Journey Through Ethnic Heartlands of Ha Giang & Sapa 1 week

On this day, you'll begin your journey from Hanoi to Ha Giang, a scenic route that takes approximately 6 hours. Depending on your preference, you can choose between two comfortable transportation options.

• If you opt for the limousine bus, you'll be picked up directly from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter between 15:00 and 15:30.
• Alternatively, for a more restful overnight journey, the sleeper bus with a luxury private cabin offers pick-up from your hotel between 19:30 and 20:00. This option provides added privacy and comfort, perfect for relaxing as you travel through the northern highlands.

Morning

At 8:30, the tour begins from our homestay in Ha Giang City, where your guide will give a safety briefing on how to sit securely behind the easy riders. As the journey starts, you'll quickly notice a dramatic change in the landscape as the road winds into the mountains.

The first stop is Bac Sum Slope, where you'll pause to take in the sweeping views and enjoy a refreshing drink before continuing toward Quan Ba Town.

The route leads through the breathtaking Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO-recognized site known for its remarkable limestone formations and geological significance. Along the way, you’ll see vast terraced rice fields, towering limestone peaks, and peaceful valleys dotted with remote villages. This is a unique opportunity to witness everyday life in the northern Vietnamese countryside, where locals are often seen working the land by hand.

Next, the tour stops at the Quan Ba Heaven Gate and the iconic Twin Mountains, one of Ha Giang’s most famous viewpoints. After taking in the views, you’ll continue on to Yen Minh Town for a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, the journey proceeds toward Dong Van Town, with scenic stops along the Tham Ma Slope and a visit to the historic H’mong King Palace - the former residence of the Vuong family, an important cultural landmark of the region.

By evening, you’ll arrive at a homestay in Dong Van Town, where a warm dinner awaits to conclude your first day in the mountains.

Morning

After breakfast, we depart from Dong Van Town and begin one of the most spectacular parts of the journey. Our team will take you along the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, situated on the Happiness Road connecting Dong Van and Meo Vac.

This pass is famed for its rugged cliffs and jaw-dropping views, often regarded as the “king” of all mountain passes in Vietnam. Winding along sheer rock faces at an altitude of 2,000 meters, the road offers an unforgettable experience through the heart of Ha Giang’s dramatic highlands.

To fully appreciate the majesty of the pass, we’ll take you down the Sky Path, a narrow trail carved along the mountainside that offers panoramic views of the entire valley below, including the emerald waters of the Nho Que River. From various viewpoints, you'll be able to take incredible photos and feel the overwhelming beauty of nature all around you - steep mountain walls, deep river gorges, and endless horizons.

Continuing the journey, we will ride through remote villages such as Lung Ho, Mau Due, and Meo Vac, where you’ll see firsthand how people live in the more isolated regions of Vietnam. We’ll stop in Meo Vac for lunch and a short break, giving you a chance to rest and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Afternoon

After lunch, the adventure continues as we make our way along a mountainous trail toward Du Gia Village. This area is known for its stunning scenery and unique cultural diversity, home to seven different ethnic minority groups living in harmony. Upon arrival, we’ll settle into a local homestay with a Tay minority family.

In the evening, you’ll enjoy a traditional dinner and share a cheerful toast with “happy water,” immersing yourself in the warmth and hospitality of rural mountain life.

Morning

As morning sunlight filters through the misty valley, you’ll wake to the peaceful rhythms of Du Gia Village - a quiet, culturally rich enclave nestled among forested hills and rice terraces.

After a warm breakfast with your Tay ethnic host family, the day begins with a short walk to one of the area’s most enchanting hidden gems: the Du Gia Waterfall. Tucked deep within the trees, the cascading water tumbles into a jade-colored pool, offering a chance to connect with the untouched beauty of this remote region.

The journey continues as we ride back toward Ha Giang City, but the adventure is far from over. The route takes us through the scenic Duong Thuong Valley and along the beautiful Thai An Road, offering more breathtaking landscapes, rustic villages, and winding mountain trails. The natural beauty on this stretch will leave you with lasting impressions of Ha Giang’s untamed charm.

Afternoon

We arrive back in Ha Giang City, where you’ll have some time to rest before your transfer. At 16:00, you will board a comfortable limousine bus for your onward journey to Sapa. After a smooth ride through the northern countryside, you’ll arrive in Sapa around 22:30, ready to continue your adventure in Vietnam’s misty mountain town.

Distance & Est. time: 12 km

Morning

Today is all about slowing down, immersing yourself in the rhythm of the mountains, and walking through some of the most beautiful and culturally rich valleys in northern Vietnam. Lace up your hiking shoes and begin your trek with a 6-kilometer journey to Y Linh Ho Village, a remote community nestled among steep hills and winding trails.

Home to the Black H’mong people, Y Linh Ho offers a fascinating window into H’mong culture, with women in hand-dyed indigo clothing working in the fields and children weaving among stone paths with wide-eyed curiosity. The views here are ethereal - misty hillsides, bamboo forests, and terraces that cascade endlessly into the valley below.

From Y Linh Ho, the trail continues with a 3-kilometer hike toward Lao Chai Village, another Black H’mong settlement tucked along the banks of the Muong Hoa River. As you walk, every turn reveals a new landscape: rice paddies mirrored with water, buffalos grazing in the distance, and clouds brushing the mountain peaks.

Upon arrival, you'll pause for a well-earned lunch shared with a local family in a scenic spot overlooking the valley. It’s not just a meal - it’s a moment of connection, served with warmth and local flavors.

Afternoon

Your trek continues to Ta Van Village, where the Giay ethnic group resides in harmony with nature. The village is known for its cultural diversity and stunning views, offering a living tableau of Vietnam's multi-ethnic highlands.

As you stroll through Ta Van, you'll see traditional stilt houses, friendly locals going about their daily lives, and hear the distant hum of river water flowing beneath suspension bridges. After soaking in the last panoramic views of this unforgettable landscape, you’ll return to the main road, where a waiting jeep takes you back to your hotel in Sapa.

Morning

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast in Sapa, where crisp mountain air and French colonial charm set a peaceful tone for the day ahead. Then make your way to the Fansipan Cable Car Station, the gateway to one of Southeast Asia’s most unforgettable high-altitude adventures. Known as the “Roof of Indochina,” Mount Fansipan stands proudly at 3,143 meters - the tallest peak in Vietnam and a spiritual landmark for locals and travelers alike.

Step into the state-of-the-art Fansipan Cable Car and begin your awe-inspiring 20-minute ascent over lush forests, steep cliffs, and sweeping valleys. Through the glass windows, the Hoang Lien Son mountain range unfurls below you in breathtaking scale, its peaks rising and falling like ocean waves frozen in stone.

Midway through the journey, the cable car stops at Kim Son Bao Thang Tu Pagoda, a serene Buddhist temple perched among clouds and silence. The pagoda’s graceful architecture and gentle atmosphere offer a tranquil space to pause, breathe in incense-tinged air, and reflect amid the towering pines and distant chimes.

To reach the summit, prepare for a short but invigorating climb of 600 stone steps, a journey that takes about 1.5 hours at a relaxed pace. With each step, the air thins and the horizon expands.

At the peak of Fansipan, a 360-degree panoramic view awaits. From here, gaze across jagged peaks that vanish into clouds, valleys carved by time, and layers of mountain ranges stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s a moment of stillness - perfect for photographs, reflection, and simply taking it all in.

Afternoon

After soaking in the summit’s majesty, descend back down the mountain by cable car. As you glide through the clouds once more, savor these final glimpses of Vietnam’s highland splendor - a place where nature, culture, and spirit meet in the sky.

Enjoy your final morning in Sapa, a town cradled by mountains and famed for its cool climate, vibrant markets, and panoramic views. Whether you spend your last moments sipping coffee on a terrace or taking in the tranquil beauty of mist-draped rice terraces, this is your chance to say goodbye to the northern highlands.

Soon, you'll begin your road transfer back to Hanoi, a scenic drive that winds through valleys and hills before merging into the flat, fertile plains of northern Vietnam. Along the way, you’ll have time to reflect on the week's unforgettable experiences - from the towering peaks of Fansipan to the winding passes of Ha Giang and the warm smiles of ethnic minority villagers.