The Virgin North West of Vietnam is an off-the-beaten track adventure to the attractions in Yen Bai and Lao Cai for 5 days, 4 nights.
Adventure Trip in the North West of Vietnam Overview
The tour was inspired by the captivating wilderness of the North West of Vietnam when our team made series of expeditions into the far-flung regions of the country.
Most travelers take a trip to the North-West on the southern brim via Route 6 which travels through Hoa Binh, Son La... this adventure follows Route 32 via Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Lai Chau. On the tour, you will be charmed by the rice terraces at Tu Le and Mu Cang Chai, the rugged mountains at Lai Chau and Lao Cai. There are lots villages of ethnic minorities on our travel route for you to visit. The best time to do the trip is at the end of May or October when the rice fields turn into golden color.
The pace of travel is easy and accommodations are at hotels with basic facilities. The roads are mostly in fair or good condition. Except for Sapa, good tourist services may be in the lack due to that the region is not frequently visited by travelers.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day1 ( Tuesday) Ha Noi – Nghia Lo (B) 
Day2 ( Wednesday) Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai (B)
Day3 ( Thursday) Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sa Pa (B)
Day4 ( Friday ) Sa Pa (B/L)
Day5 ( Saturday) Sa Pa – Can Cau Market – Ha Noi (B)
Hotels
- Nghia Lo: Standard Hotel with basic facilities
- Mu Cang Chai: Guest house
- Sapa: Standard Hotel with basic facilities (3 and 4-star hotels are available upon request with additional costs.)
{Inclusions
English-speaking guide;
Transportation as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Accommodations in twin-shared rooms as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Meals as indicated as indicated on the tour itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner;
All admission fees as indicated on the tour itinerary;
}
{Exclusions
Insurance of any type;
Drinks or personal expenses;
Others not specified in the inclusions;
}
Detailed itinerary
Day1 ( Tuesday) Ha Noi – Nghia Lo (B)
08:00 A.M Leaving Ha Noi, we take a 5-hour road trip to Nghia Lo Town. On arrival, check into our hotel and have the afternoon visiting the Thai communities living in the valley. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Nghia Lo Town.
There's a hot-spring in a Muong Village, 5 km from Nghia Lo Town which offers relaxing bath. The facilities here are very basic. Paradissa can offer a free ride to the geyser and back to the hotel upon request.
Day2 ( Wednesday) Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai (B) 
Breakfast at the hotel.
08:30 A.M Travel on the scenic road of towering mountains and deep ravines toward Tu Le Valley. Tu Le is inhabited by the Black Thai and the valley of Tu Le offers breathtaking rice terraces which attracts thousands of photographers and artists of Vietnam, the terraces are especially stunning in the harvest times (August-September) when the whole area turns into golden color.
Lunch at Tu Le Town.
After lunch, climb the over 2000m Pass of Khau Pha. The 20 km or so of the pass offers heavenly beauty which may require quite a few stops for adoring the wild nature and taking photos. Arriving at Mu Cang Chai, we will check into our guest house and head out to visit the local communities and the famous rice terraces which have been claimed the national heritage.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at Mu Cang Chai.
Day3 ( Thursday) Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sa Pa (B) 
Breakfast at the hotel.
08:30 A.M Leaving Mu Cang Chai, we follow the road flanked by rugged mountains and deep ravines for Than Uyen, a little town famous for the gold mines. The Than Plain, where Than Uyen is located, is among the 4 biggest plains in the North West of Vietnam. After Than Uyen Town, the scene changes quickly with undulating mountains of the famous Hoang Lien Mountain Range, the highest one in Vietnam (and of Indochina). We will stop for photos at the Heavenly Gate and the Silver Waterfall before entering the cloud-covered town of Sa Pa.
Lunch at a local restaurant at Sa Pa.
In the afternoon, have a walking tour to the breathtaking Cat Cat Waterfall.
Have free time in the evening.
Overnight at Sa Pa.
Day4 ( Friday ) Sa Pa (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Our morning tour is for climbing the mountain of Ham Rong which is just located near the town. Ham Rong Mountain offers wild orchid gardens and the panoramic view of Sapa Town and the fresh surroundings. We will also have an opportunity to enjoy a traditional performance by the local boys and girls from the different local ethnic groups. Then we will travel back to town and visit Sa Pa Market.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the villages of Lao Chai (Black H'mong) and Ta Van (Giay).
Free time in the evening.
Overnight at Sa Pa.
Day5 ( Saturday) Sa Pa – Bac Ha - Can Cau Market – Ha Noi (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
07:30 A.M Leave Sapa Town for Can Cau ethnic market. The market of Can Cau is on a mountain slope, by the side of the Chay River. The market is in session only on Saturday morning and the local communities including Flower H'Mong, Nung, Giay, Phu La... would travel to the market for bartering and for socializing. The local people travel to the market from early in the morning and would start leaving the market for home at around 10:00 – 11:00 A.M. Leaving Can Cau, we will travel through the scenic roads of the North West of Vietnam and arrive in Ha Noi in the early evening. We just you had a wonderful adventure holiday in the North West of Vietnam with Paradissa Travel.
