.
In the mid-afternoon, visit the small Thien Canh Son cave then the possibility of swimming (if the weather permits), relaxing on the beach, or kayaking (for 1 hour).
Return to the junk in the late afternoon, enjoy a good dinner then time to rest or go squid fishing with the crew.
Overnight on the cruise.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Kayaking in the bay, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Wake up early to enjoy the fresh morning air in the bay.
Have a good tea or coffee and breakfast before visiting the Vung Vieng floating village for 1 hour by rowboat. Admire the fish farming.
Around 10 am, return to the junk for a brunch (à la carte). The junk will head towards the pier.
Disembarkation around 11:30 am.
Return to Hanoi. Stop by But Thap Pagoda – one of the most beautiful pagodas in northern Vietnam and discover Dong Ho folk painting. Check into your hotel.
But Thap Pagoda
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Early in the morning, the driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Pleiku.
Upon your arrival in Pleiku, a car will be waiting to take you to Phun, a Jarai village. You will continue to Kon Tum and then to the village of Konkotu for dinner and overnight in a Rong house, the communal house of the village.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Flight ticket Hanoi – Pleiku, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
In the morning, you will go on a 6-kilometer hike through the forest, cross the Kon Ba suspension bridge, walk to the village of Jolong, and up to the source of the Dak Bla River.
Then, you will start a rafting descent on the Dakbla River and stop along the way for a picnic lunch by the river.
Dakbla River
After lunch, you will continue to raft down the river for a few hours, then return to the village of Konkotu where your driver will take you back to Kon Tum.
Overnight at a hotel in Kontum.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
In the morning, you will take the road to Buon Ma Thuot.
Upon arrival and after checking into your hotel and having lunch, you will visit the Gia Long waterfall. You will cross the river on a simple raft and walk through the primitive forest. Then, you can swim in the “fairy pool,” a small natural lake with a sandy bottom.
Gia Long Waterfall
Then return to Buon Ma Thuot for the night.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Get up early! You will leave the hotel for a village of the Muong minority, the village of Buon Juin. You will have the opportunity to observe local life.
Upon arrival at the village, your guide will show you around where the locals prepare their breakfast and feed their pigs.
Your breakfast will be served in a local restaurant in the middle of the village. Then, you will take a canoe to cross Lak Lake to the village of M’Lieng where an elephant ride awaits you.
Return to Buon Ma Thuot for lunch.
Enjoy your free time in the afternoon!
Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
You can enjoy your free time while waiting for your transfer to Buon Ma Thuot Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
Ho Chi Minh City
Then, you can enjoy your free time to discover the bustling Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
Overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Flight ticket Buon Ma Thuot – Saigon, Meals: Breakfast.
Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight or continuation of your journey.
Included: Airport drop-off, Meals: Breakfast.
Prices are in USD, per person.
This tour can be customized to fit your own demands. Best price and value guaranteed!
| Hotel / Group | 2 guests | 3~4 guests | 5~6 guests | 7~8 guests | 9~12 guests | Single surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Star | 1,941 | 1,446 | 1,252 | 1,199 | 1,104 | 427 |
| 4 Star | 2,271 | 1,778 | 1,588 | 1,529 | 1,435 | 770 |
| 5 Star | 2,413 | 1,918 | 1,727 | 1,666 | 1,573 | 907 |
– There may be cancellation fees charged by suppliers (hotels, airlines, boats, trains…) once these bookings are made and paid. These fee shall by paid by travelers.
– These are maximum cancellation fees to be flexible applied:
Are you interested in this tour or would you like to customize your own trip?
Call our local experts: +84913.000.858
