Trekking Vietnam's Hidden Trails 13 Days | Northern Adventure

Morning: After breakfast with your hosts, we’ll begin a rewarding 15-17km trek from Giang Ta Chai to Su Pan. This trail offers more incredible views of the wild and beautiful natural landscapes. In Su Pan, you'll have the chance to meet and interact with the Red Dao and Black Hmong ethnic groups.

Afternoon: After exploring the village, we’ll begin our trek back to Sapa town, taking in one last panoramic view of the mountains and rice paddies.

Evening: We'll check into a hotel in Sapa town for a well-deserved dinner and an overnight stay.

• Activities: 15-17km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa town.

Morning: Today is a challenging but incredibly rewarding day. We’ll drive to the trekking point and begin a 5-7km walk on a flat path before a dizzying climb up a mountain. Our route follows a small track through a thick primary rainforest—the only route for local villagers. You'll be amazed by the many wild, giant butterflies flitting through the fresh mountain air.

Afternoon: Reaching an altitude of 2,000m, an incredible vista of terraced paddies will appear. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch next to a waterfall before continuing to Coc Dong Village, home to the Nung hill tribe.

Evening: We'll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in a local family's stilt house, experiencing their unique way of life.

• Activities: 5-7km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Homestay in a Nung village.

Morning: If it's a market day, we’ll visit the vibrant Muong Khuong market, which attracts a wide variety of minority groups. If not, we’ll drive to Coc Ly boat station to begin our scenic journey.

Afternoon: We'll continue on to Bac Ha, where we'll stop for lunch and then take a walk on the trails behind the famous H'mong King's Palace.

Evening: Enjoy a local dinner and spend the night at a cozy lodge in Bac Ha.

• Activities: Sightseeing, walk on trails.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Lodge in Bac Ha.

Morning: We leave Bac Ha for a half-day journey to Hoang Su Phi. The scenic and rugged route takes us through dense jungle and over a pass before descending to Sin Man. The drive is a challenge, but the views are spectacular. We may encounter numerous ethnic groups along the way, including the Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, and La Chi.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll embark on a 7-10km off-the-beaten-path trek to explore the high-altitude villages around Thong Nguyen. The path winds upwards, revealing lush forests, tea plantations, and magnificent rice terraces.

Evening: We'll have dinner and spend the night at a lodge in Hoang Su Phi.

• Activities: 7-10km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Hoang Su Phi Lodge.

Morning: The journey from Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang is a visual feast of rugged mountains and winding rivers. We'll pass breathtaking rice terraces carved into the hillsides. We'll stop for lunch in Ha Giang and then take a 4-hour hike to Tay Con Linh mountain from Ha Thanh village.

Afternoon: Our driver will pick us up to travel to Yen Minh.

Evening: We'll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Nam Dam village.

• Activities: 7-10km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Homestay in Nam Dam village.

Morning: Today we head to the northernmost tip of Vietnam. We'll visit the former H'mong royal house at Sa Phin before enjoying a trek behind the trails of Lung Cam village.

Afternoon: After lunch in Dong Van town, we’ll begin an 8km off-the-beaten-path trek to the top of the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass. You'll be amazed by the gigantic maze of limestone peaks and deep canyons before we descend into the valley of Meo Vac.

Evening: We'll have dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in Meo Vac.

• Activities: 8km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Meo Vac.

Morning: An early start takes us on a scenic, bumpy drive through rolling hills and picturesque landscapes to Ba Be National Park. Along the way, we’ll meet people from the Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung ethnic minorities.

Afternoon: We'll arrive at Boc Lom pier, where you'll get equipped for kayaking. We’ll explore the huge Puong Cave by boat and kayak, then cross the Nang River to Ba Be Lake.

Evening: Enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake before a delicious dinner with a Tay family at their homestay in Coc Toc village.

• Activities: 13km kayaking & boat trip.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Homestay in Coc Toc village.

Morning: Today is a thrilling cave expedition! After a 30-minute drive, we’ll begin a steep hike into the forest to Tham Phay Cave. With the help of your guide and safety team, you'll navigate through the precarious entrance.

Afternoon: You'll spend about five hours exploring this magnificent 5km deep river cave, equipped with helmets and powerful headlights. You’ll witness stunning calcite formations, unusual ceiling domes, and deep pools. We'll also explore a second path with miraculous stalagmites and dangerous sinkholes.

Evening: After returning to the entrance, we’ll head back to the homestay for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

• Activities: 12-15km trek & underground expedition.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Homestay in Coc Toc village.

Morning: After breakfast, we’ll begin our scenic half-day drive to Cao Bang town, passing spectacular mountainous landscapes and terraced fields.

Afternoon: After lunch in Phia Thap, we'll explore traditional craft villages. We'll visit a Nung community famous for making incense, a village specializing in yin and yang tiles, and a forging village in Phuc Sen.

Evening: We'll have dinner and an overnight stay at a Nung house, experiencing their unique culture firsthand.

• Activities: 5-7km trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Homestay in a Nung village.

Morning: Today, we visit one of Northern Vietnam’s most incredible natural wonders: Ban Gioc Waterfall. This breathtaking 300-meter wide cascade forms part of the Chinese-Vietnamese border. You'll have plenty of time to take photos and even board a bamboo boat for an up-close experience.

Afternoon: We'll visit a local market before hiking to Phat Tich Temple for some of the best views of the waterfall. We’ll then drive through several hill tribe villages to Lang Son, a thriving border town.

Evening: We'll have dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in Lang Son.

• Activities: Hiking, boat trip.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Lang Son

Morning: After visiting the lively central market of Lang Son, we’ll depart for the world-renowned Halong Bay. The drive is scenic, passing through mountainous areas and offering opportunities to meet people from the Tay, Nung, and San Diu hill tribes.

Afternoon: Upon arrival in Halong, we’ll board our cruise ship. Enjoy lunch as we sail past hundreds of stunning karst islands. We'll visit Light and Dark Water Cave, where you can kayak or ride a bamboo boat.

Evening: Enjoy a beautiful dinner on board and an overnight stay on the cruise.

• Activities: Kayaking, boat cruise.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

• Accommodation: Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay.

Morning: We’ll continue our exploration of Lanha Bay by sailing boat, offering a fantastic view of the 3,000 limestone islands. We'll cruise to Viet Hai village, an isolated village in the heart of Cat Ba National Park, and explore it by bicycle.

Afternoon: We’ll anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and visit a hidden grotto. After a fresh seafood lunch on board, we’ll return to Hanoi, concluding your amazing northern expedition.

• Activities: Boat cruise, cycling, swimming.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• Accommodation: Not included.