DAY 1 - HANOI - THAI NGUYEN - BA BE (L)

Depart your hotel this morning at 0730 for a 02 hour drive to Thai Nguyen.  En route visit the Thai Nguyen Museum of Ethnology to learn about the tribal people in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam.

Continue 105 km drive to Na Phac and Cho Ra enjoying picturesque landscapes along the road. Stop for a late lunch in Cho Ra Town.

After lunch head to Ba Be and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Ba Be National Park and lake on a local boat cruise.

At the end of the day, transfer to the village of the Tay in Pac Ngoi.

Homestay overnight in Pac Ngoi Village.

Distances and journey time:

Road transfer 217 km, approx.5 hours/ Stop and sightseeing 1hour/ Boat trip 3 hours

Ba Be

DAY 2 - BA BE - MEO VAC (B,L)

After breakfast drive 79km to Tinh Tuc. On arrival, enjoy the stunning scenery of Colia Pass and take a short walk to visit a village of the Zao Tien before having a coffee break.  Head to Bao Lac for an hour walk around the village of San Chay ethnic people. Lunch break in Bao Lac

After lunch continue to drive along Gam River for 21km to Ly Bon traveling up steep mountains discovering the remotest land of Cao Bang to Meo Vac town let of Ha Giang province. Take an hour walking through the fascinating valley of Niem Son and discover the cultural life of Nung ethnic people.

Overnight in Meo Vac.

Distances and journey time:

Road transfer 233 km. approx.6 hours/ Walking and sightseeing 3–4 hours.

Woman in Ha Giang

DAY 3 - MEO VAC - DONG VAN - YEN MINH (B,L)

If on Sunday, spend 2 hours in the morning to attend the week-end market of local tribal people in this town let. H’mong, Zao and some Lo Lo peoples in their best traditional costumes go to the market not only for shopping but also for socializing.
If on the date of the Tiger and Monkey, leave Meo Vac at 07.30 for 17km drive to Lung Phin to attend the most crowded and famous market in the region.
Back to Meo Vac and drive over the Ma Pi Leng Pass to enjoy its magnificent and spectacular scenery en route. Visit Ma Pi Leng II village of the Hmong people set amongst limestone rocks where the highest value of fresh water and cultivating land can be seen evidently.
Arrive in Dong Van and enjoy an hour walking through this stunning valley, explore the market and the ancient street of Dong Van before lunch.
After lunch, follow the narrow road through Ma Le and Lung Tao communes’ offers marvelous scenery of the Rocky Plateau. Visit a small village of the Hmong at Lung Tao before heading to Xa Phin valley.
Spend an hour visiting the historical site of the Vuong family palace who ruled over the region, control opium production and trading until 1945.
Then continue an hour drive through a series of magnificent valleys surrounded by wall-up mountain, enjoy another walk to visit the Lung Cam Tren village where the Hmong changed their way of life from sifting into sedentary one from about 100 years ago which help them to have better life than many others. There is possibility to meet the famous village chief who play the KHEN and dance beautifully.
Leave Lung Can and transfer mostly downhill the Pho Cao pass for Yen Minh lush valley.
Overnight in Yen Minh.
Distances and journey time:
Road transfer 85 km or 119km if visit Lung Phin Market/ Walking and sightseeing 3 to 4 hours.

Ma Pi Leng Pass

DAY 4 - YEN MINH - QUAN BA - HA GIANG - HOANG SU PHI (B,L,D)
After breakfast depart for Lung Tam while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes of Yen Minh Pass. Arrive at Lung Tam commune which is set amongst perfect surrounding nature before visiting the workshop of Ms. Mai who gathered over 100 Hmong and Zao women in difficulties and helped them to learn traditional weaving and embroidery for better living.
Continue the drive over stunning Quan Ba Pass which offers the fascinating scenery en route visit another village of the Hmong people. Arrive in Ha Giang at noon and stop for lunch break.
Enjoy an hour walk to explore the Me village which situated around a large valley near Ha Giang before transferring 105km to Quang Vinh town let of Hoang Su Phi district. Contrasting to the rocky land of Meo Vac, Dong Van and Yen Minh, Hoang Su Phi district and its neighboring Xin Man district have very different scenery. Lying on the top of the Chay River Massif, these two districts are covered by lush and green forest, tea farms and possess the most impressive terraced rice fields in Vietnam. The road winds its way on high mountain sides and offers beautiful landscapes.
Arrive at your hotel in late afternoon, check in hotel and enjoy dinner.
Overnight at Pan Hou Lodge in Hoang Su Phi.
Distances and journey time:
Road transfer 207km, approx.5 hours/ Walking and sightseeing 4 hours.

Hmong people

DAY 5 - HOANG SU PHI - XIN MAN - BAC HA - LAO CAI - NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B,L)

If on Sunday, spend 2 hours joining local market of Flower Hmong, Red Zao, Nung and Tay people which is famous for its cattle exchanging on the large ground on the bank of the Chay River.
Leave Hoang Su Phi for 100km excursion along Chinese border through the Chay River Massif and explore local life for the Flower Hmong, Tay and Nung. Spend 02 hours walking through Lung Cai commune which is beautifully set on a high mountain range, overlooking down a narrow and steep valley where the Chay River winding its way between Vietnam and China. Arriving to Bac Ha Town let at noon, paying visit to Hoang A Tuong Castle before having a lunch break.
After lunch explore the mighty Ban Pho valley before driving another 2 hours downhill to Lao Cai. Day used hotel room is available near the rail way station for you to refresh before boarding the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper compartment.
Distances and journey time:
Road transfer 175 km, approx.5 hours/ Walking and sightseeing 4 hours