Epic Highlands Journey: Sapa to Ha Giang in 5 Days(VT1-5D110-SP-HG)

Hanoi → Sapa & Cat Cat Village – A Taste of Highland Culture

✨ What You’ll Experience: Your journey begins with a comfortable transfer from Hanoi to the hill town of Sapa — where clouds drift between peaks and terraced rice paddies shimmer in the sun. After a warm welcome and lunch, embark on a short but scenic trek to Cat Cat Village, nestled at the foot of Fansipan Mountain. Here, life slows down. Watch the Black Hmong weave textiles by hand, cross bamboo bridges, and pose near the French-era waterfall.

🕒 Your Day at a Glance:

• 06:30 – 07:00 ✨ Begin your Northern Vietnam adventure with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.
• 12:30 – 13:00 🚌 Arrive in the charming mountain town of Sapa, greeted by cool mist and vibrant local culture. Enjoy a hearty lunch featuring regional flavors before checking into your hotel.
• 14:30 🌿 Embark on a 3.5 km trek through forested trails to Cat Cat Village, home to the Black Hmong. Learn about traditional crafts, local customs, and their connection to the surrounding landscape.
• 📷 Capture moments at the picturesque Cat Cat Waterfall and historic French-built hydroelectric plant — an echo of colonial times hidden in the heart of the mountains.
• 17:00 🏘️ Return to Sapa Town. Enjoy a free evening to wander the night market, try local herbal baths, or simply relax under the stars.

✅ Inclusions: Private transport, local lunch, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, 3-star hotel accommodation

🏨 Overnight Stay: Hotel in Sapa Town

Lao Chai, Ta Van & Bus to Ha Giang – Trekking Deeper Into Ethnic Life

✨ What You’ll Experience: Start your day with a crisp mountain sunrise and fuel up for a deeper exploration into the soul of Sapa. Today’s 12-kilometer trek takes you through the breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley, one of the most scenic areas in all of Vietnam. You’ll descend past ancient stone-carved terraces in Y Linh Ho, cross hanging bridges, and arrive at the heart of Lao Chai Village, where the Black Hmong have lived for centuries. After lunch, continue to the welcoming Dzay village of Ta Van, where bamboo houses nestle into hillsides, and tradition whispers from every doorway.

🕒 Your Day at a Glance:
07:00 🍳 Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and pack lightly for today’s hike.
09:00 🥾 Begin a 12km trek from Sapa through Y Linh Ho, passing weathered stone terraces and grazing water buffalo.
11:00 🌾 Continue trekking to Lao Chai Village, where you’ll discover traditional Hmong dyeing workshops and sweeping valley views.
12:30 🍽️ Pause for a scenic lunch in a rustic mountain eatery nestled in the valley.
13:30 🏡 Explore Ta Van Village, where you’ll see authentic stilt homes and meet the friendly Dzay ethnic group.
14:00 🚌 Say farewell to Sapa as your driver picks you up for the return to town.
19:30 💤 Board the sleeper bus for your overnight journey to Ha Giang, winding through the hills under a blanket of stars.
✅ Inclusions: Trekking guide, lunch, entrance fees, transfers in Sapa and overnight sleeper bus to Ha Giang
🏨 Overnight Stay: Sleeper bus to Ha Giang

Ha Giang → Quan Ba → Du Gia – Into the Heart of the Mountains

✨ What You’ll Experience: Wake up in Ha Giang and begin your thrilling Ha Giang motorbike loop — a journey that winds through jagged karst cliffs, misty valleys, and untouched villages. Pass through Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate, marvel at the mysterious Fairy Bosom Hills, and stop for lunch in the poetic town of Tam Son. By afternoon, descend into the tranquil valley of Du Gia, where a minority family greets you with smiles, stories, and home-cooked dishes.

🕒 Your Day at a Glance:

• 08:30 🍵 After a restful early morning, enjoy a local breakfast and meet your friendly easy rider motorbike guide.
• 09:00 🛵 Begin your ride through the awe-inspiring Quan Ba Pass, gateway to the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. Stop at the panoramic Heaven’s Gate viewpoint for a bird’s-eye view of limestone formations.
• 10:30 🌄 Pause for photos of the iconic Fairy Bosom Hills, a geological wonder surrounded by legends.
• 12:30 🍜 Enjoy lunch in Tam Son, a charming town with peaceful mountain views and fresh northern cuisine.
• 15:00 🏘️ Arrive in Du Gia Village, tucked in a lush valley. Get settled in your ethnic homestay, where you’ll be welcomed like family. Relax with traditional herbal tea or join in cooking dinner.

✅ Inclusions: Motorbike with driver, meals, entrance fees, ethnic homestay

🏨 Overnight Stay: Homestay in Du Gia

Du Gia → Ma Pi Leng Pass → Dong Van – Epic Passes & Northern Frontiers

✨ What You’ll Experience: This is the highlight of the loop — an unforgettable ride through the Ha Giang highlands. Cruise along the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, perched atop the Nho Que River gorge, with heart-stopping views below. Stop in Meo Vac for lunch, and if time allows, journey to Lung Cu Flag Tower, Vietnam’s northernmost point. End the day in Dong Van, a frontier town steeped in tradition, surrounded by towering peaks and timeless charm.

🕒 Your Day at a Glance:

• 08:00 🍵 Share breakfast with your hosts in Du Gia — a farewell moment filled with local warmth.
• 09:00 🏞️ Ride toward Meo Vac, passing villages clinging to cliffs and limestone valleys sculpted by time.
• 11:00 🏔️ Cross the iconic Ma Pi Leng Pass, a marvel of engineering and raw nature. Stop for panoramic views of the Nho Que River Canyon — one of Vietnam’s deepest.
• 12:00 🍽️ Stop in Meo Vac for a local lunch and stretch your legs before continuing the northern journey.
• 15:00 🚩 (Optional) Detour to Lung Cu Flag Tower, where the view reaches across the Chinese border — a powerful symbol of national pride.
• 18:00 🏡 Arrive in Dong Van Old Quarter, explore its colonial architecture, and gather for a cozy dinner at your next homestay.

✅ Inclusions: Motorbike with driver, meals, entrance fees, local homestay

🏨 Overnight Stay: Homestay in Dong Van

Dong Van → Vuong Palace → Hanoi – The Final Descent

✨ What You’ll Experience: Your final day is a gentle descent back through history, culture, and cinematic landscapes. Begin with a visit to the Palace of Vuong Chinh Duc, the “Hmong King,” with its unique fusion of French, Chinese, and local architecture. Journey past Yen Minh’s pine forests and sweeping valleys as the landscape slowly flattens. A smooth limousine transfer returns you to Hanoi — but your heart stays in the highlands.

🕒 Your Day at a Glance:

• 08:00 🍵 Enjoy breakfast in Dong Van, surrounded by cool morning fog and mountain silhouettes.
• 09:00 🏯 Explore the historic Vuong Palace in Sa Phin, a 100-year-old relic once home to Hmong royalty. Walk among stone walls and tiled courtyards that whisper stories of power and pride.
• 12:00 🍜 Savor a farewell lunch in Yen Minh, a peaceful district embraced by rice fields and pine-covered hills.
• 16:30 🚐 Relax aboard a comfortable limousine van back to Hanoi. Recline, reflect, and scroll through photos of unforgettable vistas.
• 22:30 🏨 Arrive in Hanoi’s Old Quarter — completing your 5-day journey through Vietnam’s remote northern soul.

✅ Inclusions: Motorbike, meals, entrance fees, premium limousine transfer to Hanoi