North West Vietnam’s
Mountain Discovery Tour
4WD Land cruiser or Mercedes Benz Van
7 Days 6 Nights – Private Tours – Daily departures
Tour Code: HNC 15
During this
cultural expedition, you will enjoy the best of North West Vietnam
in the areas of Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau and
Sapa.
The mountainous North West provides the perfect terrain for trekking
routes. The Thai minority, a warm and friendly ethnic group, welcomes
you into their homes and share their ways of life.
The roads wind precariously across the mountain ranges, capturing
the intensely varied lifestyles of the Vietnamese people. The
final two days of your journey may be spent trekking the Sapa
Valley to stay in minority villages, or just relax and enjoy strolling
around the town and surrounding area.
DETAILS
ITINERARY
Day 1:
Hanoi // Mai Chau (Dinner Included)
Leaving Hanoi at 7am we head west to Mai Chau. Arriving at about
midday we check into the White Thai ethnic minority village. We
spend the afternoon relaxing and walking around the village meeting
the people.
Dinner and overnight stay in the Stilt house enjoying folk songs
and dancing together and drinking from the bamboo tube. Overnight
stay at village.
Day 2:
Mai Chau // Son La (Brekfast, Lunch
included)
Departing in the morning we say farewell to our village friends
and hit the road for Son La. Arriving in the mid afternoon we
check into our hotel and have free time to relax or to take a
stroll around the town.
Son La is the site of an old French penal colony were anticolonial
revolutionaries were jailed. Although much of it was destroyed
by the US warplanes offloading their unused ammunition during
the Vietnam US war, it has been partially restored and along with
the little museum makes for interesting viewing. The surrounding
area of Son La is home to several Montagnards (Mountain people).
The White Thai, Meo, Muong, and Black Thai people. A small display
of their handcrafted wares can be seen in the local town market.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3:
Son La // Dien Bien Phu (Breakfast and
Lunch included)
Moving on we head directly west towards Dien Bien Phu, one of
the remotest parts of Vietnam. Passing by the villages of the
ethnic minority people, The White Thai, Meo, Muong, and the Black
Thai we take in the picturesque scenery.
Dien Bien Phu is 35km as the crow flies from the Laos border,
and is situated in the Muong Thanh Valley. For centuries it has
been a major town on the transit route for traders between Myanmar,
China and the north of Vietnam, but more recently in May of 1954
it became a place of special significance in the creation of a
modern state of Vietnam. It was the site of a decisive battle
that led to a 57 day siege of the French garrison and consequential
end of the French colonial occupation.
The history of Dien Bien Phu is the main attraction here and now
being the capital of Lai Chau province the once small town is
growing considerably.
On the site of the battle there now stands Dien Bien Phu Museum
were old French tanks and artillery can be seen along with the
re-building of the bunker headquarters of the French commander
Colonel Christian de Castries. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4:
Dien Bien Phu // Lai Chau (Breakfast
and Lunch included)
Heading north through Lai Chau province we are confronted by some
of Vietnams most spectacular scenery. Nestled in a beautiful valley
and surrounded by a magnificent mountain range we enter the small
town of Lai Chau. On arrival we check into our hotel and freshen
up. Then if so desired we take a drive up the mountain Pha Din.
In the local language Pha Din means heaven and earth, and according
to the local legend, this area was the frontier between Heaven
and Earth. Climbing and descending the slopes with their many
bends and deep gorges amid such magnificent scenery is a really
enjoyable and interesting trip and makes for some good photos.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 5:
Lai Chau // Sapa (breakfast and Lunch
included)
Departing Lai Chau and arriving at Sapa around mid afternoon we
check into our hotel, freshen up and have the rest of the day
to explore the town and maybe take a short hike up to the lookout
over the Sapa Valley.
Here there is great shopping for local produce at the towns market,
and many handicrafts available from the hill tribes people selling
their wares.
Day 6:
Sapa // Visit surrounding villages (Breakfast
and Lunch included)
Breakfast is served at hotel, we take whole day trip Trek through
the Sapa valley visiting some of the villages of the colorful
Dao hill tribe’s people and returning to the town in the late
afternoon. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 7:
Sapa // Hanoi (Breakfast and Lunch included)
After breakfast at 8:30, we then check out hotel and heading back
to Hanoi, lunch on the way at a local restaurant in yen Bai. Stops
along the road for taking pictures. We reach Hanoi lat afternoon
at 4:30 pm. Drop you to your hotel in Hanoi.
Type of
tour: Private tour, Culture & Nature style
Departure: Everyday
Notes: There are only 2 stars hotels in Son La,
Lai Chau and Sapa
Inclusive: Private car (4.WD) with driver, Entrance
fees, English or French speaking guide, Meals as mentioned above
itinerary, Accommodation at the deluxe class of 2 and 3 stars
base on double share, 1 night stay at home of Thai people in Mai
Chau.
Exclusive: Drinks, Insurance, Personal expenses,
Tip
Size
of Group |
2
persons |
3
- 4 persons |
5
- 6 persons |
6
- 8 persons |
Price
in USD/per |
510 |
440 |
420 |
395 |
Click
hear to see photos of North West Vietnam
Contact
us for reservation or further information
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