North West Vietnam Package Tour – Part 1

Begin in Hanoi and travel through Northwest Vietnam taking in its breathtaking mountain landscapes and colorful dress of the local hill tribes. This itinerary takes you on a tour through enchanting, gaping valleys and towering mountains to remote hill tribe villages. Visit cascading waterfalls and typical mountain markets. Finish the trip relaxing on a cruise sailing on Halong Bay with thousands of limestone islands jutting out of the blue water.

Detailed program:

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival

Welcome to Hanoi, walking tour in the Old Quarter

Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by a professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy a 45-minute drive to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with the city’s briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine….Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Hanoi Old Quarter

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

Continue the day with a walking tour. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley – only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism since the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine, Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced … Stop to visit the Dong Xuan central market – the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food – Ta Hien street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of the amazing local foods and drinks. Trying to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

Hanoi Great Cathedral

Dong Xuan central market

End at your hotel.

Note: If your flight arrival late or you are jet leg after a long flight, the walking tour will be moved to the city tour day.

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour

Exploring the center of culture & education Van Mieu, outstanding museum of ethnology, visiting French Quarter and discovering Old town

9:00 AM: Get picked up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century for worshiping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage “stone steles” which shows the names of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.

Temple of Literature

Temple of Literature

Next stop at the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours.

Ethnology Museum

Ethnology Museum

In the afternoon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of travelers.

Come back to the city center and have a rest before enjoying the water puppet shows that are unique performances, first appearing in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.

Day 03: Hanoi – Nghia Lo

Meeting Thai & Muong ethnic group, green tea plantation

8:00 AM: Meet tour guide and driver at your hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Muong Lo via Thanh Son. Muong Lo is known as one of the four most important fertile valleys of the Northwest (Muong Thanh in Dien Bien Phu, Muong Tac in Phu Yen and Muong Than in Than Uyen) in which the Thai ethnic group predominates. The village consists of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts and Thai people cultivate the water rice. Drive to national road number 32 along the black river (Da River) one of the most important rivers in the Northwest.

In Thanh Son, we will make a stop to visit the green tea plantation hill then walk through the stilt-house villages. It belongs to the Muong ethnic group, considered as Authentic Viet. The Muong ethnic group is one of few northern communities that is immune to Chinese influence.

Arrive in Nghia Lo, walk or bike around the Thai village to discover the beautiful rice field valleys and hamlets that still preserve the authentic houses on stilts and meet the friendly locals.

Day 04: Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai

Immersing into nature in Mu Cang Chai La Pan Tan, the best rice terraces, Thai, Dao, Dzay culture

Enjoy breakfast then visit a local market in Nghia Lo then transfer to Mu Cang Chai via Tu Le. Mu Cang Chai is well known for its marvelous rice terrace widely considered as the most beautiful in the world. In 2007, Che Cu Nha, De Su Phinh and La Pan Tan were recognized as outdoor masterpieces on the list of national heritage.

At the exit of Nghia Lo, you will cross the hilly region populated by the Dao ethnic group on the hills. Stop for a chance to take photos and meet the local people on the way.

Arrive in Tu Le. It is possible to trek to the valley where Thai people live in houses on stilts and have some unusual encounters that allow you to immerse yourself into the authentic local life. In the afternoon, continue to Khau Pha pass which offers you a splendid panoramic view of the valley of rice terraces.

Then the car will take you to La Pan Tan which is a legendary route for photographers. You will admire the gorgeous rice terrace masterpieces created by the Hmong peasant artists from generation to generation. Enjoy the majestic landscape and follow the route from La Pan Tan to Mam Xoi. End of the day, check in your accommodation. 

Day 05: Mu Cang Chai – Lai Chau – Sapa

Transfer to Sapa, easy trek in Na Tam, living Laotian & Lu people

After breakfast, transfer to Than Uyen, one of the Thai rice valleys. The splendid landscape of rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai will follow you along the way to Than Uyen. Before turning right to Sapa, we will make a stop to visit Na Tam Village where the Laotian and Lu people live. This is a beautiful, tranquil landscape. Traditionally, the local women are distinguished by black teeth and indigo colored clothing encrusted with silver pieces. Take a 2 hour hike through the river, villages, rice fields, and hills and meet the locals.

Than Uyen

Na Tam village

Meet our driver for a transfer to Sapa, crossing Hoang Lien Son pass (O Quy Ho pass). This is the longest and highest pass in Vietnam, 54km in length and 2047m in height. Stop to relax at the top of the pass and soak up the grandiose landscape. This is also a great place for photos. Arrived in Sapa, a town discovered by the French in 1903, in the afternoon. With a temperate climate, Sapa became an attraction for holidaymakers because of its beautiful rice valley, splendid mountain range and the diversity of minority tribes such as Black Hmong, Red Dao and the Dzay ethnics. 

Read more: North West Vietnam Package Tour – Part 2

LPC SERVICES AND TRADING JOINT STOCK COMPANY 

Hotline: 0916688855

Website: https://lpctravel.com.vn/en/

Address: Room 1703, 17th Floor, Thang Long Building, 98 Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Street, Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.