Secrets of Haut Tonkin via beautiful ethnic villages

Hanoi arrival / visits and rest (D)

Arrival at the airport,
Welcome by our team of French-speaking guides and local drivers, then direct transfer to Hanoi city center.

Rooms are only available around 2:00 PM

Depending on your arrival time, start making the first discoveries in Hanoi city at off-the-beaten-path sites: a stroll to the local Dong Xuan market to see the lively life of the merchants, extend the walk to the Paul Doumer Bridge built by Gustave Eiffel's team during the French era, for photo sessions and to admire the panorama of the Red River.

Visit of the ancient citadel of Hanoi, Hoang Thanh with its South Gate and then visit of the legendary central Hoan Kiem Lake with the Jade Temple.

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with typical Hanoi dishes

Hanoi - Hoa Binh / walks - Mai Chau / walks and visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meeting at 08:00 AM for departure for a loop in the Haut Tonkin mountains, via the Hoa Binh region, considered the open door to the Northwest.

After 2 hours drive, we descend to the Black River dam for a boat trip in the second terrestrial Ha Long Bay amidst magical and authentic landscapes.

We will meet the Muongs by the lake, they invite us to their homes, in stilt houses and with all their hospitality, they will smoke water pipes and tell us about the customs of their people.

Lunch on site, then we continue our journey to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley bordered by rice fields, which is also the land of the White Thai. In the evening, the villagers organize a party to welcome us, after dinner prepared by the Thai women, we are invited to participate in the folk dance show of the five ethnic groups and to taste the local wine (glutinous rice fermented with medicinal herb roots).

Overnight with the Thais in their stilt house. 

Mai Chau / walks - Moc Chau / walks & visits (B,L,D)

After a Thai breakfast,
Meeting at 08:00 AM for beautiful walks in the Mai Chau valley to see the central market and the ethnic villages of Ban Van and then on the way to Moc Chau.

Arrival at the village of Hua Tat, lunch with locals and then discovery walk of this H'mong village - we will get our first notions of the H'mongs by visiting their villages.

Their hospitality and sincerity are warmly expressed through rice wine! A stop in Moc Chau allows us to admire the largest tea plantation in Vietnam.

Dinner and overnight with locals H'mong - Hua Tat village

Moc Chau - Son La / visits - Tuan Giao - Dien Bien Phu / Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meeting at 08:00 AM for departure and on the way to Dien Bien Phu,
A visit to the old prison built during the French colonial era. Crossing Son then we continue towards Tuan Giao, stop to visit the central market of Thuan Chau where we meet not only the Black Thais, but also the White H'mongs who come there for trade. The White H'mong women wear colorful costumes: green-sleeved shirts and especially pointed hats decorated with red pom-poms.

Crossing Pha Din, the longest pass in Vietnam at 32 km, we admire the magnificence of nature. At the end of the pass, we visit a multi-ethnic primary school in Tuan Giao before having lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Dien Bien Phu, located in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, it is also in the heart of the Black Thai country.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Dien Bien - Sin Ho / visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meeting at 08:00 AM and departure for the White Thai villages for a visit and discovery of their culture.

On the way to Sin Ho through more Black Thai villages with beautiful stilt houses and slate roofs.

We also visit along the road the Kh'mu villages, belonging to the Mon-Khmer linguistic group, this ethnic group is neighbors with the Laotians but if the women's costume is identical to that of the Black Thais, the difference is manifested by the jewelry.

Arrival in Sin Ho at sunset. Dinner and overnight in a local inn. 

Sin Ho - Lai Chau - Muong Hum/ Walks & Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meeting at 08:00 AM you depart for a big festival held at the multi-ethnic SIN HO Market (every Sunday morning): White Thai, Dzay (or Nhang), Lü, Red H'Mong, Red Yao, Man "with Plank", Man "with Horns" (Man is another name for the Yaos) come there to exchange their agricultural and artisanal products, especially indigo used to dye clothes. The spectacular festival enchants us until noon.
A walk and visit to a Dzao village in Ta Phin village then we resume the road to go towards Lai Chau and Muong Hum.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Lai Chau city after visiting the Ban Hon village with the Lu.

In the afternoon, we cross the Pass which culminates at over 2000 meters altitude - O Quy Ho (or Tram Ton - one of the 4 highest passes in Vietnam).

Stop and visit Thac Ba waterfall and then follow the inter-district road to reach Muong Hum village via beautiful terraced rice fields.

Arrive in Muong Hum in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight homestay in Muong Hum.

Muong Hum - Y Ty / visits - Lao Cai - Bac Ha / visits and walks (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for walks in the ethnic villages and visit Lao Chai village in Yty with the Ha Nhi living in their typical rammed earth houses.

Then head to Lao Cai for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit this city and the border gate with China before ascending Bac Ha Pass to reach the district of the same name. Walk in Ban Pho village to see the H'mong ethnic groups.

Dinner and overnight homestay in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha / ethnic market (Sunday) - Sapa / visits & walks (B,L)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM and we follow in the footsteps of the ethnic groups to visit the ethnic market - Bac Ha fair (every Sunday morning) with the presence of ethnic groups: Tay, Flower H'mong, Blue H'mong, Nung, and Phu La.

Head to Sapa for lunch in Trung Do village after a cruise on the Chay River.

Arrive in Sapa,
A nice walk in the town and then a walk to Cat Cat village to see the Black H'mong.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa / walks and visits (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel,
Meet at 08:00 AM for a day of walking to the beautiful villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van and then Giang Ta Chai (about 6 hours of walking).

Lunch at a homestay and then return to Sapa town by vehicle.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa - Than Uyen / walks - Mu Cang Chai / walks (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for departure on a road that leads us to Than Uyen and then Mu Cang Chai, passing through O Quy Ho Pass with stops in ethnic villages along the way, followed by lunch in Than Uyen.

Continue to Mu Cang Chai and then walk to Thai village.

Dinner and overnight homestay in Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai / walks and visits - Tu Le / photos and discoveries - Nghia Lo (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM and we walk in the places where the most beautiful terraced rice fields are located: Visit La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha villages before ascending Khau Pha Pass - one of the 4 highest passes in Vietnam.

Stops for visits and photos in unforgettable places in the Northwest Vietnam region.

Lunch in Tu Le town with local specialties.

We continue by road to Nghia Lo and then direct transfer to Muong Lo village for the night.
Dinner at a homestay and overnight in Nghia Lo.

Mu Cang Chai - Thac Ba Lake / walks - Thac Ba Village / visits and walks (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for departure towards Yen Bai and then towards Thac Ba Lake with stops for visits and photos along the way.

Lunch in Yen Bai and then we continue to Thac Ba village and discovery walks of these surrounding ethnic groups to discover their way of life.

Dinner and overnight homestay - Black-toothed Dzao ethnic group.

Thac Ba / cruise and discoveries – return route to Hanoi (B,L)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for departure on a 5-hour cruise through the islands to encounter small villages inhabited by Tay and Yao populations. More than 300 red earth islands and islets, some covered with carpets of grass and bushes, and others with forests, emerge from these waters.

Lunch at a homestay and then say goodbye to the family before heading back to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi after approximately 4 hours of driving. Direct transfer to the hotel in Hanoi.

Free dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Halong Bay / cruise, visits and relaxation with an overnight on a Junk (B,L,D)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for shuttle departure to Halong via the Red River Delta where you will see the rural activities of Tonkinese peasants.

Arrive at Halong pier around 12:30 PM, embark on the Superior Junk for a 24-hour cruise in Halong Bay, a World Heritage site.

Visit natural caves during the cruise, rest and walk on the beaches and swimming are planned during the cruise.

Meals on board with fresh seafood. Dinner on board and overnight in a Private Cabin.

Halong Bay / cruise - Hanoi and departure (B,L)

In the morning, Tai Chi practice for those who wish, on the upper deck of the Junk around 06:45 AM (this also depends on the season).
Light breakfast at the onboard restaurant and then continue the cruise to other Bays: Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long to admire the magnificent landscapes and different islands.

Brunch around 11:00 AM on board before disembarking around 12:00 PM.

Picked up by the driver and then return to Hanoi via the Tonkin road.

A stopover visit to the ancient Phat Tich Pagoda, a calm and magnificent site nestled in a beautiful setting.

Direct transfer to the airport for your return flight.