Northern Vietnam Hiking Tour

Welcome to Vietnam! After finding your own way to the hotel, you’ll have some time to settle in. If you arrive with some free time before dinner, stroll to the city’s central lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, to observe the daily activities around its shores. In the evening, meet your guide and group at the hotel for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and an orientation on the adventure ahead.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast washed down with ca phe sua da (delicious iced Vietnamese coffee), then depart for an informative walk around Vietnam’s historical capital. See highlights like the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the century-old Temple of Literature recognized as the first university in Vietnam, and Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Mid-morning, you’ll be happy to stroll through Hanoi’s coffee neighbourhood, abundant in quaint cafes, each with a different story. In the evening, you’ll witness a traditional water puppet show, created over a thousand years ago by farmers to entertain royalty under the Ly and Tran dynasties. Return to the hotel to get some rest.

Leave the chaotic Hanoi behind as you head north into the mountains after breakfast. During the drive, you can gaze out the window at the overgrowth of greenery, spectacular limestone peaks, and mighty rivers. Drive through villages populated by small ethnic groups and note the subtle differences in each town you pass. Once you reach the Song Chay Mountains, you will check into an ecolodge with bungalows cradled in lush greenery. Relax among nature and prepare for trekking tomorrow with a good night’s sleep.

Load up on breakfast in Pan Hou Village, then depart afterwards to hike among the forested peaks. The area you will walk through today is inhabited by the Red Dao community. As you trek through the mountains, you’ll see how the locals have created terraced paddies for producing rice. Admire the stunning green steps and enjoy the cooler temperatures as you ascend. Stop for lunch at a Red Dao village, then continue for a couple more hours to reach your homestay with a Red Dao family. In the evening, they will introduce you to their daily practices and prepare a traditional meal.

Rise early and observe breakfast preparation, then set out to continue the trek. Hike through peaks and valleys through cassava fields, dense forests, rice paddies, and tea plantations. Enjoy another Red Dao lunch midday, then keep pushing on towards the H’mong community. Be welcomed by a H’mong family and learn about their culture this evening. Finally, settle into your homestay for the night.

Wake up in the misty mountains and gather with your host family for breakfast. After eating, say goodbye to your hosts and head out to complete the trekking loop, ending once again in Pan Hou Village. Appreciate the nature around you, like the bamboo shoots, terraced fields, and tall trees. Have lunch in a small Red Dao community and finish the last stretch of the tour fuelled by their delicious meal. Relax in the ecolodge, freshen up, and get some well-earned rest.

Relish in your last morning in the mountains and savour your ca phe sua da. Only a few days left of the tour, and there’s tons more adventure ahead! Depart for Hanoi, stopping over in small villages to browse for handicrafts and have some refreshments. Once you arrive in Hanoi, you have free time to wander the streets, explore areas you haven’t yet seen, or return to your favourite café. Treat yourself to a street food dinner—the options are overwhelming, and you can’t go wrong.

After breakfast, prepare for a chill day and night on Lan Ha Bay’s gorgeous waters, which neighbours the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay. Enjoy freshly-caught seafood meals as you gaze at the remarkable limestone peaks jutting out from blue-green waters. Find a perch on deck in the evening to witness one of those is-this-real-life sunsets. Get comfy in a sleeper cabin onboard and let the sea gently rock you to sleep.

If you’re not a morning person, you make an exception today to watch a spectacular sunrise over Lan Ha Bay. Your skipper will navigate through the stunning scenery to return to the mainland after having breakfast and lunch on board. When you get back to Hanoi mid-afternoon, you have free time to savour your last night in Vietnam however you like. Hit the street food stalls, enjoy some bia hoi (fresh beer), find a late-night café, or just relax in the hotel.

Unfortunately, your tour has come to an end. Reminisce about the last 10 days with your group over breakfast, then check out of the hotel by noon. You’ll sort out your own transfer to the airport or the next stop on your travels.