VIETNAM HA GIANG

North Vietnam Trek and Overland Tour Travel Hanoi Ha Giang Dong Van Meo Vac Bao Lac Ba Be (7 days)

vietnamhagiang — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:12:27 +0000

The 7-day tour is a combination of trek and overland tour which takes you through the less traveled places in northern Vietnam. Depart from Hanoi and travel through Ha Giang, Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Dong Van,Meo Vac, Bao Lac, Cao Bang, Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan. You enjoy both hiking and discovering the wild nature, the rich ethnic culture and more.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang (L,D).

7:00am: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi (please advise your hotel name). Enjoy a full day road trip along the national road 2 via Viet Tri Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang. Have some photo stops and short walk along the way to visit Tay Ethnic villages near by the road and enjoy beautiful scenery of lush palm forests, tea plantations and stunning valleys. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant en route. After lunch, we continue our drive towards Ha Giang. Arrive in Ha Giang town at about 04.00pm. Check into a local stilt house in a Tay village. If time permit, enjoy a short walk around the village before having dinner in a local stilt house where we will spend the night as well.

Day 2: Trekking Cao Banh village, Ha Giang (B,L,D).

8:00am you will be met up with Lotussia guide, driver at your hotel in Ha Giang (please advise us your hotel name). Transfer to Me village where we begin our full day trek. We trek through palm hills and local hill tribe villages. Arrive in Cao Banh village around noon. Lunch will be provided in a local house. After lunch, we continue our trek taking another trail going back to Me village where we will spend this night. Dinner and overnight in a stilt house.

Day 3: Ha Giang – Tan Son Village – Khau Lan Village – Din San Village – Tam Son Town (B,L,D).

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tan Son village where we will have another day trek. We trek uphill to Khau Lan Village. Lunch in Khau Lan. In the afternoon, trek through jungle to Din San Village where you will be picked up again and transferred to Tam Son town for overnight. Dinner either at hotel or in a local restaurant in town. Overnight in a simple guesthouse in Tam Son.

Day 4: Tam Son – Nam Dam Village – Na Sai Village – Yen Minh town (B,L,D).

Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant in town. You will be then transferred to Nam Dam Village where you will enjoy another trek. You will trek from Nam Dam village to Na Sai village. Arrive in Na Sai village around noon, you will be picked up again by driver and transferred to Trang Kim town for lunch. After lunch, drive to Yen Minh town. Overnight at hotel in Yen Minh town.

Day 5: Yen Minh – Dong Van – Meo Vac (B,L,D).

Depart for Dong Van. Stop en route for a visit of H’mong villages and the Palace of the Vuong family (The King of H’mong people). Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Dong Van. After lunch, we will have a quick visit of Dong Van ancient town before continueing our road trip to Meo Vac. Enjoy great view over the Nho Que river once reaching Ma Pi Leng pass. Arrive Meo Vac around late afternoon. Check into Hoa Cuong hotel for overnight. Dinner is provided in a local restaurant in town.

Day 6: Meo Vac – Ly Bon – Bao Lac – Ba Be (B,L,D)

Today the trip will processes from the high mountainous region of Meo Vac downhill to the Gam river massif, getting through Bao Lac district of Cao Bang and then onto Ba Be National Park. The 55km road trip downhill from Meo Vac to Ly Bon which takes about 1.5 hour will be highlighted with several stops along the way to visit a hamlet of the Zao and a village of the Nung peoples near the center of Niem Son commune. Then driving for over 2 hours along road 34 before turning to road 212 to Cho Ra and Ba Be. The trip will be highlighted with short visiting to villages of the San Chay and Zao Tien(Zao with coins) along the way. Arriving to the center of Ba Be National Park in the afternoon at about 06.00pm. Check in hotel, dinner and relax.

Day 7: Ba Be boat trip – Thai Nguyen – Hanoi (B,L)

Breakfast, check out hotel at 08.00am, then take 30 minutes walk through the thick rain forest to the boat pier. Boarding a boat for 3 hours cruising on the clear water of Ba Be, the largest natural lake in the mountainous region of Indochina which is surrounded by high mountains covered by thick forest, getting through the stunning Puong Cave before the end of the boat trip. Meet the car and river again for a short transfer to Cho Ra to have lunch. Transfer 237km by road for the whole afternoon via Bac Can, Thai Nguyen to Hanoi.

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Cheap travel Hanoi to Ha Giang

vietnamhagiang — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:18:30 +0000

Ha Giang is one of the remotest region which still stay away from the mass tourism. The province offers beautiful landscapes, scenery and a rich ethnic culture.

The best way to reach Ha Giang province is by road. Travelers can hire a private vehicle and drive to Ha Giang from Hanoi. The journey takes about six hours. A wide selection of vehicles can be available for rent at many Hanoi local tour operators and car rental companies.

Lotussia Travel recommends not using vehicle are bigger than 30-seater bus since the Ha Giang provincial roads are small and turns much. The most recommended car is a 4-wheel drive car (SUV) such as Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Zace, Ford Escape, Izusu. Russian jeeps are sometimes available for backpackers. Toyota Landcruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero are recommended for high-end, luxury customers.

If your budget is limited and you really want to include Ha Giang in your vacation to Vietnam. Lotussia Travel recommends you booking either a private Russian jeep. The rental cost of a Russian jeep is cheap. But the safety can be a problem.

You can also take an overnight bus to go to Ha Giang. The bus ticket is also cheap. You spend one night on the bus and arrive in Ha Giang at about 4:00 AM the next day. Kindly note there is no berth on the bus (only soft seats). The bus tickets can be bought at My Dinh Public Bus station. The bus usually departs at 8:00 PM. Lotussia Travel does not provide bus ticket service but Lotussia Travel consultant can offer any information about traveling to Ha Giang for free.

Once arrived in Ha Giang province, you can get on a local bus to travel to other places in Ha Giang such as Quan Ba, yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac. There are only one or two departure per day (from Ha Giang town). So please make sure that you get Ha Giang early in the morning.

If you travel with your friends, you would better to hire a private vehicle for traveling within Ha Giang province. With a private car, you can arrange your visits more flexibly.

For your information, a travel permit or authorization is necessary for you to travel in Ha Giang villages, especially when you visit remote hill tribe villages in frontier commune. If you travel with Lotussia Travel, the agency will take care of the paper works. Otherwise you can get it when you arrive in Ha giang province.

The above information is provided by Lotussia Travel and can be outdated. Please contact the agency for the most accurate travel information.

Travel Sapa to Ha Giang

vietnamhagiang — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:26:03 +0000

Sapa is a small market town that has been a gathering spot for many local hilltribes for nearly 200 years. Hmong and Dao people, among others, still come here to conduct trade, socialize. Most people come to Sapa to enjoy the beautiful sceneries of terraced paddy fields and to experience the rich ethnic culture.

The most popular tours you can book in Sapa are hiking tours, mountain biking tours and market tours. For those who don’t like active travel still have the opportunity to experience the destination in a classic way – using a car and visit hill tribe villages.

People often make an extension trip after their journey in Sapa. They can either book a market tour in Bac Ha area to visit Bac Ha market, Can Cau market, Cao Son market, Lung Khau Nhin market or other market…They can also make an extension trip by traveling further west to Lai Chau and then Dien Bien Phu from there they can fly back to Hanoi.

Intrepid travelers usually look for something challenging and less touristy – they travel to Ha Giang from Sapa. They can travel either through Bac Ha or Yen Bai depending on the road conditions. The road between Bac Ha and Ha Giang is terribly wild and nice offering beautiful sceneries but the some part of the roads are in bad conditions. Lotussia Travel does not recommend their customers traveling through this area during the rainy season.

Traveling from Sapa to Ha Giang takes you one full day drive. You still have the opportunity to make some stops en route for taking picture of to have some short rest.

Once you are in Ha Giang, you will spend some days visiting this area before traveling back to Hanoi or you can make another extension trip to either Cao Bang or Ba Be National Park.

Need more information for planning your holidays, either visit www.lotussiatravel.com or mail to info at lotussiatravel.com

My 4-day adventure vacation to Ha Giang province in Northern Vietnam

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:23:59 +0000

Ha Giang is one of my favorite place for spending my vacations. This is the forth time I come back to this area. Everything is quite newly to me. I invited a friend of mine to join the trip but he was busy. I decided to build this adventure for myself.

At 7:00am: I start by adventure riding north. I stop sometimes en route for taking picture. In Tuyen Quang I had a short walk to visit Tay Ethnic villages near by the road before continue riding through beautiful scenery of lush palm forests, tea plantations and stunning valleys.

I had lunch in a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang.

After lunch, I continue my drive towards Ha Giang. Arrive in Ha Giang town at about 04.00pm. I had dinner and spend the night at a local house in the village.

The second day, I leave Ha Giang following the national road 34 for 3 hours through the lush region. I made a stop and enjoy an hour walking through a beautiful valley, paying visiting to houses of the Tay ethnic people.

In the afternoon, I continue my road trip along the mighty Gam river for 2 hours. This area offers different scenery including walled-up cliffs of karst rocks, narrow passages before turning left at Ly Bon and traveling the through the remotest land of Ha Giang Province. A stop will be made en route for me to visit an isolated hamlet of the H’mong. Arriving in Meo Vac at about 3.00pm, I had a short hike visiting a village of the Hmong peoples near the top of the pass where cultivated land and fresh water shows its highest value. Arriving in Dong Van in late afternoon.

The following day is Sunday. I spend the whole morning walking, discovering the local ethnic peoples at Dong Van market before leaving for Lung Cu.

Leaving Dong Van, I ride 26km to Lung Cu commune located on the northernmost tip of Dong Van highland and Vietnam as well. Leaving Lung Cu, I ride to Xa Phin valley to pay visiting to the famous palace of the Vuong family. Then I continue along road 4C which winds its way amongst wallled-up mountains, through the stunning Sung La valley and onto the ancient town let of Pho Bang.

In the afternoon, I continue my trip to Yen Minh and Quan Ba which are highlighted with breathtaking landscapes.

Arriving in Tam Son town of Quan Ba district in late afternoon, I checked into a local stilt house for dinner and overnight (homestay).

Leaving Tam Son town, I ride uphill to the Quan Ba Heaven Gate which is famous for the great view of the Tam Son valley with the “Twin Hills ”. I reach the 4C to Ha Giang and from here I follow national road 2 to Hanoi.

Northern most Ha Giang province receives 330000th visitor

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:41:38 +0000

The northern most Ha Giang province welcomed the 330, 000th international visitor in the last day of 2011, marking a successful year of its tourism sector.

The lucky tourist was Jean Jacque Burg from France , who was with his wife on their tour to the Dong Van Stone Plateau, which is a recognised Global Geo- park.

Through the year, Ha Giang’s tourism sector saw an increase of 9.1 percent over 2010 in the number of visitors, bringing home a revenue of 337 billion VND, up 9.5 percent.

In the past year, being aware of the important role of the tourism sector in local socio- economic development, the provincial government launched various programmes to promote tourism.

“Ha Giang becomes one of the most favorite travel destination of those who look for the off-the-beaten path places and authentic culture. The province has lot to offer foreign tourist including both the wild, remote landscapes and the rich ethnic culture. We receive more and more request for touring in Ha Giang province”, said Khuong NGUYEN, Business Development Manager of Lotussia Travel.

In 2012, Ha Giang will continue to focus all resources, including ODA on improving its tourism infrastructure and quality, the diversity of cultural identities, to fulfill the target of receiving 335,000 visitors and gaining a revenue of 360 billion VND.

Tourist project to link eight Vietnam north-western provinces

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:39:53 +0000

The largest tourist development project in Viet Nam will start in eight northwestern mountain provinces this year, 2012.

Local authorities, officials from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), tourism operators and training institutions in the region gathered in Lao Cai City yesterday to discuss the plan.

One of the first steps to be taken will be the establishment of the Northwest Travel Destination Management Board to co-ordinate inter-regional tourism.

Community-based tourism projects will be set up in ethnic villages to preserve local culture and protect the environment.

Part of the project will be to help local people make trips to successful community-based eco-tourism destinations to acquire experiences.

Particularly, there will be strong support on promoting tourism of the eight provinces on their official websites.

Representatives agreed for the need to build unique tourism products to harness the cultural and natural advantages of the region.

Deputy Director of the VNAT Hoang Thi Diep said that the present approach to visitors did not meet demand, despite the large potential.

“We will work with local authorities to sort out the obstacles hampering tourist development of tourism and find out solutions,” she said.

Representatives said one of the top challenges was the low quality of human resources. Most people went into community-based tourism without any training.

“The linking of these eight provinces will offer foreign tourists the opportunity to discover off-the-beaten path places, to experience authentic cultures of different ethnic groups living only in the northern Vietnam”, said, Khuong NGUYEN, Business Development Manager of Lotussia Travel.

This made training an important component of the project.

The northwestern provinces – Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Lao Cai – this year received more than a million tourists who spent trillions of Vietnamese dong. The new project will be funded by an 11 million euro (14.3 milion USD) grant from the European Union and 1.1 million euro (1.43 million USD) from the Vietnamese Government

Pa Then Women’s Costume

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:34:19 +0000

Visitors to the northern provinces of Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang will enjoy the colourful costumes of women from the Pa Then ethnic minoirity.

Like many other ethnic groups in Vietnam, Pa Then people grow flax to weave the brocades and fabrics for making their traditional garments. Most of the adult Pa Then women learned how to weave and sew from their mothers. According to Pa Then custom, women have to learn these skills not only to make beautiful clothes, but also to prepare for their weddings.

A typical Pa Then woman’s costume consists of a hat, a blouse, a belt, a skirt, and a brassiere. The broad flat hat is made of red cloth embroidered with various patterns and wrapped around the head in layers. The two sides are decorated with colourful tassels that cascade down to the wearer’s waist.

The most attractive part of the costume is the traditional red collarless blouse with that crosses over in the front and often longer in the back than the front. The costume is an attractive combination of hand-embroidery and appliqued fabric blocks. Geometrical patterns are embroidered on the red background while the under sleeves and appliques on the front of the blouse are black. Young women often wear a white shirt under the red blouse with the white collar on top of the red, giving it a rather striking appearance.

The skilled Pa Then women weave and create unique skirts. These skirts are also red and are pleated onto the waistband with embroidered decorations on the two side panels. The centre panel of the skirt is only decorated with simple designs.

The belt is a long white or black piece of cloth tied around the waist, with the two tails ends dangling down the front.

It takes Pa Then women nearly one month to make a complete traditional costume. Making the decorative elements and and doing the embroidery takes the most time. However, their traditional costume is always in the same model, and they wear it year round during their daily activities and at festivals. Visitors to the upland provinces of Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang will easily recognize Pa Then women because of their impressive and unique costumes.

Pa Then women look particularly charming at spring festivals in their traditional red costumes adorned with sparkling silver necklaces, ear-rings and bracelets.

Pa Then ethnic women in Ha Giang join in craft preservation

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:28:11 +0000

Pa Then ethnic women in Ha Giang province have set up a brocade weaving cooperative in a bid to preserve the cultural values of their group as the traditional craft is facing a risk of sinking into oblivion.

In the past, almost all adult Pa Then women knew how to weave because they had to prepare new dresses for themselves on their weddings. Nowadays, not all girls know how to do this.

Phu Thi Thien, Tan Bac commune, Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province said Pa Then people’s traditional costumes have been preserved but the number of weavers is on the decrease. Nowadays, girls prefer doing other jobs to weaving. At present, only 40 percent of women, aged between 35-40, know how to weave.

To preserve the ethnic group’s traditional values, in 2008, the Women’s Union of My Bac village, Tan Bac commune, Quang Binh district in Ha Giang province established the Pa Then Brocade Weaving Cooperative to teach the craft to young people. The business now has more than 30 members, mostly Pa Then women. Their products are highly valued by tourists.

Khuong NGUYEN, Business Development Manager of Lotussia Travel, said a special cultural product of the northwestern region that should be showcased at tourist sites in Ha Giang province and other regional localities.

The establishment of the cooperative has helped women in Tan Bac commune realize their dream of preserving the unique cultural beauty of the Pa Then costumes.

The cooperative’s brocade products have gained a foothold in the market of traditional products. They have been also displayed at many exhibitions of the traditional culture of Pa Then people.

Dong Van Market Ha Giang Province

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:54:12 +0000

Dong Van market is open once a week on Sunday morning in the center of Dong Van town, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. The market is the place where different ethnic minority people come and exchange their home-made products.

Lying at the Don Cao mountain foot, Dong Van ancient town has become famous by its unique architecture the local houses. Most of the things are being sold at the Dong Van market are for the daily life including food, vegetable, salt…

The vegetables, grown in the area are fresh and green. Pork, beef are hang down loosely in front of restaurant. A wide variety of livestock, poultry, such as dogs, pigs, chickens, cows, horses were carried under the arm or lead down to the market like a companion. Agricultural working tools, clothing, cosmetics… are diverse.

The most unique and attractive features are the selling way of local restaurants chief. The kitchen counter always keeps the pot boiling, boiling water, responses of greasy evaporation. The pancakes fried pans flabby before the eyes of the children on the high slope following the mother going down the market. The rice cake fan is fanned by the charcoal, the hot sticky baskets blurs the seller’s face on frame.

The wine pubs near “thang co” oven are vivid, crowd of men gathered to invite cups of alcohol, tobacco cigarettes. At the close of fair, there are some drunk guy sleeping on a market stalls or in the street when coming back home.

Anywhere you can see the little happiness from people going to the plateau market, vendors, purchaser, players, guys who watch… Regardless of whom are dressed in beautiful clothes or wearing a ragged clothes on shoulder, the old colored dress and wear the nose torn shoes… are leaving behind a long walk to the market.

Thus is Dong Van fair, and then became the typically cultural characteristic of karst plateau.

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Challenging trek Bac Ha and Ha Giang hill tribe villages (5 days)

vietnamhagiang — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:50:09 +0000

The 5-day trek is provided in the less travel places in northern Vietnam. You trek through remote hill tribe villages from Bac Ha to Ha Giang, meeting up with H’mong, Phu La, Red Dzao, Tay and Nung people. Most of the nights are spent at local homes in villages (homestay) offering a real, authentic life experience. There are about 6 hours trek per day with up and downhill climbs (hard treks). The hike is recommended for active travelers seeking an off-the-beaten path itinerary that takes them to remote, less traveled places in Vietnam. Food and accommodation are simple and basic. Contact your Lotussia Travel consultant now for more details.

Day 1: Hanoi – Laocai by train.

You will be met up with Lotussia Travel guide, driver at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Hanoi Railway station for the night train to Laocai. Train SP? Departure at 20:30 (to be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 2: Arrive Laocai early this morning. Travel to Bac Ha (B,L,D).

Arrive at Lao Cai Railway station early this morning. You will be greeted by Lotussia Travel local team and transferred to a local restaurant for early breakfast.

After a short rest, travel to Bac Ha. Visit Bac Ha market, the biggest market in the area.

Every Sunday, different ethnic groups come to the market to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short easy walk to a H’mong village near Bac Ha town.

Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 3: Transfer Bac Ha – Ha Giang. Start trekking (B,L,D).

Breakfast at hotel. You will be transferred to the trekking point where we will begin our trek along a narrow trail on steep hillsides.

Lunch will be provided in a local village (picnic).

After lunch, continue trekking through the forest to the top of mountain range (hard trek) and then downhill to a Red Dzao village.

Dinner and homestay in a stilt house.

Day 4: Continue trekking Ha Giang hill tribe villages (B,L,D).

Spend the whole morning trekking along a large path with great view over a Nung village.

Lunch will be provided in a local hill tribe village (picnic).

After lunch, we will follow a narrow footpath trekking for about 3 hours (hard trek) up and downhill through the thick forest. Visit the rock-field with scripts carved by ancient peoples. Arrive the village around late afternoon.

Dinner and homestay in a local house.

Day 5: Continue hiking Ha Giang province (B,L,D).

Transfer along a paved road to the southern side of the mountain. Enjoy 3 hours easy trekking through Tay and Dzao villages along the narrow valley.

Lunch will be provided in a local house (picnic).

After lunch, continue our trek crossing the river to the southern bank, then uphill, downhill to a Dzao village.

Dinner and overnight in a house on stilt.

Day 6: Trekking. Transfer to the main road. Travel back to Hanoi (B,L).

Travel the dirt road to Quang Binh, Ha Giang. Then have quite a full day drive to Hanoi. Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant en route.

Arrive Hanoi around late afternoon. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi (own arrangements). The end of Lotussia Travel service.

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Vietnam Ha Giang and Bac Ha Challenging Trek (7 days)

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:30:01 +0000

The 7-day trekking tour is provided by Lotussia Travel in the remote northern Vietnam – Ha Giang province and Bac Ha. You will be transferred by our vehicle to Ha Giang where you will begin your 5-day adventure. You trek through remote hill tribe villes, inhabited by the H’mong, the Dzao, the Tay, the Nung…This is a challenging itinerary that require some preparation. There are about 6 hours trek per day. Accommodation is simple and basic since most of nights are spent at local homes (homestay). Contact your Lotussia Travel consultant now and plan your commend adventure.

Day 1: Ha Noi – Ha Giang province (L,D).

8:30: You will be met up at your hotel in Hanoi by Lotussia Travel team and transferred to Thong Nguyen (Ha Giang Province).

Enjoy several stops along the way for stunning scenery of the northern countryside and the Vietnam far north mountainous region.

You will arrive in Ha Giang at about 5 pm. Check-in the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Trekking Ha Giang hill tribe villages (B,L,D).

After breakfast, we will leave follow a small trail for about 2 km.

We will trek uphill along a dirt trail for about 2 hours and then downhill for 1,5 hour passing by some small villages of the Nung ethnic.

Lunch will be provided en route.

After lunch, we continue trekking uphill along a magnificent valley, sneaking on mountain sides which offers great scenery of the villages of the Nung and Zao scattering around the valley.

We will arrive at the village around late afternoon.

Dinner and overnight in a local house (Homestay).

Day 3: Continue trekking Ha Giang (B,L,D).

After breakfast, we will say good bye to the Nung local host and continue trekking along a single dirt trail for 3 hours uphill passing two villages of the Dao peoples. This portion offers marvelous landscapes for its beauty of nature.

Lunch will be provided on the foot of a mountain.

The trail gets narrower in the afternoon, winding its way up and down hill for 4 hours through local hill tribe villages (Dao & Nung), and then bamboo and thick rain forest as well as tea plan tation.

We will arrive in Nam Li around late afternoon. Check-in homestay for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Continue hiking through Ha Giang hill tribe villages and terraced paddy fields (B,L,D).

The trek today is a real challenge! The narrow dirt trail sneaks its way mostly uphill (from 370 m to 622 m high) through an untouched region, via several small villages of the Nung and Red Zao who will be very excited at meeting the first tourists to come to their villages.

Then the trek goes through thick forest for nearly 2 hours to the top of the mountain range.

After lunch break, the trail gets wider as we descend to another village is also an authentic one, inhabited by the H’mong people who used to grow poppy for opium production until recently. Spend an hour to explore this village before continue trekking downhill to the center of the commune.

We will arrive in the homestay around 5pm. Check-in local house for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Trek Ha Giang (B,L,D).

It is an easy day today! The dirt path is large and gradually goes downhill for 4 hours, passing through tea plantation, terraced rice paddies and villages of the Nung, H’mong and Zao.

Lunch will be provided en route.

Once reaching the bottom of the valley, the group will injoy an hour by the clear water of a stream before trekking uphill for 2 km to the homestay where we will spend the night.

Dinner and overnight in local village.

Day 6 – Hike Ha Giang villages. Travel to Bac Ha (B,L,D).

The first hour is an easy walk along a large path. Here the group will spend ½ hour to admire a wonder: The rock field including some dozen rocks of different sizes and shapes bearing messages of the ancient men.

Lunch en route.

Then, we will follow a narrow trail for 2 hours uphill through the thick rain forest and then 3 hours downhill until we reach a H’mong in mid afternoon.

You will be picked up by Lotussia vehicle and transferred to Bac Ha.

Check-in hotel.

Dinner in a local restaurant in Bac Ha.

Day 7: Visit a regional tribal market – Overnight train to Ha Noi (B,L).

Today is a relaxing day! The group will attend one of the regional markets of the local tribal ethnics includes the Flower H’mong, Phu La, Tay…

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in Bac Ha.

In the afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai where you will take the overnight train back to Hanoi. Train ??? Departure at ??? (To be advised).

Overnight on board train. End trip.

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North-Vietnam Overland Tour Travel Hanoi Ba Be National Park Cao Bang Meo Vac Dong Van Ha Giang (6 days)

vietnamhagiang — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:43:45 +0000

The 6-day overland tour is provided by Lotussia Travel taking you to the less travelled places in northern Vietnam. You will travel through Ba Ba National park, Bao Lac, Cao Bang, Meo VAc, Dong Van, Yen Minh, Ha Giang. Enjoy the boat trip on Ba Be Lakes and try to arrive in Meo Vac or Dong Van and Sunday where you will meet different Vietnamese ethnic groups wearing colorful dress.

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be National Park (L,D).

8:00: You will be met up with Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Ba Be National park. Leaving hotel, you will travel northwards along national road 3.

Stop in Thai Nguyen City after about 2 hours drive for visiting the Museum of Ethnology. Leaving Thai Nguyen and continue the road ride to Cho Moi townlet for lunch break and then continue the road ride to Na Phac junction. Visit a local Dzao village before arriving hotel around late afternoon.

Dinner & overnight in a stilt house (homestay).

Day 2: Boat trip on Babe lake. Travel to Bao Lac, Cao Bang (B,L,D).

After breakfast, we will take a short walk to the boat pier and then enjoy the whole morning mainly on boat for exploring the pure nature of Ba Be lake and national park with some highlights including visiting to Dau Dang Waterfall and Puong Cave.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant on spot (simple).

After lunch, transfer uphill for 160 km to Bao Lac with several stops along the way for admiring spectacular scenery of the western part of Cao Bang Province and paying visit to villages of the Nung peoples.

Arriving in Bao Lac in late afternoon, check-in hotel. Dinner and overnight in a local hotel in Bao Lac.

Day 3: Bao Lac - Meo Vac. Easy walk & visit local villages en route (B,L,D).

Leaving Bao Lac at about 09.00 for a drive along the Gam River for an hour before turning right and traveling uphill to the higher land, heading north to Meo Vac Townlet of Ha Giang Province. Stop along the way for visiting several small hamlets of the Nung, Tay and H’mong ethnic peoples scaterring along the Nho Que River.

Arriving in Meo Vac at about 13.00, having lunch and check in hotel for a short rest.

Spend the the afternoon by walking along the stunning Nho Que River, admiring scenery of the spectacular Ma Pi Leng Pass, paying visit to villages of the H’mong, Zao and Red Lolo ethnic peoples.

Dinner and overnight in Meo Vac.

Day 4: Travel to Dong Van – Yen Minh (B,L,D).

Leaving Meo Vac, you will enjoy one of the most stunning landscapes of the northern mountain – The Ma Pi Leng Pass. Visit a small H’mong hamlet, set amongst the rock field featuring the very tough life on this limestone highland before continuing along the road 4c to Dong Van, the northernmost townlet of Vietnam. Walk along the ancient street of Dong Van before having lunch.

After lunch, enjoy an hour drive to Lung Cu, the northernmost commune of Vietnam, walking to visit a Red Lolo village for half an hour and then driving downhill 24 km to Xa Phin to pay visiting to the famous historical site of the Vuong Family’s Palace famous for its mixture of H’mong architectural style.

Continue our road to Yen Minh where will spend the night.

Day 5: Yen Minh – Nam An Lake (B,L,D).

Leaving Yen Minh for a drive up and downhill over the spectacular Yen Minh mountain pass with some stops for overviewing scenery and visiting a Red Zao village.

Leaving the main road, crossing the Nho Que river by suspension bridge and walk along the bank of the river for an hour through a H’mong village before taking the road ride again to Quan Ba Townlet.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant en route.

In the afternoon, we will take another short walk in a H’mong village before driving downhill all the way to Ha Giang Township and onto Nam An eco spot.

Day 6: Nam An Lake – Hanoi (B,L).

Full day road trip from Nam An to Ha Noi along national road 2 with several stops and break along the way.

Arrive Hanoi in the afternoon at about 05.00 PM. End.

Need more information? Look for more Tours to Ha Giang? Contact us

Ha Giang Permit Travel

vietnamhagiang — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:08:21 +0000

All tourists coming to Ha Giang need to have apply for a travel permit which can be obtained at Ha Giang police station in Ha Giang town. With this permit travellers are authorized to visit different remote villages, located near the border in Ha Giang province.

They also have the authorization to stay overnight in 4 border districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Lung Cu and Bac Me.

Normally travellers coming to Ha Giang from Hanoi, spend the first night in Ha Giang town, apply for permit at police station and continue the trip the next day. For those who come to Ha Giang province from Cao Bang or Ba Be National park, they can also apply for the travel permit in Meo Vac or this document can be arranged through Hanoi tour operator.

Vietnam Bac Ha Ha Giang Off the beaten path Medium Trek (5 days)

vietnamhagiang — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:55:12 +0000

Trip Highlights: Magnificent, beautiful landscapes, wild nature of the Chay River Massif in the far north; Discovery and experiencing of local tribal ethnics’ unique cultures and ways of life; Joining tribal ethnic peoples at one of the traditional market: Bac Ha, Can Cau, Cao Son, Lung Khau Nhin, Muong Khuong.

Day-by-day tour itinerary:

Day 1: Overnight train to Lao Cai.

You will take the night train from Hanoi station towards Lao Cai.

Day 2: Full day visit to a Market + easy trek to a M’mong village (B,L,D).

The train arrives at Lao Cai Station approx at 5h30 where your Lotussia Travel local guide and driver are waiting. You will enjoy your breakfast in a local restaurant in Lao Cai.

You will then go from Lao Cai to one of the markets, depending on which day today is. There are the markets of Coc Ly (or Ban Cam on Tuesdays), Lung Khau Nhin (Thursdays), Can Cau (Saturdays) and Bac Ha (or Muong Khuong or Muong Hum on Sundays), all located in the surrounding mountainous area, 70 – 90 km from Lao Cai. All of the markets are colorful with many different hill tribes living around the market, gathers in a morning of the week. They come to the market not only for purchasing their local products, but also for their special social event.

Transfer to Bac Ha town. Check into a local hotel.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short trek to a H’mong village.

Day 3: Drive Bac Ha – Ha Giang. Start trekking (B; L; D)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the trekking departure point. Some stops may be made en route for you to enjoy the nice scenery.

You will begin you day adventure in a Phu La village. You trek on a narrow valley for 3 hours. Continue trekking for 2 more hours and arrive to a H’mong village. Have a short walk around this village; visiting local school and some local houses will help you understand more the local way of living.

After visiting this village, you will be picked up again by your Lotussia vehicle and transferred to the homestay. This portion of the road offers spectacular landscapes and you may have many photo stops on the way.

Day 4: Continue trekking Ha Giang area (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will continue your trek following a large path. Enjoy great view en route. After three-hour trek, you will arrive in a Nung village.

Lunch will be provided near the village-school.

After lunch, you will continue trekking on the same trail. You will trek through a H’mong village to a Zao village. You will be picked up again by your vehicle and transferred to Ha Giang ancient rock field.

Arrive in the home-stay . Dinner and overnight in a local house.

Day 5: Continue trekking Ha Giang hill tribe villages (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will leave the village at about 9:00 a.m. You will be transferred to a mountain pass where you will begin your trek through thick rain forest to the southern side.

Enjoy a 3-hour leisure walk as you trek through Tay and Dzao villages. You trek along the narrow valley until a stop will be made for lunch.

After lunch, you continue your trek crossing a River to the southern bank. You then trek uphill and then downhill to a Dzao village. This village is beautifully set on the southern bank of the river.

You will be picked up again by your Lotussia vehicle and transferred to Thong Nguyen. Dinner and overnight in Pan Hou ecolodge.

Day 6: Pan Hou Ecolodge, Ha Giang – Hanoi (B,L)

Full day transfer from Ha Giang to Hanoi.

—> Contact us for tour availability and cost.

—> More Vietnam trek tours.

Ha Giang Pictures 2011

vietnamhagiang — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:53:04 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

North-Vietnam 4WD tour travel Hanoi Ha Giang Bac Me Meo Vac Meo Vac Yen Minh Quan Ba (5 days)