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Code: |
VNBKTD56 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Phu
Yen - Tuan Giao - Sin Ho - Tam Duong -
Sapa - Muong Hum - Lao Cai, night train
to Hanoi |
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Duration: |
07 Days |
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau
Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen
Day 3: Phu Yen - Tuan Giao
Day 4: Tuan Giao - Sin Ho
Day 5. Sin Ho - Tam Duong
Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa
Day 7: Sapa - Muong Hum - Lao Cai, night train
to Hanoi
Detail Itinerary
During the period of Vietnamese feudalism, the Northwest was a
faraway mountainous and secret area. Stories of
the people from these remote areas were more
like fairy tales characterized by mystical lands
populated by nomadic tribes having such a
special relationship with the environment. These
people were considered savages by the rest of
the nation and the more developed populations in
the area. These "savage", living in a large area
from the Northwest of Vietnam to Northern Laos,
Southern Myanmar, Southern China and
Northern Thailand depended entirely on the local wildlife for
their subsistent living with little trade with
groups outside the area. It was only when the
French colonized Vietnam ventured into this
mystical area that the inhabitant's secrets and
wild lives were revealed to the outside world
for the first time.
Currently, once you have had the opportunity to
visit the Northwest, you have the opportunity to
see a variety of ethnic diversifications which
exist nowhere else in the world. The Northwest
is the home to heroic historical figures; known
through historical stories honouring their
triumphs in the battle against nature and its
beasts from deep in the forest. The Northwest is
also the home of unique ethnic mountain tribes.
Motorcycling through over 1,000km and crossing 7
provinces on a Minsk, you are offered a perfect
opportunity to discover the intimate culture of
various minority groups, such as the Thai,
Muong, Dao, Lu, Khang, H'mong and Giay...It is
also a unique chance for you to learn about the
9 years against the French colonialists during
the period between 1945 and 1954.
Be ready to travel and discover the majestic
miracles of the area on the open road and the
secrets of the beloved Northwest - a land which
always draws open-jaw amazement and curiosity
from travellers, even from "the composer who
travelled and stayed in the Northwest for over
10 years".
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~170 km
Heading out of Hanoi on road number 6 to Mai
Chau, and idyllic valley populated by mainly
White Thai ethnic people. Visiting Mai Chau, you
have a chance to enjoy folk songs and
traditional colourful culture of White Thai in
Mai Chau. The scenery of the arrival to Mai Chau
is characterized with beautiful limestone
mountains and colourful hill tribes who can be
seen and visited on the way. We also have an
opportunity en route to learn about the culture
of the rice-cultivating inhabitants in the Red
River valley and Da River down stream. After
lunch, we have the whole afternoon free to climb
up to the top of Thung Nhuoi pass. From the top
of the pass there is a beautiful view of Mai
Chau valley, often engulfed by clouds but still
a sight to be enjoyed. After visiting this
wonderful site, we drop down to explore more of
the area of White Thai people.
In the evening, we can enjoy a local dinner and
overnight in a beautiful village at the edge of
a river. After dinner, you can spend the evening
sitting together around a fire and join in a
Thai traditional music show. In their
traditional attire, typical of their culture,
Thai women invite visitors to participate in the
Xoe dance. To the rhythmical and ebullient
music, the hosts and guests will dance for hours
hand-in-hand. When they get tired, they stop for
a while to drink special sticky rice liquor
called "ruou can". Visitors who participate in
the Xoe dance once, especially by the light of a
fire at night are likely to remember it forever.
Overnight and dinner in our host family of Thai.
Lunch, dinner, permits, entrance fees, and
traditional dancing show.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen. ~130 km
After breakfast we say farewell to our hosts and
ride or trek around Mai Chau valley to have a
cup of tea with our personal friends.
After lunch, we have the afternoon free to
explore the dreamlike grasslands. These
beautiful grasslands of Moc Chau have the best
of both worlds, breath-taking scenery and some
of the most favourable climate, in the Northwest
mountains. Moc Chau’s flora is diverse, ranging
from forests and tea plantations to fruit
orchards.
We can walk to the local dairy farms and sample
produce from the local processing factories.
Dairy produce is Moc Chau’s specialty and is
exported to many other countries.
After enjoying a beautiful view, we drop down to
Da River and take a specialized boat along the
river. Then we ride along the river to Phu Yen
valley, one of the most prosperous and beautiful
villages of Thai people in Northwest.
2 options:
- Overnight and dinner in our host family of
Thai people or
- Standard otel in Phu Yen.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Day 3: Phu Yen - Tuan Giao. ~210 km
The journey north continues onto Son La,
following the 113 Highway. Along the way, there
are superb landscapes with green valley and
terraced rice fields. Passing the Bac Yen
Mountain top, through Chen Pass to the largest
"maize" and "manioc" forest, we arrive at Son La
plateau.
After lunch in Son La town, we will visit the
former French Prison and provincial museum. We
have more mountain passes to challenge us, such
as Son La, Chieng Pac, and Pha Din. You will
enjoy the beautiful landscape on your way from
Son La to Lai Chau town. The afternoon will
provide free time to climb over the top of the
Pha Din Pass - known as the interface between
Heaven and Earth. Pha Din forms a natural border
between Son La and Dien Bien Phu, the site of
the decisive battle in Vietnam’s struggle for
independence in 1954. Then we take time to
travel to Tuan Giao to view the sunset.
Standard hotel in Tuan Giao.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Day 4: Tuan Giao - Sin Ho. ~150 km
Today we continue venturing in to northern
Vietnam with the 98ksm remainder of the
historical Highway 6. The road is rough, but the
scenery is unbelievably beautiful and
magnificent with the 7 tall passes cutting
though steep mountain along the Da River flowing
around the foot of the passes, which can be
found nowhere else in the Northwest route.
Moreover, part of the pleasure of travelling by
motorbike in this region is the simple joy of
the friendly smiles and greetings of the local
people, which make the hardship all worthwhile.
Along the way, we stop to visit the Black Thai,
Kho Mu, Lu, Black H'mong, Green H'mong and White
H'mong, just some of the many hill tribe groups
and discover their simple lifestyles and
colourful cultures.
After lunch at Lai Chau, we take a boat to
travel along the Nam Na River, passing the high,
dangerous and sheer rocks, the pretty villages
on the two sides of the river and the hillside
green rice fields. The boat is not a big one,
but the boatman is skilled enough to make your
cruise safe and adventurous to the next
destination. After that we make our way to Sin
Ho.
Basic guesthouse in Sin Ho.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Day 5. Sin Ho - Tam Duong. ~110-170 km
Due to the environment and a height of 1,700m,
getting there is very hard journey, so the
people living here mostly retain their
long-lasting lifestyle. The unchanged way of
life from ancient days is hard to maintain in
the modern world, however it should be said that
there is no way for urbanization to occur in
these areas. Moreover, only a handful of tourist
agencies can visit this remote area. The reason
Sin Ho is regarded as the richest mountain
market in the northwest province, is because
anybody who is courageous enough to visit the
area is rewarded with the fortune of visiting.
This does nothing to limit the bright motley
colours of traditional clothes of various ethics
such as the Green H'mong, the Black H'mong, the
White H'mong, the Dzao Dau Bang, and the Lu.
Sin Ho market lasts till late in the afternoon
but due to a long hard road down the mountain,
we need to prepare lunch and equipment for the
trip. When arriving at the foot of the mountain
we will ride along Nam Na River to Pa So. After
climbing Hong Thu Man pass, home of the Dzao
Khau and the H'mong people, we will reach Tam
Duong, a small town surrounding by brilliant tea
fields and a tapestry of green mountain ranges.
Standard Hotel in Tam Duong.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa. ~70 km
This morning finds us on the road for the 50km
ride to the village of Lu ethnic minority whose
origin comes from Lao. We’ll have a chance to
see beautiful stilt houses and girls who blacken
the teeth and have a seductive smile. After that
we have to cross the Muong Kim River back to
National Highway 4D to travel to Sapa.
We will enjoy a picnic lunch at the top of Tram
Ton Pass, the most beautiful one in Sapa. In the
afternoon we are free to explore Sapa, which is
usually engulfed by clouds. After enjoying an
Artichaux cup of tea, a special drink from Sapa,
we embark on a walk to discover this charming
town and get acquainted with the host people who
are the soul of this area.
Sapa was founded in the early years of the last
century as a hill resort for the French
administration at the time. It soon became
famous in Indochina for its ideal climate.
Nowadays, Sapa’s breathtaking scenery is some of
the best in Asia.
Standard hotel in Sapa.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Day 7: Sapa - Muong Hum - Lao Cai, night
train to Hanoi. ~100 km.
While Sapa is characterized with the beauty of
European architecture, the path to Muong Hum is
absolutely different from the scenic beauty of
Sapa. This road passes through many neglected
villages and tracks. During the rainy season, no
one dares to ride the muddy and slippery road
off the highway. Despite its close link to Sapa,
this road receives very few visitors.
This road was newly upgraded and sealeded in
2004 but the journey of 100 km on this road is a
tad difficult. However, it is definitely
worthwile as the scenery is breathtaking.
Moreover, on the way back to Lao Cai, you will
ride along the Red River which forms the natural
border between Vietnam and China and enjoy a
visit to Lao Cai, the international border town
with China. Dinner in a restaurant en route to
Hanoi and arrive back in Hanoi by 5.30am.
Over night in night train to transfer to Hanoi.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance
fees.
Included
* English Speaking tour leader (other languages
upon requests)
*All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel,
guesthouse and Home stay.etc…
* Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast
, L = Lunches ,D = Dinners)
* A/C transfers and transportation.
* Boat trip mention in itinerary
* Mountain bicycle 24 or 27Speed (LA bike or
Trek bike. etc…)
* Sightseeing excursions as outlined in
itinerary
* Pump, bike tools, spares tubes.
* Spare bike
* Cold water box, small fresh towel.
* Mineral water drinking.
* Seasonal fruits.
* Snacks
Excluded:
* International airfares
* Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
* Items of a personal nature
* Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
* Mineral water beyond that supplied
* Optional excursions
* Additional transport required due to any
emergency situation
* Personal expenses such as telephone and
laundry bills
* Visa fees
* Departure taxes
* Tipping for guiding
Note
This itinerary allows for 07 field days on the
cycling section. You will be able to decide for
yourself at any time during each of these days
how far you want to cycle. Average daily cycling
distances are approximately 60 -100 km. These
distances may vary according to weather, road
conditions and group fitness and preferences.
This is a sightseeing cycle tour, not a marathon
or time trial.
What to bring:
1. Bike Helmet
2. Small backpack
3. Shoes and shorts for cycling
4. Sunglasses
5. Gloves
6. Professional Pedal
7. Sun block
8. Camera + Film
9. Insect repellent
10. Original Passport
11. Wide brim hat
12. Bike water bottle (if you don't want to use
Green Trail Tours bottle)
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