Wonders of Vietnam Hike, 11 days

This hiking adventure is full of opportunities to be immersed in traditional hilltribe culture and cuisine, while relishing the striking landscapes of Sa Pa, Pu Luong and relaxing in a beautiful cruise on Ha Long Bay.

Northwest Vietnam is a captivating mix of dramatic mountainscapes, crisp fresh air and colourfully-clothed hilltribes. Set on the slopes of a beautiful emerald green valley, Sa Pa is the heart of this unique piece of Vietnam. The Pu Luong limestone landscape is an area of outstanding beauty, culture interest and high biodiversity value. This hiking tour will offer you the experience of daily life and culture of minority people, stay in scenic villages and in traditional homestay, and indulge yourself in the beautiful Ha Long Bay.

Duration : 11 days

Interested in this trip? < MAKE AN ENQUIRY > and our Active Travel Specialist will reach out to you.

Activity	Hiking
Country	Vietnam
Hiking Grade	Grade 2 – Beginner
Season	01 – January, 02 – February, 03 – March, 04 – April, 05 – May, 09 – September, 10 – October, 11 – November, 12 – December

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi

Pick up at Noi Bai Airport and then transfer to Hanoi hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meal: nil

Stay: hotel, Hanoi

Day 2 Hanoi – Mai Chau – Trek to Pu Bin Village

Depart for Mai Chau. Off the car and off the beaten path, begin the trek to Pu Bin villages. Trek about 10 KM through outstanding mountain scenery and picturesque rice paddies, see hand-crafted bamboo water wheels, and talk with the lovely local people.

Spend the night in a local family’s traditional house on stilts.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Homestay, Pu Bin Village

Day 3 Pu Luong Trek

The sounds of village life will tell you that the morning has arrived. After breakfast, trek to Hin village. On this route, there are some steep climbs and more stream crossings. Along the way, visit an incredible cave, only recently discovered, now protected by the Forest Rangers.

The trek will become increasingly remote although one is never that far from a villager tending their fields. Pass steep limestone mountains and conjuring caves, through the dense rain forests all inside the borders of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and into Nua village.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Homestay, Nua Village

Day 4 Pu Luong Nua Village Trek

Trek to Xom Village. The daily life here starts early so it will be interesting for you to get up at the first sign of day light and take part in the activities in the morning, or take a stroll around Hang village before having breakfast with our new friends.

Walk for about 5 to 6 hours. The first section is hard with some steep climbs and stream crossings. The second stage is glorious with beautiful views of the valley, rice terraces, rich rain forests, and meandering streams.

Arriving into Xom village is always special as the setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam, nestled between steep karst mountains with rice terraces in the afternoon sun.

Spend our night nearby in a typical tilt house in Xom village.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Homestay, Xom Village

Day 5 Pu Luong – Trek to Ton Village – Hanoi

Rise early if you would like to observe or take part in daily life of the local people.

Breakfast will be served by the host family in preparation for a strenuous but pleasurable trek through rich and wild rain forests. This challenging hike wanders through the biodiversity of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then continuing the trek to Ton Village. The car will pick you up from here, and transfer you back to Hanoi.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Stay: hotel, Hanoi

Day 6 Hanoi – Sa Pa – Hike to Red Dao Village

Transfer to Topas Ecolodge via the Topas Mountain Express. Enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.

The walk in the afternoon starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. Take a slight ascent to Lech village. Visit a wooden local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, following their ancestors, shaved their hair and eyes brows and wear very colorful costumes. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery.

On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the nature landscape. Your guide will explain about the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: Topas Ecolodge, Sa Pa

Day 7 Sa Pa – Nam Cang Village – Sa Pa

Start the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track” enjoying beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, where you will meet the villagers, enjoy a cup of green tea in their house, and learn about their daily way of life.

Leaving the village behind, turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvellous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which are used by local farmers as overnight lodge in harvesting days. Pass the rice terraces and a river, walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving at Nam Cang Village, which is located at the most remote area of Sa Pa.

The Red Dao women wear some of the most colourful and diverse costumes of all of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, explore around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing rice paper, jewellry and embroidery. You may also want to take a swim in the river.

Later in the afternoon, transfer back to hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Stay: Topas Ecolodge, Sa Pa

Day 8 Sa Pa – Hanoi

Free time in the morning. Rest and relax or borrow free of charge high quality mountain bicycles from the lodge to explore the surrounding areas.

You may take a scheduled shuttle bus to visit Sa Pa town or book a half day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mt. Fan Si Pan (3,143 M) by the cable car.

Return to Hanoi in the afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast

Stay: hotel, Hanoi

Day 9 Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

This morning, transfer by private car from Ha Noi to Ha Long Bay.

Board the cruise and enjoy a welcome drink, while going through safety briefing before checking into your cabin.

The ship will sail at 1:00 PM to discover Ha Long Bay – a natural wonder of the world. Cruise through famous sights Ba Hang fishing village, Dinh Hương island, Cho Da islet, Ga Choi islet.

The cruise will stop at Bo Nau Cave, the core area of the world natural heritage. Transfer by tender to Sprite cave – one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay.

After leaving Sprite Cave, transfer by tender to the Titov island, named by Uncle Ho, after Gherman Stepanovich Titov – the Soviet astronaut who visited in 1962. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach or climb the steps of the Rock to the top of the island. On the top of the mountain, you can see corner of magical Ha Long Bay.

Return to the cruise and enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: onboard, Cruise

NOTE: the cruise itinerary is subject to change without prior notice, following the weather conditions, tide level, and other operating conditions. You will have a shared English-speaking guide from the cruise operator onboard.

Day 10 Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

This morning, enjoy a Tai Chi class on the sundeck whilst cruising to Luồn Cave.

Take a guided tour to visit Luồn Cave by a traditionally woven (bamboo) boat rowed by a local boatman.

Return back to the ship, relax and check out of your cabin.

After disembarkation, visit the restored Sword Lake, walk through Hanoi old quarter and do shopping at Dong Xuan market.

Meal: Breakfast, Brunch

Stay: hotel, Hanoi

NOTE: the cruise itinerary is subject to change without prior notice, following the weather conditions, tide level, and other operating conditions. You will have a shared English-speaking guide from the cruise operator on board.

Day 11 Depart Hanoi

Free at leisure in the morning before your transfer to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport for your flight back home.

Meal: Breakfast

Inclusions

~ 6 nights hotel/lodge accommodation;

~ 3 nights homestay with ensuite bathrooom;

~ 1 night stay onboard the cruise ship;

~ Meals as specified in the itinerary;

~ Transportation as necessary;

~ English-Speaking Guide;

~ Admission fees as required.

Exclusions

~ air travel to Hanoi, Vietnam;

~ visa arrangement, if required;

~ comprehensive personal travel insurance;

~ expenditure of personal effects;

~ tipping for the Vietnamese team;

~ anything not specified in the itinerary and inclusion.

Important Notes

~ Non – refundable deposit, 30% of total tour price is required at the time of booking. Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.

~ This trip can be fully customised according to your preference and budget. Get in touch with us for a quote.

~ Should you require a visa to enter Vietnam, it is your responsibility to obtain such a document before departure.

~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the hikers. Therefore inclusion of the itinerary may be altered due (not limited to) bad weather, local conditions, accommodation book out, the skill levels of the hikers and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue with the trip.

~ Because hiking requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for hikers with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Hikers must ensure they are medically and physically able to hike/walk.

~ Trip grading is an indication on the difficulty of the activities included. Preparation and engaging in regular exercise to maintain good physical condition and active lifestyle prior to the trip will be most beneficial in ensuring you have full enjoyment of the trip. We are glad to discuss your concerns and answer your queries.

~ All hikers are strongly encouraged to be appropriately dressed in the right footwear (covered hiking shoes) and attire suitable for hiking.

~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings.

~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.

~ There is no refund for uncompleted hiking distances or missed inclusions.

~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.

~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.

Wonders of Vietnam Hike, 11 days