Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (L,D)

7:30am you will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi (please advise your hotel name). Depart for Mai Chau. Enjoy some short treks on the way before we arrive in Mai Chau in the late afternoon. Check into a local stilt house for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Suoi Lon (B,L,D)

Transfer 17 kilometers then trek in an area of inhabitants of ethnic minority Thai, Muong the villages
of Cun Pheo and Hang Kia. Arrive Bai Sang wharf for the cruising on Black river by local boat. Arrive
at Suoi Lon for overnight in Muong’ Village.

Day 3: Suoi Lon – Bac Yen – Thu Cuc (B,L,D)

Transfer  to Ta Sua plateau, you can contemplate the highland scenery of it. Visit some villages of
ethnic Black H’mong and discover the daily life and custom of local inhabitants here, especially you
can enjoy the  local specialties: Ta Sua Tea and agriculture products then come back the town for lunch.

After lunch, visit the local market, the handicraft and farming products made by local villagers. Then continue trekking for about 5 Kilometers through villages of the Thai and the Muong. During the hike you can take a rest and taste some local wine is distillated by the local villagers. Transfer to Thu cuc. Overnight in a Muong village.

Day 4: Thu Cuc – Nghia Lo (B,L,D)

Trek through Thai, Dao, Mong villages. Visit the water wheel. It is used to scoop the water for the rice fields
near the streams. Continue going to Nghia Lo through the direction of Lung Lo pass. Arrive at Nghia
Lo,  check in hotel. If time permit, have a short walk to the local market. Walk back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Nghia Lo – Tu Le (B,L,D)

After breakfast, leave Nghia Lo. Trek and visit some villages of ethnic’s minorities along the  road:
black Dzao, H’mong, white Thai, etc. Arrive in Tu Le village, dinner and overnight in a house on stilt. You will have the opportunity to experience the culture of the local Thai people in the area.

Day 6: Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we say goodbye to our host and continue our journey driving to the village center. You may have the opportunity to visit the local market. Transfer to the foot of Kau Pha pass where we will start trekking for about 9 Km through the forest and ethnic villages. This trail runs parallel with the famous and beautiful Kau Pha pass. We finish the trail at the peak of the pass (1800m above sea level). Transfer to Mu Cang Chai for lunch. Visit the local market and go move on to Than Uyen. Arrive in Than Uyen about late afternoon. Check into a local guest house for overnight.

Day 7: Than Uyen – Binh Lu – Sapa (B,L)

Transfer to Sapa. We can have some more treks on the way to visit villages of ethnic minorties. Especially,
you can meet the most typical ethics of the region – Lao,  Lu  (Xa  Pho).  They  wear  the  long  traditional  and colorful costumes with jeweler hand made.

Arrive in Sapa. Check into a local hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or enjoy a short walk to discover the town. Sapa town has such highlights as the Ham Rong mountain, Sapa market, Dzao traditional spa…

Day 8: Visit Cao Son market. Overnight train back to Hanoi (B,L).

Transfer to Muong Khuong district, via  tea plantation and  forest of pine. You might encounter Giay tribe in their traditional dress in Ban Lau or Thanh Binh. Reaching Cao Son about 10.am, enjoy the excitement of this weekly market. The shining dress of colorful Hmong girls attracts you much as you fall  down to a new world, a world of interest and fun. Having lunch in Cao Son lodge.

In the afternoon, commence  your  walk  to  the most  secluded  yet  peaceful  village – Tin  Thang.  In  this  village, people still distill the wine from corn, making bacon in the most basic way and offering special corn
cake to anyone who drop by their house. Transfer back to Laocai. Take the overnight train back to Hanoi. Train ??? Departure (to be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 9: Arrive Hanoi early this morning.

Arrive Hanoi early this morning. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

Day 1: Overnight train to Laocai.

19:00 you will be met up with Lotussia Travel guide, driver and transferred to Hanoi train station. Overnight train to Laocai. Train ??? Departure at ??? (to be advised). Overnight on the train.

Day 2: Arrive Laocai. Transfer to Sapa. Trekking (B,L,D).

Arrive Lao Cai Train Station early this morning at 6:00am (to be advised). You will be greeted by Lotussia Travel local team and transferred to Sapa. Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

8:30 am, you will be transferred to Ban Ho village. We will trek through the scenic valley of “Ban Ho”. This  is  a  village  of Tay  ethnic minority. The Tay preserve a traditional and fairly developed agriculture with cultivation of all kinds of plants including rice, maize and sweet potato as well as seasonable fruit and vegetables. Then we continue walking to Thanh Phu village where your lunch will be provided in a local house. After  lunchtime,  you head  to  Sin Chai  village. This is a village of of Red Dao people. Dinner and overnight at the village.

Day 3: Continue trekking. Return Sapa town (B,L).

After breakfast, we start our day by walking downhill toward the My Son village which is inhabited by the Xa Pho ethnic minority, one of the smallest group’s ethnic in Northern Vietnam. After one and a half hours walk to the Red Dao village of Nam Toong, we bill stop for lunch.

In  the afternoon, we  continue our  hiking trip towards Ban Ho village where  it will be possible  to  take a swim (Please check your guide’s advice before jumping on the water. Since the water can be very cold in summer time). Then our vehicle will transfer you back to Sapa.

Free dinner and overnight at hotel in Sapa town.

Day 4: Sapa – Lai Chau (B,L,D).

Depart for Tam Duong. Stop at Tram Ton pass (“Heaven Gates”) to enjoy the stunning views over the valley. From there, we will then drive downhill on the zigzag mountain paved road to Tam Duong. Upon arrival in Tam Duong, we start our walk through tea fields, limestone  and  several villages of Flower Hmong and Giay minorities.

Your lunch will be provided en route.

In the afternoon, we will continue our walk to Ban Giang village, which is around 1.5 hours away. The Giay people also inhabit in Ban Giang. We will then take a smaller trail to reach Hon village which inhabited by Lu people.

We will be picked up by our vehicle again and transferred to Lai Chau. Check into a local hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Lai Chau – Phong Tho – Sin Ho (B,L,D).

After breakfast, we drive up the rough road passing the home of Meo, Man, Thai minority groups. Other may be made en route for you to visite other hill tribe villages.

Picnic lunch at the good place near the bank of  the River.

Arrive Sin Ho and check into a local guesthouse.

Day 6: Visit Sin Ho market. Sinho – Sapa – Laocai. Overnight train back to Hanoi (B,L).

After breakfast, we attend to the Sin Ho market that is open on Sunday morning only. You will encounter a photogenic display of Red H’mong, Black Dao and Thai ethnic costumes. Chinese people also attend the market for trading. After visiting the market, we will have lunch in a local restaurant then drive back to Sapa, then to Laocai train station for overnight train back to Hanoi. Train ??? Departure at ??? (to be advised). Overnight on the train.

Hiking Sapa Vietnam is a Lotussia Travel article offering the most comprehensive information about hiking tours, hiking trails, hiking trips…in Sapa Vietnam.

Sapa is the place where a large number of both Vietnamese and foreign tourists go to for hiking through the beautiful scenery of North Vietnam’s mountains.

Most of travelers go to Sapa by train. There is a train to Lao Cai almost every day. The train departure is usually at about 20:00 pm and the arrival time at Lao Cai train station  at about 5:00 am the next day. For those travelling by road can reach Sapa from either Bac Ha, Yen Bai, Ha Giang or Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu.

While the town itself is not without charm, most people are drawn to the landscape surrounding it – high mountains, numerous rice paddies, bamboo forests, wild rivers and of course the large number of ethnic minority people inhabiting this area. Most of them belong to the H’mong people, but Dzao and other minorities are found as well.

Sapa is quite high in the mountains – thus the climate is much cooler than in the lowlands. In winter, Sapa is one of the only places in Vietnam where it actually snows from time to time. Also, the weather can be quite unpredictable – a clear and warm day may well be followed by a foggy and damp day.

Sapa offers a wide selection of hiking tours ranging from half day easy hike to multi-day challenging tours. Most of hiking tours start in Sapa town and end up in the town itself.

Easy half day and one day hiking tours can be arranged without support vehicle. The most popular hiking trails for these day hiking tours are Sapa – Cat Cat village, Sapa – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai village; Sapa – Ta Phin village.

Those who look for more challenging hiking tours in Sapa can book a 3, 4, 5 or even longer tours that are available at either Lotussia Travel. These hard hiking tours are provided on private basis with support vehicle and trekking support team. Local H’mong porters and cook are necessary for big group size while small group only need porters.

Although Sapa town is a very popular tourist place, many hiking trails are still wild and untouched. Booking a multi-day hiking tour offers you the opportunity to visit Sapa most untouched villages where you will experience the real life of the local people. You will discover interesting facts about the local traditions and culture.

Need more information about Hiking Sapa Vietnam, either mail to info at lotussiatravel.com or visit www.lotussiatravel.com

Day 1: Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho (L,D)

09.00 am you will be met up with Lotussia local team at your hotel in Sapa (Please inform your hotel name upon your confirmation).

Walk downhill on a narrow trail for an hour. You hike through fruit gardens and vegetable farms to the southern end of Cat Cat Village. You then continue trekking up and downhill along the Vang Stream for over 4 hours. You trek through part of Hoang Lien National Park is covered by thick bamboo and rain forest. You will pass by several isolated hamlets of the Black H’mong.

You arrive in Y Linh Ho Village in mid afternoon. You may want to have a walk around to explore the village before checking into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Y Linh Ho – Lao Hang Chai – Seo Mi Ty (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Y Linh Ho village at about 09.00 a.m.

You start the day trekking on a large path to Lao Hang Chai village, inhabited by the H’mong. You will pass by several hamlets along the way. Enjoy spectacular scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley.

After about one hour trek, the trail becomes narrow and tough while you trek uphill through bamboo forest. You continue trekking through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien National Park.

The trek lasts for about 5 hours in the rich nature. The hiking trail sometimes gets out of the forest and offers stunning panorama of the long and large valley.

Around late afternoon, you will arrive Seo Mi Ty village, located in a charming valley at the height 1567 m above sea level. Free time to relax by the stream near the newly built hydraulic power station.

Dinner and overnight in a local house (homestay).

Day 3: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Seo Mi Ty village at about 08.30. The first 20-minute walk is easy. You then trek for about 2 hours along a tougher trail winding downhill through thick rain forest. You will arrive Den Thang village, isolatedly located in a remote valley. Explore this village and then lunch break.

After lunch, you will leave this isolated hamlet, continuing trekking along a narrow stream up and downhill. You trek through the wildest land of Sapa. This part of trek last for about 4 hours before you arrive in Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.

You will arrive in Ta Trung Ho village at about 5.00 pm. You may have time for a short walk around this village. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Ngan – Nam Sang – Ban Sai (B,L,D)

Breakfast will be provided at homestay. You will leave the Ta Trung Ho village at about 08.30 am.

You trek on a narrow dirt trail sneaking on steep hill sides. The whole morning will be spent trekking through narrow & sharp canyon from the height of 950 m up to 1,500m. Lunch break at the top of the mountain.

After lunch, you trek on the same trail downhill for 1,5 hour, going through the forest to Nam Ngan Village of the Red Zao. Walk around to explore this quiet and charming village. Then following larger dirt path 1 hour trekking downhill to Nam Sang Village of the Xa Pho peoples. Visit local homes here for a discovery of their unique way of living. The Xa Pho is a sub group of the Phu La ethnic whose population is just about 4,000 in Vietnam and still live a primary way.

Walk through Nam Sai Valley for one more hour. You will arrive in a Tay village around late afternoon. Check into a local house for dinner and breakfast.

Day 5: Ban Sai – Nam Nhiu – Nam Than – Sin Chai B (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Ban Sai at about 09.00 am. You will trek on a large & good path and going uphill to Nam Nhiu Village, inhabited by Red Zao. Continue hiking along a dirt path for 1,5 hour to Nam Than Village of the Red Zao and Black H’mong. This portion of the trek offers stunning view of Nam Sai and Nam Cang Valleys. You will also have the chance to get more knowledge avout the life of tribal peoples in remote land.

Leaving Nam Than village, you will continue trekking for one more hour through the wild land, dotted with terraced fields, bamboo forest…

Lunch will be provided in a local house.

Continue trekking for about two more hours in the afternoon. You will trek on the same trail passing through the land of Suoi Thau Commune. You will arrive in Sin Chai B Village of the Red Zao. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight (homestay).

Day 6: Sin Chai B – Nam Lang A – Nam Lang B – Ta Thang – Lao Cai (B,L)

Today, you will trek on a narrow dirt trail for a half hour to the bottom of the valley. Trek gradually uphill for nearly two hours to Nam Lang A village. Then continue terekking to Nam Lang B. These two villages are inhabited by the Red Zao ethnic groups. Visiting some local houses, talking with the hosts will help you know more about the life and way of living of the Red Zao.

Lunch will be provided in a local house in Nam Lang B village.

In the afternoon, you will follow a large and rocky road for a half hour, trekking to the top of the mountain range. Once you reach the top, you trek gradually downhill to Nam Ket Village of the Red Zao and the Tay.

You keep trekking along the same trail, going downhill for nearly 2 hours to Ta Thang Village. Once you arrive in the village, enjoy great view of the Red River Valley which runs through the Bao Yen District.

You will be picked up again by Lotussia Travel vehicle at Ta Thang village and transferred to Lao Cai where you will take the overnight train to get back to Hanoi. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Day 1: Sapa – Tram Ton – Sin Chai (L,D)

09.00 am you will be met up with Lotussia local team at your hotel in Sapa (Please inform your hotel name upon your confirmation). You will be transferred from Sapa to the Tram Ton Pass. Stop at the Silver Waterfall for a quick visit. Then walk around the Heaven Gate and enjoy magnificent scenery of the other side of Hoang Lien Son range.

Start trekking from Tram Ton. You will follow a narrow trail sneaking on mountain sides and through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien Nature Reserve. You trek downhill for almost 3 hours before you arrive in the Sin Chai Village, inhabitated by the H’mong. Walk around this village, visit some local houses. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Sin Chai – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave the village at about 09.00 am. You will walk on a good path to the Cat Cat Waterfall. Have a short rest by this nature wonders before you continue your trek. You will trek up and downhill along the Vang Stream for over 4 hours. You trek through part of Hoang Lien National Park covered by thick bamboo and rain forest, and pass by several isolated hamlets of the Black H’mong.

Upon your arrival in Y Linh Ho Village in mid afternoon, you may want to have a short walk around to explore the village before checking into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Y Linh Ho – Lao Hang Chai – Seo Mi Ty (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Y Linh Ho village at about 09.00 a.m.

You start the day trekking on a large path to Lao Hang Chai village, inhabited by the H’mong. You will pass by several hamlets along the way. Enjoy spectacular scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley.

After about one hour trek, the trail becomes narrow and tough while you trek uphill through bamboo forest. You continue trekking through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien National Park.

The trek lasts for about 5 hours in the rich nature. The hiking trail sometimes gets out of the forest and offers stunning panorama of the long and large valley.

Around late afternoon, you will arrive Seo Mi Ty village, located in a charming valley at the height 1567 m above sea level. Free time to relax by the stream near the newly built hydraulic power station.

Dinner and overnight in a local house (homestay).

Day 4: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Seo Mi Ty village at about 08.30. The first 20-minute walk is easy. You then trek for about 2 hours along a tougher trail winding downhill through thick rain forest. You will arrive Den Thang village, isolatedly located in a remote valley. Explore this village and then lunch break.

After lunch, you will leave this isolated hamlet, continuing trekking along a narrow stream up and downhill. You trek through the wildest land of Sapa. This part of trek last for about 4 hours before you arrive in Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.

You will arrive in Ta Trung Ho village at about 5.00 pm. You may have time for a short walk around this village. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Ngan – Nam Sang – Ban Sai (B,L,D)

Breakfast will be provided at homestay. You will leave the Ta Trung Ho village at about 08.30 am.

You trek on a narrow dirt trail sneaking on steep hill sides. The whole morning will be spent trekking through narrow & sharp canyon from the height of 950 m up to 1,500m. Lunch break at the top of the mountain.

After lunch, you trek on the same trail downhill for 1,5 hour, going through the forest to Nam Ngan Village of the Red Zao. Walk around to explore this quiet and charming village. Then following larger dirt path 1 hour trekking downhill to Nam Sang Village of the Xa Pho peoples. Visit local homes here for a discovery of their unique way of living. The Xa Pho is a sub group of the Phu La ethnic whose population is just about 4,000 in Vietnam and still live a primary way.

Walk through Nam Sai Valley for one more hour. You will arrive in a Tay village around late afternoon. Check into a local house for dinner and breakfast.

Day 6: Ban Sai – My Son – Nam Toong – Thanh Phu Bridge – Sapa (B,L)

After breakfast, you will continue our last portion of trekking at 09.00 am. You will walk on a large rocky path for an hour to My Son village, a newly formed village is inhabited by the Xa Pho peoples. You will have a quick visit of this village before you continue your hike to the other side of the valley, the former location of the Nam Keeng Villages. There are traces of the many landslides along the way which can help you to know more about the very hard life of local peoples.

You will arrive in the Nam Toong Village of the Red Zao at noon. Lunch break and then walk around the village to get in touch with the villagers.

After lunch, you go descending for about 2 hours to Thanh Phu Bridge where you will be picked up again and transferred back to Sapa town. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Day 1: Overnight train to Laocai.

Transfer from your hotel in Hanoi to Hanoi Railway station will be arranged on your own. Take the night train for Laocai. Train??? Departure at ??? (To be advised).

Overnight on the train.

Day 2: Arrive Laocai early this morning. Travel to Sapa. Start trekking (B,L,D).

Arrive Laocai early this morning. You will be greeted by Lotussia local team and transferred uphill to Sapa.

Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

Transfer 15 km along the road 4D to the Mong Sen Bridge with stops along the way for enjoying spectacular landscapes. Trekking uphill along large dirt road  for nearly an hour, then following a narrow dirt trail winding its way on steep hill-sides along the western bank of the upstream part of Ngoi Dum River for 2 hours to an isolated hamlet of the Black H’mong people, explore these isolated hamlets of the Black H’mong, then lunch break.

After lunch, continue trekking along the same trail for nearly 1,5 hours up and downhill towards Ta Phin Valley and arrive at the center of Ta Phin Commune in mid afternoon. Take a walk around this stunning valley, paying visit to some Red Zao families.

Dinner and overnight in the village (Homestay).

Day 3: Continue trekking. Travel to Laocai. Overnight train back to Hanoi (B,L).

Breakfast and leave Ta Phin village at 09.00.

Walk for 2 hours through several hamlets of the H’mong scattering on hill-sides. Continue gradually uphill 1 hour to Ma Cha, another village of the H’mong and then trek through the Ma Cha Valley. This valley is close to Sapa Town but very quiet and the peoples here are still living their own way without influence of tourism.

Lunch will be provided in a local house.

After lunch, the trail gets larger and gradually uphill through the Suoi Ho Valley featered with narrow terraced paddies and later pine plantation, fruit, vegetable & artichoke gardens.

You will be picked up again by our car and transferred directly to Laocai.

Day use will be provided in a mini standard hotel in Laocai before you take the night train to travel back to Hanoi.

Train ??? Departure at ??? (To be advised).

Overnight on the train.

Day 4: Arrive Hanoi early this morning. End.

Arrive in Hanoi early this morning. Transfer from Hanoi Railway station to your hotel (or to the airport) will be arranged by yourself.

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Day 1: Ho Chi Minh city – Buon Ma Thuot (Vietnam Central Highlands).

You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city and transferred to Tan Son Nhat airport for a short flight to Buon Ma Thuot. Flight ??? departure at ??? (Please advise).

Welcome at Buon Ma Thuot airport by our driver and transfer to your hotel in Buon Ma Thuot (without guide).

Check into hotel and stay free at leisure.

Day 2: Elephan riding and boat trip (B,L,D).

Breakfast at hotel.

Enjoy the excellent coffee in Buon Ma Thuot at Trung Nguyen coffee village (personal expenses ). You have a chance to explore one of the typical villages of the Edeh in the city, Ako Dhong village with around 20 long houses on stilts.

Drive to Lak Lake (56km), on the way drop into the coffee plantations and peper gardens for sightseeings.

Lunch will be provided in the Lak lake restaurant.

In the afternoon, walk around M’Nông hilltribe villages of Jun and Le. Have some fun elephant ride and boat trip in the lake area (dugout canoe).

In the evening, assist to the gong music and traditional dance show.

Overnight at Lak Resort.

Day 3: Visit Draysap waterfall. Fly back to Ho Chi Minh city (B,L).

Breakfast at hotel.

Continue the tour visiting the ethnology museum with such exhibits, objects, photos from local minorities. Travel to the Draysap waterfalls. Dray Sap Falls extend 500 meters divided into three parts; the upstream, the middle and the lower stream. The water is supplied by two rivers, the Krong No, which means river of the husband in the M’Nong ethnic people’s language, and the Krong A, the river of the wife.

Lunch is provided in a local restaurant.

At leisure in the afternoon to central market for shopping. Transfer to Buon Ma Thuot airport for onward flight home. Flight??? Departure at ??? (Please advise).

Welcome at Tan Son Nhat airport by our driver and transferred to your hotel in town (without guide). End tour.

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Day 1: Sapa – Tram Ton – Sin Chai (L,D)

8:30: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel guide, driver at your hotel in Sapa then transferred to the Silver Waterfall where you will be able to take a short walk to the waterfall.

Drive further to Heaven Gate, the highest peak of roads in Vietnam. From there you can see the Mt. Fansipan, the highest peak of Indochina mountains.

Start descending nearby the waterfall. The trail takes you all the way downhill through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park.

Your lunch will be served at a nice spot nearby a river.

After lunch, you continue the trek to Sin Chai village of Black Hmong minority, where Community Based Tourism in Sapa takes place. You will have opportunity to explore daily life of one of the largest group ethnic minorities in Sapa area. Here you spend the night in a local house.

Day 2 : Sin Chai – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, start heading up the mountain. Once you get to the top, you will trek on a small trail and then gradually descend to Cat Cat village, where you will have lunch nearby a waterfall.

In the afternoon, you take another trail sneaking through the mountains. You also enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river.

Upon our arrival in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, we will check-into a local house.

Dinner and overnight in the village.

Day 3: Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Tavan (B,L,D)

Today’s trek will continue along Hoang Lien mountain range. The tour offers you many opportunities to enjoy view over huge rice paddy terraces in Muong Hoa valley, the largest one in the area.

After lunch at a nice spot, you descend into the bottom of the valley. You will pass through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route.

You spend the night in a traditional house of Giay minority. It will be possible for you to have some more walk around before the dinner.

Overnight in the village.

Day 4: Tavan – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan (B,L)

Today’s trek is short, but still the landscape is beautiful. Once you get energy for your last day trek after having breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai village.  You will enjoy the walk in bamboo forests. After passing trough the bamboo forest we will find a nice place to enjoy lunch.

After lunch we continue towards Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa.

15:00: You will be dropped off at Sapa church. End of Lotussia Travel service.

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Day 1: Hanoi – Laocai by train.

You will be met up with Lotussia Travel guide, driver at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Hanoi Railway station for the night train to Laocai. Train SP? Departure at 20:30 (to be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 2: Arrive Laocai early this morning. Travel to Bac Ha (B,L,D).

Arrive at Lao Cai Railway station early this morning. You will be greeted by Lotussia Travel local team and transferred to a local restaurant for early breakfast.

After a short rest, travel to Bac Ha. Visit Bac Ha market, the biggest market in the area.

Every Sunday, different ethnic groups come to the market  to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short easy walk to a H’mong village near Bac Ha town.

Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 3: Transfer Bac Ha – Ha Giang. Start trekking (B,L,D).

Breakfast at hotel. You will be transferred to the trekking point where we will begin our trek along a narrow trail on steep hillsides.

Lunch will be provided in a local village (picnic).

After lunch, continue trekking through the forest to the top of mountain range (hard trek) and then downhill to a Red Dzao village.

Dinner and homestay in a stilt house.

Day 4: Continue trekking Ha Giang hill tribe villages (B,L,D).

Spend the whole morning trekking along a large path with great view over a Nung village.

Lunch will be provided in a local hill tribe village (picnic).

After lunch, we will follow a narrow footpath trekking for about 3 hours (hard trek) up and downhill through the thick forest. Visit the rock-field with scripts carved by ancient peoples. Arrive the village around late afternoon.

Dinner and homestay in a local house.

Day 5: Continue hiking Ha Giang province (B,L,D).

Transfer along a paved road to the southern side of the mountain. Enjoy 3 hours easy trekking through Tay and Dzao villages along the narrow valley.

Lunch will be provided in a local house (picnic).

After lunch, continue our trek crossing the river to the southern bank, then uphill, downhill to a Dzao village.

Dinner and overnight in a house on stilt.

Day 6: Trekking. Transfer to the main road. Travel back to Hanoi (B,L).

Travel the dirt road to Quang Binh, Ha Giang. Then have quite a full day drive to Hanoi. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant en route.

Arrive Hanoi around late afternoon. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi (own arrangements). The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Day 1: Overnight train to Laocai.

Travel to Hanoi Railway Station by yourselves. Take the night train for Laocai. Train SP? Departure at 20:30 (to be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 2: Pickup at Laocai Railway Station & transfer to Sapa. Full day trekking (B/L/D).

Arrive Lao Cai Railway Station early this morning. You will be met up by Lotussia Travel local team and transferred by private A/C vehicle to Sapa.

Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

Transfer 18 km to Ban Lech village of the Red Zao. We will trek along a narrow valley downhill for 2 hour to the Ngoi Bo River, then uphill for 1 hour to Muong Bo Village at the center of Thanh Phu Commune where your lunch will be provided in a local house.

After lunchtime, you will trek gradually uphill to Nam Cum Village and then head to Sin Chai B village of Red Dao where the night will be spent in the Red Dao Village.

Day 3: Full day trekking (B/L/D).

Today’s trek takes you through terraced rice paddies, bamboo forest and villages of the Red Zao and Tay such as Sin Chai A, Nam Than, Nam Nhiu with many stops for visiting local homes, schoools as well as for taking photos.

Your lunch will be prepared and served in a local house.

In the afternoon, you head to Ban Sai village of Tay minority, near the center of Nam Sai Commune. Here you will walk around to explore this village and home stay overnight here in a house on stilts. Dinner will be served with Vietnamese dishes.

Day 4: Continue trekking. Travel to Laocai Railway Station. Overnight train back to Hanoi (B/L).

On the last day of the trek you will cross several suspension bridges and trek through lush rice paddy fields and stunning scenery. Once leaving Ban Sai, you will cross the river after paying visit to My Son – a village of the Xa Pho group and then follow a narrow trail uphill to Nam Keng and continue to Nam Toong, where you have lunch in a local school.

In the afternoon, your trek will be firstly downhill to Ban Ho village where you will have time for a swim in the river. The car will meet you there and return you to Sapa.

Transfer to Laocai Railway Station for the train trip back to Hanoi. Train??? Departure at 20:00 (to be advised).

Overnight on board train.

Day 5: Arrive Hanoi early this morning. Get into your hotel by yourselves.

Arrive Hanoi early this morning. Get into your hotel in town by yourselves.

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The park is located approximately 30 km east of Haiphong, covering about 263 km² and comprising 173 km² land and 90 km² of inshore water.

Cat Ba National Park is a special-use forests in Vietnam, the world’s biosphere reserve. Cat Ba National Park of Cat Hai district, Hai Phong.

The following itinerary is a sample two-day tour Lotussia Travel customizes for active travelers. The tour begins from Hanoi with a private transfer to Hai Phong and can be extended to three or four-day tour with more activities that can be added.

Day 1: Hanoi – Hai Phong – Cat Ba – Viet Hai village.

You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Hai Phong (early departure). On arrival in Hai Phong, you will take a speed boat and travel to Cat Ba Island.

Arrive in Cat Ba town, enjoy a short walk in Cat Ba town. Visit the local market, the tourist quarter and fishing village. Then have lunch in a local restaurant in town.

After lunch, you will be transferred by motor-taxi to Cat Ba National park from where you will begin a 4-hour challenging hike through Cat Ba National Park and up to one of the mountain summits. The 18km hiking trails ends at Viet Hai village.

Check into a local lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Viet Hai village – Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Hanoi.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a short bicycle ride from Viet Hai ecolodge to the boat pier (about 2 km). The biking trail is easy with a few up and downhill rides.

On arrival at Viet Hai boat pier, you will be picked up by our sharing shuttle boat and transferred back to Cat Ba town.

Arrive back in Cat Ba island town, you may want to have lunch before taking the speed boat again for travelling back to Hai Phong city where your Lotussia vehicle will be waiting for. Enjoy the two-hour drive back to Hanoi.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi (hotel: own arrangements). The end of Lotussia Travel services.

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The four-day hike will take you the the less visited hill tribes villages in Mai Chau valley such as Hang Kia village, Van village, Xo village and Poom Coong village. The hike is medium challenging with fews climbing up and downhill. The three nights will be spent in a local house in village (homestay), offering a true experience of the real villagers’s life.

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi via Flight???, you will be greeted by Lotussia Travel guide, driver then escorted to your hotel in town.

Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau. Hike Mai Chau – Hang Kia village.

We leave Hanoi heading west to Hoa Binh Province. We climb towards the Mai Chau valley another two hours away stopping to take in the spectacular scenery.

Following lunch in Mai Chau town we drive to the White Thai village of Xa Linh where we start a 2-hour hike to the village of Hang Kia. Our hosts this evening will be the H’mong people. Whilst enjoying their hospitality we learn a little about their way of life.

Tonight’s accommodation will be basic although mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets are provided.

Day 3: Continue hiking Mai Chau valley (Hang Kia – Van village).

This morning we have a 4-5 hour hike to Van village is home of the White Thai people. The hike takes us through unforgettable scenery and provides us with an opportunity to witness the authentic rural life.

Arriving in Van village by mid to late afternoon there will be time to take a short walk around the village.

Our hosts for this evening will treat us to a fine meal and stories of life in Van village.

Day 4: Continue hiking Mai Chau valley (Van village – Xo village).

We spend the morning strolling around the surrounding villages. We then return to Van for lunch. After lunch, stroll down to the river (if weather permit) before embarking on a 3hour walk to the village of Xo.

Dinner and overnight in Xo village.

Day 5: Continue hiking Mai Chau valley (Xo village – Poong Coong village). Return Hanoi.

Bidding farewell to our hosts we have a five-hour hike from Xo to Poong Cong village. Lunch will be provided in a local stilt house.

After lunch, we will drive back to Hanoi.

Arrive Hanoi around late afternoon. Check-in hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

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The facilities are limited in Kho Muong village. The houses are not as comfortable as that can be in Mai Chau or elsewhere in town. But hot water and soft mattress are available.

Here are some pictures taken on a Lotussia research trip in October, 2011.

Day-by-day tour itinerary:

Day 1: Overnight train to Lao Cai.

You will take the night train from Hanoi station towards Lao Cai.

Day 2: Full day visit to a Market + easy trek to a M’mong village (B,L,D).

The train arrives at Lao Cai Station approx at 5h30 where your Lotussia Travel local guide and driver are waiting. You will enjoy your breakfast in a local restaurant in Lao Cai.

You will then go from Lao Cai to one of the markets, depending on which day today is. There are the markets of Coc Ly (or Ban Cam on Tuesdays), Lung Khau Nhin (Thursdays), Can Cau (Saturdays) and Bac Ha (or Muong Khuong or Muong Hum on Sundays), all located in the surrounding mountainous area, 70 – 90 km from Lao Cai. All of the markets are colorful with many different hill tribes living around the market, gathers in a morning of the week. They come to the market not only for purchasing their local products, but also for their special social event.

Transfer to Bac Ha town. Check into a local hotel.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short trek to a H’mong village.

Day 3: Drive Bac Ha – Ha Giang. Start trekking (B; L; D)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the trekking departure point. Some stops may be made en route for you to enjoy the nice scenery.

You will begin you day adventure in a Phu La village. You trek on  a narrow valley for 3 hours. Continue trekking for 2 more hours and arrive to a H’mong village. Have a short walk around this village; visiting local school and some local houses will help you understand more the local way of living.

After visiting this village, you will be picked up again by your Lotussia vehicle and transferred to the homestay. This portion of the road offers spectacular landscapes and you may have many photo stops on the way.

Day 4: Continue trekking Ha Giang area (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will continue your trek following a large path. Enjoy great view en route. After three-hour trek, you will arrive in a Nung village.

Lunch will be provided near the village-school.

After lunch, you will continue trekking on the same trail. You will trek through a H’mong village to a Zao village. You will be picked up again by your vehicle and transferred to Ha Giang ancient rock field.

Arrive in the home-stay . Dinner and overnight in a local house.

Day 5: Continue trekking Ha Giang hill tribe villages (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave the village at about 9:00 a.m. You will be transferred to a mountain pass where you will begin your trek through thick rain forest to the southern side.

Enjoy a 3-hour leisure walk as you trek through Tay and Dzao villages.  You trek along the narrow valley until a stop will be made for lunch.

After lunch, you continue your trek crossing a River to the southern bank. You then trek uphill and then downhill to a Dzao village.  This village is beautifully set on the southern bank of the river.

You will be picked up again by your Lotussia vehicle and transferred to Thong Nguyen. Dinner and overnight in Pan Hou ecolodge.

Day 6: Pan Hou Ecolodge, Ha Giang – Hanoi (B,L)

Full day transfer from Ha Giang to Hanoi.

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Hiking trails: Sapa – Seomity – Ta Trung Ho –  Nam Ngan – Ban Sai – Sin Chai B – Ben Den – Lao Cai

Trip Highlights: Spectacular landscapes of the Hoang Lien mountain range and Hoang Lien national park; Unique culture, custom and way of living of the H’mong, Zao, Tay ethnics; Home stay in remote villages of the tribal ethnic peoples for local life experiences.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Seo Mi Ty (L,D)

09.00 am you will be met up with Lotussia local team at your hotel in Sapa and transferred to the Mong Sen Bridge (please advise us your hotel name upon your confirmation). Head southwards on a paved road for 3 km and then turn right to a dirt path. You trek gradually downhill to the Muong Hoa River. Enjoy the magnificent view of Hoang Lien mountain range and Sapa Valley.

Cross the river by a suspension bridge, then trek uphill for nearly 2 hours before you arrive Lao Hang Chai village of the Black H’mong. You will have the opportunity to visit several small & isolated hamlets along the way before you stop in a nice place for lunch.

After lunch, we continue our trek. The trekking trail gets narrower & tougher while we hike through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien nature reserve. Wild and rich nature!

You will arrive in Seo Mi Ty Village in late afternoon. You may have time for a short walk around this village before having dinner.

Overnight in a local house (homestay) or camping.

Day 2: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Seo Mi Ty village at about 08.30. The first 20-minute walk is easy. You then trek for about 2 hours along a tougher trail winding downhill through thick rain forest. You will arrive Den Thang village, isolatedly located in a remote valley. Explore this village and then lunch break.

After lunch, you will leave this isolated hamlet, continuing trekking along a narrow stream up and downhill. You trek through the wildest land of Sapa. This part of trek last for about 4 hours before you arrive in Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.

You will arrive in Ta Trung Ho village at about 5.00 pm. You may have time for a short walk around this village. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Ngan – Nam Sang – Ban Sai (B,L,D)

Breakfast will be provided at homestay. You will leave the Ta Trung Ho village at about 08.30 am.

You trek on a narrow dirt trail sneaking on steep hill sides. The whole morning will be spent trekking through narrow & sharp canyon from the height of 950 m up to 1,500m. Lunch break at the top of the mountain.

After lunch, you trek on the same trail downhill for 1,5 hour, going through the forest to Nam Ngan Village of the Red Zao. Walk around to explore this quiet and charming village. Then following larger dirt path 1 hour trekking downhill to Nam Sang Village of the Xa Pho peoples. Visit local homes here for a discovery of their unique way of living. The Xa Pho is a sub group of the Phu La ethnic whose population is just about 4,000 in Vietnam and still live a primary way.

Walk through Nam Sai Valley for one more hour. You will arrive in a Tay village around late afternoon. Check into a local house for dinner and breakfast.

Day 4: Ban Sai – Nam Than – Nam Nhiu – Sin Chai B (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Ban Sai at about 09.00 am. You will trek on a large & good path and going uphill to Nam Nhiu Village, inhabited by Red Zao. Continue hiking along a dirt path for 1,5 hour to Nam Than Village of the Red Zao and Black H’mong. This portion of the trek offers stunning view of Nam Sai and Nam Cang Valleys. You will also have the chance to get more knowledge avout the life of tribal peoples in remote land.

Leaving Nam Than village, you will continue trekking for one more hour through the wild land, dotted with terraced fields, bamboo forest…

Lunch will be provided in a local house.

Continue trekking for about two more hours in the afternoon. You will trek on the same trail passing through the land of Suoi Thau Commune. You will arrive in Sin Chai B Village of the Red Zao. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight (homestay).

Day 5: Sin Chai B – Nam Lang A – Nam Lang B – Ta Thang – Lao Cai (B,L)

Today, you will trek on a narrow dirt trail for a half hour to the bottom of the valley. Trek gradually uphill for nearly two hours to Nam Lang A village. Then continue terekking to Nam Lang B. These two villages are inhabited by the Red Zao ethnic groups. Visiting some local houses, talking with the hosts will help you know more about the life and way of living of the Red Zao.

Lunch will be provided in a local house in Nam Lang B village.

In the afternoon, you will follow a large and rocky road for a half hour, trekking to the top of the mountain range. Once you reach the top, you trek gradually downhill to Nam Ket Village of the Red Zao and the Tay.

You keep trekking along the same trail, going downhill for nearly 2 hours to Ta Thang Village. Once you arrive in the village, enjoy great view of the Red River Valley which runs through the Bao Yen District.

You will be picked up again by Lotussia Travel vehicle at Ta Thang village and transferred to Lao Cai where you will take the overnight train to get back to Hanoi. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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HIKING TRAILS: Sapa – Tram Ton Heavens Gate – Sin Chai village – Cat Cat village – Y Linh Ho village – Lao Hang Chai village – Seo Mi Ty village – Den Thang village – Ta Trung Ho village – Nam Toong village – Thanh Phu Bridge – Sapa town

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Spectacular landscapes and wild nature of Hoang Lien National Park and Muong Hoa Valley;    Unique culture, custom and way of living of the Black H’mong, Red Zao and Tay ethnic groups.; Experiencing part of local life by 4 nights home stay.

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 1: Sapa – Tram Ton – Sin Chai (L,D)

09.00 am you will be met up with Lotussia local team at your hotel in Sapa (Please inform your hotel name upon your confirmation). You will be transferred from Sapa to the Tram Ton Pass. Stop at the Silver Waterfall for a quick visit. Then walk around the Heaven Gate and enjoy magnificent scenery of the other side of Hoang Lien Son range.

Start trekking from Tram Ton. You will follow a narrow trail sneaking on mountain sides and through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien Nature Reserve. You trek downhill for almost 3 hours before you arrive in the Sin Chai Village, inhabitated by the H’mong. Walk around this village, visit some local houses. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Sin Chai – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave the village at about 09.00 am. You will walk on a good path to the Cat Cat Waterfall. Have a short rest by this nature wonders before you continue your trek. You will trek up and downhill along the Vang Stream for over 4 hours. You trek through part of Hoang Lien National Park covered by thick bamboo and rain forest, and pass by several isolated hamlets of the Black H’mong.

Upon your arrival in Y Linh Ho Village in mid afternoon, you may want to have a short walk around to explore the village before checking into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Y Linh Ho – Lao Hang Chai – Seo Mi Ty (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave Y Linh Ho village at about 09.00 a.m.

You start the day trekking on a large path to Lao Hang Chai village, inhabited by the H’mong. You will pass by several hamlets along the way. Enjoy spectacular scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley.

After about one hour trek, the trail becomes narrow and tough while you trek uphill through bamboo forest. You continue trekking through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien National Park.

The trek lasts for about 5 hours in the rich nature. The hiking trail sometimes gets out of the forest and offers stunning panorama of the long and large valley.

Around late afternoon, you will arrive Seo Mi Ty village, located in a charming valley at the height 1567 m above sea level. Free time to relax by the stream near the newly built hydraulic power station.

Dinner and overnight in a local house (homestay).

Day 4: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B,L,D)

It is a great adventure today! Be ready to explore the remotest land of Sapa with Lotussia adventure team.

After breakfast, you will leave Seo Mi Ty village at about 08.30. The first 20-minute walk is easy. You then trek for about 2 hours along a tougher trail winding downhill through thick rain forest. You will arrive Den Thang village, isolatedly located in a remote valley. Explore this village and then lunch break.

After lunch, you will leave this isolated hamlet, continuing trekking along a narrow stream up and downhill. You trek through the wildest land of Sapa. This part of trek last for about 4 hours before you arrive in Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.

You will arrive in Ta Trung Ho village at about 5.00 pm. You may have time for a short walk around this village. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Toong – Thanh Phu Bridge – Sapa (B,L)

After breakfast, served in the local house, you will leave Ta Trung Ho village. Trek along a narrow dirt trail which winds its way on steep mountain sides. You trek through narrow sharp passages amidst mountains and forest for the whole morning. You will arrive in Nam Toong village around noon. Visit this charming village of the Red Zao before having lunch.

In the afternoon, your trek becomes easier as the trekking path gets larger and you trek downhill to a large valley. You will arrive in Thanh Phu Commune where a stop will be made for you to visit some local houses of the Tay people. The Tay live in stilt houses and are very good at organizing their life.

You will be picked up again by your vehicle at Thanh Phu Bridge and transferred back to Sapa town. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Hiking trails: Sapa – Tram Ton Heavens Gate – Sin Chai village – Cat Cat village – Y Linh Ho village – Lao Chai San village – Lao Hang Chai village – Giang Ta Van village -  Ta Van village – Giang Ta Chai village – Giang Tu Chai village – Hoa Su Pan village – Sapa town

Trip highlights: spectacular landscapes of the Hoang Lien mountain range and Muong Hoa Valley; Unique culture, custom and way of living of the Black H’mong, Giay and Red Zao ethnic peoples; Experiencing part of local life by 3 nights home stay.

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Sapa – Tram Ton – Sin Chai (L,D)

09.00 am you will be met up with Lotussia local team at your hotel in Sapa (Please inform your hotel name upon your confirmation). You will be transferred from Sapa to the Tram Ton Pass. Stop at the Silver Waterfall for a quick visit. Then walk around the Heaven Gate and enjoy magnificent scenery of the other side of Hoang Lien Son range.

Start trekking from Tram Ton. You will follow a narrow trail sneaking on mountain sides and through the thick rain forest of the Hoang Lien Nature Reserve. You trek downhill for almost 3 hours before you arrive in the Sin Chai Village, inhabitated by the H’mong. Walk around this village, visit some local houses. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Sin Chai – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho (B,L,D)

After breakfast, provided at homestay, you will leave the Sin Chai village at about 08:30 am. You will spend about one hour walking on a good path to Cat Cat Waterfall. Have a short rest at this nature wonders and continue trekking up and downhill along the Vang Stream. You will trek for over 4 hours through part of Hoang Lien National Park is covered by thick bamboo and rain forest. You will pass by several isolated hamlets of the Black H’mong.

You will arrive in Y Linh Ho Village in mid afternoon. Enjoy a short walk around this village before checking into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 : Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai San – Lao Hang Chai – Giang Ta Van -  Ta Van (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay. You will continue your trek at 08.30 am, following a large dirt path. You trek for about a half hour from Y Linh Ho village to Lao Chai San 1 village, inhabited by the H’mong. You then trek uphill for over an hour to Lao Chai San 2 village. Visiting these two villages will help you to understand the process of changing way of life from sifting one to sedentary one as well as culture effects from other tribes or foreign culture such as the converting of French Catholicism, Christians…to the life of the H’mong.

You will trek uphill for two more 2 hour while the trail winds up and down hill-sides. This portion of the trek is a real challenge but offers great of Muong Hoa Valley. After two hours trek, you will the  Giang Ta Van hamlet, inhabited by the H’mong. The village is located by the beautiful bamboo forest. You will then trek to Ta Van, a large village of the Giay peoples.

You will arrive at the home stay in mid afternoon. The rest of the day is for a leisure walk. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Day 4: Tavan – Giang Ta Chai – Giang Tu Chai – Hpa Su Pan – Sapa (B,L)

After breakfast, you continue your trek going uphill for a half hour. You hike along a narrow trail sneaking on hill-side amidst terraced rice paddies. After one hour and a half, you will trek through the bamboo forest and arrive the village of Giang Ta Chai, inhabited by the H’mong. This village is isolatedly located amidst bamboo.

After visiting the Giang Ta Chai village, you continue your trek descending for nearly another hour to the Waterfall.

Lunch will be provided en route.

After lunch, you continue trekking along a large dirt path to Giang Tu Chai Village, inhabited by the Red Zao. Exploring the village, visiting the Zao’s homes will help you to further understand the unique way of living of the local villagers.

Leaving Giang Tu Chai village, you will follow a narrow trail hiking down and uphill to Hoa Su Pan village. Visiting local houses of the H’mong, you may have chance to see different process of making the fiber from hemp such as spinning, weaving or embroidering…

You then walk back to the motor way where you will be picked up by your vehicle and transferred back to Sapa. You will be dropped off at Sapa town. The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Trekking Lai Chau Vietnam

Lai Chau is situated at the altitude of 1,500m above sea level, comprising high mountains, pure streams and rivers. Lai Chau province shares borderline with Yun Nan province of China in about 273 km to the North, Son La province, Dien Bien province to the west and south, and Lao Cai province to the east.

Travelers coming to Lai Chau may choose between following the main road, the national 12th highway (from Dien Bien Phu town to Ma Lu Thang border gate in Lai Chau), or the 4D road (from Sapa to Lai Chau).

Lai Chau province offers a wide selection trekking, hiking tours ranging from a day trekking tours to multi-day treks. Lai Chau province seduces adventure hikers not only by the beautiful landscape, the wild beauty of the nature but also by the diversity of ethnic traditions.

The natural landscape is the accommodation of more than 20 ethnic minorities. Lots of ethnic people still keep their unique original tradition and custom, making the local culture diversified and worth a study.

Most of the trekking tours are arranged in Phong Tho, Tam Duong area while some other treks are provided in Sin Ho, Muong Lay areas.

Booking a Lai Chau trek, travelers will also have the opportunity to assist to a local market, the most significant activity in life, which take place in the Thursday and Sunday morning. People from many tribes get together here in colorful clothes early in the foggy morning. Seen from above, the market looks like a flower with thousands of colors. The goods to be transacted are the local specialties, such as chickens, pork, honey, rice, tea, etc.

A guided trekking tour is highly recommended for hikers since the area is not touristy. The places where trekking tours are provided are located far from the crow. Local villagers do not speak English. A permit or authorization is required for visiting this remote villages, are situated just by the border.

The best period to do a trek to Lai Chau province is the winter season starting from October until April the following year. During this period, the weather is cool with little rain. Although it becomes toughly cold when there is the monsoon coming from China, the rain does not last for several days.

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The park can be visited from Hanoi as a day trip or visitors can stay at the park’s lodging for a longer stay. Visiting the park is a terrific opportunity to get a close look at Vietnam’s nature and fees generated from tourism help protect the parks wildlife and improve the local economy.

Travel within the park can be done on foot or by motorbike, bicycle or car. A twenty kilometer paved road cuts to heart of the forest and passes a number of paths leading to caves. Bicycles are the most environmentally friendly alternative and with less noise you’re more likely to see wildlife. Once you’ve reached the park’s center there are numerous stone paths for trekking.

If you’re not interested in hiking up and down the karst mountains a good alternative is the easy but rewarding trip to the primate and turtle rehabilitation and breeding centers.

Dozens of trails cut through the forest and can be used for simple hikes for an hour or two day treks through the forest. Trekking options include loop trails that take only a few hours of moderate walking to a two day trek across the park. If you do decided to get off the path and into the brush make sure you are wearing a long sleeved shirt and long pants. The prickly vines will make mincemeat out of any exposed flesh and the disgusting, yet harmless, leeches will find a quick and easy lunch.

The best time of the year to visit the park is during the dry season, from November to February.

Visiting the Cuc Phuong National Park is not to see the trees nor watching the animal. But should both visit the scenery and understand the park life. A guided tour is highly recommended when traveling to Cuc Phuong national park. For further information about Cuc Phuong national park or hiking tours, visit Hiking Vietnam or Lotussia Travel