Day
1: Hanoi to Mai Chau
We leave Hanoi by 4WD for the Mai Chau Valley,
our base for the night and a great region for
trekking. We stay overnight in a local stilt house
of the White Thai people to learn more about their
culture and lifestyle.
Day
2: Mai Chau to Son La
We drive to the provincial capital of Son
La, passing through tea growing country
and dairy pastures. In Son La, we visit
the old French prison, which is now a historical
museum, and some nearby caves. We enjoy
dinner and overnight in Son La.
Day
3: Son La to Dien Bien Phu We drive on to Dien Bien Phu, scene of
the final French defeat in Indochina, when the
Vietminh overwhelmed the colonial forces in a
historic military victory. We visit battlefield
sites and the local museum. Dinner and overnight
in Dien Bien Phu.
Day
4: Dien Bien Phu to Lai Chau
We leave for Lai Chau on a thrilling mountain
road that twists, tumbles and loops across the
Tonkinese Alps, stopping to visit Red Hmong villages
along the way. We experience dinner and overnight
in Lai Chau.
Day
5: Lai Chau to Sapa
Today, we make for Sapa, stopping to visit
different minority villages along the way
such as Thai, Hmong and Zao and crossing
the highest mountain pass in northern Vietnam.
Sapa is the undisputed capital of the northern
highlands and our base for dinner and overnight.
Day
6: Trekking Around Sapa
We leave today free for guests to explore
the beauty of Sapa and its surrounding valleys.
There are countless walking opportunities
in the valleys below Sapa, passing through
isolated minority villages. Others may prefer
to try a mountain bike to get further a
field.
Day
7: Sapa to Hanoi
Today we make the long journey back to Hanoi. We
stop at some interesting local villages along the
way before arriving back in the capital where the
tour ends.
