Vietnam Northwest discovery 9 Days

Arriving at Noi Bai, the International Airport of Hanoi, you will be welcomed by the private driver of AsiaTourAdvisor  and first carried to Hanoi City, the capital of Vietnam. The trip normally takes about an hour and offers some poignant glimpses of modern Vietnamese life: farmers tending their fields, great rivers, modern highways…

Located on the banks of the rich-historical Red River and nestled along wooded boulevards among the city’s two dozen lakes, Hanoi is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful ancient capitals in the world, where you can witness well-preserved colonial buildings, antique pagodas, unique museums… that left by and made up a multi-cultural of Chinese, French and Russian influences.

Most tourists would be surprised by the tale of Restored Sword Lake, and amazed while experiencing the hustling and bustling streets of the Old Quarter, of which each street named after the trade that people used to make for their living on the old time. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi City then.

Following with breakfast at the hotel. Your local tour guide will pick you up afterward to take you for a walk into the heart of the 1,000 years-old capital. On the edge of the city, the road dissolves into a maze of winding, narrow, wooded lanes. You are surrounded by roadside artisans, shops and taverns, then by graceful villas and commuters on bicycles, cyclos and motorbikes.

During your day tour there are many tourist attractions of fascinating cultural and historical sites to explore. You will visit the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, wherein the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” has been laid to rest, the delicate One Pillar Pagoda built by Emperor Ly Thai To, who was inspired by a dream, and Tran Quoc Temple & Quan Thanh Pagoda, the famous landmarks of Vietnam. After lunch, visiting Temple of Literature may make you speechless from the moment you pass through its towering gates. Dating from 1076, this was this part of Asia’s most prestigious center of learning for aristocrats. Then, you will end your day with a show at the Water Puppet Theater - a beautifully unique cultural performance of Northern Vietnam. Please spend your free time and overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.

Our driver and tour guide will be waiting for you at the lobby from 8AM. After getting out of a busy Hanoi, you will enjoy the countryside view through the windows while driving northwestward to Yen Bai province, which was historically known for its French colonization since 30s of the previous century. Arriving at Nghia Lo town early in the afternoon, checking in our homestay at a peaceful village, then having lunch and rest on a traditional stilt house for a while. In the afternoon, we embark on a bicycling tour to discover the daily life of the ethnic community in the area and enjoy the beautiful scenery of villages, mountains, and rice fields. As named the second largest in Northern Vietnam, the rice paddies start changing into a yellow-gold colour in autumn and fall, and the harvest runs from September until the end of October. These fields are recognised as a national scenic site as well as the unique cultural identity of the Hmong ethnic group.

With ‘Homestay’ experience, your dinning and overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There would be no private room and you will find yourself comfortable sleeping on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the host family and head for Tu Le, a little town located at beautiful valley at the foot of Khau Pha Pass, in the middle of the way to Mu Cang Chai. Upon arrival, we get ready for a soft trek to the rice valley and visit some villages. After taking photographs and meeting nice people, you will be back to the town and having lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we start our drive up the famous Khau Pha Pass, where the clouds are almost reachable and there are fantastic views of valleys at the bottom. We will have some stops for a break and photo opportunities on the way to Mu Cang Chai until late afternoon. After checking in another homestay by the town, the day will end with a gentle walk to visit a village of the Thai ethnic minority at the foot of a mountain nearby. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

In the morning, we will get a transfer to a gather point for the whole day trekking to enjoy Vietnam’s national rice terrace heritage which creates amazing landscapes stretching down the mountain sides. Our trek will start from Che Cu Nha commune to La Pan Tan Commune in the distance of around 13 km. This trek will definitely offer us a good opportunity to see the main spots and admire the beauty of amazing rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai, the place also is wonderful for taking magic photos of with wooden houses and guard boxes spotted on the terrace fields. We will also be able to visit a few villages of the H’mong hill tribe scattered in the area and experience interesting livings of ethnic minority groups. Afterwards, you will get picked up by your private vehicle around 4.00 PM, then transfer back to the accommodation and stay for the second night in Mu Cang Chai.

After the breakfast, we will bid farewell to the host family and make our way to Sapa, one of the most breathtaking hill stations in Vietnam which reflects the signature of French architecture and colorful hill tribal cultures. This is home to stunning mountain landscapes, verdant rice terraces, unique stilt villages… and travelers are invited to enjoy the best of Sapa all the year-round with different taste of seasons and exciting outdoors, as well as to explore the well-preserved traditional customs of ethnic people.
Along the route, we will have some stops for casual visits and amazing photos taking at surprisingly Than Thuoc Tea Plantation, O Quy Ho Pass, Silver Waterfall... After having lunch with local specialties at a restaurant upon arrival in Sapa, we walk through the town for about 20 minutes before turning into a dirt road to Ma Tra Village in the afternoon, whereon inhabited by friendly Black H'mong ethic. Continue trekking up the village and getting through paddies fields will lead you to an ancient Catholic abbey, built by French colonists almost a century ago. Traveling across 2 km further to reach Ta Phin Village for exploring the daily life of Red Dzao, where you have a good chance to buy woven and textile brocade made by ethical people as the exclusive souvenirs. Having picnic lunch before exploring the entire village, including Ta Phin Cave and small hamlet of Black H'mong people. Dining and overnight staying are settled at homestay in the Ta Phin village.

Following a breakfast at the homestay, meet your guide in the morning and get ready for a second adventure to Golden Stream valley which the path is paved of stone through some beautiful woodlands along the hanging bridge. The trekking offers more stunning views of rice terraces and gardens as well as Mt Fansipan, the Indochina peak of which summit rises 10,312 feet (3,143 meters) above the sea level.

Once crossing a bridge and marveling at the breathtaking scenery as you continue to pass the Golden Stream valley, stopping at Lao Chai village for lunch.

After your meal, let us guide you on a walk through this village where Black Hmong people reside, and continue to Ta Van village, home to the Dzay tribe. Although Dzay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam, but they still account for the majority of populations, among Tay, Thai, Nung. In fact, the nobly humanistic values in characteristics and the special culture of Dzay people are the most impressive feature for tourists when travelling Ta Van Village.

The development has meant that some of their old customs might have been forgotten, but many women still faithfully wear accustomed shirts with a purple, blue or green color. Besides, they have been remaining a diverse system of folklore including fairy tales, riddles, proverbs, and keep celebrating major traditional festivals such as Tet holidays in January and July, full moon festivals in May and August, etc.

Later on, you are free to check in and have dinner then overnight at homestay.

Following a breakfast with local people, please enjoy the breathtaking scenery in early morning before continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai, where we also have a short break near by a hanging bridge made from cane and witness a beautiful waterfall on the occasion.

Red Dao, the second biggest group of hill minority people in Sapa, is recognized as those who wear plain black trousers and a long black tunic with embroidered cuffs and lapels; especially the women have very colorful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head, there is a red scarf to be worn. Some of the women even have shaved off their eyebrows following a respectful Red Zao Legend. After an amazing trip, you will have lunch at a local restaurant before return to Hanoi. Be charmed with marvelous sightseeing and enjoy beautiful views driving along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. You will arrive at Hanoi in late afternoon and overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.

The time will be your own until your private car arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to next destination. Finish unforgettable Tour Halong bay & Mu Cang Chai with AsiaTourAdvisor.com. Good bye & see you in the next time! AsiaTourAdvisor.com is capable of tailoring customized trips if you wish otherwise.