Discover Colorful Northwest & Northeast Loops of Vietnam – 17 Days

Discovering Northwest & Northeast of Vietnam can be seen as an adventure tour, this discovery trip from Hanoi to the Northwest and Northeast of Vietnam allows you a chance to explore the most seductive mountainous scenery and colorful hill tribes in Vietnam. This is the best deal for an opportunity to leave the bustling streets of Hanoi behind to travel to the bumpy but stunning mountain roads in Pu Luong, Mai Chau, Son La, Sapa. Blow your mind with the experience on magnificent mountain views, meet the locals, try their traditional costumes as well as get deeper in their local culture.

General Information

Tour Route: Hanoi – Pu Luong – Mai Chau – Son La – Than Uyen – Sapa – Bac Ha – Dong Van – Cao Bang – Ba Be – Halong Bay – Hanoi
Duration: 17 Days/ 16 Nights
Departure Date: Any Time You Wish
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Hanoi

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Pu Luong (B, L, D)
Day 3: Pu Luong (B, L, D)
Day 4: Pu Luong – Mai Chau (B, L, D)
Day 5: Mai Chau – Son La (B, L, D)
Day 6: Son La – Than Uyen (B, L, D)
Day 7: Than Uyen – Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 8: Sapa – Bac Ha Town (B, L, D)
Day 9: Bac Ha Town – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Day 10: Ha Giang – Quan Ba Pass – Heaven’s Gate – Dong Van (B, L, D)
Day 11: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Cao Bang (B, L, D)
Day 12: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Cao Bang (B, L, D)
Day 13: Cao Bang – Ba Be (B, L, D)
Day 14: Ba Be – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Day 16: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 17: Hanoi Departure (B)

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Warm welcome upon arrival by local tour guide and driver, we will then transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and have dinner at a local restaurant in town.

Day 2: Hanoi – Pu Luong (B, L, D)

We will start the day by the scenic drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breathtaking mountain pass giving us a panoramic view of the whole valley. We arrive at Pu Luong Village in time for a savory lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat with its enchanting panoramic views and tranquil setting.

We will be transferred to a bridge over the Cham River, where we can walk in search of stunning water wheels. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, we have a short rest and enjoy the pristine natural views. After that, we arrive at scenic Tan Lap Bridge, we disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner. Overnight at Pu Luong village.

Day 3: Pu Luong (B, L, D)

Start early to descend into the majestic valley facing the retreat where we walking around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through the paths to catch a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain.

Savor the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch. After lunch, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the retreat.

Day 4: Pu Luong – Mai Chau (B, L, D)

The highlight of today is a chance to get closer to village life and interact with the locals living in the hills above the Retreat. Join in daily life and walk around the working farmland and rice fields, learn about making rice wine and weaving colorful textiles. Have lunch at the Lodge. After that, check out and depart for Mai Chau. Arrive in Mai Chau in the late evening, check in the homestay in Pom Coong Village.

Day 5: Mai Chau – Son La (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we then continue to the upper valley of the Black River to Son La (200 km) to meet H’mongs and Thai Blacks & Whites. We start to visit at the old French prison while having lunch. Savor dinner and overnight at the hotel in Son La.

Day 6: Son La – Than Uyen (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, hop on a ride on road No. 6 for about 30 km to visit Thuan Chau Market, where you can meet Black Thai in their beautiful costumes and selling their home-made products. We then ride toward Than Uyen with a short turn back. You have time for going off-road and fun experience, which will be seen as the highlights of today. Stop to have lunch around Quynh Nhai area, then continue to Than Uyen and enjoy the marvelous views of stunning terrace fields, visit Son La Lake in South East Asia. Arrive in Than Uyen in the afternoon, we will then check in the hotel & have a warm dinner.

Day 7: Than Uyen – Sapa (B, L, D)

Have breakfast at the hotel and have been ready for the most stunning ride to the best place in North Vietnam, Sapa. After 100 km, we meet O Quy Ho pass, one of four most grand passes in North Vietnam and entire Vietnam. We arrive in Sapa at lunchtime. After lunch, we will trek to visit Ta Van village then back to the hotel for overnight accommodation.

Day 8: Sapa – Bac Ha Town (B, L, D)

Today you have a savory breakfast and a free morning to explore Sapa town. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we check out and travel to Bac Ha Town. On the way, we stop to take a short walk to Trung Do village, meet Tay people, and taste a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream the Chay River.

The trip continuously moves to Bac Ha Market in the heart of Bac Ha Town. The market is opened every Sunday for purchasing homemade products. In Bac Ha, there have a lot of ethnic minorities such as H’mong, Black Dzao, Phu La, Tay, and Nung minority. Overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 9: Bac Ha Town – Ha Giang (B, L, D)

Depending on the day, we can visit the weekly market of local minorities around Bac Ha. The local market is a colorful meeting of many minority groups who come to exchange the goods and news of their community. After that, we depart for Ha Giang passing by imposing landscapes, mountains of the North-East region. At the end of the day, we arrive at Ha Giang, check-in and overnight at the hotel in here.

Day 10: Ha Giang – Quan Ba Pass – Heaven’s Gate – Dong Van (B, L, D)

After breakfast, start the trip to Dong Van, the most gigantic limestone plateau in Vietnam. We visit Heaven’s Gate in Quan Ba and the old neighborhoods in Pho Cao where has multi-story clay houses with tile roofs, and it’s built for a long time ago. Travel to Sa Phin to visit the Palace of H’mong King. Finally, we arrive at Dong Van in the late afternoon, overnight at hotel in Dong Van.

Day 11: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Cao Bang (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we travel back to Meo Vac, be ready to conquer one of the four greatest and highest passes in Vietnam, Ma Pi Leng. Then we transfer to Cao Bang & overnight here.

Day 12: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Cao Bang (B, L, D)

Your visit this morning focuses on the main highlights of magnificent Ban Gioc waterfalls on China – Vietnamese Border. We will then transfer to Dam Thuy, visit the splendid cave of Nguom Ngao, admire the stalagmites and stalactites dating back thousands of years. Back to Cao Bang & overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Cao Bang – Ba Be (B, L, D)

A day starts by the scenic drive set off to Ba Be, the largest natural park in the high mountains of the Northeast. Arrive Ba Be in the afternoon and transfer to the village on the backs of the Ta Leng River includes houses on stilts. Set off in a guest house of a Tay family, take a rest and then walk around the village, meet Tay people. Have local dinner with Tay family & overnight in a house on stilts.

Day 14: Ba Be – Hanoi (B, L)

This morning, board the boat trip on Ba Be lake, visit Puong Cave, and then take a boat to Dau Dang waterfall while waiting for the lunch in Minority restaurant, we will take a short trek to visit Dau Dang waterfall.

After lunch, we take a boat back to Pac Ngoi Village, have a rest and then driving back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon for accommodation.

Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

We arrive the today highlight – Halong bay before lunch, cruise amongst thousands of extraordinary limestone Karst formations. On arrival at Hon Gai International Harbor, we check in our cruise and relish in a set menu lunch served in the outdoor dining room while cruising into magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay.

In the mid-afternoon, we cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam for swimming or relaxing on a white sandy beach, kayaking through the mystery Karst Mountain in Vung Dang area.
Get back to Dragon Legend Cruise to refresh yourself in Mineral Seawater Pool, Fitness Room or the Spa and Massage Services before dinner. Overnight at Tra San area.

Day 16: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)

Refresh yourself in the morning by Tai-chi demonstration on the sun-deck and take in the morning view of the Bay with a cup of coffee and revel in breakfast in the fresh air. Cruise to Cong Do Area to delve into the hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Check out the cabin and savor a buffet while cruising towards the harbor where the driver is waiting and take us back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 17: Hanoi Departure (B)

A final point of your journey is a light breakfast and free morning to relax, go shopping until the driver arrives to take you to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.