DAY 01: HANOI – MAI CHAU (L.D)

Departure from Hanoi in the morning towards Mai Chau via Hoa Binh, home to Thai and Muong ethnic minorities, green tea plantations and rice fields. Stop en route to pay a visit to a village of the Muong minorities named Giang Mo. Exploring the village and its natives, the Muongs, who were known in the past for their practice of slash-and-burn.

Continuation of the journey to Mai Chau. Make a stop on the way to an observation point overlooking immense rice terraces dotted with villages and traditional houses, along with the mountains carpeted with bamboo forests… A must-see view in the area!

Upon arrival to Mai Chau, there are options for exploring the rice fields and Thai villages for a glimpse of their culture via walking or biking. In addition to rice cultivation, the Thais in Mai Chau are also experienced embroiderers, producing many colorful and unique embroidery goods. Overnight at the hotel in Mai Chau

DAY 02: MAI CHAU – NGHIA LO (B.L.D)

Continue the journey to the mountains far in the north of the country; there lies a large border region with Laos and China. Make a stop along the way in Suoi Giang, land of green tea plantations with trees around a hundred years old. Visit a tea farm and a tasting workshop.

Arrival in Nghia Lo, a small village located in the middle of Muong Lo. Interact with a Thai family in Ban Deu village.

Enjoy a welcoming event by our hosts, rest, and an optional bike-riding activity around the village. Meeting the Thais, learn about the differences between black and white Thais in terms of dress, habits, and customs…

Dining with the local family. Overnight in their stilt house in Nghia Lo

DAY 03: NGHIA LO – MU CANG CHAI (B.L.D)

Farewell to the hosts, then head directly to Mu Cang Chai, famous for beautiful vast rice terraces.

This landscape attracts many discerning photographers to take on its most mesmerizing pageantry in the months of June to September, when everywhere, from the top of the hills to down the slopes, is covered with green and yellow fields of rice. Several stops are planned along the way specially The Khau Pha Pass—overlooking the Tu Le valley, La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu Phinh, where there are Hmong villages and rice terraces, The market of Mu Cang Chai, which remains authentic.

​Overnight at the hotel in Mu Cang Chai

DAY 04: MU CANG CHAI – SAPA (B.L.D)

Heading to the next destination—Sapa—via the Hoang Lien Son chain, the last arm of the Himalayas in Southeast Asia.

Go sightseeing in the afternoon in the middle of the immensely beautiful and exotic landscapes of the valley, visit ethnic villages such as Lao Chai of the Black Hmong, Ta Van of the Dzay… Create long-lasting memories with the locals at work on rice fields, and learn about their work and daily life.

Back in town, overnight at the hotel in Sapa

DAY 05: SAPA – BAC HA (B.L.D)

Head to Bac Ha, a small and peaceful village a hundred kilometers away in the Northeast of Sapa, which is known for its lively weekly ethnic markets.

Walk through the vertiginous landscapes of rice terraces and streams as clear as the sky of Bac Ha. Detour to visit some small tourist villages called Thai Giang Pho and Na Hoi populated by the Tay, Black Hmong…

Ending the day with a dinner prepared by a Tay family. Overnight at homestay in Bac Ha

DAY 06: BAC HA – HIKING - HILL TRIBAL VILLAGES (B.L.D)

Dedicate the day to going on a hike through ethnic villages around Bac Ha.

After breakfast, send your regards to the hosts, then continue to walk to the Hmong village of Phec through Tay, Nung and Hmong flower villages. From Phec, explore a small path that goes up to Ngai Thau, an abandoned Hmong village in the mountain. Possible meeting with the local on the spot.

Check in and stay overnight at the hotel in Bac Ha.

DAY 07: BAC HA – HA NOI (B.L)

Depending on the day, visit a weekly market of the local minorities in the vicinity of Bac Ha.

Watch the local minorities in their colorful clothes trading goods and news from their own community. Visit of the lively comers for oxen, horses, dogs, and cats… Discovery of the very original livestock trade between the locals.

Afternoon, return to Hanoi. End of our 1-week services in the mountains of the North!