Vietnam trek and homestay tour: Travel Hanoi Mai Chau Pu Luong Nature Reserve (9 days)

The 9-day trek to Mai Chau and Pu Luong Nature Reserve is customized for small groups and active, adventure travelers, those looking for a challenging, multi-day trek in the northern Vietnam. The adventure holiday begins with a car transfer from Hanoi to Mai Chau where you spend your first 4 days trekking through rice paddy fields and local Thai and H’mong hamlets. You are then transferred by car to Pu Luong nature reserve where you spend the other 5 day trekking through Thai and Muong villages. Spending all the nights at local home (homestay); eating local food and sharing the house with family at night offer a real life experience. This is a challenging trekking tour is only available during the dry season starting from October until April. Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau. Start trekking Mai Chau village (trek to Hang Kia village).

7:00 a.m you will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Mai Chau. This scenic drive takes about three hours. En routes, you pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies. After lunch in a traditional stilt house of the Thai people in Poom Coom village, you will enjoy one hour drive to Xa Linh village where you will begin 3 hrs trek through beautiful villages, the gravel tracks and small paths used by the locals. Dinner and overnight at a local home in Hang Kia village.

Day 2: Continue trekking Mai Chau villages (Trek to Van village).

After breakfast, you will get well and truly off the beaten track as you trek through tropical rain forest, using the local tracks and passing through corn fields as we descend in to Mai Chau Valley. The trek takes around 5 hours and is quite steep in places. Lunch will be provided at the local stall at the foot of the valley. From here, you will continue trekking and going through several ethnic minority villages, long spread out fields decorated with water wheels to make your way to Van village by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in a local stilt house (homestay).

Day 3: Continue trekking Mai Chau valley (Trek to Xam Khoe village)

Today you will trek through several Thai hamlets. You walk on the valley floor and are surrounded by rice paddies and beautiful scenery. Picnic lunch will be provided en route. You will arrive in Xam Khoe village in the afternoon. Cook, then enjoy the dinner with the host. Spend another night homestay.

Day 4: Hiking Mai Chau village (Hike back to Poom Coom village)

Trek back to Mai Chau valley and Poom Coom village. You hike through beautiful rice terraces, inhale peaceful atmosphere in the morning. You will arrive back Poom Coong village around noon. Lunch will be served in a local stilt house.

After lunch, free time for you to stroll around the village in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Poom Coom village.

Day 5: Trek Mai Chau onto Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Leaving the Poom Coom village, you travel on the paved road to the Ma river. Get off the bus to unbeaten trek to Duom and Hang village for approximately 2.5 hrs through spectacular mountain scenery, rice paddies, water wheels, talk with lovely local people on the way. You will arrive in the homestay in the afternoon. Check into a local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Continue hiking Pu Luong nature reserve (Hike to Eo Ken & Kho Muong villages)

It will be interesting for you to get up early and take part in their morning activities. Today you will be walking for a approximately 5 to 6 hour on a dirt road.The first hiking is hard with some steep climbs and yet more stream crossings, the next is really glorious with beautiful views of valley, rice terraces, rich rain forest. Picnic lunch on the way at Eo Ken village. Arrival in Hang village, the setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam nestled between steep karst mountains and nice terraces in the afternoon. Spend our second night in a typical Thai stilt house in Kho Muong village.

Day 7: Continue trekking Pu Luong national park (Trek to Nua and Hin villages)

After breakfast, you will leave the homestay and continue trekking through the valley. There are some steep climbs and yet more stream crossings. Trek to an incredible cave, only recently discovered and now protected by the Forest rangers. The trekking becomes more remote yet one is never far from a villager tending fields, passing steep limestone mountain, rain forest inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve to Nua village. Lunch will be provided en route. Relax from the heat of the day before continuing on to Hin – the village of Thai people in the afternoon. Have dinner and spend one more night at a local home.

Day 8: Continue trekking Pu Luong (Hike to Son village).

Leave Hin village, you will trek uphill. You will get in deeper inside the Pu luong Nature Reserve with wild and rich tropical forest. Lunch will be provided en route. After lunch, continue trekking through Ba beautiful village to Son village. Take a break and stretch your legs on the house on stilt of Thai people or strolling round this village and to be in contact with hospitable friendly local people here. Dinner and overnight in Son village.

Day 9: Trek to Ton village then drive back to Hanoi

Today you will have a nice and easier trek, just a bit up and down through rice paddies, jungle fever. After 2.5 hours we get to Ton village. You will be picked up by Lotussia Travel driver and transferred back to Hanoi.

Lotussia Travel is a Hanoi based tour operator offering a wide selection of trekking tours in all over Vietnam. The above trekking tour is only a sample we list on this site for your reference. That can be flexible, customizable and subject to weather conditions and other circumstances. We have lots of other itineraries which are only available upon request. If you need further information or have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us at any time. We look forward to seeing you soon in Vietnam!

Vietnam trekking holidays: Travel Hanoi Tuyen Quang Ha Giang Bac Ha Sapa Lai Chau Dien Bien Phu (8 days)

The 8-day tour is arranged in the northern Vietnam where you have the opportunity to visit beautiful scenery and to experience the rich ethnic culture. The tour begins with a car transfer from Hanoi via Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang where the first stop is made in Viet Quang. You spend about 3 hours trekking in Viet Quang, Ha Giang province before continue your adventure holidays to Cao Banh where you have another challenging hike. Keep trekking through Hoang Su Phi and Xin Man where there are the most beautiful terraced rice fields and wild nature. Arriving in Bac Ha, there you may want to spend some time to visit the Bac Ha Sunday market, is open only on Sunday morning before driving to Sapa. In Sapa you spend some more time to trek in Muong Hoa valley, to Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai villages. Then you continue your road trip to Lai Chau, Binh Lu, Tam Duong to Muong Lay and Dien Bien Phu. The second part of the tour is less challenging as you spend more time on the car and short visit of hilltribe villages alond the road. The tour takes it ends you you cross the Tay Trang border and enter Laos. Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Ha noi – Tuyen Quang – Viet Quang (L,D)

8:00: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi. Enjoy a fulll day transfer from Hanoi to Viet Quang town, Ha Giang Province. We may make several breaks along the way for resting and sightseeing. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang. We will arrive Viet Quang in mid afternoon. The rest hours is set free  to relax and have preparation for 3 days trekking afterwards.

Day 2: Viet Quang – Vi Xuyen – Cao Banh (B,L,D)

We will leave Viet Quang at 08.00 for a 1.5 hour drive to Vi Xuyen Town. Upon our arrival in the town, we will turn left taking a narrow paved road running to Trung Son. This portion of the road trip offers stunning landscapes.

The trek begins from here(1,110ft) for about 6 hours along a tream which running between 2 high mountain ranges, through Thuong Son, passing small villages of the Tay peopoles scaterring on the low land of the narrow valley and Zao peoples on the higher hilly land gradually uphill to Cao Banh where maily inhabated by the Zao ao dai(Zao with long dress) ethnic peoples. Settle down at a local homes, freshen up and relax

Day 3: Cao Banh – Dan Khao – Hop Nhat Village (B,L,D)

Breakfast and leave Cao Banh Village at 08.30. The trail winds its way uphill for about 4 hours via several small villages of the Zao peoples to the top of the pass(Heaven Gate) at the hight of 3975ft. As the trails gets higher, the stunning view of the region opens wider and the population gets thinner. The clients will enjoy magnificent landscapes of the terraced fields below the trails and thick forest covering the higher land and mountains.

Long lunch break at the Heaven Gate and from here great view of the two side of the Tay Con Linh opens as wide as one’s sight.

The way down is about 6 km and little bit steep and narrow for the first 2 km and then getting easier as the trails comes down to the lowerland, passing a small hamlet of the Co Lao ethnic peoples before arriving to Hop Nhat Village of Tung San Commune.
Walking around this village of the Zao peoples which sits on a earthen hill and over looking down a stunning valley.

Day 4: Hop Nhat – Tung San – Hoang Su Phi – Xin Man – Bac Ha (B,L,D)

Leaving Hop Nhat Village at 08.30 and follow a narrow trails downhill for about 4 hours through Hop Nhat village to the center of Tung San Commune and then continue to Thanh Giay Village, home to the Nung, Tay, Han and Hoa ethnic peoples. Walking around the village and paying visiting to local homes  before picked up at Tan Tien junction and transfer to Hoang Su Phi Town Let for Lunch.

Transfer by road 78 km to Bac Ha via Xin Man Town Let. Clients will enjoy many photo stops and paying quick visit to some small hamlets of the Flower H’mong along the way and arrive in Bac Ha at about 17.00.

Check in Sao Mai hotel and relax

Day 5: Bac Ha – Sapa – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Sapa (B,L)

Breakfast and leaving Bac Ha along road 155 downhill to Lao Cai(72 km) with stops along the way to visit a small hamlet of the Phu La ethnic peoples(13km from Bac Ha), taking a short walk uphill to see tea plantation near Phong Hai( 39 km before Lao Cai). Enjoy a coffee break at Lao Cai City before drving uphill for an hour to Sapa(38 km).

Arriving in Sapa at noon, lunch break in a restaurant and then spend half an hour walking around this charming town. Leaving Sapa town at 13.30 and drive southwards for 12 km to Ta Van Vilage. Start trekking from Ta Van to Giang Ta Chai Village of the Red Zao(1,5 hours) through terraced rice paddies and bamboo forest. After visiting local homes at Giang Ta Chai, the group will cross Muong Hoa River and then trekking uphill to Su Pan village of the H’mong and down to the motor way.

Pick up and transfer back to Sapa town for overnight.

Day 6: Sapa – Binh Lu – Lai Chau (B,L,D)

Breakfast and check out Topas Ecolodge at 08.00. Picked up and transfer 32 km via to Sapa and Tram Ton Pass. Enjoy a short break at the Silver Waterfall for a miring this nature wonder and then 20 minutes at Tram Ton Pass(Heaven Gate) for stunning scenery of Fasipan Mount and Sapa Valley as well as great view of the west side of Hoang Lien range.

Continue driving 27 km downhill to Chu Va village of the Red H’mong. Walk for an hour to visit this village which beautifully sits near the food of the pass by the side of a river before continue 8 km to Binh Lu Town let, lunch break here.

After lunch, take a short drive 2 km through the lush Binh Lu Valley to Pa Pe village of the Lu ethnic peoples who where beautiful traditional costumes and still dye their teeth black. Walk for half an hour to visit this village before continue the road trip to Lai Chau Town(Old Tam Duong). Arriving in Tam Duong at about 16.00, check in hotel. The rest of the afternoon is for exploring villages of the tribal peoples in the country side including the Black Zao and Zao Tien(Zao with coins) and enjoy a peaceful walk to see tea farm in the suburb of Lai Chau.

Day 7: Lai Chau – Sin Ho – Muong Lay – Dien Bien Phu (B,L)

Leaving Lai Chau at 08.00 for a drive through the beautiful region along the back road for nearly 3 hours to Muong Lay(Old Lai Chau Town) via Sin Ho district. The road trip offers stunning landscapes of large valley, fabulous forest and the group will take some short stops along the way to pay visit to villages of the Red H’mong and Thai peoples before arriving to Muong Lay town let. Spend half an hour walking around Muong Lay valley before having lunch.

Arriving in Dien Bien Phu at about 15.00 and spend the rest hours in the afternoon for historical sightseeing around Dien Bien Phu former battle fields famous for the last campaign of the Viet Minh( Vietnamese communist forces) against the French colonial army. The sights for visiting include the A1 hill, Dien Bien Phu Museum, the head quarter of the French army and the beautiful Muong Thanh valley.Check in hotel and at 17.30 and free to explore Dien Bien Phu city in the evening.Day 8: Dien Bien Phu – Tay Trang. Cross the border to Laos (B)

Break first, check out hotel and transfer 42 km to Tay Trang border gate for the next portion of the trip for Laos. Trip ends.

Lotussia Travel is a Hanoi based tour operator offering a wide selection of trekking tours in all over Vietnam. The above trekking tour is only a sample we list on this site for your reference. That can be flexible, customizable and subject to weather conditions and other circumstances. We have lots of other itineraries we don’t put all here. If you need further information or have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us at any time. We look forward to seeing you soon in Vietnam!

Mai Chau trek and homestay tour (7 days)

Mai Chau trek and homestay tour (7 days)

Mai Chau offers a wide selection of trekking, hiking tours ranging from easy day hike to multi-day challenging treks. The following 7-day trekking tour is only a sample multi-day trekking tour itinerary Lotussia Travel customizes for active, adventure travelers, small groups tours, those seeking a medium/challenging multi-day hike to the northern Vietnam. Begin your holidays with a car transfer from Hanoi through Hoa Binh and up to Mai Chau valley. You start you adventure vacations hiking through different Thai and Muong villages including Hang Kia, Pieng Ve, Ban Buoc, Ban Cum, Lac, Nanh. The 7-day hiking tour is provided with an English-speaking guide, local Thai guide, cook and trekking equipments. Your luggage is taken care by our support team. You only need to bring you small bag for the day hike. The accommodation and the food are simple, basic as you spend all the 6 nights at local home (homestay). This multi-day trekking tour is not recommended for those looking a luxury holiday package. Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Ha Noi –  – Hang Kia

You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team and transferred to Hoa Binh province ( 75 km from Ha Noi). Leaving Hoa Binh we climb towards the Mai Chau valley, about two hours away, stopping on the way to take in the spectacular scenery. 01 hour trek through forests to make “warm” then have lunch in Xa Linh. From here start 3-hour trek to Hang Kia. Your hosts for this evening will be the H’Mong minority people. In sampling these peoples’ hospitality, you find out a little more of their lives and cultures with a cultural exchange following the evening meal. This night’s accommodation could probably be a little more rustic than you would be used to ( 5 hours trekking).

Day 2: Hang Kia – Pieng Ve village

Breakfast with the family and setting off on a 7-hour trek. On the way stop for a picnic lunch of sandwiches and fruits. Around 16h 00 we arrive at Pieng Ve Village inhabited by the Muong people. Our good cook will treat you to a fine meal, Our outstanding guide will tell you stories of life in Pieng Ve village. The hosts will share their home brewed rice wine with you and traditionally offer a toast or fruits to your good health and happiness

Day 3: Pieng Ve village – Ban Buoc

After breakfast trek 4 hours to Ban Buoc village. 12h 30 Arriving at the new hosts who are Thai. With lunch finished there will time for a short siesta or to stroll down to the river before embarking on a 3-hour walk around villages and meeting villagers along the way. After an afternoon of cultural insights you will return to Ban Buoc village ( there will be a opportunity to freshen up at the river before the sun set. In the evening following dinner, you will have the opportunity for more cultural interaction.

Day 4: Ban Buoc – Ban Cum

After breakfast start 4-hour trek from Ban Buoc to Ban Cum where you have lunch. You have the afternoon to wander around one of the most picturesque Thai villages in Mai Chau valley. This evening is spent in Ban Cum ( White Thai village).

Day 5: Ban Cum – Lac village

After Breakfast start 4-hour trek from Ban Cum to Lac village – The “Tourist center” in Mai Chau. Here you can have variety of choice to buy traditional souvenirs for your family and friends. In the afternoon you are free to wander around villages. This evening after dinner you enjoy Thai music and dance. Overnight in Lac village ( White Thai village).

Day 6: Nanh village

From Lac you go 30 minutes by car to Go Lao where you start 2-hour trek to Da river. This day you will see a beautiful waterfall in Go Lao on the way trek to Da river. After 2 hour trek transfer to a boat. Cruise the river for 2 hours. lunch on board. Afternoon start 2- hour trek to a Dzao village. Dinner and spend night at the Nanh village.

Day 7: Nanh village – Hoa Binh – Hanoi.

Breakfast. Retrace your steps back to the boat. Cruise 2 hours to Ban Voi. Lunch on board. Afternoon continue 3-hour trek to Hoa Binh. This day you will have chance to admire picturesque view of Hoa Binh reservoir on the height of 300 m before continuing your drive back to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi about late afternoon. Trip ends.

Lotussia Travel is a Hanoi based tour operator offering a wide selection of trekking tours in all over Vietnam. The above trekking tour is only a sample we list on this site for your reference. That can be flexible, customizable and subject to weather conditions and other circumstances. We have lots of other itineraries we don’t put all here since there are some dishonest individuals have copied, without our agreement our contents and pasted on their site for commercial purpose. If you need further information or have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us at any time. We look forward to seeing you soon in Vietnam!

Mai Chau trekking

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau, light trek to Hang Kia village (L, D)

8:00 AM Mai Chau Trek tour guide and driver pick you up at your hotel and leave for Mai Chau town – Hoa Binh province. This scenic drive takes about three hours. En routes, pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies.

After local lunch in Pom Coong village, drive for one hour to Xa Linh village to begin 3 hrs trek through beautiful villages, the gravel tracks and small paths used by the locals. This evening to Hang Kia village, home of the H’mong minority people.

Dinner and overnight in a traditional house of  an H’mong family, situated in a picturesque valley of peach orchards.

Day 2: Trek to Van village (4 ~ 5 hrs trek) (B,L,D)

Breakfast and then get well and truly off the beaten track as trek through tropical rain forest, using the local tracks and passing through corn fields as descend in to Mai Chau Valley. The trek takes around 5 hours and is quite steep in places.

Local lunch at the foot of the valley. From here, pass through several ethnic minority villages, long spread out fields decorated with water wheels to make way to Van village by late afternoon, and then have time to walk around this charming little white Thai village, enabling to understand a little more about how the people live.

Dinner with homemade rice wine and overnight in the traditional stilt houses

Day 3: Trek to Xam Khoe village (4 ~ 5 hrs trek)(B,L,D)

Today have whole day – easy and nice trek passing through several more Thai hamlets. Walk on the valley floor and are surrounded by rice paddies and beautiful scenery.

Picnic lunch en route and arrival in Xam Khoe village in the afternoon.

Cook, then enjoy the dinner with the host, slumber away after having nips of maize wine. Free time to walk around or chat with local people, then have a good night sleep.

Day 4: Trek back to Pom Coong village (B,L,D)

Say farewell with the host after breakfast. Trek back to Mai Chau valley and Pom Coong village through beautiful rice terraces, inhale peaceful atmosphere here in the morning…

Local lunch, free time for you to stroll around the village in the afternoon. This village is near a small town. So this makes a good chance for you to refresh a bit and prepare for the next challenges of trekking on the following days.

Dinner and overnight in Pom Coong village.

Day 5: Mai Chau trek onto Pu Luong (B,L,D)

Leave from the Pom Coong village after breakfast. Ride on the road and passing through spectaculars on routes and Ma river around 22km to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Get off the bus to unbeaten trek to Duom and Hang village for approximately 2.5 hrs through spectacular mountain scenery, rice paddies, water wheels, talk with lovely local people on the way.

Visit Hang cave, then spend the night with a local Thai family. Whilst enjoying their hospitality, we will discover a little more about their lives and culture. Prepare picnic lunch for the next day.

Day 6: Hike to Eo Ken & Kho Muong villages (B,L,D)

The daily life here starts early. Get up, take part in their activities in the morning, take an opportunity to stroll around Hang village before having breakfast served by Thai people.

8:00am Start an approximately 5 to 6 hours trek. The first hiking is hard with some steep climbs and yet more stream crossings, the next is really glorious with beautiful views of valley, rice terraces, rich rain forest.

Picnic lunch on the way at Eo Ken village.

In the afternoon, arrival in Hang- the setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam nestled between steep karat mountains and nice terraces.

Spend second night in a typical Thai eco – stilt house in Kho Muong.

Day 7: Trek to Nua and Hin villages (B,L,D)

Having breakfast, then start for a harder full day of hiking. Continue on through the valley. There are some steep climbs and yet more stream crossings. Trek to an incredible cave, only recently discovered and now protected by the Forest rangers. The trekking becomes more remote yet one is never far from a villager tending fields, passing steep limestone mountain, rain forest inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve to Nua village.

After a rough trek, what is more than refreshing yourself with cool stream. This will surely bring you a new experience. Stream bathing! Then picnic lunch will be served here.

Relax from the heat of the day before continuing on to Hin – the village of Thai people in the afternoon.

Have dinner with local people at their traditional house. Free time for you to talk and learn their traditional customs and culture. Prepare picnic lunch for the next day.

Day 8: Hike to Son village (B,L,D)

Leave Hin village after having breakfast at Thai people, start for a full day trek to Son village. Climbing up hard, get in deeper inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve with wild and rich tropical forest, having picnic lunch on the way.

Continuing our trek passing through Ba beautiful village to Son village when the “sunset” – if it does not rain. Take a break and stretch your legs on the house on stilt of Thai people or strolling round this village and to be in contact with hospitable friendly local people here.

Dinner and overnight in Son village.

Day 9: Trek to Ton village then van onto Hanoi (B,L)

Having breakfast then start our trek at 8:00am to Ton village. Have a nice and easier trek, just a bit up and down through rice paddies, jungle fever. After 2.5 hours, get to Ton village. Driver pick you up and transfer to Muong Khen town for lunch.

Arrive and end in Hanoi in the afternoon.