THE NORTH TRAIL VIETNAM – SAPA TREKKING – HA GIANG MOTORBIKE ADVENTURE – HALONG BAY – CAT BA – 8 Days and 7 nights
$415.00
The North Trail Vietnam is specially designed for (backpack) travelers who want to travel on a shoestring but who are looking for of the beaten track experiences and enjoy the company of fellow travelers. We offer you our own designed and less touristy local Sapa Experience with a cozy homestay, an unbeatable Ha Giang motorbike adventure where you’ll meet new friends and the best backpacker Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Cruise which ends on Cat Ba Island. For sure this will be a trip you’ll treasure the rest of your life…
The price shown is per person, based on 2 people. For single travellers a surcharge might be in place. Tell your friends to join you on this fabulous trip! For those who want to do the Ha Giang Loop safely on the back with one of our experienced riders there is a surcharge of $30.
Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa
Today you’ll need to be at the meeting point at 21:30 in the Old Quarter of Hanoi for the overnight journey by cabin sleeper bus to Sapa.
Transportation: Cabin sleeper bus
Meals: N/A
Guide: N/A
Accommodation: N/A
Day 2: Sapa – Ta Van
The bus arrives early in Sapa but don’t worry, we’ve arranged a hotel room for you for some extra sleep. In this way you can start your trekking in a more relaxed way!
Please always check your travel voucher for details and times!
Your local Hmong tour guide will meet you at the hotel where your trekking adventure will kick off. We’ll start this fantastic trek to Ta Van, down in the Muong Hoa valley. If you like you can have your luggage transferred to the homestay by motorbike, your guide can easily arrange it, no extra charge.
Many diverse groups like the Dzay, Dzao, Tay, Xa Pho or Hmong populate this richly cultural northern territory. You’ll sample their unique delights as you pass through each village.
During the 15 km walk we’ll visit three villages of ethnic populations. Enjoy the spectacular views of the beautiful valley that leads towards Fansipan, the highest peak in Viet Nam and Indochina. The trek leads through the village of Black Hmong people, where you can learn how they weave and embroider their incredible clothes. Further along our descent we’ll enjoy the many colorful rice paddy fields until we reach Ta Van village, inhabited by the Dzay people. We’ll have a filling lunch on the way and dinner with your host in a traditional Hmong homestay, by far the coziest accommodation in Ta Van with the best food!
Transportation: Trekking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Guide: English-speaking local Hmong tour guide
Accommodation: Homestay
Day 3: Sapa – Ha Giang
After a traditional breakfast we leave Ta Van and continue our trek to visit the Red Dao people in Giang Ta Chai village. We pass some stunning scenery and a lovely waterfall along our route. As their name suggests, red is used extensively in the Red Dao women’s clothing and scarves.
Our journey leads us along the small paths edging the rice fields, across the Muong Hoa River and lunch will be on the way at a fantastic spot. We’ll head back to the homestay in Ta Van after our second amazing trekking to fresh-up and pack.
We will transfer you to the bus stop in Sapa where you can easily get a quick snack before the overnight journey to Ha Giang.
Transportation: Sleeper bus
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Guide: English-speaking local Hmong tour guide
Accommodation: N/A
Day 4: Ha Giang – Quan Ba Pass – Yen Minh – Dong Van
You will arrive early but your host is ready to pick you up and offer you a place to sleep a bit more. After breakfast we start your first riding day, which will be around 155km. During the trip you can see many Hmong people that inhabited the area and to see their daily life up close.
On the way we have enough time to stop at wonderful places for pictures or just to enjoy the landscape. The first point of interest is The Heavens Gate and with a height of 1500m it often is covered in clouds. The view is amazing! In Quan Ba you can see the famous twin mountains. After that we will have a local lunch in a small restaurant in Yen Minh. We continue our trip before stopping around 15km west of Dong Van to visit the Vuong (King’s) Palace, which Hmong people built for their own King.
We then reach Dong Van at around 5pm where we will check-in to the guesthouse or homestay and have dinner at a local restaurant.
Dong Van is a quiet village which is nice and easy to walk around.
Transportation: Motorbike
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Guide: English-speaking local tour guide/ rider
Accommodation: Homestay
Day 5: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Meo Vac – Du Gia
After breakfast we’ll continue your motorbike adventure through this stunning part of Vietnam through the Dong Van Geo Park. The views are amongst Vietnam’s best. The Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered as the “king” of Vietnam’s passes. From the top of this pass begins a 20km long happiness road, which is handmade by the local people and has a romantic atmosphere.
In Meo Vac you can see one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country. We continue to Mau Due and Du Gia where you can see beautiful terraced rice fields and local life. We’ll enjoy lunch in Du Gia in the area where ethnic Tay families live and if we have time you can take a refreshing swim at the waterfalls of Du Gia Village. We overnight at the guesthouse or homestay where we’ll enjoy dinner later in the evening.
Transportation: Motorbike
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Guide: English-speaking local tour guide/ rider
Accommodation: Homestay
Day 6: Du Gia – Duong Thuong – Lung Tam – Ha Giang – Hanoi
After breakfast we start riding again through more stunning scenery and through many small villages.
We’ll have lunch on the way before arriving back in Ha Giang. Here you can have a quick refreshing shower before the 16-seat limousine bus will pick you up at around 4pm for the 6-hour journey back to Hanoi where the trip ends.
Estimated arrival time will be 9.30-10pm. From the limousine bus stop it is either a short walk or taxi ride to your accommodation in the Old Quarter.
Transportation: Motorbike and sleeper bus
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Guide: English-speaking local tour guide/ rider
Accommodation: N/A
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay
A warm welcome at the meeting point for The Best Backpacker Halong Bay Cruise! We travel by bus and boat towards the cruise departure point while sightseeing around Cat Ba Island.
We board the cruise and start a long day of activities while cruising through picturesque Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. Enjoy breathtaking sceneries while passing a floating village where we provide you a great opportunity to experience real local life of the fishermen who spend their whole life on the water (good chance to take pictures) while the lunch is served.
We continue cruising further into the bay to take you to a quiet area where you can challenge yourself for boat jumping and swimming. Not only is that a bucket load of fun but great for exercise.
We cruise off to another side of the bay for our anchor place in the middle of nowhere to start our sunset party with BBQ dinner and the party is on!!!
We overnight on the cruise.
Transportation: Bus and cruise
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Guide: English-speaking tour guide
Accommodation: Private cabin on the cruise
Day 8: Lan Ha Bay – Halong Bay – Cat Ba
You don’t need to leave the cruise until after lunch so lots of time to enjoy a slow morning, a morning swim or maybe a lazy lie in…
We will provide you a unique experience by doing kayaking around one of the most-quietest and nicest part of the bay. After your brunch we begin the trip back to hectic and busy Hanoi by boat and bus, you will arrive back at the meeting point at approximately 5pm.
You’ll also have the option to stay behind on Cat Ba. Just let us know your preference.
Transportation: Cruise and bus
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Guide: English-speaking tour guide
Accommodation: N/A
- Sleeper bus Hanoi to Sapa, Sapa to Ha Giang and limousine bus from Ha Giang to Hanoi
- Entrance fees if applicable
- Hotel on arrival in Sapa for some extra sleep
- English (local) speaking guides/ riders
- All meals as mentioned
- Overnights at the homestay
- All activities
- Beverages other than complimentory
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- All not indicated in our itinerary
- Overnight in Hanoi on day 6
- Booking vouchers we provided
- Valid Passport with valid visa
- Cash for personal expense
Special food requests
Please let us know if you have specific eating restrictions, allergic for certain things or if you are vegetarian, we can take that into account during the trips.
Useful information
Especially for the north and central Vietnam;
In the period between November and April, the weather is variable, from sunny to cold and rainy. It is advisable during this period to bring some rain gear with some warmer clothes. In the period from April to November, it is good to pack a hat with a wide brim, sunscreen (at least SPF15) and a reliable insect repellent. A thin rain poncho is useful all year round.
The south of Vietnam is generally a lot warmer all year round, so warm clothing is not really necessary.
Get Up And Go Vietnam does everything to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, we have no control over weather conditions. Our apologies for that!
Sapa – Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa today offers spectacular views emerging on clear days; overlooking a plunging valley, with mountains towering above on all sides. Views of this epic scenery are often subdued by thick mist rolling across the peaks, but even when it’s cloudy, local hill-tribe people fill the town with color.
Sapa changed a lot over the recent years due to the built of the Fanispan, with 3147m the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula, cable car which attracts many Asian tourist. Luckily you’re not here to hang out in town. We are here for incredible trekking into a surrounding countryside of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe villages that seems a world apart. Once you’ve stepped out into the lush fields you’ll understand the Sapa area’s real charm.
Ha Giang province in northern Vietnam is a less frequently travelled area by tourists. Ha Giang is a place where almost 90% of the population is ethnic minorities with their own traditional cultures and life styles. The last 20 years when the other Vietnam provinces and cities experienced the economic development, Ha Giang was the place, which had been forgotten in time. The main reason was the political situation and relations with China.
Starting with hills, valleys and villages with the ethnic minorities residents (Hmong, Tay, Dao, Nung, Lo Lo, Giay, Pu Peo). The farthest and the most beautiful place of Ha Giang province is Dong Van Karst Global Geo-park, designated by UNESCO as one of 77 sites with the important geological and cultural heritage. This Geo-park is littered with the ethereal karst formations that are nearly 400 million years old, and has two protected areas. Dong Van Karst Geo-park is home of 17 ethnic minority groups.
Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba – Hạ Long Bay in Northern Vietnam is one of the most popular destination for tourists and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and exists of 3 Bay areas, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay and features thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various shapes and sizes.
To offer you the best and less visited places of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay we designed this unique cruise, especially for backpackers who like the company of fellow travelers who like to have a good time!
Because we offer pristine areas, beaches and lush green sceneries of the bay, it is by far the best Halong Backpacker Cruise that provides an amazing and unforgettable experience!