Sapa and Ha Giang Adventure

Approx. 200km Although the traffic in Hanoi gets really busy, we'll start at the edge of the city and quickly leave the traffic behind and enter the countryside towns to the south. After a couple of hours of small towns and farmland, we’ll be able to see the mountains ahead As we enter the area of the White Thai tribe we’ll stop for some hill tribe style lunch in a traditional wooden-framed building. As the road twists through the jungle-covered mountain, we’ll continue further into the mountains. We’ll stop at the top of White Rock Mountain for a stunning view across the Mai Chau Valley, set amongst small villages of wooden stilt houses and traditional farming families. There, we can watch the sunset over the rice paddies and mountains.

Approx. 160km Leaving Mai Chau, we’ll get a great view over the vast Hoa Binh lake. Then it’s off to a hidden waterfall for a photo followed by the high mountain roads of Moc Chau around the hundreds of tight bends and steep cliffs. We’ll stop for White Thai style food for lunch at a local restaurant before heading down a beautiful valley to reach the banks of the giant Da river lake, which we’ll cross by ferry. The road twists and turns its way along the banks of the lake past small fishing and farming villages. Expect to see the local people using small horses to carry their goods to market. Finally, we’ll pass back into rice farming areas as we make our way to our hotel at Phu Yen.

Approx. 180km We begin with a trip over Lung Lo mountain pass, where the Viet Minh made their way west to defeat the French in 1954. As we head north the mountains get steeper and we’ll have the opportunity to get views over the countryside. From here, we can climb up to a sleepy hill tribe village at the top of a mountain to get great views Next, we’ll have lunch at a hill tribe restaurant in Nghia Lo. As we continue north, the hills become steeper and the terraced rice paddies get steeper. This area is some of the best scenery in Vietnam. We’ll arrive at our traditional hill tribe accommodation in a wooden stilt house surrounded by rice paddies and mountains, where local food & cold beer will complete the day.

Approx. 140km The mountains get bigger and the road gets windier as we carry on north. We’ll finally come to the incredible O Quy Ho pass, the biggest climb of our tour. We’ll stop at the top, at 2035 meters and enjoy some fresh tea and dried buffalo meat with the local hill tribe folk who live up there. As we come down the other side of the mountain, we’ll stop for photos at the impressive 100 meter Silver Waterfall. Continuing on, you’ll get views over the amazing Cat Cat valley and Vietnam’s highest mountain, Fan Si Pan. Finally, we’ll arrive in Sapa to have lunch and then the afternoon is free to explore the town. Optional: ride the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain (3140 meters), the highest point in Vietnam.

Today is a free day to explore the town and visit the local markets. If you didn’t yesterday, today again you’ll have the option to visit the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain at 3140 meters, the highest point in Vietnam.

Approx. 170km To start the day, a steep winding road leads us off down the mountain to the busy border town of Lao Cai where we can stop at the busy Chinese border gate. Following the border, the road twists and winds along the high peaks and steep valleys. You can see stepped rice paddies everywhere and tiny wooden houses halfway up the slopes. We’ll wind along the side of the giant Chay river dam and then head towards Bac Ha town, which is famous for its hill tribe markets. Here the many different tribes of the area can be found bartering and swapping their goods.

Approx. 240km The palace of King Hoang A Tuong is well preserved on the outskirts of Bac Ha. He ruled the hill tribes of the area with French permission as he controlled the trade routes out of the mountains—notably the opium trade. Following that you’ll see more mountains, countryside, hill tribe villages, and more. Heading into the giant Karst formation mountains of Ha Giang province, we’ll reach the top of Bac Ha mountain pass. You’ll see small roads and limestone Karst formation mountains as we head towards the beautiful Quan Ba mountains. Also known as ‘Heaven’s Gate’ this area is famous for secret grottos and caves as well as colourful plum and peach trees. As you look over the valley you’ll be greeted by the two amusingly shaped hills famously known as the ‘stone breasts.’ Our rooms are in a traditional Red Dao village where you’ll be looked after by a local Dao family.

Approx. 140km To the north, the road is like a rollercoaster winding over the Karst formation mountains up towards China. Along the way, we’ll visit the old palace of the Hmong emperor. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the Hmong were unassailable to both French and Chinese. We’ll follow all the way to the Lunc Cu tower, marking the northernmost point In Vietnam. Climbing the tower gives you views across the border into China. Next to our hotel is the old French fort set on top of a high cliff. The stairs are steep and many, but it’s worth it for the panoramic views of the area.

Approx. 240km We’ll leave on the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass, climbing over 1500 meters, surely one of the best roads in Vietnam. We’ll make many stops to look out over the steep cliffs and high valleys. Heading south will take us on small roads through steep-cliffed mountains. Carrying on, we’ll head into Ba Be national park and make our way to the wooden stilt house we will stay in. We may have time to jump on a boat to explore the lake. Waterfalls, caves, jungle, and mountains make this a truly beautiful place.

Approx. 230km Leaving the lake, we have hills and countryside for the first half of the day. In the afternoon you’ll gradually see the towns get bigger and the roads more crowded, but we’ll take the easiest route back to the city. When we reach the city centre we finish the tour with a nice cold beer!