The Northwest Vietnam with unforgetable Mu Cang Chai
Mai Chau – Mu Cang Chai – Sapa for trekking
This special journey offers the most breathtaking landscapes of Northwest Vietnam, featuring dramatic mountain passes, spectacular rice terraces, and authentic ethnic cultures. From the peaceful valleys of Mai Chau to the golden terraces of Mu Cang Chai and the misty mountains of Sapa, this trekking-focused tour is perfect for travelers seeking nature, adventure, and deep cultural experiences.
Day 1 : Ha Noi – Mai Chau
Meals: Lunch, Dinner/ Accommodation: Private room in local homestay
– Your private car and English-speaking tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi. Depart for Mai Chau via Highway 6 (approx. 150 km), passing scenic views of rice fields, sugarcane, cassava, and orange plantations.
– Stop at Thung Khe Pass to admire the stunning mountain scenery, take photos, and observe daily life of the Muong ethnic people.
– Enjoy a panoramic view from Mai Chau Flag Point.
– Upon arrival, enjoy a 1.5-hour walking tour through peaceful villages with green rice fields and traditional stilt houses. Watch local people weaving clothes and scarves.
– Drive 10 km to Mai Hich, a quiet and less-visited area known as the “backyard” of Mai Chau. Check in at the homestay and enjoy lunch.
– In the afternoon, enjoy walking or biking through nearby villages (Ban Hich – Ban Den – Ban Ngoa – Sam Khoe – Ban Buoc). Admire limestone mountains, rivers, rice fields, and suspension bridges. Observe daily life as Thai villagers farm, fish, and care for buffaloes.
– Return to the traditional stilt house of your friendly Thai host for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 : Mai Chau – Mu Cang Chai
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ Accommodation : Private room at local homestay.
– Wake up to the fresh mountain air and peaceful countryside.
– Enjoy breakfast and say goodbye to your host family.
– Drive approximately 280 km to Mu Cang Chai, stopping along the way for rest breaks and photos.
– Lunch en route.
– Upon arrival, trek to Mong Ngua Rice Terraces (Horseshoe Hill) through a pine forest. From here, enjoy panoramic views of the Nam Kim River, Mu Cang Chai town, and spectacular terraced rice fields winding along the mountainsides.
– Dinner and overnight at a local homestay.
Day 3 : Mu Cang Chai Trekking
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ Accommodation : Private room at local homestay.
– After breakfast, begin a full-day trek (approx. 12 km) on one of the most scenic and off-the-beaten-path routes in northern Vietnam: Kim Noi – Hang Dang De – De Xu Phinh – Dinosaur Pine.
– Trek uphill along narrow mountain paths offering breathtaking views of terraced rice fields, rivers, and surrounding mountains.
– Pass through Hang Dang De Village, home of the Black Hmong people, and continue through waterfalls, rice terraces, and forested trails to De Xu Phinh Village.
– Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.
– Walk through small hamlets and buffalo trails before reaching Dinosaur Pine, where you will enjoy panoramic views of five villages and the famous terraced fields of La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha.
– Continue with a short trek to Raspberry Hill, one of the most photographed rice terraces in Vietnam.
– Transfer back to the homestay for rest, dinner, and overnight.
Day 4 : Mu Cang Chai – Sapa
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ Accommodation : Homestay in Sapa.
– After breakfast, depart for Sapa via the spectacular O Quy Ho Pass (approx. 140 km), Vietnam’s highest mountain pass at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level.
– Along the way, enjoy views of Heaven’s Gate, the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, and Silver Waterfall.
– Lunch in Sapa town.
– In the afternoon, transfer to the trekking point in Sa Seng Village, home of the Hmong people. Trek uphill along quiet, less-touristy trails, passing small hamlets and rocky paths.
– Continue trekking to Hang Da Village, where you will enjoy expansive views of Muong Hoa Valley, misty landscapes, rice terraces, cornfields, forests, streams, and mountains.
– Dinner and overnight at a local homestay, with cultural exchange and authentic home-cooked meals.
Day 5 : Sapa Trekking – Ha Noi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch/ Accommodation: Not included
– Enjoy breakfast with pancakes at the homestay.
– Begin your trek from Giang Ta Chai to Hau Thao, continuing to Su Pan Village, a quiet hilltop area with panoramic views of valleys, rivers, mountain ranges, and terraced rice fields.
– Trek downhill to Ban Den Village, home of the Tay ethnic people.
– Lunch in the village.
– Drive back to Hanoi via the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway.
– Drop off at your hotel in Hanoi. Tour ends at approximately 19:00.
Important Notes
Rice season in Northwest Vietnam: July to October.
- Golden rice terraces are most beautiful from mid-September to October.
- Mountain scenery is spectacular year-round.
Sapa homestays:
- Accommodation is in a large communal house (second floor).
- Guests sleep on individual soft mattresses with blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets.
- Shared bathrooms are located a few steps from the main house and meet international standards.
We are confident that this journey will leave you with unforgettable memories.
What to bring
- Sun and rain gear
- Insect repellent
- Trekking clothes
- Trekking shoes
- Original passport
Tour Includes
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Private car with air-conditioning
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English-speaking tour guide
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Overnight permits for homestays
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Bicycle
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All entrance fees
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All meals and accommodations as stated in the itinerary
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VAT and other applicable taxes
Tour Excludes
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Personal travel insurance
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Drinks
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Tips and gratuities
Why choose this private tour ?
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Iconic rice terraces: Mu Cang Chai & Sapa – best trekking areas in Vietnam
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Off-the-beaten-path trekking: Remote villages, fewer tourists, raw landscapes
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Authentic ethnic culture: Stay with Thai, Hmong & Tay families
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Scenic mountain routes: O Quy Ho Pass, Northwest highlands
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Private tour with flexible pace and personal guide
| Group size | 2 people
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3 people
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4 people up
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| Price/ person | 520 usd | 380 usd | 340 usd |
| Type of car | 7 seats | 7 seats | 16 seats |
For solo travelers or groups of more than 8, please contact us for the best price.
