Discover the Beauty of Northwest Vietnam: 7-Day Adventure Tour

Travel Itinerary : 7 day Adventure to Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau & Sapa

Day 1. Hanoi – Mai Chau, bike to explore Mai Chau valley.Homestay overnight in Mai Chau (L,D)

8:00 AM. The tourguide & driver will pick your group up the hotel and depart to Mai Chau valley – the gateaway to Northwest Mountain Area of Vietnam. The journey offers you opportunities to admire beautiful landscapes of mountains, local villages and the lush valley of rice, tea & sugarcanes on the way with some stops for photos if you love to.

Around the noon time, arrive in Mai Chau valley – the pristine valley of rice fields & rurally tranquil villages of local ethnic groups : White Thai, Black H’Mong, Muong, Tay, Viet……

After a lunch in a local family of White Thai, we will take a leisure bike around Mai Chau valley. This ride brings you a great sense of peaceful villages, local daily life and scenic scenery of ricefields & mountains in Mai Chau valley.

Late afternoon, you will meet the driver again for a short transfer to Mai Hich commune – a less touristic & more pristine area within Mai Chau region.

Check-in the homestay & be free at leisure.

After a delicious dinner at the homestay, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a vibrant cultural show featuring traditional dances and songs performed by the locals (optional). This is a wonderful chance for cultural exchange, where you can join in the dancing, singing, and enjoy local pipe wine (known as “Can” in Vietnamese) with the villagers.

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Hanoi- Mai Chau, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch, D-dinner), biking tour, homestay overnight in Thai Family

Day 2. Mai Chau valley hike – Son La city, visit Son La prison. Overnight in the hotel (B,L)

Wake up early to experience the tranquility of a rural village, where you’ll be greeted by the rooster’s crow, fresh air, and stunning mountain views.

After breakfast, check out and bid farewell to your host family. Begin a 1.5-hour trek through the valley, exploring Sam Khoe commune and its surrounding villages for a deeper insight into local life.

Meet your driver along the route and continue your journey through the breathtaking mountain landscapes between Mai Chau and Son La. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Son La city.

Upon arrival at Son La city, pay a visit to the remnants of Son La Prison to learn about the harsh conditions faced by Vietnamese political prisoners during French colonial rule.

In the afternoon, check into your hotel and unwind at your leisure.

Dinner on your own and spend the night at the hotel.

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Mai Chau- Son La, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch), hiking tour, double/twin shared room at the hotel

Day 3. Son La city – Dien Bien & Dien Bien Visit .Overnight in the hotel (B,L)

After breakfast at your hotel and prepare for a scenic drive to Dien Bien Phu, the site of the pivotal battle that marked the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam after a 57-day siege in May 1954. This journey will take you through key historical sites related to the Vietnam-French wars, providing a deeper understanding of this crucial period in Vietnam history:

• Pha Din Pass: a historic landmark, offering stunning views and a reminder of its pivotal role in Vietnam’s history
• Muong Phang Historical Relic Area: Explore the command post of the Dien Bien Phu campaign where General Vo Nguyen Giap and his team strategized. Visit the Tunnel, the Hut, and the Exhibit House within the relic complex.

After the visit with a rich insight of Vietnam’s rich history, drive to Dien Bien Phu city, check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax at your leisure.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Son La – Dien Bien, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch), double/twin shared room at the hotel

Day 4. Dien Bien Phu City Tour – Lai Chau city. Overnight in hotel (B,L)

In the morning, you’ll explore Dien Bien Phu City’s key attractions to gain insights into its historical significance:

• Dien Bien Phu History Museum: Explore 274 artifacts and 122 photographs across five exhibition areas, covering topics such as strategic positions, enemy strongholds, party strategies, and the impact of the Dien Bien Phu victory.
• A1 Martyrs’ Cemetery and A1 Hill: Pay tribute at the cemetery dedicated to 644 courageous soldiers who fell during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Learn about the battle and its heavy losses at this poignant site.
• De Castries Bunker (French Headquarters): Visit the former command center of the French forces, strategically located to oversee key areas of the battlefield.
• Muong Thanh Bridge & Valley: Admire the scenic beauty of the Muong Thanh Valley and its iconic bridge.

A1 Hill – Dien Bien Phu

Following your exploration, you’ll travel to Lai Chau City with a lunch stop en route. Feel free to make stops to visit villages and capture photographs along the way. You’ll arrive at your hotel in Lai Chau City in the late afternoon. Enjoy a relaxing evening, dinner, and an overnight stay at the hotel

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Dien Bien – Lai Chau, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch), double/twin shared room at the hotel

Day 5. Lai Chau city – Sapa, visit Tram Ton Heaven Gate & Silver Waterfall.Overnight in the hotel (B,L)

Today, your will have another day to immense yourself in the stunning landscapes of the Hoang Lien mountain range, which stretches between Lai Chau and Sapa.

After checking out of the hotel, prepare for your journey along NR4D to Sapa town. Along the way, you’ll traverse the dramatic O Qui Ho Pass, one of Vietnam’s five challenging mountain passes, with stops to visit Tram Ton Heaven Gate and Silver Waterfall—two of Sapa’s most renowned attractions.

Enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant in Sapa town.

In the afternoon, take part in a scenic hike to conquer Ham Rong Mountain, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Sapa town and the surrounding peaks

Tram Ton heaven gate – the highest point in O Qui Ho Pass

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Lai Chau – Sapa, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch), double/twin shared room at the hotel

Day 6. Sapa Trek to Muong Hoa Valley, visit Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van villages. Overnight in hotel (B,L)

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we’ll embark on a full-day hike through Muong Hoa Valley, visiting the picturesque villages of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai & Ta Van. This trek offers breathtaking views of lush rice terraces, scenic streams, and majestic mountains. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the hill tribes, interact with the friendly Black H’Mong & Dzay, and gain insight into their rich cultural heritage.

Lunch will be served en route at the local restaurant.

Following the hike, a driver will meet us at the entrance of Ta Van village to return to Sapa town.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Muong Hoa valley – Sapa trekking to local villages

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver for the day trip, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch), double/twin shared room at the hotel

Day 7.Sapa Exploration to Fansipan Peak by Cable Car – Hanoi (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, our driver will take you to the Fansipan cable car station for a morning adventure to Fansipan Peak, the highest point in Indochina. Enjoy a 20-minute cable car ride to the base of Fansipan Mountain, followed by a 30-minute hike to the summit. Along the hike, you can visit temples, pagodas, and take in the stunning landscapes. If you prefer not to hike, you can opt for a funicular train to reach the summit (at your own expense).

Upon reaching the summit of Mount Fansipan, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the entire region. Take your time to explore the summit area, snap some incredible photos, and enjoy the refreshing mountain air.

Afterward, descend via the cable car to the parking area, where our driver will be waiting for a short transfer back to Sapa town.

Lunch will be served in Sapa, after which we’ll take a 5.5-hour drive along the Lao Cai – Noi Bai highway back to Hanoi. You’ll arrive in Hanoi between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

The 7-Day Northwest Vietnam Adventure Tour concludes when we drop you off at your hotel. We look forward to seeing you on your next journey exploring Vietnam’s beautiful landscapes.

Inclusions : AC car transfer with driver Sapa – Hanoi, tourguide of English speaking, entrance sightseeing fees of mentioned visiting places, returned cable car ticket for Fansipan mountain, meals (B- breakfast, L- lunch).