Hidden Trails of
Northern Vietnam:
Sapa - Ha Giang

This journey is crafted for adventurous travelers seeking an active and immersive trekking experience. You'll venture off the beaten path through the dramatic landscapes of Sapa and Ha Giang—two of Northern Vietnam’s most iconic and culturally rich mountain regions. The best time to visit is from August to mid-October, when the rice terraces transform from lush green to brilliant gold for the harvest season.

Day 1: HANOI - SAPA
(2-3 hours walking)

Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi for approximately 5-hour drive to Sapa. After lunch, proceed to Muong Hoa valley. Here you will start your descent into the valley, which is the largest rice terrace area in Sapa. Your guide will explain about the process of growing rice.

The walk will take you from Lao Chai village, home to the Black H’mong minority group, to Ta Van village where the Giay minority people live. This is the only place in Sapa where you can meet the Giay minority people and visit a local school.

After your visit to Tả Van, you'll transfer to the serene Topas Ecolodge.

The remainder of the day is yours to unwind—whether you choose to relax by the infinity pool overlooking the mountains or simply take in the tranquil surroundings.

Day 2: SAPA
(3 – 3.5 hours trekking)

You will commence the tour with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track”. Enjoy beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to Nam Nhiu village; here you will meet the villagers, visit their home, and learn about their daily life as mostly farmers. Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon note the marvelous views of the valley dotted with bamboo huts, which are used by local farmers as overnight lodges during harvest season. After passing the rice terraces and a river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving at the charming Nam Cang village. Your lunch is served at a local house.

Nam Cang village is located at the far end of Sapa valley, and the Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. They are also famous for herbal baths, local medicine and embroidery. You will explore the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, silver jewelry and colorful embroidery. You then meet your vehicle for the journey back to Topas, where you can relax by the pool or at the spa after an active day.

Day 3: SAPA – HA GIANG

Depart Sapa in the morning for a scenic 5-hour drive to Ha Giang, passing through dramatic mountain landscapes and remote villages along the way. You’ll arrive at Panhou Retreat in the afternoon, an eco-lodge tucked deep within the heart of the Song Chay mountains, near the border with Yunnan. Surrounded by lush forest and tranquil streams, the retreat offers a peaceful haven where nature and culture harmoniously blend.

The remainder of the day is yours to relax and explore at your own pace. Take a rejuvenating soak in the natural hot spring, join a hands-on cooking class to learn traditional local recipes, or simply unwind and take in the serene atmosphere. This quiet interlude offers the perfect opportunity to recharge before your trekking adventure begins the next morning.

Day 4: HA GIANG

After breakfast, set off on foot toward the nearby mountains. As you ascend, the landscape opens up to reveal a sweeping panorama of distant peaks and rolling hills lined with beautifully terraced rice fields, shaped by generations of careful cultivation.

Along the way, you'll arrive at a village inhabited by the Tay people. Take time to visit and engage in conversation with locals, gaining insight into their daily routines and traditions. Continue onward to a Red Dao household, where you’ll be welcomed for a traditional lunch. Your trek resumes through a stunning patchwork of rice terraces, natural ridgelines, and thriving tea plantations, before gradually making your way back to the comfort of Panhou Retreat.

Day 5: HA GIANG - HANOI
(5.5 hours driving)

Free at your own leisure until transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi.