Explore the cheerful and vibrant hilltribes of Vietnam on this incredible walking adventure holiday. Hike through jungles and across verdant landscapes. See the highest mountain in Indochina - the mighty Fansipan - stay in a homestay, visit a local school and explore Hanoi.
- Trek in the backdrop of Fansipan
- Meet colourful hill tribes of northern Vietnam
- Soak up the atmosphere of colonial Hanoi
Walking through jungles and across verdant landscapes, the mountainous north of Vietnam is home to many cheerful and vibrant hill tribes.
As well as the challenging days' trekking through hills and valleys, a wonderful feature of this adventure is spending a couple of nights on trek in the village homes of some of these welcoming tribes. With the help of your guide, you will able to learn more about their culture and traditions.
Always lively, sometimes chaotic, but never dull, this trip to Vietnam is ideal for those that enjoy a challenge and want real cultural experiences too.
After you trek in this wonderful region, we recommend you considering extending your stay with an overnight cruise around Halong Bay on board a traditional junk.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1: Depart UK
Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Hanoi.
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Day 2: Arrive Hanoi
Arrive Hanoi and meet at the group hotel. Relax and explore the area.
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Day 3: Sightseeing; overnight train to Lao Cai
Take a guided tour of the bustling colonial city of Hanoi. The afternoon is free and it's a good idea is to explore the vibrant market at Dong Xuan. Later, enjoy a truly local experience by travelling on the overnight train to Lao Cai.
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Day 4: Arrive Lao Cai, transfer to Sapa, village trek
Arrive Lao Cai and transfer up a mountain road, winding along terraced hillsides to Sapa. Your first trek is through villages passing ethnic tribes along the way.
Walking distance: 11 km
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Day 5: Trek through Cat Cat Valley
Trek through Cat Cat Valley among spectaular scenery including a waterfall and the lush green rice paddy terraces. Tonight you will have a truly authentic experience of Vietnamese culture as you stay in a homestay of the Giay people.
Walking distance: 12 km
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Day 6: Trek to Su Pan Village
Continue along the trail through bamboo forests, past Red Dao Village and through a scenic village until arriving in Su Pan Village, home to the Tay community.
Walking distance: 11 km
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Day 7: Valleys & mountains to Ban Ho Village
A slightly tougher day of walking with a combination of ascents and descents, offering surrounding views of the surrounding mountains. The trail leads through Nam Sai and Nam Cang Valleys and past Ta Trung Ho village until arriving at Ban Ho, which is our homestay location for the evening.
Walking distance: 10 km
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Day 8: Hoang Lien National Park
Our hike today leads us through the Hoang Lien National Park, a steep trail winds up to 1,632 metres before we descend through the remote villages of Nam Toong and My Son. The trail the follows a meandering path with ascends and descends with views across the Red River valley until our arrival in Ta Thuang village.
Walking distance: 12 km
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Day 9: Final Hidden Valley Hike & transfer to Hanoi
Today is our final hike within this region, we follow a path, admiring the last of the spectacular scenery and remote villages. A transfer takes us through Lao Cai and onwards to Hanoi, where we spend the evening before the next stage of the holiday.
Walking distance: 7 km
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Day 10: Journey to Ninh Binh, Dich Long Cave & Pagoda
In the morning, a transfer takes us to the Ninh Bing province. Here we spend time exploring the breathtaking temples and sights of Dich Long Cave and Pagoda. The cave is reached by around 100 steps, which lead to its impressive stalactites and unique formations.
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Day 11: Explore Ninh Binh
Today is a more leisurely cycle day, which commences with a 10-kilometre cycle ride past sleepy villages. Along the way, we stop to appreciate the rustic land and rice fields. Our afternoon is enjoyed with a local community, learning about their traditional agricultural activities.
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Day 12: Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park
Our main visit today is to the Cuc Phuong National Park, which is known as one of the last remaining tropical rainforests. We explore the park's information centre to learn about the ecosystem, the endangered primate rescue centre and the turtle conversation centre. After this, a short trek guides us to a Cho Chi tree which is believed to be over 1,00 years old.
An afternoon transfer takes us back to Hanoi airport, in time for late evening flights. Alternatively, we can arrange additional nights in Hanoi or a Ha Long Bay cruise extension - just contact us. -
Day 13: Arrive UK
Price and Other Information
- Duration and price excluding international flights: 11 days from £1,389 per person
- Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 13 days from £2,289 per person
- Single room supplement: From £179
- Walking grade: Moderate
- Guiding: Guided Group Private-Guided
- Max alt: 1,548m
- Group size: 3-10
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When to go: View Dates & Prices
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Route map:
View map 
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What’s included
- Hotel x 5 nights, homestay x 4 nights, sleeper train x 1 night
- 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 5 dinners
- Experienced English-speaking guide
- Luggage transfers
- Transfers indicated
Next Steps
| Year | Starts | Ends | Price From (Exc. Flights) | Holiday Status | Options |
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All prices are per person.
All our guided group trips can be taken as a private guided itinerary, tailored to dates within the holiday's ‘when to go’ range. Please contact us to discuss your plans. * Available: this holiday is available to book. ** Guaranteed: this holiday is available to book and is guaranteed to run. *** Fully Booked: if your preferred holiday is full we may be able to offer you a private departure or tailor a holiday to suit your requirements, contact us for more details. |
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| 2026 | 15 Nov | 25 Nov | £1,389 | Available* | Book or Enquire |
If you can’t see the holiday or departure date that you are looking for please contact us. We may be in the process of finalising further departures and are often able to arrange a holiday for you according to your own requirements.
