Valleys and terraces of the Mu Cang Chai region

Tour of Hanoi starting with the West Lake District and the city’s oldest pagoda. Continue with the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum District. Visit of the ethnology museum, a good introduction to the trekking days to come. Finally, the temple of literature. Puppet show on water, traditional art. Dinner and overnight.

Road to the southwest of Hanoi. Stay in a guest house with a bike ride in the countryside. Visit of the village with ancient architecture of Duong Lam. Strolling through its narrow alleys around century-old houses really gives the impression of stepping back in time… Traditional foot massage and initiation into ancestor worship.

Introduction to Tai Chi in the morning before taking the road to Nghia Lo. Stop en route in a tea plantation. Walk to discover the village of black Thai. Installation at the hostel or homestay in the village of Tram Tau. Dinner and overnight.

Beginning of the trek in the beautiful Tram Tau valley populated by black Thai people. Then small climb to reach the green Hmong. Beautiful rice terraces where rice is cultivated from February to June. Continue to the top before descending for the night with the locals in a large house on stilts in Tram Tau. Dinner and overnight. 6 hours of walking, 600m elevation gain.

Longer and more difficult day. Cross the forest to reach an isolated Hmong village at an altitude of 1895m. The habitat of the Hmong is very different, on one level on the clay. The bed is isolated from the ground by wooden platforms. 7 hours of walking, elevation drop 1200m.

Descent on a path that reveals superb panoramas. Depending on the season, you will discover plum trees in bloom, rice fields at different stages of cultivation… A few kilometers before the arrival, bath in the local hot springs. Arrival in a vast Thai village planted in the middle of nowhere… Very warm welcome. Dinner and overnight stay with the locals. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 650m.

Go up the other side of the valley to a Hmong village overlooking the river bed to a small town where lunch will be taken. Then, a magnificent hiking trail through superb rice terraces in the Mu Cang Chai sector. End of the trek. Dinner and overnight stay with the locals. 5 hours of walking, elevation gain 500m.

Road to Sapa via the Hoang Lien Son pass. Lunch, then a nice walk in the Muong Hoa valley in Sapa where black Hmong, red Dao and Giay live. Relaxation in town at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Stopover at Thac Ba lake on the way back to Hanoi. Welcome to the Dao in white pants, skilled fishermen and builders. Beautiful walk in the village on foot and by boat on the lake. Dinner and overnight stay with the locals.

Nice walk of 3 hours before taking the road to Hanoi. Free end of the day in Hanoi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Continue to Tam Coc, the “terrestrial Halong Bay”. Stop at the fishing village of Kenh Ga to get on bikes and pedal to Tam Coc. Visit of Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. Boat trip on arrival in a magical setting of limestone peaks. Dinner and overnight in a family pension.

Charming cruise in Halong Bay. Road to Halong, boarding around noon and lunch on board. Beginning of navigation during lunch. Then, swim or sea kayak in the middle of the islands. Friendly evening on board and night in a comfortable cabin.
This cruise takes a different route from the 500 or so other boats that ply the bay, ensuring you have a peaceful cruise. This company is a local player in responsible tourism in the bay.

Last morning of sailing with a visit to a floating village by boat. The majestic junk resumes navigation to bring you back to the port. Last lunch on the boat before disembarking. Return to Hanoi. End of day free. Dinner and overnight.

Free time until departure for the airport and return international flight.