Northwest Exploration and Ethnic Minority Encounter

Route: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Son La – Lai Chau – Tam Duong – Sapa – Hanoi.
Duration: 7 days / 7 nights
Feature: An unforgettable experience, on the saddle of the motorbike, through differen provinces of ethnic minorities habitats stretched along the border with Lao and the border with China, meeting lots of colorful minorities, with trekking and visiting the local villages. And of the interesting thing is to visit the Sunday markets seeing the trading of the hill tribes in full swing.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau
Departure and wind our way to Hoa Binh town, before that we will be riding our own way through villages, valleys of Ha Tay and Hoa Binh province. Lunch break in Hoa Binh town, visit the power plant and continue hitting the roads up hills to Kun pass and onto nice roads offering spectacular views over the valleys and mountains. Arrive in Mai Chau in afternoon take a short walk around and overnight in Thai’s house on stilts.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Son La (150 km)
Drive to Son La, a stop in Moc Chau with hundreds of giant grass farm for cows, visit the ancient prison in the French war. Walk around the town and overnight in Son La.

Day 3: Son La - Dien Bien Phu (180km)
Leave Son La passing Phadien senic pass with a stop to visit Red H'mong with red "poompoom" continuing onto Tuan Giao town stop for lunch and onto Dien Bien Phu to visit the old battle fields of, war museum, airport...

Day 4: Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau – Tam Duong (~190)
Drive throughout Lai Chau, lunch break in this old town then head out for our scenic drive to Tam Duong, on this day you'll have a chance to see the most beautiful hill tribes in Northern Vietnam such as Red H'Mong, Black Thai, Black Dzao (Yao), Tai Lu, Dzao Lanten... Overnight in Tam Duong.

Day 5: Tam Duong – Sapa (80km)
Visit Tamduong market where tribal people come here for daily trade. Ride through rugged villages to visit Tai lu villages, Zay villages of Binh lu. With this short distance, you can opt a chance to go trekking here for some hours, or drive straight to Sapa, enjoy the spectacular view en route. Arrive in Sapa, check in and overnight in town of Sapa.

Day 6: Sapa (20km trek)
Leave our dirt bikes in Sapa, we will head out for a pleasant trek to the to Ta Phin village (North of Sapa), after 4 – 5 hours trek through the rice terraces, villages of H’Mong and Dzao, we will arrive at the homestay in about 4 p.m. Do some cooking with the families and overnight in this friendly homestay. (Dzao people).

Day 7: Sapa - Bacha marekt - night train to Hanoi.
Trek uphill to main road where we :download" our bike  onto Bacha markets, this is lovely market of 3 hour ride away. Visit Sunday market where thousand of colorful ethnic minorities in their best attire gather to shop and buy local produces.  Continue our way back to Laocai  town before  Lao Cai, for our night train back to Hanoi.  Arrive in Hanoi early next morning, tour concludes.