Tour Essential of North-West Adventures

Tour

Essential of North-West Adventures

North-west Vietnam offers travellers some of the country's most spectacular scenery. The mountainous areas are home to many distict hill tribes, some still living as they have for generations, despite ever-increasing Vietnamese and Western influences.

Highway 6 winds through beautiful mountains and high plains inhabited by Montagnards (notably the Black Thai, White Thai and H'mong). The Thai are most numerous in the lower lands, where they cultivate tea and fruit and live in attractive stilt houses. The hardy H'mong live in the bleaker high-lands over 1000m.

Highway 6 has recently renovated and bitumened from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu. Even more exciting is Highway 32 between Dien Bien Phu and Lai Chau - a dangerous cliffhanger frequently wiped out by landslides. The ensuring stretch from Lai Chau into Sapa is bumpy in places but offers some of the best mountain vistas in South-East Asia.

The most interesting (and hair-raising) journey of all is the 'north-west loop'. Head for Mai Chau, followed by Son La and Dien Bien Phu, then north to Lai Chau, Sapa, Lao Cai and back to Hanoi. The loop requires 4 WD or motorbike, and you should allow at least a weed for this trip.

Tour Highlights

View the country life of Vietnam by Vietnam TripAdvisor Jeep car.
Enjoy the traditional dances and try the rice wine drunk with a rod.
You will have chance to view the mountain scenery and see the daily life of the ethnic minority groups and free to take photograps.
Explore Dien Bien Phu - the last base of the French power in Indochina

Detailed Itinerary.

Day 1: Ha Noi - Mai Chau (160 km)(B,L,D)

On Vietnam TripAdvisor's jeep, we start from your hotel and hit the road through some traffic of Hanoi, as soon we get out of town (10 km), and

we will already view the country life of Vietnam. We heading toward Hoa Binh province, we pass through a region of spectacular limestone mountains, passes, valleys and wind our way down hills to Mai Chau valley of the Thai people. We will spend the afternoon to walk around the village, learn more about the Thai and experience their hospitality from our stay in their house on stilts Dinner and enjoy the traditional dances and try the rice wine drunk with a rod. Sleep in their house.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Moc Chau - Son La (160 km)(B,L,D)

Today, we will drive about the same distance as we made to Mai Chau, the road to Son La is lined with fruit orchards, tea plantations, towering mountains and chance to meet and talk to the black Thai, white Thai,

H’mong and Muong hill tribe people on their way to work or local markets. In the afternoon, we visit the Prison Museum in Son La, which remains as a poignant reminder of the inequities of the former French colonial rule. Dinner and sleep in the Cong Doan Hotel.

Day 3: Son La – Lai Chau (300 km)(B,L,D)

After breakfast, we continue to drive Jeep to Lai Chau valley (very long way but impressive – 380 km). The road through the Lai Chau valley is both breathtaking and dramatic, hugging rice terraced mountainsides and fording turbulent rivers, our road travel today are visually spectacular. On the way you will have chance to view the mountain scenery and see the daily life of the ethnic minority groups and free to take photograps. We stop on the way to have lunch at small restaurant. In the late afternoon, we will spend time to walk around the town where we check in hotel for relax before a tired day driving. Dinner and overnight in Lai Chau.

Day 4: Lai Chau(B,L,D)

This day you will have full day in Lai Chau to visit, explore and “live with” custom of ethnic groups in Sin Ho Village (the most beautiful hill tribes in Northern Vietnam such as H'Mong, Black Thai, Black Dzao). Besides, we also visit other sites such as Tien Son Cave, Muong Lai Spring. Dinner and overnight in homestay of Sin Ho. (L)

Day 6: Lai Chau - Dien Bien Phu (170 km)(B,L,D)

The further we drive the more impressive the mountain scenery will be, we will be visiting villages meet more tribal people here along our journey to Dien Bien Phu city. Stop for lunch in Tuan Giao. Continue on to Dien Bien, enjoy the wonderful scenery in Pha Din pass Afternoon, Dien Bien Phu - the last base of the French power in Indochina, we will visit monuments, museums…and preserved bunkers tell the story of the final and victorious liberating battle of 1954. Dinner and free to explore nightlife in this remote mountain city. O/n in Muong Thanh Hotel. (L)

Day 7: Dien Bien Phu– Hanoi(B)

You have time to relax until drive to Hanoi. Tour finish.

Size of group	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax
Cost/pax	560$	515$	475$

Included:

English speaking guide.
Japanese Jeep car.
Hotels/guesthouses/home stays
Meal as specified: B for Breakfast; L for Lunch; D for Dinner, permits,
Entrance’s fees
Local dances and purified water.

Excluded:

Insurance, drinks, other personal expenses. Tips are welcome!

Notes:

Best time to do: All year round, best from September to April of next year.
Please travel responsibly: The small things you do will make a big difference!
Validity: This tour is valid to Oct 2007 and subject to changes without prior notice

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Information

Days:	>= 5 days
Price:	200usd - 500usd
Start from:	Hanoi

Sender

Name: sapaluxurytravel

Tour Map

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Related Places

Hanoi	Mai Chau Valley	Moc Chau Highland
Son La	Lai Chau	Dien Bien