At a elevation of 1600 meters, Sapa is a delightful old French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnams’ northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minorities groups all wearing their traditional and colourful attire. This trip includes a 4-day trek through the hills and valleys in the Sapa region. Average walking time for each day is around 6 hours, passing through H’mong, Day, Tho, Tay, Nhang, and Red Dao communities. Three nights are spent in these minority villages so be warned, you will have to do without some modern comforts on this one. Often there is no electricity or running water and bedding can be a layer of straw covered with a mat in some cases. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer.

(B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)

Night 1: 8:30 Pm depart from your Hotel by private car to Hanoi Rail way station B and catch the 9:30Pm night train to Lao Cai . Overnight on train (Basing in First Class Soft Sleeper 4 beds Wooden Cabin with Air-condition - or 2 people/cabin on request).

Day 1: Sapa -Lao Chai – Ta Van. (B,L,D)

Picked up at Laocai Railway station early in the morning by private car. Arrive at Sapa round 8:00 AM. Breakfast and relax. Walk around Sapa and then start trekking from Sapa at 10:00 AM to visit a village of the Black H’mong (LaoChaiSan). Go though hillsides along MuongHoa river. Cross the river by a suspension bridge to reach LaoChai village. Take the paths across the paddy fields to get to the 3rd village of the Dzay minority (TaVan) and stay the night at a Dzay family in this village. Picnic lunch on the way and dinner at the family.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 2: Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Ban Ho.(B,L,D)

Breakfast with the local family and then get to a village located at the foot of HoangLienSon range via bamboo forests. Visit a waterfall and a rattan bridge. After the village, get down to the river, cross it and keep going to SuPan village for 2 minorities – The H’mong and the Red Dzao. . Get off the road to go down hill to BanHo village. Overnight at Ban Ho with a Tay family who have houses on stilts. Picnic lunch on the way and dinner at the family

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 3: Nam toong – Thanh Phu – My Son .(B,L,D)

Get up early in the morning for fresh air and peaceful daily life of the people. Breakfast and leave the village for a hard day. Walk uphill to a smallest and almost untouched village of the Red Dzao (Namtoong). Go further to another village on the same side of of the mountain range to see the XaPho ethnic group in NamKen. Get down to the river and go up to MiSon to visit the XaPho again. Spend the night in ThanhPhu village at a Tay family. Picnic lunch on the way and dinner with the local family.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 4: Thanh Phu – Sapa.(B,L,D)

Breakfast at ThanhPhu village. Walk back to SuPan village where to take a jeep back to Sapa. On the way back, visit the ancient stone circle (stones decorated with ancient car or vanvings which are said to have described the life of the people lost in the mists of prehistory) Check in hotel. Lunch at SuPan and dinner in Sapa.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi (B)

Breakfast, free to go around and explore the town .Leave sapa for laocai Station by Trekkingsapa’s bus in the afternoon. Dinner on your own at Lao Cai Station , get the night train to Hanoi.

Meals : Breakfast

Day 6: Hanoi arrive

Arrive in Hanoi early morning,taxi to hotel on your own.Tour ends.

 Note: Rates are valid until April 30th, 2012 by Vietnam Culture Travel. All rates are quoted per person in U.S Dollars. Rates are net and inclusive of service charges and 10% VAT.

 * The prices above are based on the hotels on the VietnamCultureTravel.com 'Accommodation' page. If you would prefer a different hotel, or hotels, choose your preference on the relevant 'Hotels' page, tell us, and we'll send you a modified price within 24 hrs at the latest.

* At the time of quotation, Vietnam Culture Travel reserves the right to adjust prices to take account of unusual movements in currency markets, hotel and transport costs as a result of inflationary price pressures in oil and other commodity markets.

* Single room occupancy’ refers to the accommodation element of the programme only, and applies to someone who is travelling with others but requires an additional room for him or herself. Single traveller prices are available as listed above. 
 
                        THE SPECIFIC HOTELS WILL BE USED IN THIS TOUR:

If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately:

Tour Price Include:

* Accommodation in first class soft-sleeper wooden Cabine, A.C(2 ways).
* Accommodations in Hotel as specific base on Deluxe Twin / Double Mountain View Room.
* All Transportation in air-conditioned car, mini van as per program mentioned and vehicle with drive in delta.
* English speaking guide and local guide for trekking.
* Meals as mentioned: B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner.
* Entrance fee to indicated sights seeing.
* Permit and porter for trekking.
* Train tickets (in 4-soft berth A/C cabine) (2 ways)

Tour Price Exclude:

* Drinkings, last dinner, personal expenses,...

This is an example of one of our classic tailor-made holidays in Vietnam - we'll be pleased to design similar Vietnam vacations with dates and itinerary customised to your personal preferences.

WHAT TO BRING:

* Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, Insect, Repellentand Original Passport...

HOW TO START:

* Vietnam Culture Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

* If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Vietnam Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).