The road to Minority Village

( Code TBN VN02 )

ROUTE: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Son La – Dien Bien Phu – Tam Duong – Sapa – Hanoi

DURATION: 7days / 7nights

This is the most exciting and spectacular adventure in Vietnam. The northwest is still very unspoiled and is a captivating blend of dramatic landscapes and colorful hill tribes. This adventure takes you through a stunning and isolated area, which has changed little over the centuries and is steeped in history. You will not only experience rural Vietnam behind the scenes but also meet and talk to numerous different ethnic minority groups who are very pleased to let you into their worlds.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Ha Noi - Mai Chau ~160 km ( L, D )

On our jeep, we start from your hotel and hit the road through some traffic of Hanoi, as soon we get out of town (10 km), and we will already view the country life of Vietnam. We heading toward Hoa Binh province, we pass through a region of spectacular limestone mountains, passes, valleys and wind our way down hills to Mai Chau valley of the Thai people.

We will spend the afternoon to walk around the village, learn more about the Thai and experience their hospitality from our stay in their house on stilts. Dinner and enjoy the traditional dances and try the rice wine drunk with a rod. Sleep in their house.

Day 2:  Mai Chau – Moc Chau - Son La ~160 km  ( B, L )

Today, we will drive about the same distance as we made to Mai Chau, the road to Son La is lined with fruit orchards, tea plantations, towering mountains and chance to meet and talk to the black Thai, white Thai, H’mong and Muong hill tribe people on their way to work or local markets.

In the afternoon, we visit the Prison Museum in Son La, which remains as a poignant reminder of the inequities of the former French colonial rule.

Dinner and sleep in the Cong Doan Hotel.

Day 3:  Son La - Dien Bien Phu ~170 km ( B, L )

The further we drive the more impressive the mountain scenery will be, we will be visiting villages meet more tribal people here along our journey to Dien Bien Phu city. Stop for lunch in Tuan Giao. Continue on to Dien Bien, enjoy the wonderful scenery in Pha Din pass

Afternoon, Dien Bien Phu - the last base of the French power in Indochina, we will visit monuments, museums…and preserved bunkers tell the story of the final and victorious liberating battle of 1954. Dinner and free to explore nightlife in this remote mountain city. O/n in Muong Thanh Hotel.

Day 4:  Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau - Tam Duong ~200 km ( B, L )

With about 6 – 7 hours today, our drive is sometimes steep and often rugged, the road through the Lai Chau valley is both breathtaking and dramatic, hugging rice terraced mountainsides and fording turbulent rivers, our road travel today are visually spectacular. 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. Dinner and overnight in town of Tam Duong.

Day 5:  Tam Duong – Sapa ~90km ( B, L )

A small walk around this peaceful town and the market before hitting the road up hills as we wind through Tram Ton pass, the highest mountain pass in Viet Nam. As rewarded, we will have the magnificent views of the great mountains, passes and valleys and experience a dramatic change of climate as we mount approaching Sapa – an old French hill station, a busy market town for the regional minority groups, the town is encircled with towering peaks, often shrouded in cloud, and the air is cool and crisp. Check in a hotel with comfort and free to explore this famous town of Sapa.

Day 6:  Sapa, trek and home stay ~5-6 hours ( B, L, D )

Take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek through terraced rice fields and Hmong villages. Chances to meet and talk with locals working in the fields are plentiful. We will break for a picnic lunch en route then continue trekking to Ta Phin village of the Dao people (4 hours). Your Dao host family will warmly welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night. 

Day 7: More trek and jeep back to Sapa, night train to Hanoi ( B )

Goodbye with the family and take a short trek this morning before the jeep brings us back into town of Sapa. Your full afternoon free in town for relaxing, shopping...Our driver will then say goodbye to you after bringing you to the train station of Lao Cai, we depart at 8.50 p.m on a AC soft sleeper class to Hanoi – a sound & safe train journey will be arriving to Hanoi at 5.00 a.m. Tour ends here.

Price:

Included:

Tour guide, Japanese Jeep, Standard hotels/guesthouses/home stays, all meals as mentioned, permits, entrance’s fees, local dances and purified water.

Excluded:

Insurance, drinks, other personal expenses. Tips are welcome!

What to bring: Passport, Rain gears (even rain coast for your bags), sunglasses, hats, sun cream, Good shoes for some walking, Camera with lots of films for pictures, Other personal needs and monies for drinks/food.

Best time to do: All year round, best from September to April of next year.

Please travel responsibly: The small things you do will make a big difference!