Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and have the afternoon to yourself. Walk around the Old Quarter at your own pace, stop for coffee from one of those historic storefronts, or take a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake. Around 6pm you'll meet your tour leader and the rest of the group, then head to a nearby restaurant for a welcome dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at nearby restaurant)
Included Activities
- Group meeting with tour leader and fellow travelers
- Welcome dinner at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoan Kiem Lake area
- Wander Old Quarter streets
- Visit local cafes and shops
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 2
Hanoi to Sapa
After breakfast, you'll travel through scenic countryside and mountains toward Sapa, which takes about 5 to 6 hours with a lunch stop along the way. Once you arrive, you can either do a light trek around the rice terraces or spend your free time exploring Sapa market where local vendors sell fresh produce, handicrafts, and street food.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at restaurant en route)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Sapa
- Lunch at restaurant en route
Optional Activities
- Trek around rice terraces
- Visit Sapa market
- Sample street food at market
- Day 3
Suoi Thau Village - Nam Cang
You'll transfer from Sapa to Suoi Thau village in about an hour, then start trekking through remote terrain that's mostly dirt trails. The hike ends in Nam Cang, a village of roughly 1,500 people from the Red Dao and Black Hmong ethnic groups. For the night, you'll stay in a local homestay to get a real sense of how people live here and their customs.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Suoi Thau village
- Trek through remote Sapa district
- Homestay accommodation with local immersion
Landmarks/POIs Nam Cang Village 
- Day 4
Thanh Phu
After breakfast at the homestay, you'll hike out from Nam Cang. During the walk, you'll visit a family of silversmiths who can show you their craft and explain how silver jewelry fits into Dao spiritual practices. The hike wraps up near Thanh Phu village, and from there it's about an hour transfer back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at homestay
- Hike from Nam Cang
- Visit silversmith family workshop
- Transfer to Sapa
Landmarks/POIs Thanh Phu Village - Day 5
Sapa to Bac Ha
You'll leave Sapa and head to the rural Bac Ha district in Lao Cai Province, a 3 hour 30 minute drive. After grabbing lunch at a restaurant along the way, you'll visit a local family to see how they make corn wine and try some yourself. Then you'll check out another household that makes palm-leaf hats, and you can try making one too.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at restaurant en route)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Bac Ha
- Lunch at restaurant en route
- Visit corn wine-making family
- Visit palm-leaf hat making household
Optional Activities
- Make your own palm-leaf hat
Landmarks/POIs Bac Ha District - Day 6
Ban Pho - Hoang Thu Pho
Your hike starts from Na Hoi commune near Bac Ha town center and takes you through Ban Pho village where the Black Hmong people go about their daily lives. You'll continue to Hoang Thu Pho viewpoint for panoramic views across the rice terraces. The terrain is a mix of dirt trails, some tarmac, and village roads, ending back in Bac Ha where you'll spend your second night.
Included Activities
- Hike from Na Hoi commune
- Pass through Ban Pho village
- Trek to Hoang Thu Pho viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Hoang Thu Pho Viewpoint - Day 7
Bac Ha to Hoang Su Phi
You'll have breakfast and then head to Lung Phin Market where Giay, Phu La, and Mong Hoa ethnic groups gather to trade goods like nua tubers used in local cooking. After that, you'll transfer to Hoang Su Phi in Ha Giang province, a 4 hour drive through a mountainous region near the Chinese border with terraced rice fields. A short hike uphill from Thong Nguyen commune takes you to your bungalow, and before dinner you'll see a fire dancing ceremony by the Red Dao people.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Bac Ha)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at Bac Ha
- Visit Lung Phin Market
- Transfer to Hoang Su Phi
- Short hike to bungalow
- Fire dancing ceremony (Red Dao tradition)
Landmarks/POIs Lung Phin Market Hoang Su Phi 
- Day 8
Hoang Su Phi
You'll hike from your accommodation with views of rice terraces, tea hills, small streams, and villages spread out below. Lunch happens at a homestay near Raspberry Hill viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the tiered rice fields and highland landscape. Later, if you want, you can have a traditional herbal bath before dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at homestay near Raspberry Hill viewpoint)
Included Activities
- Hike starting and ending at accommodation
- Lunch at homestay near Raspberry Hill viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Traditional herbal bath (pay locally)
Landmarks/POIs Raspberry Hill Viewpoint - Day 9
Hoang Su Phi to Panhou Retreat
You'll head out early to pick tea with a farmer, then stop at a local household to watch the tea drying process and taste some freshly made tea. From there, you'll hike to Panhou Retreat, arriving by mid-afternoon. The rest of your day is free to relax at this resort, which has a bar, restaurant, hot springs, and local staff.
Included Activities
- Tea-picking with farmer
- Visit household for tea drying observation and tasting
- Hike to Panhou Retreat
- Day 10
Panhou Retreat to Hanoi
This morning is relaxed. You can use the hot springs and other resort facilities. Around 10am you'll start the long transfer back to Hanoi, which takes about 6 hours 30 minutes. Your evening is free to either explore the capital or just rest.
Included Activities
- Use of resort facilities and hot springs
- Transfer to Hanoi
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi in free evening
- Day 11
Lan Ha Bay
You'll depart early and transfer to Ha Phong city pier in 2 hours 30 minutes, then catch a 30 minute ferry to Cat Ba island. From there, you'll board a boat for a four hour cruise through Lan Ha Bay, passing by karst islands and limestone outcrops similar to Ha Long Bay. Kayaking is available if you want to paddle close to cliffs, hidden lagoons, and beaches. Lunch is on the boat, and you'll check into your accommodation afterward.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on boat during Lan Ha Bay cruise)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Ha Phong pier
- Ferry to Cat Ba island
- Four-hour Lan Ha Bay cruise
- Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay
- Lunch on boat
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba Island - Day 12
Trung Trang Cave - Ngu Lam Peak - Hanoi
After breakfast, you'll visit Trung Trang Cave, which was used as a hospital during the Vietnam War. From there, you'll hike to Ngu Lam Peak for panoramic views of the entire island. Then you'll transfer back to Hanoi, arriving mid to late afternoon with free time before your farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at accommodation), Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Trung Trang Cave
- Hike to Ngu Lam Peak
- Transfer to Hanoi
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks/POIs Trung Trang Cave Ngu Lam Peak - Day 13
Hanoi
Your trip ends today. You've walked through rice terraces, spent time with ethnic minority groups, and cruised among limestone peaks in Lan Ha Bay. You'll begin your return home, or you can talk to your sales representative about extension options to keep exploring.
Optional Activities
- Extend your adventure with post-tour options
