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You are here: Home » Destination » Vietnam » Dien Bien Phu » Trip to North Western Vietnam Visiting Mai Chau Son La Dien Bien Phu Lai Chau Tam Duong Sapa

Trip to North Western Vietnam Visiting Mai Chau Son La Dien Bien Phu Lai Chau Tam Duong Sapa

lotussiatravel | August 13, 2010 | no comments

Lai Chau Tam Duong - North Western Vietnam The trip will take guests through the North Western area including Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Phong Tho, Tam Duong, Sapa.

Day 01: Hanoi – Mai Chau. Overnight in Maichau.

You will be met up by Lotussia local guide and driver at your hotel in Hanoi and head west towards Hoa Binh province. Following lunch in a White Thai village in Mai Chau valley we spend the afternoon walking through the various ethnic minority villages in this area. In the evening, enjoy the traditional music and dance shoe which will be performed by local villagers. Overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 02: Mai Chau – Son La. Overnight in Sonla.

After breakfast served by the Thai people under their house-on-stilts, we leave Mai Chau making our way west to Son La. Upon our arrival in Son La late in the afternoon we check into our local guesthouse where we spend the night. Son La is located in a scenic valley, inhabited mostly by the Thai, the Muong and the H’mong minority people. This area is historically important for its involvement in the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France during the first half the 20th century. Overnight in Sonla.

Day 03: Son La – Dien Bien Phu. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Following breakfast we will visit the remains of former French prison and enjoy a dip in the local hot- springs. We then board our vehicle for the drive to Dien Bien Phu around 170 km away. It is a 7-hour journey on rough roads, but it is worth while as the scenery is dramatic. We will encounter many ethnic minority people along the way. In the late afternoon we arrive in Dien Bien town and check into our guesthouse for the night. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Day 04: Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau. Overnight in Lai Chau.

After breakfast this morning we will visit some war sites in Dien Bien including Dien Bien Phu museum, A1 Hill, De Castries Commandment Post and set out on our drive to Lai Chau, around 7 hours away. This is in quite a remote area and as a result some of the roads will be fairly rough and uneven. Yet this is to our advantage as there will be fewer tourists along the way to spoil our views of the beautiful and dramatic scenery which we will encounter along the way. Overnight in Laichau.

Day 05: Lai Chau – Tam Duong – Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

From Lai Chau we drive east to Sapa, which is a five-hour drive. We will stop on the road to visit Tam Duong Sunday market which is one of the most colorful markets in Vietnam. The local hill tribe ethnic minority come from different surrounding area to the market where they will sell their homemade handicraft, agricultural products such as vegetable, fruits and also pork, ducks, chickens…

After visiting the market, we continue our drive to Sapa. As the roads become even rougher, the more deserted they get. But the rougher they get, the better the scenery becomes. The beautiful hill station of Sapa has the best-of-both worlds, breath-taking scenery and modern-day comforts. In the afternoon, we will have half day walking excursion to the Red Dzao village. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 06: Sapa full day trekking. Sapa – Laocai – Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Today we start our trek with a five to six hour trek to villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May situated in idyllic valleys, which are covered with a patchwork of rice terraces. Cat Cat is home to the H’mong people who originated from China, where they emigrated from about 300 years ago. The H’mong people are easily recognizable due to their dark clothing, usually blue or black. The dye is fashioned from the indigo or hemp plant that is native to the area. H’mong women wear long aprons with embroidered waistcoats and have their hair rolled up into a turban-like hat, whilst the men wear a black skullcap, long waistcoat and loose trousers.

In the late afternoon, we will be picked up again by our car and transferred to Lao Cai Railways Station four our journey back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Day 07: Arrival in Hanoi.

Upon your arrival in Hanoi Railways Station, you will be welcome by Lotussia Travel driver and transferred to your hotel in Hanoi or directly to the airport for your onward flight. End tour.