Asia

Arrival in Hanoï. Meet our tour guide at the airport and transfer to downtown Hanoï for hotel check-in. In the afternoon we will have a half-day city tour to visit the Ethnology Museum then a "xich lo" tour in the Old Quarter. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner with Vietnamese delicacies. Tour briefing during dinner. Overnight in Hanoï. (D)

In the morning, we begin the city tour after breakfast at the hotel. We will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the morning. Lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon we will visit the Temple of Literature, History Museum and Tran Vu Temple. In the evening we will enjoy a Water Puppet Show. Dinner with local delicacies. Overnight in Hanoï. (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the hotel. 8h transfer to Viet Quang via a scenic area with palm tree forest, rice paddies and peaceful villages. In the afternoon, we enter into the dramatic northern mountainous area. Lunch at popular restaurant in Tuyen Quang. We continue the journey and reach Viet Quang at mid afternoon. Free time to prepare for the trek next day. Overnight at local guesthouse. (B, L, D)

Breafast at local restaurant. Transfers to Yen Binh townlet where we meet our local porters and begin the trek. We first walk towards a Pa Then village that is surrounded by palm trees. Picnic lunch at a beautiful grass field near village school. In the afternoon, the paths descend gradually via some tea plantation before arriving at Tan Nam village of the Tay ethnic minority. Overnight in a local stilt house. (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay. We begin an exciting day. Walking along a river then penetrating into a forested area. The path is quite easy with some soft climbing up and down, passing villages of Dzao Ao Dai ethnic minority, women here dye their teeth in black and wear long dresses even when working in the rice field. Lunch break in a pretty stilt house of the Tay people. Afterwards, continue on the trail to reach Phieu Lang village of the Dzao people ethnic minority. Dinner and overnight in local house. (B, L, D)

Breafast at homestay. This morning we walk on the trail that contours hillsides, giving a fantastic view over the faraway mountain range. Meeting again with Dzao Ao Dai ethnic minority who live separately on hillsides to cultivate rice and corn. Picnic lunch at a scenic spot or in local house. In the late afternoon we reach Quang Nguyen, a small hidden town of the Tay and Kinh. We can wander around or relax at the homestay with cold beer. Dinner and overnight in local house. (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay. Today is the peak day since we have to tackle a serious trek thru the jungle. After 2h of trek on easy flat terrain we start climbing uphill on a small trail entering a thick primary rain forest. At 2 000m we have a great view on mountains and terraces. Picnic lunch at a waterfall, you can have a quick bath if weather permits. We reach Coc Dong Village of the Nung ethnic minority at mid noon. Dinner and overnight in local house. (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay. Start the day with a beautiful trek towards Coc Re market. The path lines in the middle of mountains and goes through villages of H’mong ethnic minority. We will meet the H’mong on the way to the market or their farm. H’mong ladies dress colorfully while H’mong men just wear plain black. We descend the mountain through newly planted forest and reach Coc Re market for lunch. After lunch the trek continues on fairly easy terrain towards Coc Pai, a small remote hill town. Dinner and overnight in guesthouse. (B, L, D)

Breakfast and a short exploration of the town before we take a jeep transfer to Bac Ha Town. Rest of the day is spent on an excursion in the surroundings of Bac Ha. We reach Bac Ha at noon. Check in at our hotel and have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we have an easy walk to surrounding tribal villages. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha. (B, L, D)

Breakfast in hotel. This morning we can walk in the town or take an optional trek to surrounding area. In the afternoon, we will be transferred to Lao Cai to take the night sleeper train back to Hanoi. (B, L, D)

Arrival in Hanoï early morning. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Breakfast in hotel and free time in Hanoï until airport transfer time. (B) (Possibie 2 days extension to Halong bay)