Day 1: Hanoi Arrival:
Greetings from Vietnam. When you arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, a driver and guide from Golden Trail Travel will meet you and take you to the hotel located in the center of Hanoi. Hanoi, the historic and vibrant capital of Vietnam, is home to some of Asia's most remarkable colonial buildings as well as a distinct old world charm. Following check-in, unwind on your own while discussing the schedule for the next few days with our guide. Take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter's busy streets to explore Hanoi's blend of modern and historical charm. You will be greeted with a special welcome meal at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant following the trip. Stay overnight in Hanoi

Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals :D
Transfer distance: 35 Km
 
Day 2: Hanoi – Quang Binh
After enjoying a filling breakfast at the hotel and escaping the busy metropolis, we headed towards the northeast of Vietnam. Take advantage of four hours on our bus to witness breathtaking countryside and luxuriant roadside tourism. having lunch at a nearby restaurant after traveling to Quang Binh Town.
After lunch, we take a walk around the village to warm up and discover more about the way of life of the hill tribe people. Spend the night at Quang Binh Township after dinner.

Summary:
Activities:Transfering and warming up trekking
Accommodations: Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance:Warming up trekking
 
Day 3: Quang Binh – Tan Nam
While considering brunch at a nearby restaurant, our shuttle vehicle transports us to the starting location of our trip. We start our new journey from.For more than two hours, take a leisurely stroll through a valley and terraced rice farms to reach a village of Pa Ethnic peoples came next. After exploring the village, have a lunch break. After midday, the hike takes around four hours, going up and down hills through rice paddies, plantations, and, most importantly, the palm forest of the Tan Nam Commune's steep terrain. passing through some Black Zao hamlets and larger Nung ethnic peoples' friendly settlements. Around 5:00 p.m., arrive in Tan Nam's center and have a stroll through this lovely village. Dinner and overnight stay in a Nung family.
Summary:
Activities:Transferring and Trekking

Accommodations: homestay
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 17 Km/ 5 Hours
 
Day 4: Tan Nam – Phieng Lang
After having breakfast with our host, we set off on our second day of hiking to Phieng Lang from our homestay.
Today's hike is simple along the expansive village route that links the Tay, Nung, and Zao Ao Dai (Zao wearing long dresses) villages, all of which are exquisitely situated across the Nam Ly River. stopping at a lot of the neighborhood's houses along the road and everywhere folks extend hospitality to guests.In the afternoon, the hike gradually ascends a hill to Phieng Lang. The Zao Ao Dai and certain Flower H'mong peoples make up the majority of the population in this area. They customarily and practically build their homes on hilltops and cultivate the surrounding land to create the ideal living space. Reach Phieng Lang in the midst of the afternoon. Go for a leisurely stroll to discover the local natural environment. Dinner and overnight stay in a Zao stilt house.

Summary:
Activities:Trekking
Accommodations: homestay
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 17 Km/ 5 Hours
 
Day 5: Phieng Lang – Pa Duc – Quang Thuong – Nam Choong
After breakfast, depart Phieng Lang at approximately 08.30 am. Savor yet another day in the stunning Nam Ly Valley. Follow a well-maintained path that passes through Pa Duc village and uphill on high hillside slopes all morning to Quang Thuong. In stark contrast to the Nung and Tay, who reside in sizable lowland settlements, the H'mong and Zao Ao Dai inhabit elevated terrain, with their homes dispersed across hilltops. One of the most stunning views in the far north is available from this section. After lunch, descend for two hours along a narrow trail that winds past steep terraced fields and tea estates to reach Nam Chong Village in the Zao Ao Dai. Explore the village and settle down in a local home by the hot spring for dinner and overnight.

Summary:
Activities:Trekking
Accommodations: homestay
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 14 Km/ 4 Hours
 
Day 6: Nam Chong – Quang Nguyen – Coc Cang – Coc Dong
Departure at 08.30 a.m. Walk for one hour on a small track that follows the Nam Ly River to Quang Nguyen Commune's center. Then take a difficult trail that climbs a steep hill for two hours through Quang Vinh Village, passing Red Zao and Zao Ao Dai on the higher land and Nung villages on the lower land.
Take a lunch break and get ready for the hardest portion of the tour: Move past the mountain of Nhin Co San. The track narrows and gets extremely difficult at certain points as it climbs through dense rain forest and then bamboo forest for about three kilometers to Coc Cang Village in Che La Commune. Follow the same route for 1.5 hours, passing through a few White H'mong hamlets until arriving to Coc Dong Village, home of the Nung people. Dinner and overnight stay here

Summary:
Activities:Trekking
Accommodations: homestay
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 17 Km/5 hours
 
Day 7: Coc Dong – Coc Re – Coc Pai
 Today is going to be a great day! departing from Coc Dong and traveling uphill for almost hours on a path that skirts tall mountains, passing through a number of Flower H'mong hamlets—who are always at the highest point. After spending some time at the Coc Re market area sampling local fare, arrive at noon and take advantage of a lunch break at a nearby restaurant. descending down a little valley with amazing terraced fields and recently planted woodland for the entire afternoon in order to reach Coc Pai, the town center of Xin Man District. After checking in, use your free time to view the interesting things going on around the Xin Man Market in the late afternoon.

Summary:
Activities:Trekking
Accommodations: Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 17 Km/ 5 Hours
 
Day 8: Coc Pai – Bac Ha
After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll around Coc Pai to escape the bustle of the morning before traveling by car for 2.5 hours to Bac Ha Town. Lunch break and hotel check-in at Sao Mai after arriving in Bac Ha around midday. The highlight of the afternoon is a two-hour stroll in the beautiful Ban Pho Valley, home to the Flower H'mong and Tay ethnic groups. touring the homes of the locals and taking in the sights of people crafting the famous corn spirit and doing a traditional dance while playing the Khen, a traditional musical instrument made up of six bamboo pipes.

Summary:
Activities:Trekking and Transferring
Accommodations: Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance: 7 km/ 2,5 Hours
 
Day 9: Bac Ha – Coc Ly – Lao Cai – Train to Hanoi
It's the last day of the journey and a simple one. After breakfast, depart from the house at 08.30 a.m.
Travel 9 km to reach Nam Mon Commune. From here, hike for about an hour uphill on a narrow trail before heading downhill to the valley's bottom. After that, hike for about two hours along a narrow stream to reach Trung Do Village of the Tay, which consists of about 40 houses perched on stilts on the bank of the Chay River and is ideally situated in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Take a leisurely stroll around this affluent village and then have lunch at a private residence. After leaving Trung Do, you will walk for more than an hour down the Chay River to see several Black Zao and H'mong hamlets in Cac Cop Village. From there, you will board a boat downstream along the Chay River to Bao Nhai Commune.collected at the conclusion of the boat ride and taken to Lao Cai. After dinner and a quick change of clothes, catch the night train to Hanoi.

Summary:
Activities:Transferring and Trekking & Boat trip
Accommodations:On Night Train
Meals:B/L/D
Trekking distance:12 km
 
Day 10: Hanoi  Arrival:
At 5 a.m., the Night train will arrive at Hanoi Station. You are met again by our guide and driver, who then take you to the hotel for an early breakfast. You can do as you please until it's time to leave.

Summary:
Activities:Transfer
Accommodations:On ward
Meals:B/
Trekking distance: No

HOTELS
Homestay
Economy 2*+ Hotels
Superior 3* Hotels
First Class 4* Hotels
Deluxe 5* Hotels
Luxury 5*++ Hotels

Notes:
*All prices are based on per adult, in Double/Twin sharing
Surcharge will be applied for single traveler or single room request

Important Notes:
HOTELS, PROGRAMS & SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

GUIDE/LEADER:
English speaking guide. French , Germany , Spanish, Italian, Russian  speaking guide can be arranged with on request.

What’s included

Adventure guide who speaks English (additional languages upon request)
The basis for accommodations is double or twin occupancy.
Personalized Eco-homestay village according to group size
Meal specifics (nine breakfasts, nine lunches, and nine dinners) in itineraries
On the first and last days, there will be a van or bus transfer.
Every day, the truck supports and delivers bags to the homestay.
Tours of the sights as described in itineraries
first aid packageThree nights in hotels and four nights in shared housing are provided.
A single train ticket connecting Hanoi and Lao Cai.
Box of cold water, little towel.
Drinkable mineral water
The support staff will make breakfast, lunch, and dinner while trekking, as well as bring water and picnic lunches.
local guide for trekking

What is not included

airfare abroad.
insurance for travel.
things that are personal in nature.
soft drinks and alcoholic beverages throughout meals.
Mineral water above and beyond what is provided.
optional travels.
Any emergency circumstance necessitates additional transportation.
Personal costs include phone and laundry bills.
Visa charge.
Tax on departure.
A team and guidance tip.

The following brings are essential suggested for trekking days only:

Backpack specialized for trekking.
Trekking shoes (extra light sandal suggested).
Light and comfortable trousers (02 pcs)
Cotton long sleeve: (01pc for each day)
Long socks (01 pair for each day)
Water proof jacket: 01    
Pullover: 01
Coat to keep warm at night and waypoint: 01
Durable flash light.
Hat, Sun glasses and other manddatory
Camera (compact camera is suggested)

Itinerary disclaimer
Occasionally our tour itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travelers’ comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the service proposal. It’s very important that you print and review a final copy of your itinerary a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. If you have any queries, please contact us. We are here to help you!
Please note that while we operate successful trips in Vietnam throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.

Difficulty levels
Our trekking tours can be classified into three levels

Easy
There are about 8 – 10K to walk on flat roads. No previous experience is necessary. Anyone in good health and fit enough to perform an occasional hike can take an easy level trek. Vietnam easy walks are provided in Hanoi, Bac Giang, Mai Chau, Ngoc Son Ngo Luong…

Moderate
There are about 10 – 15K to hike on flat and hilly roads. At this point too, no special background is required. Hikers accustomed to trekking in hilly areas of Mai Chau, Pu Luong or Lai Chau, Yen Bai successfully accomplish our treks “moderate”, provided they are in good health and to have a correct fit. These treks are moderate or easy hikes with an average duration or shorter but more difficult steps.

Difficult
There are about 16 – 23K to trek on uphill/downhill dirty, rocky trails. Physical fitness is very important for these treks and you may have to lead you home before the trek. Most treks in this level are comparable with long rides in the Fansipan mountain or the the mountainous region of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, sometimes higher altitudes. The climate and isolation can also participate in difficulty. Prior trek experience is preferable but not vital if you have confidence in your fitness.

Tour Guide
Our tour guides speak English or French. They hold a university degree in tourism and national license as a guide. If you wish to send a tour leader along with any group, he or she can fully rely on the knowledge and experience of our local guides.
Remote treks are always accompanied by a local representative to deal with permits and authorities and manage the porter team. They speak the local dialects, know the cultural traditions and give tips on suggested behavior in fragile ecological areas and tribal communities. For some itineraries, the role of tour leader and representative is combined.

When to hike
The north Vietnam experiences two distinct seasons; winter and summer. Winter is cool, dry and lasts from November to April. Temperatures range between 15 to 25°C during the day and 0 to 10°C during the night. With little rain, the winter season offers the most pleasant weather conditions for trekking in Vietnam. Read more about Vietnam weather.

Porter
During all trekking tours we may use local porters to carry your luggage as well as our trekking equipment, where required. To generate local income we employ local villagers for this task. Participants will have their own porter, carrying trekking equipment and luggage to a maximum of 15 kg per client. Travelers only have to carry their day packs. Read more how to pack

Vehicle
Depending on the nature of the tour, journeys will be accompanied by an air-conditioned car/minibus cover the larger overland sections.

Accommodation
Campsites and lodges are not common in Vietnam, instead we make use of homestays; staying the night in tribal villages along the way. Facilities are clean, but very basic. Travelers share a bamboo-slat floor, separated by curtains. Animals usually sleep under the house and restrooms and showers are often absent. Water sources are available outside. Mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets are taken care of.
Over the years Golden Trail Travel has established a number of projects to upgrade home stay accommodation into a bit more comfort. Basic facilities aside, spending the night in a tribal village and enjoying a meal with the locals brings travellers unforgettable cross-cultural experiences. In the past 15 years of organizing trekking by this way, we never received a complaint.

Food
During all treks meals will be arranged on the spot, in local restaurants and at home in local villages along the way. The meals are prepared by our cooks, the local guide or by the local host. Our cooks are well trained to prepare and serve food hygienically and they cook a variety of local delicacies. Sometimes this may include the slaughter of a chicken, duck or pig. We sometimes have the chance to bring western food, and snacks from Hanoi for breakfast and picnics along the way, and coffee and tea are available in abundance. Our cooks make a special effort to provide as much variety as possible. The porters give necessary assistance on the spot.

Drinking water
There are many shops and villages that have bottled water for sale. On remote trekking tours, we buy a sufficient supply of water for the next couple of days. We recommend bringing some water purifying tablets.

Packing
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting the north of Vietnam. Visitors should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings such as pagoda, temple, communal house and shoes should be removed before entering a private home.
What you take will naturally depend upon where you are travelling and the style of journey you are undertaking, and it can often be difficult to decide what to pack. Nevertheless, the following should act as a useful checklist of essential items worth thinking about taking.

1 medium-sized backpack.
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
1 long (easy to dry) pants and 1 long sleeved shirt to wear during the trek (easy to dry).
1 pair of flip flop (sandals).
1 pair of shorts and T-shirt to wear at camp site (2 if you do 4-day trek).
1 medium-sized towel.
1 medium-sized dry bag.
Hiking poles/walking sticks
GPS
Responsible Tourism
We strongly believe that Responsible Tourism can support to local communities: proving incomes,positive cultural exchanges and an incentive to protect natural environment. We recognize that there is always space for improvement. We continually strive to narrow the gap between principle and practice.

Environment
We have been turning environmentally responsible tourism into practices to minimize tourist impact upon the local habitat. From biodegradable soaps to re – usable water containers, we provide clients with the best information and mean to help them identify and implement effective ways to positive protect local nature and communities. It is a vital criteria that can be passed on and abided by all, long after the trip ended.

Community
Prior to our tours, we contact and work with local community leaders to make sure we are welcome and in a manner that minimizes negative social and cultural impacts. We visit local development and community projects specific to the region, encouraging customers to donate and assist such a projects in appropriate and sustainable manner.
Where make sure that where and whenever possible our tours positively benefit the local community. We stayed at locally owned accommodation and visit cottage industries for local handicraft souvenir, generating income for local business. We often employ, hire support team such as local guide, motor-taxi drivers, cook assistants on all trips to ensure that the local community benefit not only short term but with increased employment opportunities for the future.