7 days, 6 nights.
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~160 km, ~6 h.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in Pom Coong village.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Son La. ~200 km, ~8 h.
On good road looking high over distant mountains we head up into a forested region populated by H'mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market. Sleep in a hotel.
Day 3: Son La - Lai Chau. ~200 km, ~8 h.
15 passes. Very nice road and stunning landscape. Probably the most beautiful journey of the whole trip even the road is in poor condition. Sleep in Lan Anh Hotel.
Day 4: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~150 km, ~7 h.
The most demanding and remote section of the drive takes us upstream along the left side of a Black River tributary through forest on a bumpy dirt road past isolated pockets of Tay, Thai, H'mong and Man peoples before breaching a pass to enter the Tam Duong plain, which is covered in shark's teeth like limestone karst. We would visit a Mang village near Sin Ho, the guide will buy some food to give to the head of the village, and he later distributes our donations to the villagers. We stay O/N at Phuong Thanh Hotel.
Day 5: Tam Duong - Than Uyen. ~105 km, ~5 h.
Tam Duong market in the morning (if it's market day). Beautiful and easy drive from Tam Duong to Than Uyen, where we spend the night and prepare for the next day difficult drive.
Day 6: Than Uyen - Nghia Lo. 140 km, ~6 h.
The road wild and a bit used. Between Sapa and Hanoi, we will find an important mountainous massif, almost as high as the Fansipan: the Mu Cang Chai. From the top, we have one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. Impressive but also difficult!
Day 7: Nghia Lo - Hanoi. ~170 km, ~6 h.
Easy drive on sealed road. Drive through rural areas with beautiful rice field along the road. Arrive in Hanoi around 5 pm.
Contact us now to book this tour or to know about different itineraries.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in Pom Coong village.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Son La. ~200 km, ~8 h.
On good road looking high over distant mountains we head up into a forested region populated by H'mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market. Sleep in a hotel.
Day 3: Son La - Lai Chau. ~200 km, ~8 h.
15 passes. Very nice road and stunning landscape. Probably the most beautiful journey of the whole trip even the road is in poor condition. Sleep in Lan Anh Hotel.
Day 4: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~150 km, ~7 h.
The most demanding and remote section of the drive takes us upstream along the left side of a Black River tributary through forest on a bumpy dirt road past isolated pockets of Tay, Thai, H'mong and Man peoples before breaching a pass to enter the Tam Duong plain, which is covered in shark's teeth like limestone karst. We would visit a Mang village near Sin Ho, the guide will buy some food to give to the head of the village, and he later distributes our donations to the villagers. We stay O/N at Phuong Thanh Hotel.
Day 5: Tam Duong - Than Uyen. ~105 km, ~5 h.
Tam Duong market in the morning (if it's market day). Beautiful and easy drive from Tam Duong to Than Uyen, where we spend the night and prepare for the next day difficult drive.
Day 6: Than Uyen - Nghia Lo. 140 km, ~6 h.
The road wild and a bit used. Between Sapa and Hanoi, we will find an important mountainous massif, almost as high as the Fansipan: the Mu Cang Chai. From the top, we have one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. Impressive but also difficult!
Day 7: Nghia Lo - Hanoi. ~170 km, ~6 h.
Easy drive on sealed road. Drive through rural areas with beautiful rice field along the road. Arrive in Hanoi around 5 pm.
Contact us now to book this tour or to know about different itineraries.
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- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information
Back