Vietnam Tour: Operator Untouched Ha Giang, Vietnam (7days)

Untouched Ha Giang, Vietnam (7days)

The Northeast hilly areas of Ha Giang offer breathtaking views & interesting subcultures.The region 's famed for magnificent limestone pinnacles, ancient houses with their base floor of stone, walls made from clay and ying-yang roof tiles. At the altitude of 1,600 metres above the sea level, by the Chinese border in the Northwest, Sapa's been known since the beginning of the century with the very unique beauty of its own.

DAY 1. HANOI - HA GIANG [L]

With your guide and driver, depart Hanoi for the 7-hour drive to Ha Giang. As you leave the Red River Delta the scenery will start to change as you enter the mountains of Northern Vietnam.

You will arrive in Tuyen Quang around noon and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After your meal, continue to Ha Giang which is the most remote provinces in Vietnam consisting of breathtaking scenery, a colourful array of hill tribes and vibrant local markets (these rotate on a daily basis). As this is a remote area, accommodation and facilities are of basic level however we’ll make sure your journey is as comfortable as possible.

On arrival in Ha Giang check into hotel to freshen up then take an afternoon walk to a Tay Hill Tribe village, beautifully set in a stunning valley close to town.

Return to your hotel for an evening free at leisure.

Overnight in Ha Giang.

DAY 2: HA GIANG - MEO VAC [B, L]

Today you will take a fantastic 6-hour drive to the town of Meo Vac located along the Chinese border.

The journey will take you past many villages inhabited by different colorful hill tribe groups. This area, like most of Ha Giang, is inhabited by the H’Mong hill tribe. The H’mong group is believed to have migrated from southern China into Vietnam only over the last 300 years and today they live in villages throughout the north of the country.

En route stop at a local village and as often as you like for photos. At midday, break for lunch in a local restaurant before continuing 2 more hours to Meo Vac.

This afternoon enjoy a scenic light trek along the Nho Que River, visiting along the way villages of the Tay and Nung hill tribe groups.

The remainder of this evening is free at leisure.

Overnight in Meo Vac.

DAY 3. MEO VAC - DONG VAN [B, L]

Begin this morning with a visit to the fabulous Meo Vac Market, where vendors come from around the area to buy and sell fresh produce as well as dry goods (on Sunday the market is particularly busy as it is a weekly market for the surrounding villages)

Then set off for Dong Van along another beautiful stretch of road. The trip passes through Ma Pi Leng, which is also known as ‘Heaven’s Gate Pass’ as it gives the feeling of touching the sky. The drive skirts the Chinese border through a deep valley. As you wind along the narrow roads you’ll be surrounded by spectacular valleys and towering perpendicular walls of rock. Stop as often as you like to take photos and enjoy the captivating views.

Arrive at Dong Van around lunchtime and check-in to your hotel. Then spend the remainder of this afternoon walking around the town to visit local villages and discover more on the local way of life in this rugged, rocky highland country.

Return to your hotel early this evening.

Overnight in Dong Van.

DAY 4. DONG VAN - LUNG CU - YEN MINH [B, L, D]

Following breakfast you leave Dong Van for a spectacular 1-hour drive to Lung Cu, the northernmost point of Vietnam. Here visit a village of the Lo Lo hill tribe to discover more on their unique culture and customs (there is a weekly market here held on Fridays). From Lung Cu continue to the Palace of the last H’Mong King located in Saphin Village. Visit the palace and the surrounding villages (there is a weekly market here every forth or fifth day depending on the lunar calendar).

From here drive onwards to Pho Bang Town where old style Chinese influenced houses can be seen. These traditional houses are made from clay houses and feature distinctive ‘yin and yang’ tile roofs. Spend an hour walking along the narrow streets of this charming town (there is a weekly market here every forth or fifth day depending on the lunar calendar).

Have lunch in Pho Bang before continuing to Tam Son over a spectacular pass. In the afternoon visit some local villages surrounding the town.

Overnight in Tam Son (Yen Minh).

DAY 5. YEN MINH - HOANG SU PHI [B, L]

Today, you can see the difference of the topography of Hoang Su Phi area with the places you have visited. It is good with the change and the different beauty of the area will enrich your adventure. Have lunch in Ha Giang and arrive Ban Hou eco lodge in the afternoon. Check in and overnight at the lodge.

DAY 6. HOANG SU PHI TREK [B, L]
Spend the whole day for trekking to visit the hill tribe villages of Tay, Black Dao and Red Dao people. Along the hike you can see how marvellous the rice terraces are. Back to the lodge around 4:00 PM for some traditional treatments (massage and herbal bath are optional). Spend the second night in the lodge.

DAY 7. HOANG SU PHI - HANOI [B, L,]

Today you drive back to Hanoi, lunch on the way and arrive in Hanoi late this afternoon where you will be dropped at your hotel.