Blazing The Rice Fields

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 AM.

Departure for Hoa Binh (160km), traveling along a road dominated by landscapes of terraced rice paddies. You will continue to the Thung Khe Pass, where you can admire magnificent panoramic views of the valley before arriving in the town of Mai Chau. The journey continues toward the Mai Hich Valley, a picturesque village in the Mai Chau area that is less frequented by tourists.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy a walk or a bicycle ride around the village, allowing you to fully appreciate the lush landscape and the rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see.

Dinner at your leisure (not included) and overnight stay in traditional stilt houses in Mai Hich (shared sleeping area with shared bathroom facilities).

Breakfast at the homestay. 

Meet your guide at the reception at 08:30 AM.

We continue toward Nghia Lo (110km ~ 2.5-3 hours), a vibrant town nestled in the Muong Lo valley within the Yen Bai province. Historically one of the largest commercial crossroads in the northern regions of Vietnam, in the 1950s it was the theater of significant battles between the Vietnamese and the French army during the First Indochina War.

Next, we reach Tu Le, a picturesque and charming mountain location known for its traditional wooden houses and ethnic groups wearing vibrant traditional costumes. Lunch at your leisure in a local restaurant.

Check-in at the hotel and free time to admire the beautiful landscapes and rice terraces from Le Champ Tu Le, or immerse yourself in the hotel’s hot springs.

Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay in Tu Le.

Breakfast at the resort. Meet your guide at the reception at 08:30 AM.

After breakfast, we reach the Khau Pha Pass in Mu Cang Chai district, also known as the “Horn of Heaven,” to admire the wonderful Tu Le valley from above in the morning light.

Khau Pha is considered one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam, connecting the two districts of Mu Cang Chai and Van Chan. The pass winds through the mountains for 30 km, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,500m above sea level. It is framed by stunning panoramas, rice terraces, and pristine forests, surrounded by mountain ranges that seem to stretch to infinity. In the surrounding areas, you may encounter H’mong farmers returning to their villages after a hard day’s work in the rice fields.

We continue to the Lim Mong villages, inhabited for centuries by the Hmong and White Thai ethnic groups. The landscape is simply incredible: the colorful rice terraces are an unmissable natural spectacle.

Transfer and check-in at your hotel in Mu Cang Chai.

Breakfast at the homestay.

After breakfast, we visit La Pan Tan, a mountain village inhabited by the H’mong ethnic group and one of the most beautiful locations in North Vietnam for admiring and photographing terraced rice fields. In the past, this area was dedicated to opium cultivation; however, in the 1990s, the local government initiated a policy to convert these fields into rice terraces.

We continue with a trek (approximately 6km) from La Pan Tan to Mam Xoi Hill (Sticky Rice Tray Hill) to enjoy the majestic landscapes.

Lunch at your leisure in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will go on a motorbike excursion to Mong Ngua village. The route for this tour includes: Mu Cang Chai Center – Mang Mu (an H’mong village famous for its corn houses) – the Bamboo Forest – and finally Mong Ngua Hill (Horseshoe Hill).

At the end of the tour, return to Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge.

Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Breakfast at the homestay. 

Meet your guide at the reception at 08:30 AM.

Leaving Mu Cang Chai, we depart for Sapa. Along the way, we stop at Than Uyen, located at the foot of Mount Fansipan, home to colorful ethnic groups such as the Thai, Dao, H’mong, and Khmu. Traditionally, local women are distinguished by their black teeth and indigo-colored clothing adorned with silver pieces. The stunning landscapes of limestone peaks, rice terraces, and ethnic villages offer perfect opportunities for photography.

We will cross the Hoang Lien Son Pass (also known as the Tram Ton Pass or O Quy Ho Pass), the longest and highest in Vietnam, boasting a length of 54 km and an altitude of 2,047 meters above sea level. We stop to admire a superb view of the valley before arriving in Sapa.

Break for lunch at your leisure (not included). In the afternoon, we reach Sapa, the town “discovered” by the French in 1903.

Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at a hotel in the center of Sapa.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover Sapa with a trek toward the village of Y Linh Ho. Follow the downhill path and interact with the friendly H’mong women and children living in houses nestled within the valley. You will stop at the cable car bridge to freshen up and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. For those who are more athletic and adventurous, you can follow an uphill trek along the “buffalo trails” (dirt paths) which offer breathtaking views and fewer tourists. If you prefer an easier trek, you can take a pleasant walk along the Muong Hoa River.

Next, you will head to Lao Chai Village via a small path that crosses the rice paddies into the heart of the settlement. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about their daily life and culture. The tour continues with an exploration of Ta Van Village, the fascinating land of the Dzay people, beautifully situated on a hill with a splendid view of the river, rice terraces, and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. As you stroll along the narrow village streets, you will encounter locals who may kindly invite you to visit their homes.

Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay in Sapa.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Meet your guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 AM.

Transfer to Bac Ha, passing through Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu. During the journey, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains, rivers, and lakes. Situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters, Bac Ha is home to various ethnic groups such as the colorful Flower Hmong, Phu La, and Tay. The Bac Ha region is well-known for its vibrant weekly markets, surrounded by a wild and beautiful landscape. These markets are not just for trading goods but also serve as the cultural epicenter for meetings between different ethnic groups living in harmony.

Depending on the day, you will visit a colorful ethnic market that takes place once a week:

• Coc Ly Market – Tuesday
• Sin Cheng Market – Wednesday
• Lung Khau Nhin Market – Thursday
• Can Cau Market – Saturday
• Bac Ha Market – Sunday (the largest and most vibrant)

You can explore the market and see the products for sale, such as vegetables, poultry, horses, and buffaloes. Your attention will surely be captured not only by the market’s liveliness but also by the many minority groups dressed in their most colorful traditional attire.

After visiting the market, you will take a short walk through some of the small ethnic villages that make up Bac Ha. Interspersed with cornfields, cassava hills, and clay houses, the plum orchards adorned by H’Mong women in their vibrant clothing will accompany you throughout the journey.

Return to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel at approximately 09:30 PM.

Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy some free time at your leisure until your transfer to Hanoi Airport in time for your return flight to Italy.

We wish you a pleasant flight and a safe journey home!

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