Dedicated to trekking and walking enthusiasts, this exciting experience brings us into contact with the incredible nature of Northeast Vietnam and the local people to discover their way of life and experience it firsthand.
A journey amidst the majesty of lush landscapes, ancient traditions, ethnic minorities, and immersive experiences such as cruising one of the world’s most beautiful bays.
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer free to your hotel (rooms available from 2 pm). Meet with your guide in the late afternoon at your hotel lobby to begin exploring Vietnam’s capital city, enjoying the city’s colonial charm, and visiting the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake, around which all aspects of life in Hanoi revolve. Hoan Kiem Lake is also associated with an evocative legend: one day, Heaven entrusted Emperor Le Thai To with a magic sword to drive the Chinese invaders out of Vietnam. Once the feat was accomplished, while walking around the lake, a giant turtle emerged from the waters, took the sword and returned it to its divine owners, hence the name “Lake of the Returned Sword.” Dinner during the excursion. Return to hotel, overnight stay.
Meals included: dinner
Overnight stay: Sunline Hotel/Hanoi Sky/La Sante or similar
Day 2: Hanoi. Overnight train to Sapa
After breakfast, the discovery of the capital continues with a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum built in the 11th century, a tribute to the architecture of Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow, with its traditional pile-dwelling and one-pillar pagoda. The visit continues to the ethnographic museum. Created in November 1997 at the Francophonie Summit, it is both a research center and a public museum encompassing the 54 ethnic groups found throughout Vietnam. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature(Van Mieu in Vietnamese), located on the site once known as Vietnam’s first university. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was initially opened exclusively for princes and mandarins. With its ancient courtyards, altars and rooftops, Van Mieu is a beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture. Continue your journey to the Old Quarter and the surroundings of Sword Lake. Dinner at a local restaurant before boarding the overnight train to Sapa (estimated departure 10 p.m.-arrival 6:05 a.m. next morning).
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: by train
Day 3: Lao Cai – Muong Hum – Sapa Arrive at Lao Cai station, meet with local guide and depart for Muong Hum market, a traditional weekly market involving several ethnic groups. The market is particularly active, lively and colorful. A wonderful opportunity to interact with local people, who belong to ethnic groups such as H’mong, Ha Nhi, Red Dao, with different colors and designs on their traditional clothes. They mainly come from the villages around Muong Hum, however some of them come from Sapa to participate in this market. Enjoy the excursion through the market to learn about the traditions and culture of this area. The journey continues to Sapa to visit Ta Giang Phing, an ethnic H’mong territory. Passing from village to village gives the opportunity to observe the daily life of local people around their homes, in their fields and sometimes on the sides of the road, where they stop to chat. The rice terraces and mountains around the villages provide wonderful views of the landscape and the atmosphere surrounding it. Lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Sapa. Rest of the day at leisure. Free dinner, overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Le Bordeaux – early check-in and 3-hour day use
Overnight: Sapa Centre Hotel or similar Day 4: Sapa – Trekking in Muong Hoa Valley After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with a hike into the heart of the Hoang Lien mountain range. Along the way you can see vast terraced rice fields surrounded by rivers, a distinctive feature of the region. The route passes through the village of Y Linh Ho, offering an opportunity to observe the local people in their colorful clothing. The journey continues along windy paths offering breathtaking views of the rice fields in the Muong Hoa Valley. Continue to Lao Chai before ending the excursion at Ta Van. Rest of the day at leisure to discover at your own pace the beautiful natural landscapes and experience the lifestyle of the local people living here.
Dinner at homestay and overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch at local homestay or packed lunch, dinner
Overnight stay in homestay
Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi After breakfast, we resume our trek to the village of Su Pan, inhabited by two of the largest ethnic groups in northern Vietnam, the Black H’mong and the Red Dao. From here we depart on a hike to discover another minority, the Tay, known for their wooden houses and skill in creating their handicrafts. Return to Sapa city after the hike. Lunch at local restaurant and short break before taking a public bus, accompanied by your guide, back to Hanoi (estimated time of departure in Sapa 14:30 – estimated arrival in Hanoi 20:00). Upon arrival at Hanoi bus station, transfer to hotel. Free dinner, overnight stay.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: Sunline Hotel/Hanoi Sky/La Sante or similar
Day 6: Hanoi – To He Village – Ninh Binh Breakfast at the hotel. Depart south to reach the village of a To He artisan. Welcomed by the family, after an introduction on To He art, we learn how to make a traditional Vietnamese toy, initially guided by the artisan and then giving free rein to your own creativity. You can freely choose the shape and follow one of the many traditional designs, such as Vietnamese zodiac shapes, or something more modern like a Pokemon character (or even create your own design)! It is time to say goodbye to the artisan’s family and, along with your To He products, continue on to Ninh Binh to have lunch at a villager’s house. In the afternoon, set off by bicycle, slowly traversing the rice paddies amidst the spectacular scenery of rocky peaks, meandering canals and lush vegetation, and then board a small wooden boat, a sampan, to explore the Van Long Nature Reserve, a surreal landscape of rainforests and ancient mountains reflected in the azure waters. Return to hotel. Dinner at leisure, overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch at local house
Overnight: Ninh Binh Legend/ Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel and Resort or similar Day 7: Ninh Binh – Halong Breakfast at the hotel. The journey continues leaving Ninh Binh in the direction of Halong, where you arrive around noon. Embark on a cruise to the unmissable Lan Ha Bay, a part of Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful landscapes, with its giant islets covered in lush vegetation overlooking its waters. Halong Bay comprises some 1,900 islands and islets with rocky peaks that are often uninhabited and unvisited. This scenery creates a spectacular seascape, which earned the bay UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. Lunch and dinner with excellent seafood freshly caught in the bay are served on board. Overnight stay.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: aboard the junk boat.
Day 8: Ha Long – Ha Noi – departure Breakfast on board. Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay, depending on the season. Cruise around the bay and disembark at the end of the morning. Return to Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi International Airport for your return flight (to be booked after 6 p.m.).
Meals included: breakfast, brunch
Located in the mountains of Vietnam’s far north, Sapa is famous for its rice terraces, which wind like ribbons of gold across the hills and create a breathtaking panorama in every season. With its morning mists shrouding the valleys and mountain peaks, Sapa is a place where nature seems to meet the sky. Northern Vietnam is also the land of several ethnic minorities, each with its own language, customs and lifestyle. Here, groups such as the Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Giay live, populating picturesque villages and cherishing centuries-old traditions. These communities are renowned for their craftsmanship, particularly in weaving colorful fabrics and making traditional jewelry. To walk among the villages of Sapa is to discover a way of life deeply connected to the land. Exploring this region is a journey that allows you to immerse yourself in lush nature, traversing trails that wind through deep valleys, rushing waterfalls and meandering rivers. Hiking and biking offer opportunities to admire the wild beauty of this part of Vietnam, but also to discover the genuine hospitality of local communities, who welcome visitors with a smile and a hot cup of tea. The cuisine of northern Vietnam is another aspect not to be missed: typical dishes, such as pho and bun cha, are enriched with fresh ingredients and unique aromas that reflect the richness of the region. In Sapa, you can also participate in local markets, where you can buy handicrafts and discover the vibrant cultural exchange between different ethnic groups. A trip to Sapa and northern Vietnam is an immersion in a land where lush nature and age-old culture come together in perfect harmony.
Entry documents:
Vaccinations: None. Yellow fever vaccination required for travelers who have transited through areas at risk of transmission.
Eventi Nomadi is a sustainable tourism project linked to the Public Adv. of the Lazio Region “Impresa Formativa. Incentives for business creation in favor of young people and women in Lazio” arranged in implementation of the European Social Fund Plus Program 2021-2027, having as its objective Policy 4 A More Social Europe aimed at self-entrepreneurship for women and young people through the granting of non-repayable grants to new businesses operating in the territory of the Lazio Region.
