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DAY 1 : ARRIVAL - HANOI
you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam's
capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an
unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking
colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for
relaxing atmosphere. (If time permit ) we enjoy a short
cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets
named after the specific goods once offered for sale at
these places. O/N in Ha Noi.(B)
DAY 2: HANOI - MAI CHAU
This morning we enjoy a half day city tour starting with
the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the
mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the
Presidential Palace , the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts
and the One Pillar Pagoda. The following sights are the
Temple of Literature and the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem
with its sacred temple. We also make stop at the
impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54
ethnic minorities, some of which we will see on our
forthcoming days. Heading out of the town, we travel by
road to Mai Chau, an idyllic valley populated by the
many White Thai people. There are some opportunities en
route to visit the Dao Son Dau and the Muong hill tribe
groups. O/N in Mai Chau. (B,D)
DAY 3 : MAI CHAU - SONLA
Upon leaving Mai Chau the roads begins to deteriorate;
however many villages dot the hillsides and undulating
terrain make for an interesting journey. Along the way
we stop in Xa Linh for a two hour trek past many
timeless hill villages which are home of the Hmong hill
tribe people. Travelling across the Moc Chau Plateau
we catch a glimpse of the many tea plantations and see
the Black Thai hill tribe people. They belong to the
same Thai ethnic group, but are different from the
White Thai in Mai Chau by their tradition and habits.
O/N in Son La. (B)
DAY 4: SONLA - DIEN BIEN PHU
The provincial museum and the nearby old prison are some
of this hill town's major sights. We have a chance to
visit these before we leave for our next destination.
The winding roads cross over the Pha Din Pass before
reaching Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle
in Vietnam’s struggle for independence in 1954. After
checking into our central located hotel we enjoy a
walk around to see this fast growing town. Our
main stop is Dien Bien Phu’s Museum which details
the event in place. We also pay a visit to the old
battle field where the lush vegetation grows behind many
war relics including old French tanks and artillery
pieces. O/N in Dien Bien Phu .(B)
DAY 5: DIEN BIEN PHU - LAI CHAU
The journey north continues on to Lai Chau Town, our
base for exploring the surrounding areas These back
roads are a great way to explore the real Vietnam. We
see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who
are just as interested in finding out about our lives as
we are of theirs. After checking into hotel, we embark
on a boat for a two hour trip along the Da River,
passing through the stunning mountain landscapes. The
pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to observe the local
lifestyle close up. O/N in Lai Chau. (B)
DAY 6: LAI CHAU - MUONG TE - LAI CHAU
An early morning departure to Muong Te. This upstream
area of the Da River is settled by many ethnic
minority groups including the Thai, Ha Nhi, Cong , Si La
and La Hu, just some of Vietnam's most colourful ethnic
groups. The roads conditions are very poor; however the
verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the
colorful local population makes the hardship all
worthwhile. Along the way we stop at seldom visited
villages, a great chance for photographers. O/N in Lai
Chau. (B)
DAY 7:LAI CHAU - SINHO - TAM DUONG
Today we continue venturing into northern Vietnam with
the next stop being Sin Ho which is home land of
the Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Mang and Dao ethnic minorities.
They are settled there longtime ago and still retain
their traditional culture and habits. The trip to Sin Ho
is occasionally suspended due to the restriction of the
local authority. Departing Sin Ho we make our way past
the hilly region to Tam Duong. This timeless town is
surrounded by stunning mountain backdrops and lush
tea plantations. O/N in Tam Duong. (B)
DAY 8: TAM DUONG - BINH LU - SAPA
The scenery of the north is unequalled although the
conditions are very simple. After breakfast we drive
following the main artery of trade in northwestern
region. This bumpy road links to many hill towns and
villages. At an elevation of 1,500 meters, Sapa was
founded in the early years of the last century as a hill
resort for French administrators when the heat on the
plain became unbearable. After checking into hotel we
can soak up the fresh climate as much as we want by
spending our time wandering around this charming town
and some legacies of the French period. O/N in Sa Pa.
(B)
DAY 9: SAPA
The huge range of Phan Si Pan boasts Vietnam’s highest
mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area
surrounding this hill station. Today we have enough time
to visit the bustling Sa Pa Market where the Red Dao,
Black Hmong, Tay and Xa Pho ethnic minorities converge
from the nearby mountainsides and valleys to trade their
goods and buy provisions. We get well off the beaten
track as we embark on a walk to discover this beautiful
mountain region. Along the way we traverse several
rustic villages and see many mountaineers doing their
daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling
the field. O/N in Sa Pa. (B)
DAY 10: SAPA - BATXAT - LAOCAI
Heading out of town, we make our way through the
breathtaking mountain landscape to Bat Xat. The weather
in this region is cool due to the high altitude. On
arrival, we embark on a short walk, passing through
several villages which is populated by the Phu La, Dao
and Giay ethnic minorities. They are very poor, but have
an interesting local culture and a colorful history. A
part of the pleasure of travelling in this region is the
simple joy of seeing hill tribe people. We continue our
trip to Lao Cai border town, our final destination. O/N
in Lao Cai. (B)
DAY 11: LAOCAI - MUONG KHUONG - BAC HA ( Sunday)
The weekend market of Muong Khuong also attracts a wide
variety of ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao,
Thu Lao, Pa Di, Tu Di and Phu La. After breakfast,
we embark on a two hour drive delivering to Muong
Khuong Town. There is a wonderful experience to wander
around this colorful congregation. In the early
afternoon, we travel by roads to Bac Ha. This is
basically an overnight stop to break our long journey.
After checking into hotel we can enjoy walk to visit the
Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where
villagers make the potent local maize alcohol. O/N in
Bac Ha. (B)
DAY 12 :BAC HA - HOANG SU PHI - HA GIANG
Upon leaving Bac Ha we set off on a full day journey
through Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang Town. The
rough but scenic route traverse a dense jungle before
crossing over a pass and dropping down to Sin Man. This
day is a real challenge for our driver as we travel by
winding roads with many uphill and down hill drives.
Along the way we may encounter the Nung Ing, Tay, Red
Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi and Co Lao, just some of the
many hill tribe groups who have settled there. O/N in Ha
Giang. (B)
DAY 13: HA GIANG - SA PHIN - DONG VAN
The remote region of Dong Van and Meo Vac is a land of
rugged mountains and beautiful hill villages which
are unchanged for centuries. Today we head north
west out of Ha Giang Town towards this northernmost tip
of Vietnam. The former H’mong royal house at Sa Phin is
a primary attraction of the region but the blend of hill
tribe people's colorful costumes and the majestic
mountainous scenery make this long and bumpy trip
an unforgettable experience. O/N in Dong Van. (B)
DAY 14: DONG VAN - MEO VAC - HAGIANG
The ethnic minority people are frequently seen in this
hill town and small vendors along the street sell local
textiles and handicraft. We have time to visit Dong Van
Town before continuing to Meo Vac which is
conquered by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority
people. They still retain their age old cultural
traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other
by their dress. The remoteness and the simple lifestyle
of local people are a highlight of Meo Vac although
conditions are very basic. We return to Ha Giang via Yen
Minh, using a shortcut way. O/N in Ha Giang. (B)
DAY 15: HAGIANG - BAC ME - BAO LAC - NGUYEN BINH -
BABE LAKES
An early morning start to drive through the rolling
hills and the picturesque scenery to Ba Be National
Park. The roads are very bumpy and zigzagging however we
will have a chance to meet the Hmong, Dao, Tay and
Nung ethnic minorities who make for the main population
of this region. We are sure to attract their attention
as this part of the country receive very few visitors.
Depending on road and traffic conditions we arrive in Ba
Be by late afternoon or early evening, but it is
till an interesting day. O/N in Cho Ra. (B)
DAY 16: BABE LAKES
The legendary lake of Ba Be is just one continuous water
body although the name means” three lakes”. Today we
embark on a boat cruising down the Nang River
which is the main water source of the lake. This
exciting river trip will give us a taste of the
tranquil countryside and an enjoyable exploration of the
Ba Be National Park. We traverse en route the
Poong Grotto before stopping at some nearby hill tribe
villages and getting off the beaten track to the scenic
Dau Dang Waterfalls. O/N in Cha Ra. (B)
DAY 17: BABE - CAO BANG
The following destination of our trip is Cao Bang Town.
After breakfast we set off on our half day journey past
the spectacular mountainous landscapes, with a mixture
of steep terraced rice field and hill villages. Along
the way, we can made stops at our pleasure, to stretch
our legs and shoot some wonderful photographs. The
remainder of the day will be free to explore the town or
simply to relax. O/N in Cao Bang. (B)
DAY 18: CAO BANG - PAC PO CAVES - LANG SON
Heading out of town , we make our way north to the
historical cave of Pac Po where Ho Chi Minh set up the
headquarter for the August Vietnamese Revolution in
1945. After seeing this vestige site we continue our
journey past the many hill villages and the
tranquil town of Dong Khe and That Khe. The drive will
deliver us into Lang Son by late afternoon. This border
town had been all destroyed during the recent Sino -
Vietnamese war, but was rebuilt to become an important
trade center in north eastern region. O/N in Lang
Son. (B)
DAY 19: LANG SON - HALONG
The lively central market of Lang Son and the legendary
Tam Thanh Cave are visited this morning before we depart
for Halong, truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive
scenic sights. The drive is difficult at times as we
travel through many mountain areas. Their
breathtaking scenery is some of the best in Asia. We
have some opportunities en route to visit the Tay, Nung
and San Diu hill tribe people. On arrival in Halong we
spend the remainder of the day for a well- earned rest
on a Beach. O/N in Ha Long. (B)
DAY 20: HALONG - HANOI
Today we embark on a sailing boat for an exploration of
Halong Bay. This exciting five hour cruise provides a
fantastic view of the bay which is dotted with
some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the
clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations
are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves.
Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a
secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many
hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood
lunch on board we return to Hanoi, arriving in time to
see a performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets. O/N
in Ha Noi. (B,L)
DAY 21: HANOI - DEPARTURE
There is a free time to relax and further explore Ha
Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai
Airport for departure. (B)
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