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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

  1. Day 1: Depart UK

    Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Hanoi.

  2. Day 2: Arrive Hanoi

    Arrive Hanoi and meet at the group hotel. Relax and explore the area.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Day 6: Trek along the Hoang Lien mountain range

    Trek in the Hoang Lien mountain range, which offers you many opportunities to enjoy views over huge rice paddy terraces in Muong Hoa valley. Pass through traditional villages and spend the night in a traditional house.

    Walking distance: 11 km

  7. Day 7: Ascend to the highest point of the trek

    A slightly tougher day of walking as you ascend to the highest point of this trek (1,548 metres) and enjoy the sublime views across the valley. The trek eases up in the afternoon.

    Walking distance: 15 km

  8. Day 8: Trek at the bottom of the valley along the river

    Descend to trek in the bottom of the valley along the river, surrounded by mountains. This trekking route offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. Continue to Ta Trung Ho village to spend a night in authentic bamboo huts and a local house.

    Walking distance: 18 km

  9. Day 9: Walk through rainforest, visit a local school

    Reach the fringe of the rainforest and walk in the backdrop of Fansipan. Ascend to Nam Toong village and visit a local school. In the afternoon descend to the valley and walk to Thanh Phu village to spend the night in a traditional house.

    Walking distance: 14 km

  10. Day 10: Gentle walk to Sin Chai

    Enjoy a gentle walk off the beaten track to Sin Chai village. Tonight you’ll sleep in a traditional bamboo hut.

    Walking distance: 17 km

  11. Day 11: Trek to Lao Cai, tranfer by road back to Hanoi

    The final day of hilltribe trekking back to Lao Cai is through a remote mountainous area, passing bamboo forest and jungle. Reach Ta Thang and transfer by car to Hanoi.

    Walking distance: 8 km

  12. Day 12: Depart Hanoi

    Depart Hanoi at any time for your overnight flight back to the UK.

  13. Day 13: Arrive UK

Price and Other Information

  • Duration and price excluding international flights: 11 days from £1,425 per person
  • Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 13 days from £2,225 per person
  • Single room supplement: From £180
  • Walking grade: Moderate
  • Guiding: Guided Group Private-Guided
  • Max alt: 1,548m
  • Group size: 3-10
  • When to go: View Dates & Prices
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  • Route map:
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  • What’s included
    • Hotel x 3 nights, homestay x 6 nights, sleeper train x 1 night
    • 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners
    • Experienced English-speaking guide

Next Steps

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Dates & Prices

Make a no obligation booking request, or enquire if you would like to ask us a question.

Guided Group Dates and Prices
Year Starts Ends Price From (Exc. Flights) Holiday Status Options
All prices are per person. All our guided group trips have the option to be taken as a private guided itinerary. * 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, please contact us for more details.
2024 17 Nov 27 Nov £1,425 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.