Day 1: Hanoi / Lao Cai - night train
Day 2: Lao Cai / Sapa
Day 3: Sapa
Day 4: Sapa / Tam Duong / Phong Tho
Day 5: Phong Tho / Lai Chau / Dien Bien Phu
Day 6: Dien Bien Phu
Day 7: Dien Bien Phu / Hanoi
Day 1: HANOI / LAO CAI - night train
Pick up at your hotel and depart for the railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (Departure: 21h15 on the local train. Note that Victoria train depart at 21h55). Overnight on board.
Day 2: LAO CAI / SAPA
Arrive at Lao Cai station early in the morning then proceed to Sapa (1 hour), home to over 30 colourful hill tribes (including Black H'mong, Flower H'mong, Red Dao) and to Vietnam’s highest peak: Mount Fansipan. After breakfast at the hotel, departure for a full day discovery of minority villages located in the Sapa Valley. Visit Lao Chai and walk about 2 km through rice fields to see a traditional Black H’Mong house before continuing your walk (2km) to the Giay village of Ta Van. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way and then walk through a bamboo forest till you reach Giangtachai, a Red Dao village with their unique style of dress and interesting traditions. The vehicle will be waiting for you at Giangtachai village to drive you back to the hotel. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3: SAPA and its surroundings < minority market>
After breakfast at the hotel, you check out. Then, have an excursion to one of the charming minority markets in the region (depending on which day of the week it is). Market days: - Tuesday: Coc Ly Market where you will meet the ethnic minorities from H’Mong Flower, Lachi, Nung and Fula. After visiting the market, take a trip on the Clear River before returning to Lao Cai. - Saturday: Can Cau Market is located in one of the valleys around Sapa. To reach the market, follow a spectacular road with beautiful scenery. This market is the weekly meeting point for Flower H’Mong, Fula, and Black H’Mong. This is one the most authentic markets in the region. After the market, visit some nearby villages before returning slowly to Lao Cai. - Sunday: Muong Khuong or Bac Ha Markets : the busiest market of the region where one can meet the H’Mong, Fula, Dao and other ethnic minorities who come to exchange their goods and gossips from their own community. After a local lunch, drive back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa. Note: depending on the market day, the program of day 2 - 3 - 4 might be interchanged.
Day 4: SAPA / TAM DUONG / PHONG THO
After breakfast, departure to Phong Tho (100 km). On the road, stop to visit the Thac Bac Waterfalls and enjoy the panoramic view of Fansipan from Tram Ton Pass, the highest pass in Vietnam. Then visit the local market of Binh Lu and Minority Villages along the road (Lantens, Lu, etc…). Overnight in Phong Tho.
Day 5: PHONG THO / LAI CHAU / DIEN BIEN PHU
After breakfast drive to Dien Bien Phu (180 km) along the Nam Na Valley. On the way, stop to visit the Tam Duong market (Tuesday only) and visit the hamlets of Red H’mong. Lunch en route Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 6: DIEN BIEN PHU
After breakfast, drive to Muong Phang. Visit the headquarters of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Drive back to Pa Khoang for a Boat trip on Pa Khuong lake and visit the minority villages (Black Thai). Disembark & drive back to hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Dien Bien Phu Museum (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), A1 Hill, Dien Bien Phu Cemetery, the bunker headquarters of French Commander Colonel Christian de Castries and the Memorial dedicated to French soldiers. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 7: DIEN BIEN PHU / HANOI
Breakfast at the hotel and free time until your departure to the airport for your flight back to Hanoi. Note: Possibility to continue your trip to Laos via Tay Trang border gate (Vietnam) / Ban Panghok (Laos). End of our services.
