NORTHERN VIETNAM 8 DAY

Day 1- Hanoi – Ba Be (L/D)

In the morning: Pick up at your hotel and departure to Ba Be, a national park covering 23,340 hectares, comprises a chain of natural lakes and diverse fauna & flora. Late in the afternoon, take a short boat ride on the lake to Pac Ngoi, a cluster of lakeside houses-on-stilts of the Tay tribe. Stroll along the village path and visit local houses. O/N at a guest house at the national park. Accommodation in Ba Be national park

Day 2 – Ba Be (B/L/D)

In the morning, enjoy a boat ride on the Nang River and Lake Ba Be. Explore Puong Cave, Tay tribe villages and Fairy Pond. Discover more about the secrets of evergreen tropical forests. Accommodation in Ba Be national park.

Day 3- Ba Be – Meo Vac  (B/L/D

Departure to Meo Vac. Sightseeing en route, you will visit some villages of Nung, Tay and H’mong ethnic people. Accommodation in Meo Vac.

Day 4- Meo Vac – Dong Van (B/L/D)

In the morning you will pay visit to villages of the H’mong, Zao and Red Lolo ethnic peoples, continue the trip to Dong Van and enjoy scenery of the spectacular Ma Pi Leng Pass. Afternoon visit Lung Cu, visit a village of the H’mong ethnic and a village of the Red Lolo in Lung Cu. Drive back to Dong Van. Accommodation in Dong Van.

Day 5- Dong Van – Ha Giang (B/L/D)

In the morning we will walk along the ancient street of Dong Van, visit the Vuong Family Palace once ruled over the H’mong in the region and popularly known as King of the H’mong. Continue our drive to Pho Bang ancient town. Walking for about an hour to explore this town which is featured with two storey wooden houses, clay walled, Yin and Yang tiled roofs and leisure atmosphere. Leaving Pho Bang for a driving down hill to Yen Minh. Drive uphill of a long and high mountain pass. Take a break at the foot of the pass far walking to visit a village of the La Chi, another small ethnic group. Arrive in Ha Giang town late afternoon. Accommodation in Ha Giang.

Day 6- Ha Giang – Sapa (Lai Cai) (B/L/D)

In the morning we will drive straight toward to Lao Cai.

Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000m the views look out over the main range for miles and miles, before you start to descend into the Sapa valley.

Sapa is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam and 350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. Sapa is famous both for its fine, rugged scenery and for its rich cultural diversity. The French used to consider Sapa as Summer Capital of Northern Vietnam in the early decades of the 20th century.

Check into your hotel and the rest of the day you can explore the town.

Overnight in a Hotel in Sapa.

Day 7– Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Sapa (B/L/D)

0800h – After checking in to your hotel and having breakfast, it will be time to start your 6km walk to the south east of Sapa. Your guide will lead you along the side of Muong Hoa valley to visit Y Linh Ho village which is the home of the Black H’mong.

Next is a further 2km-trek through the terraced rice fields to Lao Chai village and Ta Van village, home of the Dzay minority people.

Lunch will be provided at the home of a local family where you can experience the life style and customs of daily life in the village. It is a great opportunity to interact with the locals as they go about their normal life.

Return to your hotel by car or motorbike.

Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 8 – Cat Cat & Sin Chai – Overnight train to Ha Noi (B/L/D)

0800h – Your guide will meet you and together you will walk to the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong.

Relax at the foot of a stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam.

Enjoy picnic lunch by the side of the river, before trekking a further 6 km to Sin Chai village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain which is known as “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. From here you can enjoy stunning landscapes before climbing up to meet your transport and return to Sapa.

Dinner and transfer to Lao Cai where the train to Hanoi will depart at 2115h.

Overnight in shared 4 Berth soft sleeper compartment on the train.

Day 9– Arrival to Hanoi – Ha Long  (B)

0500h – Arrive at Hanoi train station and transfer to your hotel.

Free time until the driver will pick you up from the hotel to Ha Long.

Additional Information

1. All persons traveling alone will be required to pay the single supplement.
2. Laughing Roo Travel maybe required to change the itinerary due to annual flooding or other unforeseeable circumstances and all extra costs to be paid by the customer.
3. Please check with your family doctor for medical advice before commencing the journey.
4. Meals for customers with special dietary needs can be arranged but notice is required at time of booking.
5. Please bring along a strong and comfortable pair of walking shoes, raincoat or small umbrella, jackets, small backpack, insect repellent and Sunscreen.
6. All Laughing Roo Travel customers are entitled to a 15% discount at GM Tailors.