Take an in depth exploration of the remote areas in the northern mountains. Visit ethnic minorities and experience their traditions and culture in the lush mountainous landscapes and take in the cascading scenery by train and foot.
Traditional houses atop wooden stilts with palm leaf roofs and bamboo flooring, traditional cooking and home to the White Thai and Muong people. Mai Chau is just one of the many beautiful and traditional villages you will discover on this adventure holiday.
We will travel across the most spectacular pass in Vietnam: “The Heaven and Earth”, or, Pha Din Pass which summits at over 1000m. Trek to the famed “stone forest”, consisting of countless bizzarely shaped limestone rocks and formations which make for a unique photograph.
Make this your holiday:
Exclusive Tour: your own private multilingual guide throughout the trip
Price Guarantee: costing 25-30% less than similar tours of the same flexibility and quality
Tailor Made: customised itinerary to create your dream holiday
Duration: shorten or lengthen the tour to suit your wishes
Dates: depart and return whenever you choose
Hotels: change hotel grade to suit your budget
Group Discounts: call 0845 310 2929.
Private Tour: Daily departure from Hanoi
By private car/coach with private English speaking driver/guide
Accommodation in Superior Class hotel.
DAY 01 HANOI TO MAI CHAU AND SONLA
Drive to Mai Chau, approximately 150 km from Hanoi. It is home to several ethnic minorities, particularly the White Thai and Muong ethnic group. Their traditional stilt houses are large structures with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo floors. The kitchen is located in the centre of the house. Visit the Thai ethnic minority village with lunch en route. Continue to Son La with stopover at Xaling ethnic village of Flower H’Mong and Green H’Mong. Dinner and accommodation at simple hotel. (L, D)
DAY 02 SON LA TO DIEN BIEN PHU
Visit the Thuan Chau market. On the approach to Thuan Chau, large groups of ethnic people can be seen making their way to and from the market, laden with baskets of goods. Continue to Dien Bien, crossing the most spectacular pass in Vietnam, which is famously named by local people as Pha Din Pass meaning “the Heaven and the Earth”. Lunch at local restaurant. We will visit some villages along the way. (B, L, D)
DAY 03 DIEN BIEN PHU TO LAI CHAU AND PHONG THO
Visit Dien Bien Phu Museum and then continue to Dien Bien Phu Cemetery to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the heroes who devoted their lives for the victory of the historical Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Visit General De Castries’s Bunker, Old Muong Thanh Bridge and Nam Rom river. Lunch.
Proceed to Lai Chau along the bumpy road (approx 180 km), passing a series of ethnic villages along the way. Continue to Phong Tho on scenic roads, crossing the junctions of Da and Na rivers by the way of the Chinese Hang Tom suspension bridge. Dinner and accommodation at a simple hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 04 PHONG THO TO TAM DUONG, BINH LU AND SAPA
Travel along the most spectacular scenery on the way leading to Sapa. The road climbs steadily, affording spectacular views of the surrounding hills. Across the pass are villages of the Black Dao people. Lunch. The afternoon is free for own activities. (B, L, D)
DAY 05 SAPA FOR FULL DAY TOUR
In the morning, short trek to Ham Rong Mountain; enjoy the minority show performed by the young minority ladies and men. On clear days you get a beautiful overview of Sapa town. We will visit the “stone forest” here. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a short drive to Cat Cat village, home to Hmong people to experience their culture and customs. (B, L, D)
DAY 06 SAPA TO LAO CAI AND NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI
Morning at leisure for own activities. Lunch. A scenic 6km drive brings you to Ta Phin village, lying in a hillside meadow. The village is home to Red Dzao and Hmong people. Late afternoon, drive to Lao Cai.
You will board the overnight train to Hanoi at around 21:15h hrs. Overnight trip to Hanoi in sharing comfortable sleeping compartments by Normal Train (local standard). (B, L, D)
Note: Victoria Carriage (sharing comfortable sleeping compartments, superior 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment with air-condition) available on request for clients staying at Victoria hotel only with surcharge.
DAY 07 HANOI: DEPARTURE
Arrive Hanoi train station morning at around 04:30hrs. Leave the train and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi (accommodation in Hanoi not included) or transfer to Hanoi Noi Noi Bai airport for ownard flight (airport transfer at surcharge).
**END OF SERVICES**
NOTE: We make no extra charge for minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary. No surcharges will be imposed within 30 days of departure. Wherever possible any downward revision in the price of trips if shown in our ‘Special Offers’ will be refunded to you.
About Us
AwimAway is an online seller of adventure and activity travel. We have a range of high quality tour operators from around the world who offer adventure and active holidays at compatible prices. We provide you with a flexibility of selecting your holiday from UK operator or going straight to a local operator in the destination of your choosing. Most of our holidays provided by our associate tour operators are tailor-made to your requirement. You can book your holiday through our customer service managed by our expert adventure consultants.
For the sale of our holidays we are acting as agent for licensed Tour Operators. Local tour operators are registered with the local tourism authority in their own country. UK Tour Operators are bonded for your protection, with TTA, AITO or ABTA.
Our Aim
At AwimAway we aim to make it quick and easy for adventure and active travellers to research and plan your holidays and link up with our holiday providers. We also aim to help travellers to research and plan their holiday offerings by providing the best information.
Adventure and Activity Travel
What is Adventure & Activity Travel? Adventure travel includes activities like hiking, biking, diving, and multi-sport tours. Activity travel includes activities like cultural, expedition cruising, wildlife safari and culinary tours. In all cases, AwimAway is your premier booking service to visiting the wonders of the world, either man-made wonders like the pyramids, machu picchu or the great wall, or natural wonders like alaska, antarctica or the galapagos islands, just to name a few.
Commitment to Sustainable Environment/Tourism
The Ecological balance of our world is, much, fragile today, than previously. At Awimaway, we are committed and enthused about taking you to various unexplored destinations around the world, but we are equally committed to preserve the local environments. We hope this way the world's most naturally rich and exciting regions will remain preserved and their ecological balances maintained for future generations to come.
To further give direction to our commitment to sustainable environment, Awimaway shall donate a part of its profits from each booking to the local community. We believe in eco-friendly tourism and preservation of the original cultures and traditions of the communities who inhabit the regions we sell.