Tribal Trail
This is an adventure to the far-east and west of Vietnam, it takes you away from the worries of life to the northernmost region of Vietnam where the people are still very poor and especially, it is home to many ethnic minorities whose lives are not existed in our modern world and are something that we need to learn.
You also have an opportunity to view beautiful landscapes, the landscape here is so different from anywhere in Vietnam. During the trip you will meet many ethnic minorities who live in the remote, untouched areas, and still keep their unique traditions, cultures. Experience such a tour, is an adventure for life!
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- Duration:
- 16 Days / 15 Nights
- Destination:
- Vietnam : Sapa, Bac Kan, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, Ha Giang , Lai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu
- Price USD:
- $1352
Day 1 Ha Noi - Mai Chau
Morning drive from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley in Hoa Binh province. As soon as you get out of Hanoi , the limestone mountain ranges rush up and give the scenery an imposing view. Arrive in Mai Chau late noon, have lunch in Mai Chau and hike around the villages full of house-on-stilts and textile products of local people to learn about the routine life of Thai tribal people. Among the villages you will pass by during this trip, Mai Chau is the closest place where you can meet the hill tribal people, though, due to the ease to reach the nearest town of Hoa Binh , the village is gradually losing its primitive characters. Still, it is the most convenient 1st stop on the long route of the Northwest Loop . The village is inhabited by Thai people, who are believed to be homogenous with the Thai people in Thailand and Southern China . Amongst the 53 ethnic groups of Vietnam, they are considered one of the most civilized for the delicate dress, for beauty and elegance of women, and for nice, wide, spacious houses-on-stilts, and above all, for hospitality
Overnight: Thai village homestay
Meals included: None
Day 2 Mai Chau - Son La
Upon leaving Mai Chau the roads begins to deteriorate; however many villages dot the hillsides and undulating terrain make for an interesting journey, you are crossing the most magnificent part of the Hoang Lien Son range, the Tonkinese Alps, the home of most colourful-dressed Montagnards who still maintain lots of their long-term culture and traditions Along the way we stop in Xa Linh for a two hour trek past many timeless hill villages which are home of the Hmong hill tribe people. Travelling to Son La across the Moc Chau Plateau where located hundreds of immense farms of dairy cattle and where produce the best tea of Vietnam we catch a glimpse of the many tea plantations and see the Black Thai hill tribe people. They belong to the same Thai ethnic group, but are different from the White Thai in Mai Chau by their tradition and habits. To see them leaving the very early morning market, you should wake up an depart early too.
We arrive in Son La in the afternoon, check-in and relax before dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Sonla
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 Son La - Dien Bien Phu
The provincial museum and the nearby old prison are some of this hill town's major sights. We can pay a visit to an old French prison used during the 1st Indochinese War before we leave for our next destination. The winding roads cross over the Pha Din Pass before heading to Dien Bien. The most picturesque scenery is that of Pha Din Pass , which is well-known as a historical site during the French War in 1954, a high and dangerous pass at an elevation of 1,300m, and a breathtaking view.
After checking into our centrally located hotel we enjoy a walk around to see this fast growing town. Dien Bien is only 35km from the border with Laos . Being the last battlefield of the French during their war with the Vietnamese, which ended with the fall of the French colonial control in Indochina and the replacement of the US Army not so long, Dien Bien Phu now returned to be a green valley inhabited by dozens of the ethnic groups. Visiting the historical sites in Dien Bien will also make your trip more memorable. To name a few, they are Dien Bien Museum, A1 Hill, the shelter of the French general De Castries and the cemetery and memorial of the Vietnamese and French soldiers died during the fierce fight in 1954
Overnight: Hotel in Dienbien
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 Dien Bien- Lai Chau
The journey north continues on to Lai Chau Town . You should know that soon before 2010, the nice valley of Lai Chau will be underwater in a construction plan of the biggest hydropower station in Southeast Asia . Along the way we see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The communication with the people from tribal groups living surrounding Lai Chau like Black Thai, White Thai, Muong and Dzao people will sweep away your tiredness of the long trip. After checking into hotel, you have the option of embarking on a boat trip along the Da River, passing through the stunning mountain landscapes, the pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to observe the local lifestyle in close up.
Overnight: Hotel in Laichau
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 Lai Chau – Sin Ho - Phong Tho - SaPa
Today we head South to Sapa via Phong Tho, the old chief town of Lai Chau province before Dien Bien took over this role in 1993. First stop on the way is Sin Ho which is home land of the Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Mang and Dao ethnic minorities. They are settled there longtime ago and still retain their traditional culture and habits. The trip to Sin Ho is occasionally suspended due to the restriction of the local authority. Departing Sin Ho we make our way past the hilly region to Phong Tho. This timeless town is surrounded by stunning mountain backdrops and lush tea plantations. After lunch in Phong Tho we keep driving on another one of Northern Vietnam 's most spectacular roads on the way to Sapa. This bumpy road links to many hill towns and villages. At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa was founded in the early years of the last century as a hill resort for French administrators when the heat on the plain became unbearable. After checking into hotel we can soak up the fresh climate as much as we want by spending our time wandering around this charming town and some legacies of the French period
Overnight: Hotel in Sapa
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 SaPa
In the morning we take a short trek to Catcat village, the village of H'mong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of H'mong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs. After the village down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. A "White curtain" cascade appears, surrounded by flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather…
In the afternoon our vehicle will take us to TaPhin valley, around 15kms from Sapa. Here you will see the ruins of the old French Colonial Church by the left-hand side of this dirt road where we stop to get entrance fees to enter the village. Leave your jeep at the end of the dirt road then walk into the village to visit the rich culture and friendly tribes here we visit the villages of the Red Dzao and Black Hmong minority people, enjoy the view of the valley and visit the caves in the village's outskirts. Our guide will assist you communicating with the locals while visiting around the village. Take a ride back to Sapa for around 30 minutes and you must stop some times on the way to take photos of the fabulous valley. Many "Kodak moments" are awaiting for you along the way.
Overnight: Hotel in Sapa
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 SaPa - Bac Ha
Today we continue our trip to Bac Ha through LaoCai border town, after having lunch and take a brief look at Ha Khau border gate, we drive up a 30km spectacular pass to BacHa. With a dozen of tribes living in the surroundings, including Flower HMong, Chinese, Nhang, Dzao, Nung, Phu la, Thai and King (or Viet), the Sunday market of Bac Ha is extremely exciting especially in the early morning. Not a unique in the Northern mountains of Vietnam but one of the very few places whose infrastructure allow the car to reach, Bac Ha soon became a captivating destination. Anyhow, the difficult road helps maintain the colours (literal and figurative sense) of the area. The Sunday market in Bac Ha is often held? well, on Sunday, and a lot of the market sellers are women from the tribe of Flower HMong, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics. The market is most exciting just for a half day. By 14.00, you may see people leaving (after eating) back to their villages, you can hike around to follow them to their villages too, or take your car heading to further hamlets in Ban Pho, Trieu Cai, or Na Hoi, or trek there and be picked-up to return to Bac Ha, all the villages are within 2- 4km from the marketplace.
Overnight: Hotel in Bacha
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang
Leaving Bac Ha we set off on a full day journey through Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang Town. Have your camera at the ready, because the road between Bac ha and Xin Man features a unique and beautiful landscape, plus a fantastic market in Can Cau located right in the heart of mountains. After Can Cau, we proceed along the Chinese border to the remote and seldom-visited province of Ha Giang The rough but scenic route traverse a dense jungle before crossing over a pass and dropping down to Sin Man. This day is a real challenge for our driver as we travel by winding roads with many uphill and down hill drives. Along the way we may encounter the Nung, Tay, Red Dzao, Dzao Ao Dzai, La Chi and Co Lao, just some of the many hill tribe groups who have settled there. We pass by Hoang Su Phi with many villages of Black Mong, Nung along the way and 100-km up and down mountain passes with amazing landscape of mountainous rice paddies. Then we continue along the Lo river to Ha Giang. Ha Giang is located at the highest latitude in Vietnam . It is surrounded by Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. This is a political sensitive area - Ha Giang shares its borders with Vietnam 's arch-enemy China - and your guide will apply for a "permit" for the days to come. Arrive in Ha Giang town is always a great moment - plus, the town has an excellent massage center.
Overnight: Hotel in Hagiang
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 Ha Giang - Sa Phin - Dong Van
Rise and shine for a few hours drive over an endless winding road to the most northern town of Vietnam , Dong Van. You'll travel through many of the Heaven Gates such as Quan Ba, Yen Binh, and Dong Van. They are so called because one gets the feeling of touching the sky, the heaven gates. This is the best time and place to enjoy the wonderful sightseeing of the vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular rock walls which give a feeling of adventure while being lost in a magic land where we are surrounded by many rocks of all shapes and sizes. Then we continue our trip to visit the infamous Vuong Palace , a H'mong high-rank family during French colonial rule. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. The more you go north, the further "normal" Vietnam seems to vanish and most people you'll see wear their traditional, extremely colorful clothes. But you won't be the only one who is amazed, so are Ha Giang's inhabitants who seldom see a foreigner. In Dong Van you'll spend the night in a simple, government run "nha khach" (guesthouse).
Overnight: Hotel in Dongvan
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 Dong Van - Meo Vac - Lung Phin - Bac Me
The trip from Dong Van to Meo Vac is one you'll never forget: along a steep, hundreds of meters deep abyss the road will take you through a spectacular mountain area with on your left side China . Meo Vac is conquered by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority people. They still retain their age old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of local people are a highlight of Meo Vac although conditions are very basic. Main goal of this day is a visit to the market of Lung Phin, a small village where time has stood still for ages. Miles and miles before you'll reach Lung Phin there's an endless stream of people accompanied by goats, cows and dogs - for human consumption - who are heading by foot to the market. After spending a few hours in the amazing village of Lung Phin, you'll keep going to Bac Me via Yen Minh, using a short cut way.
Overnight: Hotel in Bacme
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 Bac Me - Bao Lac - Nguyen Binh – Ba Be lakes
An early morning start to drive through the rolling hills and the picturesque scenery to Ba Be National Park. The roads are very bumpy and zigzagging however we will have a chance to meet the Hmong, Dao, Tay and Nung ethnic minorities who make for the main population of this region. We are sure to attract their attention as this part of the country receive very few visitors. Depending on road and traffic conditions we arrive in Ba Be by late afternoon or early evening
Overnight: Babe Homestay
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12 Ba Be lakes
The legendary lake of Ba Be is just one continuous water body although the name means three lakes?. Today we embark on a boat cruising down the Nang River which is the main water source of the lake. This exciting river trip will give us a taste of the tranquil countryside and an enjoyable exploration of the Ba Be National Park. We traverse the Poong Grotto en route before stopping at some nearby hill tribe villages and getting off the beaten track to the scenic Dau Dang Waterfalls. In one of the desolated villages near the water you'll spend the night in a traditional Tay house.
Overnight: Tay village homestay
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 13 Ba Be - Cao Bang
The following destination of our trip is Cao Bang Town . After breakfast we set off on our half day journey past the spectacular mountainous landscapes, with a mixture of steep terraced rice field and hill villages. Along the way, we can make stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and shoot some wonderful photographs. The remainder of the day will be free to explore the town or simply to relax.
Overnight: Hotel in Caobang
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 14 Cao Bang- Ban Gioc Waterfalls
An eighty kilometers long road will take you to the Ban Gioc Waterfalls. Half way you'll visit a village of the Nung minority. Close to the Chinese border you'll make a short walk to the falls which are 300 meters wide and 50 meters high. In winter, the dry season, it's possible to take a boat to the falls. On a short distance from the falls are the Nguom Ngao caves. The local guides will take you for a trip to underground rivers and lakes and sinter caves. Late in the afternoon you'll return to Cao Bang.
Overnight: Hotel in Caobang
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 15 Cao Bang - Lang Son
Heading out of town , we make our way north to the historical cave of Pac Po where Ho Chi Minh set up the headquarter for the August Vietnamese Revolution in 1945. After seeing this vestige site we continue our journey past the many hill villages and the tranquil town of Dong Khe and That Khe. The journey north continues along the National Highway 4 and follows the Ky Cung river which flows around the foot of limestone mountains to Lang Son. If time permits we will visit Mau Mount. It's about 30 kilometres from Lang Son city to Mau Mount on the winding narrow mountain path, like a snake, lies tucked between 2 steep mountains. Mau Mount is 1542 m above sea level. This area's picturesque scenery turns it a mini Sapa characterized with the beautiful steep mountains. In the late afternoon we arrive in Lang Son. Just don’t forget to visit KyLua busy night market.
Overnight: Hotel in Langson
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 16 Lang son- Hanoi
Langson is the capital of this mountainous area and is an important crossing and trading route with China . As a trading post, Langson has some markets worth visiting. You’ll find everything from electronics and gadgets to textiles and house wares. Its definitely buyer be aware, as there’s lots of knock-offs of the original. If the markets aren’t your thing then just a couple of kilometers from town are two large, beautiful caves and the ruins of the Mac Dynasty Citadel worth a visit. Tamthanh Cave contains a pond and offers great views of the surrounding farmlands. Nhithanh Cave , formed by the river that flows through it, has poems carved into the entrance by the man who discovered the cave in the 18th century. After your morning of exploration its time for lunch and prepare for the trip back to Hanoi . The road from Langson is a modern highway that quickly carries down from the mountains, back onto the Red River Delta and into Hanoi . Back to the hotel for dinner and a toast to the completion of one of Vietnam 's most spectacular loops.
Meals included: Breakfast.
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
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.
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LOCATIONS |
FIRST CLASS CATEGORY |
SUPERIOR CATEGORY |
DELUXE CATEGORY |
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Hanoi |
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Halong Cruise |
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Sapa |
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Maichau |
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Ha Giang |
Hagiang Hotel |
Hagiang Hotel |
Hagiang Hotel |
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Caobang |
Caobang Hotel |
Caobang Hotel |
Caobang Hotel |
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Babe lake |
Homestay |
Homestay |
Homestay |
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Langson |
Langson Hotel |
Langson Hotel |
Langson Hotel |
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$150 - US$ 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.
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