Trek North Vietnam

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van -Giang Ta Chai. Arrive in Hanoi before 4 AM on day 1 or arrive in Hanoi the day before the start of the tour. You will have the option of being collected from your hotel or within Hanoi’s Old Quarter. You will then have an early start to your morning by making your way to the train station around 5:30 am, where we will board a train to Lao Cai, near the Chinese border.

Once we have arrived in Lao Cai, we continue with a 38 km drive into the mountains towards Sapa. The road winds through dramatic landscapes, and if the skies are clear, you might catch a glimpse of Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak. We then arrive at our hotel in Sapa by 8:00 am for breakfast, before setting out on foot towards Lao Chai village. This route takes us off the tourist trail and offers impressive views over the Muong Hoa Valley, with its steep rice terraces and surrounding peaks.

After a picnic lunch along the way, we continue through the valley to Ta Van village, home to the friendly Dzay community. The walk finishes at Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dzao village known for its scenic setting. Tonight, you’ll stay in a local Dzay family home – a chance to experience village life first-hand.

Approximate trekking distance: 10 - 12km

Please note: We strongly recommend you arrive in Hanoi the day before your tour starts. You will be collected early on day 1. Pick up can be arranged from any hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter, and you must inform us in advance of your tour where you wish to be collected from. Packing essentials include your passport, light comfortable clothing, walking shoes, a small day pack, insect repellent, sun cream, a raincoat and a sun hat.

Giang Ta Chai - Su Pan - Sapa. After breakfast, we set off on our morning trek from Giang Ta Chai to Su Pan. It’s a refreshing start to the day, with sweeping views, crisp mountain air, and the quiet beauty of the surrounding landscape.

In Su Pan, we meet members of the Red Dzao and Black Hmong communities and take time to explore their village. We then continue on foot back to Sapa – a final opportunity to soak in the striking scenery of terraced hillsides and forested peaks. Once back at the accommodation, you can enjoy dinner and the rest of the night at leisure.

Approximate trekking distance: 15 - 17 km

Sapa - Coc Dong. This morning, we begin the toughest trek of our journey. Our day starts with a flat walk before we climb into dense rainforest, following the same trail used by villagers heading to Muong Khuong. The path can be slippery if wet but offers a rewarding challenge.

As we gain height, the forest clears to reveal sweeping views of terraced rice fields. You may also spot vibrant butterflies drifting through the mountain air. At around 2,000 metres, we stop for a picnic lunch near a waterfall, weather permitting, before continuing to Coc Dong Village, home to the Nung people. We arrive by mid-afternoon and stay overnight in a traditional stilt house.

Approximate walking distance: 5-7 km.

Coc Dong -Muong Khuong - Bac Ha. Today, we travel to the weekend market in Muong Khuong, a vibrant meeting point for a range of ethnic minority groups, including the H’mong, Dzao, Thu Lao, Pa Di, Tu Di, and Phu La – some of Vietnam’s least-represented communities.

The drive to Muong Khuong takes around two hours. In the early afternoon, we continue on to Bac Ha for an overnight stop. Later, we take a walk along the trails behind the H’mong King’s Palace. Dinner is at your leisure, and we stay overnight in a local lodge.

Please note: If the market is not open on this day, we then drive about 30 minutes to Coc Ly boat station to go downstream to Bac Ha

Bac Ha - Sin Man - Thong Nguyen - Hoang Su Phi. After breakfast, we set off on a half-day journey to Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi. The route is rough but scenic, winding through dense jungle, over mountain passes and into deep valleys. With many steep climbs and descents, today’s drive is a demanding one.

Along the way, we may encounter several ethnic communities, including the Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dzao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi, and Co Lao, each contributing to the region’s rich cultural diversity. After lunch at a local restaurant, we begin a four-hour trek through remote highland villages near Thong Nguyen. The path climbs for about 30 minutes before opening out to views of forested slopes, tea plantations, terraced fields and striking mountain scenery. Once we have arrived at our accommodation, we will enjoy dinner.

Approximate trekking distance: 7-10km.

Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang - Nam Dam. Today, we depart from Hoang Su Phi heading to Ha Giang, following a scenic route through the rugged landscapes of northern Vietnam. As we leave behind the terraced fields, the road winds through lush mountains, river valleys, and hillside rice paddies carved into the slopes.

We stop for lunch in Ha Giang before continuing to Ha Thanh village, where we begin a 4-hour hike towards Tay Con Linh mountain. After the trek, our driver meets us for the journey to Yen Minh. Tonight, we have dinner and stay overnight in Nam Dam village.

Approximate trekking distance: 7-10km.

Nam Dam - Sa Phin - Dong Van - Meo Vac. This morning, we leave Yen Minh and travel north-west towards the remote Dong Van Karst Plateau, near the northernmost point of Vietnam. This region is known for its towering limestone peaks and traditional hill villages that have remained unchanged for generations.

En route, we visit the former H’mong royal house in Sa Phin, an important cultural landmark in the region. Though the journey is long and bumpy, the mountain views and colourful presence of local hill tribe communities make it a memorable experience.

Before lunch, we take a short trek along the trails behind Lung Cam village, offering insight into quiet village life. After lunch in Dong Van town, we set out on a more challenging trek of up to 8 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass. The trail winds through towering limestone formations, stone forests, and dramatic canyons before descending into the valley of Meo Vac. Once we have arrived in Meo Vac, we will make our way to out accommodation for dinner,

Meo Vac - Ba Be National Park. We have an early start this morning as we set off through the scenic highlands towards Ba Be National Park. The route winds through remote and rugged terrain, with uneven roads and sharp bends. Along the way, we pass through villages inhabited by the Hmong, Dzao, Tay and Nung peoples. This part of Vietnam sees few visitors, so we’re likely to draw some friendly interest from locals.

On arrival at Boc Lom pier, and depending on road conditions, we gear up for an active afternoon on the Nang River. After a short introduction to kayaking and a safety briefing, we collect our equipment and begin paddling downstream.We explore the vast Puong Cave by boat and kayak, passing through towering rock chambers and narrow limestone formations. The journey continues across the river and over a stretch of steep, jagged terrain known for its striking cat-ear cliffs. From there, we transfer to a motorboat and cruise into Ba Be Lake, where there’s time for a refreshing swim.

This evening, we have dinner and spend the night at a homestay in Coc Toc village, hosted by a Tay family.

Approximate kayaking distance: 13km.

Today, we drive for around 30 minutes to reach the trailhead for Tham Phay Cave. The hike begins with a steep climb through forested terrain, followed by rocky ground and a second incline before descending into a quiet valley. Turning west, we scramble over a patch of large rocks, guided by our safety team, before reaching the cave entrance at the edge of the forest. We stop for a quick snack before heading inside.

Tham Phay is a striking stream cave, home to two underground river branches. As we explore, we navigate narrow passages, deep pools and jagged limestone formations, with excellent photo opportunities throughout. Calcite walls, algae-covered surfaces, a dome ceiling and layered rock patterns give the cave its distinctive appearance.

We spend about five hours exploring the 5 km-long system, discovering unique features such as ancient stalagmites, sinkholes and thermal flows deep within the second passage. After completing the circuit, we return to the entrance and hike back to our original pick-up point.

Approximate trekking & expedition under the ground distance: 12- 15 km.

Please note: you will be equipped with helmets and high-powered headlamps for the Tham Phay Cave Expedition. An eco-friendly toilet will be provided and set up by our porter during the Tham Phay Cave Expedition

Ba Be National Park - Phia Thap - Phuc Sen - Cao Bang. This morning, we set off on a half-day journey to Cao Bang Town, travelling through spectacular mountain scenery dotted with terraced rice fields and hillside villages. Along the way, we pause to stretch our legs and take in the views. Our first stop is Phia Thap, a Nung village known for its century-old incense-making tradition. After lunch in the village, we begin exploring nearby craft communities.

We continue through the countryside to visit a tile-making village, where locals produce traditional yin-yang roof tiles. Our next stop is Phuc Sen, a forging village where we see the skilled process of knife-making. We also visit a Nung weaving village to observe their traditional craft. Later we will make our way to a Nung family home to spend the night and enjoy dinner.

Approximate trekking distance: 5-7 km.

Cao Bang - Lang Son. After breakfast, we travel to one of northern Vietnam’s most remarkable natural landmarks, Ban Gioc Waterfall. This 300-metre-wide cascade sits on the border with China and offers a dramatic backdrop for photography and relaxation. We take a bamboo raft ride to get up close to the base of the falls and experience its full power.

We then visit a local market to explore the area’s cultural diversity before hiking up to Phat Tich Temple, which offers sweeping views of Ban Gioc and across to China. The journey continues through a series of hill tribe villages as we make our way to the peaceful towns of Dong Khe and That Khe. By late afternoon, we arrive in Lang Son, a border town once devastated by the Sino-Vietnamese War but now a thriving commercial centre. We will then make our way to our hotel in Lang Son for dinner.

Lang Son - Halong Bay - Lan Ha Bay. This morning, we catch a glimpse of the lively central market of Lang Son before departing for Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s most iconic natural landscapes. The journey takes us through mountainous terrain, offering scenic views along the way.

As we travel, we may encounter members of the Tay, Nung, and San Diu communities who inhabit this remote region. On arrival in Halong, we board our cruise and enjoy lunch while sailing past the dramatic limestone formations of Halong Bay, continuing on to the tranquil waters of Lan Ha Bay. In the afternoon, we visit Light and Dark Water Cave, where you will have the option to explore by kayak or bamboo boat. You will then have time to enjoy dinner on your own before making your way back to the cruise to spend the night.

Lan Ha Bay - Cat Ba Island - Hanoi. After our final breakfast on board, we set off on a sailing boat to explore Lan Ha Bay and make our way towards Cat Ba Island. This five-hour cruise offers stunning views of the bay’s emerald waters and dramatic limestone islets rising from the sea.

We navigate through quiet channels and past hidden beaches, with a stop for a short cycling trip to Viet Hai, a secluded village nestled deep within Cat Ba National Park. Along the way, we pause for a refreshing swim in a sheltered cove and explore one of the bay’s many grottoes tucked beneath towering cliffs.

After enjoying a fresh seafood lunch on board, we return to the harbour and transfer back to Hanoi.