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THE BEST RICE TERRACED FIELDS OF

Vietnam

Ha Giang Grand Tour

HG05| 09 Days| Private Tour | All Year Around | Can be tailored to suite your requirements

OVERVIEW
Ha Giang is an amazing place for visitors from far and wide. Beside the beautiful landscape of terraced fields and the limestone mountains in Dong Van Karst Geo-park, it is the interesting hill tribe people of different ethnic groups who have incredible life and cultures. This tour to Ha Giang is created carefully for you to get the insight into the province. You will definitely have a lifetime experience after the trip.

Average driving speed on the mountain roads is 35km per hour. The distances between the destinations are viewed as follows: 

Hanoi - 300 km - Bac Ha Town - 80 km - Ban Luoc (Hoang Su Phi) - 30 km - Nam Son (Hoang Su Phi) - 205 km - Dong Van Geo-park - 85 km - Du Gia (Yen Minh) - 110 km - Ha Giang City - 285 km - Hanoi

Accommodation is expected to be basic but the top of the areas will be used for your best confort possible. Food is very local, too. There is no western food to expect except bread, fried eggs for breakfast at some places. Meals are at local food stores but we always choose the most acceptable one.


HIGHLIGHTS

  • Enjoy colorful hill tribe markets. 
  • Admire the amazing landscapes of the National Heritage (Rice Terraced Fields) 
  • Treat your eyes with incredible scenery of UNECO's Dong Van Karst Plateau Karst Geo-park 
  • Learn the interesting cultures and local life of different ethnic groups with home-stays experience 
  • Great photo opportunities (Both people and landscapes)

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

DAY 1: Hanoi - Bac Ha
Day 2: Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi
Day 3: Hoang Su Phi ( Ban Luoc Commune Trek)
Day 4: Hoang Su Phi Trek (Nam Khoa Commune Trek)
Day 5: Hoang Su Phi - Dong Van Karst Geo-park
Day 6: Dong Van Karst Geo-park trek
Day 7: Dong Van - Meo Vac - Du Gia (Yen Minh)
Day 8: Du Gia - Ha Giang
Day 9: Ha Giang - Hanoi

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI – BAC HA

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi early in the morning (about 7.30 AM). This morning, you will travel to Bac Ha on the new HW Noi Bai – Lao Cai. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province will be a good start for your trip. Arrive in Lao Cai City and have lunch break. In the afternoon, drive to Bao Nhai and take a short boat trip upstream to visit a peaceful village of the Tay ethnic minority. Walk around to visit the village and learn the daily life. Get back on the car for a short drive uphill to Bac Ha town. Check into a hotel, relax at the hotel for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha. 
(In case, the water level in Chay River doesn’t allow the boat trip. The car will take you to the valley where the village is located for you to take a walk instead.) ​ 

  • Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

rice field

chay river

tay minority

DAY 2: BAC HA - HOANG SU PHI

Today, you will spend most of the morning stroll around Bac Ha Market to hunt some good pictures. This is the biggest hill tribe market in the Northwest of Vietnam. Alive with the bright colours and extravagant costumes of the local people, specially the Flower H'mong. Together with other minorities, they come from different villages at the surroundings to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock. It is more common to see buffalo, cows, goats, horses and other livestock being traded. After the market, we make our way to Xi Man town for lunch at a local food store. In the afternoon, continue on driving to Vinh Quang town of Hoang Su Phi. Take about 1,5-hour hike to Ban Luoc, a Tay ethic village for a homestay night on a stilt house. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
  • ** Note**: Market calendar: Bac Ha on Sunday, Can Cau on Saturday, Coc Ly on Tuesday.

bac ha market

buffalo market

rice terraces

DAY 3: HOANG SU PHI TREK (BAN LUOC AREA)

This morning, bid farewell to the host family after the breakfast at the family. 

We trek the scenic dirt trail up and down the hills to the rice terraces in Ban Luoc area. This is one of the national rice terrace heritage cores in Hoang Su Phi. The beauty of the landscape is at its best at the yellow season (early half of October). Get picked up by our car for transferring to Vinh Quang town for lunch. 

In the afternoon, enjoy the beautiful drive to Nam Son commune for another homestay in Nam Ai village. ​ 

  • Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

local house

trekking

rice terrace scenery

DAY 4: HOANG SU PHI TREK (NAM KHOA COMMUNE)

Today, you will do a whole day trek from Nam Son Commune to Thong Nguyen Commune. Along the way, you are able to enjoy the beautiful scenery with stunning rice fields in Nam Khoa Commune. The trek is moderate but there are some small challenges at times. It is about 5 - 6 hours. 

Picnic lunch is prepared at a local house somewhere on the way. 
Dinner and overnight at another local house. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

trekking

harvesting

red yao house

DAY 5: HOANG SU PHI - DONG VAN KARST GEO-PARK

After breakfast, we will check out and heading to the Karst Geo-park. The drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang will offer you some good photo opportunities on the way. Lunch is at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, the scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are at Quan Ba pass, Quan Ba Fairy Mountains. Pho Cao village of the Hmong, Pho Bang of the Han (Chinese). 

Arrive at Sa Phin, check into a guesthouse. Dinner and stay for the night. ​ 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

dong van road

twin mountains

pho bang town

DAY 6: DONG VAN KARST GEO-PARK TREK

After the breakfast, get transferred to a trekking point. You will spend around 3 hours (8.5km) to trek a beautiful part of the karst geo-park for the morning. After that, meet your private driver again and make your way to Lung Cu Flag Tower (The monument was built to mark the northernmost point in Vietnam). Walk to the tower for the view over the area. 

Lunch is at a local food store nearby. In the afternoon, transfer to Dong Van town. On the way, stop at another trekking point for more trek of the geo-park (6.5km approx.). You will end the trek right at the Old Quarter of Dong Van.
Check into a hotel in Dong Van town. Dinner and stay overnight in Dong Van. 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

trekking

lung cu flag pole

lo lo village

DAY 7: sky walk - tu san abyss alley

There is a colorful market in town (If it is Sunday today), take time to stroll around for hunting some photos of the locals while they are trading before transferring to Meo Vac town. The distance between Dong Van and Meo Vac is just 25 km but this leg of the trip is spectacular! The drive on Happy Road is incredible with the scenery to the left as it is where the pretty Nho Que River lies at the bottom of Tu San Abyss. We make a stop on Ma Pi Leng Pass and spend the morning trekking along the sky-road. This scenic trek will definitely one of the highlights of your trip.

In the afternoon, get transferred down the way to Nho Que River ticket checking point for another walk on steps down to the water where you will take a boat trip to visit Tu San Abyss Alley, known as one of the most magnificent canyons in Southeast Asia.
After that, heading to Meo Vac Town for the night.

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sky path

nho que river

sky path trek

DAY 8: MEO VAC - HA GIANG CITY

As ususal, your guide will walk you to a nearby restaurant for a local breakfast. Today, you will spend the whole day driving back to Ha Giang City with many stops on the way for taking photographs as the loop trip exploring Dong Van Karst Geopark is still ongoing.
Lunch is served on the way.
Late in the afternoon, arrive back to Ha Giang city, check in a hotel and relaxing before dinner.
Overnight in Ha Giang

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: HA GIANG CITY - HANOI

Take your time for the breakfast today and spend the last day on your car driving back to Hanoi.

Lunch on the way.
Arrive in Hanoi after 7 hour road journey, check back in your hotel to finish the adventure. 

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Inclusions

  • Private A/c transportation per itinerary 
  • English/ French speaking tour guide 
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary 
  • Accommodation during the trip with daily breakfast
  • Boat trip on Nho Que River
  • Entrance tickets and permits 
  • Bottled water on the vehicle.


Tour Exclusions

  • Travel insurance 
  • Drinks and other meals 
  • Hotel in Hanoi (optional) 
  • Tips and gratuities 
  • Personal expenses and others are not mentioned clearly above.


Inquire a free quote for this tour

This is a sample itinerary that has been enjoyed by many of our past travelers to the region. It can be custom-made to meet your expectation. The prices very much depend on your group size and type of accommodation. Please send us a quote request and we will get back to you with the detail.

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