North West Adventure
7 days - Private Tour
Destinations of North West Adventure Hanoi, Sapa, Mai Chau
Join this 7 day tour we offrer you a great chance to discover Vietnam’s rugged and scenic northwest on the famous trail. Starting from the Hanoi to the remote area we can see the life as it’s supposed to be. Along the way we encounter dramatic landscapes and sweeping panoramas. Highlights also include visits to the historic battlefield of Dien Bien Phu, the terraced valleys of Sapa, winding passes and many different experiences of colorful minority groups.
Full Itinerary of North West Adventure
DAY 1 Hanoi – Mai Chau
Morning, your guide will meet you at hotel and depart to Mai Chau, the rural district of Hoa Binh province in the northwestern region of Vietnam. Mai Chau is located about 160km from Hanoi. We’ll take a short break on the way to enjoy sightseeing and take nice photos if wanted. We arrive at Mai Chau valley after 3 hours and 30 minutes driving. Have a traditional lunch and rest at a stilt house.
Afternoon, we start visit Mai Chau Valley and cycle around Lac Village. Next, we’ll come to Poong Cong Village where you can discover authentic rural life of Thai minority. Traditional special food of local people will be served during dinner. You then overnight at homestay
DAY 2 Mai Chau – Son La
Breakfast at stilt house after that we drive to Son La. Enjoy stunning sceneries along the road and you can stop wherever to take photo. Lunch at a local restaurant en-route
After lunch, we continue driving from Mai Chau to Son La and stop at Moc Chau plateau, the best Vietnam tea growing region. on the way. It is considered as the Da Lat of the North and very attractive to those who love the cool and natural fresh air. Next, we’ll visit relics of Son La prison built in 1908 by the French. Dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel in Son La
DAY 3 Son La – Dien Bien
Breakfast at hotel and we depart for Dien Bien which is a historic destination and used to be a fierce war battlefield.
Today you will drive on more winding & stunning roads, longer passes and see more colorful minority groups. You might tell your guide to stop more often for pictures and spending more time with the villagers to learn about their rich cultures. Lunch at local restaurant
After lunch, the drive to the impressive Pha Din pass will be the highlight of the day. You’ll arrive at Dien Bien Phu early in the afternoon. You’ll visit Dien Bien Phu museum, A1 hill, the bunker of General De Castries before checking in hotel for overnight. Dinner at local restaurant or hotel
DAY 4 Dien Bien – Lai Chau
Have breakfast at Muong Thanh hotel. You will be free at leisure before we start another spectacular drive, passing the stunning gorges and the Nam Na River. There will be stops to visit the H’mong and Dao villages on the way. Arrive in Lai Chau in early afternoon, have lunch at local restaurant and rest of the afternoon is free in Lai Chau town. Dinner and stay overnight in Lai Chau.
DAY 5 Lai Chau – Phong Tho – Sapa
Today we drive along the magnificent scenery of the surrounding fertile valley and high mountains - the photographer’s dream. The road is sometimes a bit bumpy but you’ll be compensated by the beautiful spot. After 25 miles drive, we reach the ChinCo pass and Tram Son pass, the highest one in Vietnam with the view to Fansipan Peak – the roof of “Indochine”. You also stop to visit the beautiful areas of Heaven’s Gate and Silver Waterfall.
Sapa is the spectacular valley near the border of China and the premier destination of Northwest Vietnam. Built in 1922, it was the former hill station for the French colonists. Today, Sapa is a paradise for trekkers, thanks to its beautiful trekking routes, colorful minority groups, stunning rice terrace, and the back drop of mountain Fansipan. At 3143 meters or 10,311 feet from sea level, it is Vietnam’s highest peak.
You will get Sapa in the afternoon and the rest of the day is free to explore on your own.
Dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Sapa.
Note: The colorful Sunday market in Tam Duong is very interesting to see, with lots of colorful ethnic minorities. Today we will visit the Fair market en route. (Twice a week on Thu and Sun)
DAY 6 Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta
After breakfast at the hotel, you start the great trekking day downhill to the Muong Hoa valley to visit 3 villages. Today, you have opportunity to visit local school in the village and have picnic lunch by the river. Enjoy the overall pictures of the villages among terraces. After lunch, we continue trek to go Ta Van Village to visit Dzay minority. Your driver then will pick you up at Tan Van Bridge to return Sapa. Dinner at local restaurant
DAY 7 Sapa – Cat Cat Village – Hanoi
Morning, we explore Cat Cat Village which is occupied by the Black H’mong tribe. Next, we’ll walk down the village and enjoy wonderful view of the terraced rice paddy filed and waterfall. You also see the hydroelectric power station which was built by the French in twentieth century. The driver will pick you up again at village and bring you back to Sapa town for lunch.
After lunch, you enjoy a private car journey on the new highway back to Hanoi. The driving time is approximately 4 hours.
We arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon, tour ends at hotel.