MIDDLE NORTHWEST HIKING TOUR

* BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Ha noi – Mai Chau (B/L/-)
Day 2: Mai Chau – Suoi Lon (B/L/D)
Day 3: Suoi Lon – Bac Yen – Thu Cuc (B/L/D)
Day 4: Thu Cuc – Nghia Lo (B/L/D)
Day 5:  Nghia Lo – Tu Le (B/L/D)
Day 6: Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen (B/L/D)
Day 7: Than Uyen – Binh Lu – Sapa (B/L/D)
Day 8: Sapa – Tavan – Seomity (B/L/D)
Day 9: Seomity – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B/L/D)
Day 10:Ta Trung Ho – Nam Toong – Ban Ho – Sapa – Lao cai (B/L/-)

Day 1 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Ha noi – Mai Chau (B/L/-)

Breakfast, transfer to Mai Chau, on the way, trek some kilometers through ethnic villages (Muong and Thai). One of Hoa Binh’s districts, Mai Chau is noted for its beautiful scenery as a mountainous region. The district is about 60km from Hoa Binh and covers an area of 520 km2. In Mai Chau Valley, there are also national caves and grottoes such as Mo Luong Cave, Chieu Cave, Pieng Kem Grotto, and archaeological sites such as Lang Cave and Khau Phuc Cave.

When standing on the peak of the Cun Mountain, the first things that catch tourists’eyes are the picturesque panorama of Mai Chau stilt houses along with a lush green valley. Another thing that is unforgettable in Mai Chau is that tourists are warmly hosted by the ethnic groups, especially Thai people in Lac village. Those who are in their spare time away from the rice paddies will cook, lead hikes and pull out a sleeping mat for wandering guests.
Lunch in Mai Chau. Overnight in Lac traditional village.

Approx: 4 hours driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 2 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa : Mai Chau – Suoi Lon (B/L/D)

Transfer 17 kilometers then trek in an area of inhabitants of ethnic minority Thai, Muong the villages of Cun Pheo and Hang Kia. arrive Bai Sang wharf for the cruising on Black river by local boat. Arrive at Suoi Lon for overnight in Muong’ Village.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ 3 hours walking/ 3 hours boat trip / 1 hour lunch

Day 3 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Suoi Lon – Bac Yen – Thu Cuc (B/L/D)

Transfer to Ta Sua plateau, you can contemplate the highland scenery of it. Visit some villages of ethnic Black H’mong and discover the daily life and custom of local inhabitants here, especially you can enjoy the local specialties: Ta Sua Tea and agriculture products then come back the mountain town for having lunch.

After having lunch, visit the local market, the handicraft and farming products made by many ethnics are available here. Then continue to trek over 5 Kilometers through villages of Thai and Muong village. During the trekking you can take a rest and enjoy the local wine distillated by ethnics. Transfer to Thu cuc. Overnight in Muong Village.

Approx: 6 hours driving/ 1 hour walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 4 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Thu Cuc – Nghia Lo (B/L/D)

Trek through Thai, Dao, Mong visit the water wheel. It is used to scoop the water for the rice fields near the streams. Continue going to Nghia Lo through the direction of Lung Lo pass. Arrive at Nghia Lo, check in hotel then take a visit the local market at the moment of decline of day.

Approx: 1,5 hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 5 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa Nghia Lo – Tu Le (B/L/D)

Leave Nghia Lo for the itinerary, trek and visit some villages of ethnic’s minorities along the road: black Dzao, H’mong, white Thai, etc. They are very kind, honest and plain. Arrive at Tu Le village, dinner and overnight in house on stilt of inhabitants here. You can discover the daily life activities of this village in particular and the Thai ethnic in general in Vietnam. Overnight in Thai Village.

Approx: 1,5 hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 6 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen (B/L/D)

Take leave of inhabitants of Tu Le, it takes 2 Km to village center, you can visit lots of activity on the early market day and it is typical colorful ethnics of this high mountain regions. Transfer to the the footing of Kau Pha pass for us to start trekking about 9 Km through the forest and ethnic villages. This trail runs parallel with the famous and beautiful Kau Pha pass. We finish the trail at the peak of the pass (1800m above sea level). Transfer to Mu Cang Chai for lunch. Visit the local market and go on to Than Uyen. Arrive at Than Uyen, check in local guest house.

Approx: 3 hours driving/ 4,5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 7 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Than Uyen – Binh Lu – Sapa (B/L/D)

Transfer to Sapa, on the way, we can take trek to visit lots of beautiful villages of ethnic. Especially, you can meet the most typical ethics as: Lao, Lu (Xa Pho). They wear the long traditional and colorful costumes with jeweler hand made. Moreover, you can discover the kind face in black dyed teeth of ethnics here. Arrive at Sa Pa. Check in and rest of the day at leisure or visit Sa Pa famous tourist town in Northern Vietnam . You can visit and go shopping, market for buying souvenirs such as handicraft made by ethics, ethics’ traditional costumes, etc before ending the days in North West Vietnam.

Approx: 4 hours driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 8 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Sapa – Tavan – Seomity (B/L/D)

You will go south by car toward Muong Hoa valley. Your trek will begin from Tavan village of Giay minority. The first day trek will be mostly uphill. Whenever you stop for a rest, you will be able to enjoy valley view. Before noon, you stop again at a nice spot for lunch. The trek will be softer in the afternoon. But the scenery becomes even more beautiful. You pass by Seomity village of Black Hmong minority before you arrive in a campsite, which locates nearby a river outside the village. While porters put up tents and cook dinner, you can take a walk to stretch the legs.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ grade 3 of 5/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 9 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Seomity – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B/L/D)

The trek today takes you through beautiful rice paddies and over old suspension bridges. You will trek on small trail sneaking through rainforest. You arrive in Den Thang village of Black Hmong by noon. Here you stop for lunch either nearby a river or in a local school according to the weather.

After lunch, the trek wills becomes tough on tinny footpath going up and down, which requires some concentration. You will reach to Ta Trung Ho village of Red Dao minority where you spend the night in local house. Both the valley and the village have just received foreign visitors. The night will be even more interesting when you are in the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving, 5 hours walking, 1-hour lunch

Day 10 – Vietnam Tour to Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Lai Chau, Sapa: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Toong – Ban Ho – Sapa – Lao cai (B/L/-)