Highlights
- Explore the traditional customs of highland ethnic groups
- Take a trekking on a scenic road and immerse yourself with beautiful views over the valleys.
- Walk along the Chay River, visit some of the hamlets of the Black Zao and Hmong of the Cac Cop Village.
ITINERARY IN DETAIL
DAY 1: HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI
Meal: not any | Accommodation: Night train - sleeper cabin (sharing)
20:00 - Depart at our Office to Hanoi Railway Station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (Sleeper cabin with air-conditioning)
DAY 2: LAO CAI - BAC HA
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: homestay in Bac Ha
Early arrival at the Lao Cai railway station, time for breakfast and refreshment. We then drive to the mountain range of Bac Ha and reach some of its highest peaks on a scenic road. We start hiking from there. It is an easy trek for anyone used to outdoor practices, with no specific difficulty and going mostly down.
We evolve in a region where H’mong is the most represented ethnic culture. This is a rough terrain to cultivate and live on. Very few travelers venture there, while those trails offer a great playground for hikers with beautiful views over the valleys. We have an approximate 5-hours walk, with a break en route for lunch. Our car is never too far on the sealed road so we can shorten the trek if you feel tired or if the weather is unbearable.
We arrive in the late afternoon at the house of our hosts in a small hamlet near Bac Ha center. Time for shower and refreshments before dinner is served.
With ‘Homestay’ experience, your overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There’s no private room and you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.
DAY 3: BAC HA – LAO CAI – EVENING BUS TO HANOI
Meal: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: not included
After breakfast we take our car for a 9-km drive to the hike starting point in Nam Mon Commune. It is a nice and easy walk on a small concrete path in the middle of nowhere. About 2-hours walk going mostly down to arrive in a small village lying next to the Chay river.
We stroll around the village and enjoy any opportunity to get better cquainted with the locals. Enjoy a leisurely walk to explore the village before having lunch in a local home.
Depart Trung Do and walk along the Chay River for over an hour to visit some of the hamlets of the Black Zao and Hmong of the Cac Cop Village.
Around 15:30 – we head to Lao Cai, in a good time to catch up with an evening bus back to Hanoi. The bus is equipped with large individual seats, A/C and wifi. There’re 2 stops on the way and dinner is at your own cost.
You’ll arrive at Hanoi center around 22:00. The transfer from there to your hotel is not included.
If you wish to extend the trip to Sapa, we can offer an extra transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa without any surcharge. Please advice your return-date in advance so that we can issue our bus ticket Sapa – Hanoi properly. Should you need any assistance on hotel/tours booking in Sapa, please feel free to contact our travel consultant anytime.
