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Exploring market of ethnic people in the northern region of Vietnam is the
most splendid area of where concentrates various obstacles of limestone
mountains ranges and wonderful terraced paddy fields. Suitable to those who love
green Eco tours, prefer untouched areas and explore customs of the hill tribal
people. Extremely attractive to picture-hunting travelers.
Day 1: Hanoi - Ba Be Lake (L,D)
7.30am departure from Hanoi, to embark on a route up into mountain areas north
of Hanoi, to visit (Đền Đuổm) Duom Temple which is a majestic temple built
during the Ly dynasty to memorize the national hero Duong Tu Minh. After this
stop you will continue onwards to Ba Be National Park, one of the largest
natural lakes in Vietnam, home to many different species of birds, scenic
valleys, towering rocky outcrops, underground river tributaries, a gigantic cave
and local ethnic minorities, including the Tay, Red Dao and Hmong. Following an
exploration of a spectacular cave, you will visit some small villages along the
lake shore. The night is spent in Coc Toc village in a traditional house of a
Tay family to experience their way of life. You will be made very welcome by the
host family of Tay people. You will have time to shower, relax and enjoy an
evening meal of home cooked dishes.
Day 2: Ba Be Lake Boating (B,L,D)
After breakfast at the local family you board on our private boat for a cruise
on the Ba Be Lake. We trek through Ba Be rain forests for climbing up on tower
to take the best photos of Ba Be area. We are going down the forest to visit An
Ma temple where Mac command in chief was memorized then We can have a swim in
crystal clear waters before having lunch in the local restaurant near the Dau
Dang water fall. Following lunch we have the opportunity to work off our feast
with a trek to Tay ethnic minority villages. A visit to this small hamlet will
enable us to witness how little the lives of the people in these remote areas
have changed. Cruise further to Puong Cave and come back the same way to Bo Lu
village for overnight.
Day 3: Ba Be - Tinh Tuc - Bao Lac (B,L,D)
Today you will journey to the town of Bao Lac in the Cao Bang province. On route
you will be able to soak up the wonderful mountainous landscapes. You will stop
for lunch at a local restaurant and then on to Bao Lac where you will arrive in
the late afternoon, enough time to shower and relax before dinner. You will
spend the night here at a hotel.
Day 4: Bao Lac - Meo Vac - Dong Van (B,L,D)
After breakfast in your hotel in Bao Lac, we will depart for Dong Van, a
beautiful place that is like heaven - make sure you have your camera ready as
there will be many opportunities for great photos. At Dong Van, you will be
surrounded by fascinating geology, and have the chance to see and visit the
traditional houses of the hill tribes here. The scenic route climbs up over a
pass, before descending to the beuatiful Meo Vac valley, which is close to the
Chinese border. You will have lunch in Meo Vac before taking some time to climb
over the Ma Pi Leng Pass to enjoy the beautiful mountain ranges and the the Nho
Que river – an amazing place to be! We will then hit the winding roads to Dong
Van, visiting some very remote areas on the way to see how the locals struggle
hard with their environment for survival and development. We will stay in town
so that you have the chance to visit the ancient streets with its centuries old
clay brick, tiled roof houses of the H’mong, and sleep in Dong Van town that
evening.
Day 5: Dong Van – Cho Lui Market - Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Ha Giang (B,L,D)
Before leaving Dong Van you will visit Lung Phìn, Sà Phìn, Phó Bảng, Ma Lé and
depending on the day “Cho Lui market”. You will then drive at a leisurely pace
from Dong Van, back to Yen Minh & Quan Ba. Your itinerary will include a visit
to the infamous Vuong Palace. Once belonging to a prestigious H'mong family
during the French colonial rule and as such the architecture of this palace a
blended style of European and Chinese design. You will then head back to Quan Ba
and onwards to Ha Giang for the night. Note: Quan Ba market is worth a look but
as this market day falls on a Sunday it is a good idea to try and arrange your
trip accordingly.
Day 6: Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi - Bac Ha (B,L)
An early start today for the journey from Ha Gaing to Bac Ha. This is a long but
exciting journey along some of the most scenic roads you will encounter on your
trip. You will need to make a prompt departure from Ha Giang to make sure you
reach Bac Ha before it gets dark. You will have dinner and an overnight stay in
Bac Ha town.
Note: Road from Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi then Bac Quang - Pho Giang - Bac
Ha can be bad and impossible to ride during the rainy season, therefore a backup
to travel to Bac Ha is already planned.
Day 7: Bac Ha - Sapa (B,L,D)
1-Option 1: Can Cau Market - Sapa (Saturday only) After a long muddy
roads for visiting Can Cau market as wanted to blend with local. A lot of Hmong
ladies with colorful clothes which thinking there are a flower forest then
reaching higher. Feeling to wallow in a market hundred years ago with exchange
trade system. They are here to trade what they have for what they need. Without
higher buildings, super markets, retailers, people here have small stores and
sell silk, foods, animals, .etc. Try the traditional food name "Thang Co". It is
hard to say "good" but it is a memorable things that you would had then transfer
to Sapa for overnight at Holiday Sapa hotel.
2-Option 2: Bac Ha Market - Sapa (Sunday only) A fabulous market is
operating on Sundays only, where different tribal peoples attend from miles
around to purchase, sell, barter every imaginable commodity. There was hardware,
plastic goods, clothing, fresh produce, puppies, water buffalo, chop chop
tobacco, chickens, pigs, cut meats, Hmong costume, handicraft, kitchenware,
dried natural medicines and you name it. People pay no attention to tourists -
most of us with cameras and bendy necks, gaping at the decorative ornate tribal
costumes, the beauty of the bejeweled young women, the charm of the rosy cheeked
babies and the curious processes of doing business in Northern Vietnam. we may
as well been invisible - a valued experience. It is a wonderful spectacle and
photos do no justice whatsoever to the richly layered tribal society unfolding
and interacting all around then transfer to Sapa for overnight
3-Option 3: Bac Ha ‘- Sapa We visit the H'mong King's house (King Hoang A
Tuong) built by the French colonists and the Chinese in 1920. Return the town
for lunch. In the afternoon, spend time visiting another village (BanPho
village) Say good bye to BacHa and get back to Sapa. On the way back, in to see
the Vietnamese and Chinese Harbour Mouth in LaoCai. Reach Sapa late in the
afternoon. Check in hotel.
Day 8: Sapa trek, Ta Van homestay (B,L,D)
At 10 am we leave the hotel and start trekking. The first part is on the road
but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the
Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai San, Lao Chai.
Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are
proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have
their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing. After this you
continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small
minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in
Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have
been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or
green colour. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We
stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here.
Day 9: Sapa Trekking - Night Train To Hanoi (B,L)
Enjoy the overall pictures of the villages among terraces. Visit the Red Dzao
living in wooden and bamboo houses. Transfer by jeep and trekking to Su Pan
village to visit the Dzao minority. Take the road to Giang Ta Chai village of
via the paths between terraces and through bamboo forests. Visit silver
waterfall and suspension Rattan Bridge, visit the people in the village and then
cross Muong Hoa River up to the mountain to visit the last village of the trek -
Ho village of the Tay. Get back to Sapa by jeep. On the way back, enjoy visiting
the ancient stone circle where stones are decorated with ancient carvings. Car
pick you up then bring you to Lao Cai train station, overnight to Hanoi.
TRIP ENDS |
