Trekking Vietnam’s Northern Mountains

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Today is free time to spend how you like. Vietnam's capital city has a vibrant street food scene, dozens of markets, and some of the best shopping in the country. Explore the temples of Ba Dinh or the Old Quarter with its maze of streets. If you love food, you can arrange a cooking demonstration in a local home. In the evening, you can catch a Vietnamese folk music show.

Today you’ll depart Hanoi and drive more than 300 km north to the quiet hill town of Bac Ha. Bac Ha is home of the Flower Hmong people who are known for their weaving skills and rainbow-coloured, brocade clothing. Get your first impressions of North Vietnam’s hill country during a relaxed hike to nearby ethnic villages.

Today is a full day of hiking from village to village of the Hmong people. The Hmong are divided into several groups. They each have their own traditions and are distinguished by the design and colors of their clothing. The hike takes you along scenic trails among rice paddy fields, across streams and through forests. You’ll stop to look around Ban Pho, a Flower Hmong village famous for producing corn wine. Accommodation this evening is in a homestay where you'll be served traditional food and learn more about the indigenous people of this region.

Explore more villages of the Hmong people today on a 16 km trek through mountainous scenery. You'll stop in Lung Phinh, a village at the foot of the mountains surrounded by rice terraces and farmers’ fields. Your accommodation for the night is a homestay of the Nung people.

Today begins with a trek to Ta Cu Ty. The name means 'large rice fields,' and this is where you'll start to see the regions’ famed rice-terrace-covered hills – the ones from all the photographs. Tea is also grown here and picked from unusual 300-year-old tea trees which thrive at high altitudes. Tonight, you’ll stay in a homestay of the Tay people, one of the largest ethnic groups of North Vietnam who are known for their folk music.

Today you’ll embark on a 14 km hike through the mountains, visiting a beautiful waterfall along the way. In the afternoon you’ll visit the Nung village. The Nung have many traditions including weaving and metalwork and wear indigo-dyed clothing. Afterwards, you'll continue to the village of Ban Ngo where you'll spend the night in a homestay.

This morning you’ll continue hiking through the mountainous landscape, which is dotted with waterfalls and stilt houses. Then you'll be collected by bus and taken to Coc Pai, one of the highest villages in the region. At more than 1,000 m, this is literally a village in the clouds. In the afternoon, you'll continue to Hoang Su Phi. This highland area is the most famous for photogenic rice terraces and is home to several tribes including the Red Dao. Your homestay this is evening is in Luoc village, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.

Today begins with a four-hour trek through the Hoang Su Phi rice fields. These terraces are considered the most beautiful in Vietnam and have been made a national monument. In the afternoon you’ll be driven to Ha Giang. The journey takes you along winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery on this tour. You’ll have time to take photos along the way.

Today you'll take the scenic route through the Quan Ba Mountain Pass, otherwise known as Heaven’s Gate. Have your camera ready to photograph the twin hills, two identical mountains that are steeped in legend. The next stop is Hop Tien Cooperative, a village handicraft centre where you can buy products made from traditional textiles. The drive continues towards Dong Van and becomes a little hair-raising as the road twists and turns through the mountains. Accommodation this evening is in a homestay in Dong Van village.

Today you’ll be driven between Dong Van and Meo Vac close to the Chinese border. You’ll visit Lung Cu, a huge, 54m2 flag on a hillside that marks the Northernmost point of Vietnam. Then, you'll visit a Lo village, one of only a few places where you can meet this remote tribe. You'll be driven over the Ma Pi Leng Pass at an elevation of 1500m through breathtaking scenery. Accommodation this evening is in the village of Meo Vac.

Today begins with a drive towards Ba Be, a rainforest national park home to many tribal villages as well as a series of beautiful lakes. You'll stop off at several villages along the way, to meet some of the less well-known tribes living in remote areas, such as the San Chay. Depending on the day of the week, you’ll also be able to visit a weekly market in one of these villages. You’ll arrive at Ba Be National Park in the evening.

This morning begins with a boat trip on Lake Ba Be, the largest lake in Vietnam. You'll also explore Puong Cave, a huge limestone cave with a river running through it and a large colony of bats. After lunch in a village, you'll set off for the long drive back to Hanoi.

Today you’re in Hanoi for the last day of the tour. You can spend it how you wish, perhaps seeing more of the city’s sights and shopping for some last-minute souvenirs Then, it’s time to say your goodbyes as the tour ends.