Northern Vietnam Hidden Trekking Tour - 7 Days

Tour Itinerary

 Day 1: Hanoi - Duong Lam Village - LaVie Vu Linh (Thac Ba) ( L , D )

This morning your guide and driver will take you from your hotel in Hanoi to the northern province of Yen Bai, driving through several villages, passing by pagodas, temples and rice fields. You'll stop en-route for a brief visit Duong Lam village - the one of very few hamlets whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes. Visit of the Communal House and the oldest house in the village which dates back to 1635. You'll then continue driving on winding roads through beautiful majestic limestone peaks in the middle of rice fields to Yen Binh for lunch. Arrival at Yen Binh town, you'll hope on a local motorboat for 90 minutes which takes you to Lavie Vu Linh. Upon arrival, you will be met by LaVie Vu Linh staff members who will welcome you into a traditional stilt-house which overlooks the lake. The remainder of the day you'll stroll around to learn about the lake and local communities nearby or just relax and enjoy sunset. Overnight in a stilt-house of LaVie Vu Linh Ecolodge which overlooks the Thac Ba Lake. Perched on the banks of northern Vietnam's largest lake, Thac Ba, LaVie Vu Linh ticks many of the boxes as it works across education, environment, tourism and culture. It employs and schools a local workforce from the nearby village and helps them learn more about their own cultural identity the Dao Quan Trang ethnic culture. ,   

Day 2: Explore Thac Ba Lake by boat and on foot (4 hours) ( B , L ,D )

After breakfast, you'll enjoy a sampan ride (Thac Ba traditional boats) for 45 min. to Ngoi Tu village of Dao people where your host will serve a cup of tea. This is a great opportunity for you to interact with one of the many Dao families of the region to learn about their living. From there you will go to one of the islet by boat and hike up a hill to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake (3 hour – walk). Alternatively you might consider enjoying a gentle hike deep in the local countryside with second stop in another family house. You'll return to Lavie Vu Linh for lunch or your lunch can be served in a local family. In the afternoon, you'll drive to the Green Vietnam Eco Lodge. Upon arrival you will be received by your hosts and get a briefing on the Green Vietnam organic agriculture project. Enjoy a welcome drink. The remainder of the day will be your own. Dinner and overnight at the Green Vietnam Lodge.

Day 3: Green Vietnam Lodge - Full Day Trekking Tour ( B , L , D )

Today you will enjoy a full day trekking to the Cham Chu Nature Reserve, which is centre on Mount Cham Chu, at 1,587 m, the highest mountain in Tuyen Quang province. This is one of the few areas where the highly endangered Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey has been spotted. There are only about 200 of these monkeys left in the wild. After breakfast you will drive to Cham Chu Mountain. You will trek through the forest up the mountain. Enjoy Vietnamese picnic lunch at a waterfall before trekking down the mountain where your car will bring you back to the lodge. Overnight in a stilt-house or at a bungalow of Green Vietnam Lodge . 

Day 4: Green Vietnam Lodge – Pan Hou (Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang) ( B , L , D )

A free morning to enjoy at the Lodge or wander around as your wish. After lunch, you'll drive to the mountainous and remote district of Hoang Su Phi in the west of Ha Giang. Upon arrival, you'll check in at your base camp. The remainder of the day will be your own.,,    Meals: B/L/D Overnight in a bungalow at Pan Hou village Ecolodge Pan Hou Village is located in Hoang Su Phi District in Ha Giang. The eco-friendly hotel uses solar-powered hot water systems and fans. Free Wi-Fi is available. Rooms at Pan Hou Ecolodge are made from bamboo and are surrounded by ponds and vegetable gardens. Each room comes with a private balcony and seating area. Ecolodge Village is surrounded by mountain jungles and running rivers, with many interesting ethnic minorities living in the area. Guests can arrange hiking tours with a local guide to explore these areas and to feel closer to nature.

Day 5: Pan Hou Village Trek & Homestay (~15km) ( B , L , D )

This morning you'll start your trek from Pan Hou to Nam Hong village, home of Long Skirt Dao people with lunch at one of the local family which overlooks the scenic valley. From there, you'll continue your route through forest and tea gardens to Phin Ho village of Dao where you'll have dinner and stay the night with a local family. If time permits, the host will show you their tea garden and explain the process of growing, harvesting and drying the green tea. Overnight in a local family .

Day 6: Back to Pan Hou (~8km) ( B , L , D )

After breakfast, you'll trek back to Pan Hou following different scenic route, passing villages, forest and stream en-route. You'll visit a Black Tay village before looping back to Pan Hou for a late lunch. Your afternoon is at leisure. You might consider a medicine herbs bath. The bathhouse is a place of healing as well as welfare where traditional massages are also offered. Overnight in a bungalow at Pan Hou village .

Day 7: Pan Hou - Hanoi ( B, L  )

After breakfast, you'll return to Hanoi with lunch en-route, arriving in the afternoon. End of services.