Vietnam Ethnic Corlor

 

This 13-day tour through Vietnam’s northern mountains brings you to an array of colourful ethnic minority communities. Stay in local villages and visit lively tribal markets, while travelling through dramatic mountains and forest landscapes. With a two full days in Hanoi, this tour offers a wealth of excellent insight into the contrasting lifestyles of Vietnam’s minorities and city dwellers.
 

HANOI

Day 01: Visit Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, Ethnology Museum or Vietnamese Women’s Museum, Dong Xuan Market, and stroll the bustling Old Quarter. welcome dinner in restored French villa.
 

HA GIANG

Day 02: Leave early for 320km drive north to Ha Giang Province, stopping to view Mac Dynasty Citadel remains, overnight in ethnic Dao house in Nam Dan Village in Quab Ba.

Day 03: Explore Nam Dan Village, walk to viewpoint over karst formations of Dong Van Geopark, visit ‘karst twin towers’ and Nam Dan Lake.

Day 04: Join locals at markets in Tam Son, Yen Minh and Dong Van, gathering points for local ethnic minorities, visit Vuong Palace, overnight in Dong Van.

Day 05: Drive north to Lung Cu, visiting the flag tower at Vietnam’s northernmost point, visit Lolo village before cross scenic Ma Pi Leng Pass with views of Nho Que River, overnight in Meo Vac.

Day 06: Visit Meo Vac Market, continue on scenic route to Lung Phin and visit ethnic minority home, overnight in Ha Giang with time to explore the town.
 

BAC HA / SAPA

Day 07: Drive through dramatic mountain scenery, stop for lunch in Bac Ha, then continue to Muong Khuong, overnight at Confu hotel.

Day 08: Drive to visit Lung Khau Nhin Market and nearby minority villages, then drive on through Lao Cai to reach in Sapa, check in to your hotel and free time to explore town.

Day 09: From Sapa drive to Ta Phin Village, home to Red Dao and Black Hmong, explore Ta Phin Valley and stay overnight in Ta Phin with a Red Dao family.

Day 10: Drive to visit the colourful Can Cau Market, dominated by Flower Hmong, return to Bac Ha for lunch, walk to visit vegetable gardens and fruit orchards of nearby Ban Pho Village and try out the local corn wine, overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 11: Join the locals flocking to Bac Ha’s market and explore this maze of colour, lunch in Bac Ha, after a short drive, walk to visit Tay village of Trung Do, take a boat on Chay River to meet your car downriver for transfer to Lao Cai, where you’ll have a room to freshen up before boarding the sleeper train for Hanoi.
 

DEPARTURE

Day 12: Arriving early in Hanoi, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have the day free to further explore the capital city, overnight in Hanoi.

Day 13: Free time until transfer to airport to catch your departure flight.

* ‘Single room occupancy’ refers to the accommodation element of the programme only, and applies to someone who is travelling with others but requires an additional room for him or herself. Single traveller prices are available on request.
 

Inclusions in brief:

  • Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
  • Meals as mentioned above
  • Experienced English-speaking guides
  • Private chauffeur-driven air conditioned cars as appropriate
  • Domestic rail ticket
     

Exclusions in brief

  • Visas and insurance
  • Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
     

HOTEL LIST:

  • Hanoi: Silk Path hotel (**** conveniently located in Hanoi's 'Old Quarter', about a ten-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake - Silk Deluxe room)
  • Quan Ba: homestay in Nam Dam (private room without ensuite toilet in Nam Dam village, community-based tourism site, local standard)
  • Dong Van: Hoa Cuong hotel*** (local standard, ensuite toilet room)
  • Meo Vac: Hoa Cuong hotel (the best available in town, local standard, ensuite toilet room)
  • Ha Giang: Phoenix Hotel (*** local standard, in the town centre – VIP room)
  • Bac Ha: Congfu Hotel [Basic accommodation] (small hotel in the centre of Bac Ha town - Standard room)
  • Sapa: Chau Long Hotel [New Wing] (****standing on terraces on the side of the mountain, the stone and wooden construction of the hotel blends perfectly with the surrounding valley features of terraces rice paddies and blazing green fields and overlooking Vietnam’s highest peak – Mount Fan Si Pan (3,143meter) – Deluxe room)

Please note that Vietnam hotels do not recognise provisional reservations, so specific hotels cannot be guaranteed until you have booked your chosen tour. As many of the better hotels are often full during the October to April peak season, early booking is advisable.

 

Please feel free to contact us at anytime. We're always at your service. We're always available here to talk through WhatsApp: + 84 912 555 208 (24/7).   Do not travel until check out: www.blueswimmersailing.com

Local Contact:
Blue Swimmer Outdoors
237 Cai Beo Str; Cat Ba Island; Vietnam

Hotline: + 84 915 063 737
Gmail: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.blueswimmersailing.com

 

Tripadvisor reviews

“Best Way–BY FAR–To Visit Halong Bay!”

After considering other ways to see and experience Halong Bay, we chose Blue Swimmer for a more intimate and customized experience. And boy were we glad. Instead of the huge, steamer style boats carrying lots of people and featuring 30 minutes of kayaking, we had a grand wooden boat all to ourselves–with a great guide, Thang, a solid captain and a very good cook. We could kayak all we wanted. And instead of the more crowded Halong Bay, we focused on Bai Tu Long. From our first email, Mr Kevin was terrific to deal with. We had a kind of complicated timeline, which he worked with–even arranging transport to Haiphong from the Hanoi airport, and having someone meet us at the hydrofoil dock with prepaid tickets. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end. The kayaking was good. Everybody loved jumping off the top deck to swim. And the food was terrific–and plentiful. The boat was very spacious, with two bedrooms for the four of us, each with its own bathroom including shower. There was also a living area for eating. But we spent most of our time in the four lounges on the main deck, watching the karst islands go by, looking at the floating villages, and enjoying the changing scenery. We are experienced kayakers, so doing a fair amount of paddling was important to us. Especially on the second day, we got plenty. And the boats were in fine shape. Most important, as we cruised by the other, crowded boats, we said to ourselves over and over: ” Sure glad we chose Blue Swimmer.”

Kayak DC (Washington DC, USA)
© 2023 Sails of Indochina Adventures . All Rights Reserved. Hotline/WhatsApp: + 84 - 912 555 208 / 915 063 737 (24/7) Ici, On parle français