Eco Trails Of Northern Vietnam In 15 Days – Private Tour

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate and meet our guide, who will be waiting in the lobby, holding the signboard with your name on it. If you cannot locate your guide, please go to the Airport information counter in the middle of the Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers provided in the confirmation voucher for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter.

Overnight in Hanoi

If time permits, we will take you to Hanoi sightseeing

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is often called the ‘Paris of the East’ and is known for its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes. Today we will visit the Temple of Literature, the first national university in Vietnam built in the late 11th century. This picturesque temple is a well-preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Spend time in the beautiful garden of the Temple of Literature, enjoying its quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Continue to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, located on one of the oldest streets of Hanoi. You will see various exhibitions that will give you insight into Vietnamese life through the lens of women’s topics.

Then enjoy the walk around the photogenic Old Quarter, where each street has a name of the goods, which originally were sold there in the past. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, fronted by narrow houses known as “tube houses”, built to avoid taxes based on the width of their frontage onto the street, a wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life.

Have breakfast at the hotel and complete the check-out formalities before meeting your guide and driver and departing to Sapa. Upon arrival, enjoy the welcome fresh drink and check in at the hotel to get refreshed.

In the afternoon (around 14:30), we will start hiking downhill to Cat Cat Village, located at the bottom of the picturesque Muong Hoa Valley. Enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful valley towards Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam and Indochina. Upon arrival at the village, you will have a chance to visit the Black H’mong’s traditional stilt houses and see people weaving, embroidering, and dying their clothes. Then, keep walking towards the beautiful Cat Cat Waterfall, a great spot for photo shoots. At 5:00 pm, we will return to Sapa town. Enjoy your free time in the evening to explore Sapa town and the local market.

Overnight in Sapa

Have breakfast at the hotel and meet your guide at around 9:30 am for your 12km hike. Today you will trek through the picturesque valley along the rice terraces to Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages of the Hmong minorities. Enjoy the beautiful mountain views on the way, and feel free to make stops for taking photos.

Have lunch in Lao Chai village nearby the river. In the afternoon, continue your hike to Ta Van, a village of the Dzay people. Spend the rest of the day exploring the local life seeing the daily routine of the farmers and learning the local customs and traditions before heading back to Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa

Have breakfast at the hotel and check out the hotel. This morning we will explore more of the beautiful nature and have a pleasant walk through the bamboo forest, which is part of Hoang Lien National Park. On the way, we will pass by a waterfall for a short break and take pictures. Take your time to enjoy the surroundings and find a nice place to enjoy a picnic lunch.

In the afternoon, we will depart for Bac Ha along the winding road. This quiet and picturesque village sits in a valley with lush hillsides and rustic farmland. Stretch your legs as you walk off the car, then begin a trek to the local homestay, where you will stay for a night. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring the pristine farmland.

Overnight in Bac Ha

After breakfast at your homestay, visit the Bac Ha fairground market (on Sunday only). It is a great place to pick up locally dyed fabrics, handmade textiles, and jewelry. You will also see how people sell and buy buffalos, hens, and hemp plants, and could try local snacks. This market is an important weekly event for the locals, where they meet each other and engage together. You will witness the extraordinary bustling atmosphere of the ethnic markets.

After the market exploration, depart from Bac Ha towards Hoang Su Phi, a truly off-the-beaten-path destination with one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam. Along the way, stop at Thong Nguyen Commune to visit the local market and interact with the ethnic minorities. Continue towards Hoang Su Phi and check in to your accommodation and enjoy the traditional dinner.

Overnight in Hoang Su Phi

After breakfast at the homestay, we visit the Ban Phung and Ban Luoc villages, known for their beautiful rice terraces. You will trek in the forest, see, probably, the most beautiful terraces in Vietnam, and observe locals working in the fields. It will be a true escape from city life and full immersion in nature. Enjoy the feeling of privacy and being a pioneer exploring the area that very few travelers get to.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot. Return to Hoang Su Phi and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hoang Su Phi

Start your morning by exploring more sceneries of rice terraces and traditional stilt houses. Visit Ho Thau village to see the traditional lifestyle of the Dao ethnic minority and spend some time communicating with the locals. Then say goodbye to this beautiful place and head to Ha Giang City. Upon arrival in Ha Giang, check in at the hotel and enjoy free time to explore the neighborhood.

Overnight in Ha Giang

Today, we will leave to see the scenic mountain drives throughout Ha Giang province. Stop at Minh Tao Market to browse local goods and see the bustling atmosphere of this place. Then have a walk around Nam Luong village enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of this hidden village. Afterward, we will pass through Lung Tam weaving village, where you will see how Hmong ladies use traditional methods of weaving to create fine brocade pieces. We will also stop at the Vuong Family Palace in Sa Phin commune, built in the shape of a royal Manchu palace. This is known as the former palace of the Hmong King. Then we finally arrive at Dong Van, a picturesque town hidden in the mountains.

Overnight in Dong Van

This morning, we will drive through the most spectacular road in all of Vietnam, which winds for 15 km to the top of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, a hulk of desert peaks and unique canyons in the world. On the way, we will stop to overview beautiful panoramic views of the valley and river.

Then we will descend to Meo Vac. Upon arrival, we will stop for lunch in the town and visit the local market. In the afternoon, we will challenge you with the 4-hour trek to admire the spectacular landscape of lush valleys and rice paddies (the difficulty level is medium, and average fitness skills are required).

Overnight in Meo Vac

This morning we will drive past terraced rice fields on the road to Bao Lac \ (approximately a 4-hour drive), a small town in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam. The area is home to the Black Lo Lo ethnic group, who are well known for their colorful attire and fine art in making bronze drums. The bronze drums hold a special place in Lo Lo customs, being used at funerals and important family events. It is believed that only the sound of the drums can help the souls of the dead to find their way to the birthplace of their ancestors.

Overnight stay in Bao Lac.

In the morning, we will drive to Cao Bang, a picturesque city in northern Vietnam close to the border with China. On the way, we will stop for a short walk around to enjoy the landscape and learn more about the local way of living.

In the afternoon, we will hike to the Angel Eyes mountain. This mountain is also known as Nui Thung, which means a mountain with a through-going hole. It is located in the heart of the valley between Thang Hen Lake and the complex of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, which features a charming landscape with immense grasslands and green lakes. Then we will transfer you to your hotel to enjoy rest and free time.

Overnight in Cao Bang

In the morning, we will visit the famous Ban Gioc Waterfall, located on the border between Vietnam and China. Surrounded by the karst mountains these waterfalls are the true gem of nature In Vietnam and a picture-perfect spot with the pristine clear water. On the way, we will stop at the Nguom Ngao Cave, known for its stunning rock formations and stalactites. We also visit Pac Bo Cave, where Ho Chi Minh established the Vietnam Independence League in 1941. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and taste some of the local specialties. In the afternoon, we will visit the Lenin Stream and learn about its historical significance during the Vietnam War.

Back to your accommodation in Cao Bang and spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Cao Bang

This morning we will depart for about a 4-hour drive to the Ba Be National Park, which is home to the biggest freshwater lake in Vietnam. Once there, we will take a boat trip down the river to explore the beautiful sites of Ba Be National Park. Disembark for a light walk to visit the impressive waterfalls that feed the lake and observe the natural flora and fauna.

In the afternoon, we will head to the family-owned guesthouse in Pac Ngoi village, where you will stay overnight. The family you’re staying with will prepare lunch for you. After lunch, enjoy your free time to explore the surrounding area. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with your hosts. It is a great opportunity to gain an insight into local lives and culture.

Overnight in Pac Ngoi.

After breakfast, we will take you on a boat trip to explore the famous Ba Be Lake. Start your trip by cruising on a boat along the Nang River. Then we will stop to visit the Dau Dang waterfalls. Hop off the boat to walk around to admire the waterfall, then embark on the boat to go up the river and cross the lake from north to south, seeing the beautiful nature around. Then head back to your homestay and get ready to transfer to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home.

Trip Ends.