Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau, ~160 km, ~5 hours (L, D)

We will leave Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains, we pass through endless limestone karst scenery as we travel south through “Perfume Pagoda” country and extensive farming lands of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. Striking northwest and over 2 passes, finally dropping down to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau where we stay overnight with friends of the White Thai minority in a traditional stilt house. In the evening, we can enjoy a cultural show of Thai dancing and special local liquors.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Mai Chau – Phu Yen, ~140 km, ~5 hours (B, L, D)

From Mai Chau, we will drive to the direction of Moc Chau and turn to the less travelled Road 43 leading to the Da River. After crossing the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, we ride on a beautiful winding secondary road until Phu Yen where we stay in a guest-house.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Phu Yen – Son La, ~160 km, ~6 hours (B, L, D)

This day, we continue on the almost empty Road 37. We enter mountains heavily populated with Black Thai people, who work on large terraced rice fields. The winding road passes through many Thai villages and fields which provide you chances to watch daily life of the countryside region. Then, we continue through rolling hills before rising up to the sugar cane growing areas on the cooler Son La plateau. Overnight in Son La.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Son La – Tuan Giao, ~140 km, ~5 hours (B, L, D)

Keep moving the northwest trip from Son La, the road will cross lots of mountain passes and region of Black Thai people. Here, you may see a wide range of activities such as: Children walk to school, kids tend buffaloes, women plant rice seedlings and men pull the buffalo. Then, we come to the beginning of the very long and steep Pha Din pass where we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, afterwards down the other side on very steep sealed road. Overnight in Tuan Giao.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Tuan Giao – Sin Ho, ~180 km, ~6 hours (B, L, D)

Heading out northwest from Tuan Giao, the road crosses communities of Hmong and Thai people, whose small villages settle on the banks of dark green rivers and on the steep slopes of the mountains. After lunch, we begins the road to climb up the high Sa Tong pass at the top for sunset before dropping sharply into the deep Lai Chau valley. Overnight in Sin Ho which is a small remote town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Sin Ho – Sapa, ~120 km, ~4 hours (B, L, D)

This morning, we head straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain range. It may be a very challenging back route which takes us through several river crossings. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally we must make a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam (Tram Ton Pass). Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000m, the view looks out over the main range for miles and miles, before we descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley. Overnight in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Sapa, trek or relax (B, L, D)

Today, there are some options for us. We can take it easy in Sa Pa town or make excursions back to the top of the highest pass in Vietnam, or down deep into the amazing Sapa valley. All options are dominated by the crest of the enormous Fansipan mountain range that looms over 2,000 metres above us. The entire region is populated by Hmong, Giay, Tay and Dao people. Overnight in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Sapa – Luc Yen, ~180 km, ~6 hours, (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we will ride down from Sapa and then through palm forest all the way to Luc Yen and stay in a Dao family who live in the Tay territory. It’s a great home stay, very typical of Vietnam hill tribes and the hosts are very welcoming.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Luc Yen – Vu Linh, ~80 km, ~3 hours, (B, L, D)

Today is time for us to explore the Luc Yen area and visit our friends’ families before riding to our Dao friends’ village of Vu Linh. The welcome is exceptional.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Vu Linh – Hanoi, ~180 km, ~6 hours, (B, L)

After breakfast, we cruise southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. We follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi. Along the way, we will cross the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Crossing the Black River by bridge, we pass through Son Tay and return to Hanoi on the highway.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

Please click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIPS and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
• Private Vehicles and Drivers
• Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• All domestic flights
• Airport Taxes and Fuel charges
• Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
• Drinking water available on the vehicles.
• Service Charge & Government Taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
• Your International Flights
• Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
• Any bank fees or charges at your end
• Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
• Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
• Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
• Vietnam visa stamp fee 
• Other services not mentioned above

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HOTEL SELECTION:

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.
  

LOCATIONS	FIRST CLASS CATEGORY	SUPERIOR CATEGORY	DELUXE CATEGORY	LUXURY
Hanoi	Hotel du Larc  Hanoi Garden Hotel & Spa  Imperial Hotel & Spa	Mercury Center  Hotel Emerald Waters Classy  Ambassador  Golden Rooster	La Siesta Premium  La Siesta Classic Ma May La Sinfonia Del Rey	Capella Sofitel Legend Metropole
Sapa	Sapa Horizon Pao’s Sapa Pistachio Hotel Sapa	Sapa Passion  Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa	Topas Ecolodge	Topas Ecolodge Hotel de la Coupole
Maichau	Local Homestay	Sol Bungalows	Mai Chau Eco-Lodge
Phu Yen	Hoang Gia Hotel	Que Toi Village	Zannier
Son La	Son La Hotel	Sơn La Hotel	Son La Hotel
Vu Linh	Lavie Vu Linh	Lavie Vu Linh	Lavie Vu Linh

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

First Class/ 3 Star (from US$ 50 - US$ 80 per room/night)

The First Class/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

Superior/ 4 star (from US$ 100 - US$ 150/ per room/night)

The 4* superior Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$160- US$ 240++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.