8 Day Private Northern Vietnam Sapa, Ha Giang Loop and Ba Be Lake

Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa (L, D)

1. Hanoi
   6h
   We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi around 7am and start the drive to Sapa, which takes roughly 10 hours. Along the way we’ll stop for a few visits to ethnic minority villages, as well as a few tops for photos and lunch.
   You’ll arrive in Sapa in the late afternoon, at which point we’ll take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to explore Sapa Town, with dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.
2. Sapa
   6h
   Sapa is a small village, 350 km north of Hanoi, near the Chinese border. Sapa is known for having spectacular views of a valley with rice field fields that can be seen on clear days, with mountains towering on all sides from above. The view of this epic landscape is often tempered by dense fog that rolls over the tops, but even when it is cloudy, the local hill tribes fill the city with color.

Day 2: Sapa Trekking (B, L, D)

1. Sapa
   4h
   After breakfast there will be time to explore the daily market before setting out on a 3-4 hour trek along small trails and through the small, charming villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van. You will meet many locals from the H’mong and Dzay tribes en-route, and we’ll take a break for a picnic lunch in Ta Van Village.
   Once we’re done trekking we return to our hotel in Sapa.
2. Ta Van Village
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Sapa has been famous for the charming beauty of a mountainous town, which attracts millions of visitors annually. Coming to this town, you will be offered a wide range of choices for places of interest, each destination has its own special features. And if you are finding a peaceful place to escape from the busy life, Ta Van Village is an ideal selection for you.

Day 3: Sapa – Lao Cai – Bac Ha (B, L, D)

1. Bac Ha
   6h
   After breakfast at the hotel we will drive you to Bac Ha via Lao Cai. On arrival there will be two options for this day’s activities depending on whether this day is a Sunday or not.
   If it’s a Sunday, we’ll spend the morning and afternoon visiting the Bac Ha Market, where you can see people from many different ethnicities trading and socializing.
   If it’s not a Sunday, then we will make a visit to the H’mong Palace to learn more about the turbulent history of the region.
   Either way, we will then have dinner and stay overnight in a hotel in Bac Ha.
2. Bac Ha Market
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Bac Ha Sunday Market is often held every Sunday from morning till 2:00 pm, near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. The market has come to existence since the foundation of Lao Cai Province. From then on, the market only opens once a week on Sunday.
   
   Bac Ha Market is considered as the largest and most colorful market in the area. On weekends, throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes walk to the market to purchase and exchange food, animals, clothes and household goods.

Day 4: Bac Ha – Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang (B, L, D)

1. Ha Giang
   6h
   After breakfast you will leave Bac Ha on the road through Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi, heading for Ha Giang. Along the way you’ll have plenty of time to admire the scenery as well as observe the local people doing their daily tasks. We will make plenty of stops for pictures and lunch before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon for check-in at the hotel. You then have the rest of the day free to explore the border town before dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.
2. Hoang Su Phi
   1h
   Hoang Su Phi in Ha Giang, near the Chinese border, is a mountainous area with little tourism. You will find here one of the most breathtaking rice terraces, ethnic groups, mountains and nature.
   
   Hoang Su Phi is similar to Mu Cang Chai, but with even fewer tourists. It is even the least touristy area in the not too touristy Ha Giang province. That is why this is a great advantage for maintaining the authenticity of this beautiful and unspoilt area.

Day 5: Ha Giang – Sa Phin – Dong Van (B, L, D)

1. Ha Giang
   6h
   Dong Van is famous for its rich ion of rugged mountain scenery and charming minority villages. We start discovering these by visiting the ancient royal H’mong house in Sa Phin followed by a drive back to Ha Giang that will allow you plenty of opportunities to appreciate the colourful costumes of the local people and of course the ever present amazing landscape. We return to our hotel in Ha Giang for dinner and an overnight stay.
2. Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the northeastern province of Ha Giang, a mountainous province located in the far north of Viet Nam. Most of its surface is limestone (about 60%). Its landscape is spectacular and unique having high mountains and deep canyons. The highest peak is Mieu Vac Mount (1971m) while Tu San is the deepest Canyon (700-800 m deep).

Day 6: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Meo Vac – Bao Lac (B, L, D)

1. 6h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast we make a visit to the Dong Van Market, which acts not only as a place for the locals to buy and sell goods, but also as a place to socialize and meet friends they may not have seen for a while. After taking in the lively atmosphere of the market and perhaps doing some shopping, we climb up the mountain behind the town to the old colonial French fortress of Pu Lo.
   After you’ve finished enjoying the views from the fortress, we set out for a 7km trek to Thien Huong Village, a small hamlet very near China inhabited by the Tay people. Here we can spend some time, giving you plenty of chances to explore the village and its unique people and culture, before heading back towards Dong Van via the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered by many to be Vietnam’s most spectacular natural scenery. We’ll then descend into Meo Vac Valley, reaching Bao Lac village where we will spend the night in a hotel and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
2. Ma Pi Leng Pass
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Visiting Ma Pi Leng Pass allows travelers to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the region while also experiencing the rich cultural heritage of the local ethnic communities. The journey along the pass is an adventure in itself, with numerous opportunities for hiking and motorbiking.

Day 7: Bao Lac – Ba Be National Park (B, L, D)

1. 6h
   Today we will take you along our secret route, a small road snaking through gorgeous valleys until it reaches Cho Ra, a Tay Village, and continues on, finally reaching Ba Be National Park.
   Here we’ll start with lunch, then a visit to Hua Ma Cave and the traditional Tay village of Coc Toc, where Mr Linh and his family will welcome you into their home and homestay.
   The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish, and if it’s hot we recommend copying the local kids and going for a swim in the lake!
   The day ends with a home-cooked meal and overnight stay with your host family.
2. 1h
   This trip starts at from the Ba Be Tourism Centre. To start the day, you will take a boat ride around Ba Be Lake and along the Nang River until you reach the natural wonder of Puong Cave. The river has slowly eroded the karst, eventually breaking through to the other side and leaving behind an astonishing tunnel full of fascinating rock formations. After exploring the cave, you will continue to Cam Ha Village where you can observe the peaceful life of the Tay people amongst the green rice fields before back on the boat, on the return journey, you will visit An Ma Temple to the remote area of Widow Island on the Ba Be Lake for further exploration before cruising back to Ba Be Tourism Centre office.

Day 8: Ba Be National Park – Hanoi (B, L)

1. Ba Be National Park
   6h
   After breakfast, you’ll head to Bo Lu Quay by foot and board a boat to set out for your tour of the lake and river. The time on the boat you can spend as you wish, whether that’s sightseeing, sunbathing, swimming or wildlife watching. Eventually we leave the lake behind and head down the Nang River, reaching Puong Cave, famous for its many stalactites and stalagmites. Once we’re done at the cave, our driver will be ready to take you back to Hanoi, arriving back at the capital at around 17:30.
2. Hanoi
   1h
   Tour finish in Hanoi.

Pickup details

We will collect all guests within the Hanoi area.
Please be ready in your hotel lobby at the scheduled pickup time. Our driver or tour guide will arrive to pick you up directly from your accommodation. Kindly ensure that you are on time to avoid any delays to the itinerary.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness