Home to several tribal groups, high mountain peaks and nature wilderness, Northern Vietnam has provoked a horizon of creativity among Vietnamese photographers through generations. Furthermore, this is the hub of terraced rice fields – a masterpiece of human natural art whose amazing curves have been known among most beautiful photos about Vietnam"s countryside. A journey to this far northern part of Vietnam is a great trip to capture the extraordinary beauty and the rudimentary way of life where little of civilization is seen. We strongly recommend this tour between August to October
Day 1. Ha Noi - Nghia Lo : 250 Km ( L,D )
Meet at your hotel in Ha Noi and depart from Nghia Lo. We will stop at Duong Lam village – a national heritage for architecture. Duong Lam is home to hundred of traditional Vietnamese houses built from a couple of centuries ago. We explore the village, stop by a typical house and learn about the local architecture & tradition. We will then continue our drive to Yen Bai. In the afternoon, we walk to a village of Thai minority living in house on stilts. We will take photos of the village and the friendly locals. Overnight in Nghia Lo.
After early breakfast, we head out for the town’s market just in time to see the local tribal people bringing their fresh food and goods out. We drive further north; stop by a Thai village on the way where we take photos of the beautiful Thai community with their houses on stilts. Afterwards we reach Tu Le – a little mountainous town, most famous in the country for sticky rice. We have our lunch here with local specialties before further explore a deep valley patched by terraced rice field. In the afternoon, we drive further to Mu Cang Chai, check in our hotel and enjoy the cool weather of the non tourist mountainous town.
Today, we set out of town, walk up hill then proceed to a valley. Here, stretching from the top to the bottom of the valley is the amazing color of rice. We will have many opportunities to take photo of the beautiful scenery with the people harvesting their crop. Following by lunch break in a local restaurant. We continue to walk to a nearby village of the H'Mong minority set amid the hills, make contact with the local and capture their daily life. Enjoy your own diner and stay overnight in Mu Cang Chai
Day 4. Mu Cang Chai - Tan Uyen - Sapa : 120 Km ( B,L,D )
This morning we set out for another valley near Mu Cang Chai town. From here we have a perfect panorama of the whole town surrounded with terrace rice field. We spend our morning taking photo of the rice field with water buffalos and people harvesting rice. We will leave Mu Cang Chai to Than Uyen and have our lunch here. And then we walk to the rice field, take photo of the Thai minority harvesting the rice crop. Drive another 40km to Tan Uyen. We will be heading for a hidden tea plantation where we see the local picking up tea by hands. The scenery is really beautiful here with tea plantation stretching to the horizon. After the tea plantation we head for Sapa, We have our afternoon taking photos of the town’s market and free time in the late afternoon. Overnight in Sapa.
Inclusion:
Transportation, guide, meals, entrance fee, hotel
Day 5. Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Tavan ( B,L )
After breakfast, drive and guide down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong. A 2km-trekking down to Lao Chai village, through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people. Lunch at a local family, it gives you a worth chance for you to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. Enjoy the landscapes…on the way. Back to Sapa, Go back to Sapa, check in hotel, dinner and Night in Sapa
Inclusion:
Transportation, guide, meals, entrance fee, hotel
Day 6. Sapa - Sin Cheng - Lao Cai ( B,L )
Wake up and embark for a mountainous market, one of the most colorful in northern Vietnam – Sin Cheng market. We drive early to Lao Cai city and have breakfast. We leave for Sin Cheng. We will be spending hours mingling in the local market, colored by the beautiful costumes of the H’Mong minority. We take photos of people buying, selling their stuffs, from strong rice alcohol to buffalos and horses, in the market that overlooks a beautifully green valley. In the afternoon we walk into a village of the H’Mong to explore this culture. We then catch the night train back to Ha Noi and stay overnight on the train.