VB028: THE MINORITY OF THE NORTH (8 Days/ 7 Nights)

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival –  Good morning Vietnam  

Welcome to Ha Noi, transfer of 45 min to your hotel in town… Then check in hotel and relax. Dinner at your own . Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2:  Hanoi – Hoa Binh ( B) 

Breakfast at hotel. upon arrival in Hoa Binh at around 10:AM, take boat ride on Da reservoir to reach Mai Chau. The 4 hours cruise on the biggest reservoir in Southeast Asia will include a couple of stops at a ethnic families of Muong and Dzao. Lunch at a Muong family. arrival in Mai Chau around 4PM. Rest of the day free at leisure. evening, enjoy folk dances and songs. Overnight stay in Mai Chau.

Day 3 :  Mai Chau – Son La ( B)

After a good breakfast, walk around the villages of Thai in Mai Chau. Then leave Mai Chau of Son La. Upon leaving Mai Chau we see many villages dotting the hillsides and the undulating terrain, which makes for an interesting journey. Along the way we stop for a short trek near Xa Linh, visiting the Hmong and the Muong people. Travelling across the Moc Chau Plateau we pass many tea plantations en route to Son La, which is our overnight stop. There we have the opportunity to visit the old Son La Prison, which the French used to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries in the latter years of the colonial era. We also visit a small museum that has interesting displays on hill tribe lifestyles.

Day 4 :  Son La – Dien Bien Phu ( B)

Leaving Son La, we stop at a market in Thuan Chau, which is frequented by many hill tribes. Crossing over the Pha Din Pass we travel to Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle in Vietnam’s struggle for independence from the French in 1954. Today the town houses a recently renovated museum, which details the events that took place. On display are relics from the battle including old French tanks and artillery pieces. Of special interest is the reconstruction of the bunker where the French commander, Colonel de Castries, surrendered to Viet Minh forces. We spend the night in Dien Bien Phu, which has developed into a fast-growing frontier town. The Lao border is not very far away from here. O/n in DBP.

Day 5 :   Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau ( B) 

Long day drive though scenic, winding roads as our journey continues to Lai Chau, which encompasses an area formerly known as Tam Duong. This mountainous region is populated by many hill tribe villages and interesting markets where the local villagers come to trade their goods. We stay overnight in a very simple hotel, but it must be noted that all accommodation options here are very basic, as we are staying in an area that sees very few visitors. O/n in Lai Chau.

Day 6 : Phong Tho – Sapa ( B)

We leave Lai Chau for Sapa. Sapa was founded in the early years of the last century as a hilltop retreat for the French administrators when the heat of the plains became unbearable. At an altitude of over 1000 metres, there are warm days and cool evenings. The local minority groups such as Hmong and Dao come to Sapa to trade. The imposing Fan Si Pan range of hills encourages an alpine feel to this colonial-influenced town. Upon arrival in Sapa, we drive to nearby beautiful valley to visit a village of Black Mong, an old hydro power station built by French. Overnight stay in Sa Pa.

Day 7 : Sapa – Hanoi ( B)

After trip, for several hours you cross the waiter course of the red river in Lao Cai. River continues to the Ho Thac Ba resevoir and return trip to Hanoi along the red river. Transfer to the booked hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8 :  Hanoi  – Departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to your country.