VIETNAM NORTHWEST LOOP ADVENTURE TOUR
Overview
Adventure tours to MaiChau and then to SonLa to communicate with some ethnic minorities like Black Thai, White Thai, Meo and Muong peoples to know about their lifestyles and have a chance to join with local people in traditional dance performance and drink their rice wine. Another chance on next days, you will visit some local villages in Sapa to see their living style and the local woman made their handicraft clothes
Tour Route Map
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau Adventure Tours
Day 2: Mai Chau Adventure Tours to Son La – Dien Bien
Day 3: Dien Bien Adventure Tours to Lai Chau – Tam Duong
Day 4: Tam Duong Adventure Tours to Sapa
Day 5: Sapa Trekking Tours to Lao Chai – Tavan – Bac Ha
Day 6: Bac Ha Sunday Market – Hanoi (B/L/-)
Day 1 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa: Hanoi – Mai Chau Adventure Tours
Leave Hanoi and drive to Mai Chau – a beautiful area surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses. Most people here are the White Thai, very friendly and helpful. And staying with the local in thatched-roof stilted house on split bamboo floors and eating local food is a great experience, sight seeing en-route. Lunch in Mai Chau, walk or light trekking to nearby villages named Poom Coong, Nhot… Enjoy their common life and activities (farming, weaving, feeding the pigs, etc. etc).
- Mai Chau: Lac Village
Homestay at Lac Village. In the evening if you are fortunate, you will have a chance to join with local people in traditional dance performance and drink their rice wine out of a large cask from one of numerous bamboo straws.
Day 2 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa: Mai Chau Adventure Tours to Son La – Dien Bien
Drive to Son La, a stop in Moc Chau with hundreds of giant grass farm for cows…Son la, was the once the site of French penal colony in which anticolonial revolutionaries were incarcerated. Visit Old French Prison and museum before depart for Dien Bien Phu. You’ll enjoy the picturesque scenery as you pass the villages of Black Thai, White Thai, Meo and Muong peoples. 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. Check-in our centrally located hotel.
Day 3 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa: Dien Bien Adventure Tours to Lai Chau – Tam Duong
Today 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 Muong Thanh airbase where the lush vegetation grows behind many war relics including old French tanks and artillery pieces. Have lunch at hotel. Drive throughout Lai Chau for Tam Duong, on this day you’ll have a chance to see the most beautiful hill tribes in Northern Vietnam such as H’Mong, Black Thai, Black Dzao, Pazi… Stay overnight in Tam Duong.
Day 4 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa: Tam Duong Adventure Tours to Sapa
- Sapa: Trekking to Cat Cat Village
We have 3-hour trek to hill tribe villages around Tam Duong then drive to Sapa. Check in and have lunch. Short walking around Sapa, Sapa valley, Catcat village, the village of H’mong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of H’mong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs. After the village down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. A “White curtain” cascade appears, surrounded by flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather… Stay overnight in Sapa.
Day 5 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa : Sapa Trekking Tours to Lao Chai – Tavan – Bac Ha
After breakfast we continue visit Lao Chai village, a village of Black H’mong. Short trek down to river to visit hill tribe house to see their living style and the local woman made their handicraft clothes. Further on along the road, the Tavan village where Dzay people staying can be seen. Visit the village and reach their customs. Trek back to main road and the car take you back to Sapa. Have lunch in the restaurant. We drive to Bac Ha. As option, we can embark a walk this afternoon, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize wine. Overnight in Bac Ha Town.
Day 6 – Vietnam Northwest Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Sapa: Bac Ha Sunday Market – Hanoi (B/L/-)
This morning we visit Bac Ha market – this is the most colourful market in the North Vietnam – filled with many different hill tribe peoples. At the market, you have chance to enjoy BacHa people’s simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples…talking to the minorities. Return the hotel for lunch.The return journey begins as we depart Bac Ha Town and pass through the verdant and rugged mountain scenery to Hanoi. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Vietnam, stops along the way to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. Tour end.
- Accommodation with daily breakfasts
- Extra meals as per the itinerary
- Private transfer round trip by 7 seater
- Tours and excursions as described in the program
- Entrance fees and permits where applicable during guided time
- Pre & post trip arrangements
- Transfers beyond the itinerary
- Local English speaking tour guide (30 usd/day)
- Entrance fees and permits during free time
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Food & drinks not mentioned within the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Expenses of a personal nature such as bar bills, laundry and telephone charges
- Other services not clearly described in the program
