Vietnam travel information

Tips and guide about how to travel Vietnam

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Behold the human masterpiece of rice terraces in northwest Vietnam

Northern mountainous of Vietnam is ideal region for natural explorers. Travelling throughout northern Vietnam from west to east, rice fields can be seen all over places. The rice is grown seasonally from region to region. Some areas, rice can be grown three crops a year while the others only two or one crop. In the northern part of Vietnam, rice life has only been planted one crop here. However, this place has made a fabulous challenge for any photographers who love the combination of nature and human being made. The rice terrace has been sculpted amazingly with the shapes and the nature colours. The stairs of terrace shaped on the hills built up a scenic and outstanding pictures.

It starts the raining season in May and gives a great chance for farmers to flood water into their rice terrace. Water is  headed to the terrace in many ways – by pipes, bamboos or ditches etc. After flooded, soaked soil can be leaved for few days to get much softer.  After this work, it is the time for water buffalo starts ploughing up  in the fields. The fertiliser is also scattered by the mean time travel Ha Giang to visit rice terraces.

At another section of the terrace fields,  rice seeds have been tossed few days in advance. When rice grows up about 5-7 inches, the farmers pull them up and tie to the bundles. It will be carried away and already to be replanted in the main fields. According to the farmers, this helps the rice grow productive. Traditionally, this growing method has been generated while some other else have been applied a new way with higher technology.

It needs about 12-14 weeks for rice to maturity. It grows rapidly, famers sometimes protect against insects by different methods during the growing stage. By September, the grain heads are mature and ready to be harvested. On average, each square km will yield about one ton of grain. All over places of the terrace, people are sickling the grain off. It is so colourful in the rice fields with ethnic travel Vietnam groups of Red Dao, H’Mong, Tay, Nung etc in their costumes. It is extremely outstanding scene for photography at the place.  After cut off, the grain husks are plucked off by hands or plucker machine. Some other people carry those in bundles to home or storage. Rice will be dried and processed for a coming year. Another rice season will be continued in May of the following year.

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Find a tour company in Vietnam for your cheap holiday

You are planning your next holiday with cheap price and wondering where to go? Vietnam is the most affordable International travel destinations for tourists around the globe. Throughout the year many tourist visit this place and enjoy their holiday with different packages offered by travel agencies. If you want convenient traveling with your family and friends then travel agents can better assist you. cheap Vietnam travel agent offer products and services related to the traveling such as airlines, buses, cars, coastal transport, accommodation, sightseeing tours and other things which can include in holiday packages of Vietnam. These agents arrange traveling for family, friends, large & small groups and even business travelers can get benefits by hiring these agents which are working as traveling agencies around the world.

They offer holiday packages on behalf of various companies which provide products and services for travelers. Travel agents buy services from these companies and offer at reasonable prices to different people around the world. Travel agents are experienced people and they can recommend you better tourist places in your selected destination. As they are working in traveling industry from many years so they offer great deals and different services. When you are hiring A Vietnam travel agent then must consider these points which will surely benefit you with things to do in Vietnam.

Do proper research: Research is best idea to find a good Vietnam T.A.; you can talk to your friends or other people who have used their services before. Internet is a convenient option to find a suitable agent who can serve you better quality and on many websites you can also see their feedbacks or testimonials for surety of their quality services. It's necessary to find a travel agent who understands your requirements and personal needs with a travel agency.

Check their license: A licensed agency can offer best deals and rates for you. That Vietnam travel agent which is licensed with ASTA can provide much better services then others. You can check their profile online and can also ask the question from them such as how long you're providing the services Vietnam travel review.

Check your vacation package: You have many affordable packages and you can communicate your desired services in your tour package. You can add the features according to you and can get a complete package which offers everything to make your holidays more convenient. You can ask for luxury traveling with buses, cars, or luxury hotels or whatever which best suits you are offered by these agents. Ask their prices for different services and compare them with other agencies too. Be clear about your needs from them and ask what all they can provide you.

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Attractions and places to visit in Bai Tu Long bay

In this entry I would like to recommend some places worth visiting around Bai Tu Long bay in Vietnam.

Bai Dai beach, or “Long Beach”, 10km from Cai Rong port, is serene and picturesque. A long and wide sand ground makes visitors catch your eyes at the first sight. This is the most lovely place that you will take the best panorama photos including Bai Tu Long bay, karst mountains, crystal sea water, white sand and some human beings easily. Summer in Bai Dai is really interesting. Many Vietnamese couples choose Bai Dai as their favourite wedding photo shooting destination. And you, why don’t spend some hours on tanning chairs with a coconut, set your tripod on Bai Dai then catch-up the moment sun sets on the bay.

Recommended: 2 hours relaxing and swimming on Bai Dai beach. Taxi is suggested for transfer from Cai Rong port to Bai Dai beach and vice versa (10km/ 1-way). Excellent for taking photos.

Located at the end of Bai Dai beach, Cai Bau pagoda is the pilgrimage center for Buddhism followers in Van Don district. You will know more about the local religion and sophisticated Theravada Buddhism architecture. Especially, the pagoda faces Bai Tu Long bay, so if you want to view the bay from heights, Cai Bau pagoda is a good place. Like other pagodas in Vietnam, Cai Bau is very crowded after “Tet” holidays (Feb & March) so you can avoid this festival period. In the rest of the year, Cai Bau keeps your mind in peace.

Recommended: Walking along Bai Dai beach to Cai Bau pagoda. Spend half hour there before returning to your hotel near from Cai Rong port.

Quan Lan island, 45 minutes from Cai Rong port by speedboat, has 3 beaches: Quan Lan Beach, Son Hao Beach and Minh Chau Beach. All three beaches have white sand and are quite pristine compared with other beaches near Halong Bay. Quan Lan Beach is the one that is closest to the pier yet also the most beautiful of all three. Go further into the island another 4km you will reach Son Hao and another 10km is Minh Chau beach.

Accommodation on Quan Lan island meets all budgets @ 10 – 60 $/room/night. The most deluxe is Minh Chau beach resort ranking 4-star, which owns Minh Chau beach in the north of Quan Lan. Mid-range budget is Song Chau villa near from Son Hao beach, or Van Hai Xanh hotel. And very budget travelers can choose some cheap guesthouses (with air-condition at around 25$, with fan at only 10$). During June – August, remember to book accommodation at least 2 months in advance. Otherwise, a cheap guesthouse is even fully booked.

Recommended: Stay there in 2 nights. Rent a Tuk-Tuk or bike to ride along the island from Son Hao beach to Minh Chau beach.

Co To is the most remote island from Cai Rong port. Co To island is far offshore hence the beaches offer crystal water, endless blue sky and the lush forest. All make a perfect background for a couple holiday.

Accommodation are better. Started in 2009 with only 2 hotels as Coto Lodge and Hai Au hotel, Co To islands now has over 15 hotels of around 300 rooms. Some deluxe travelers can choose camping tents provided by Coto Lodge. Trust us ! Tent settings are truly deluxe.

Co To becomes more popular because it’s a cheap destination. Room costs around 15$/room/night. Seafood is cheap. From Hanoi and Halong city, you can take public bus to Cai Rong town, then take the 1.5-hour speed boat to Co To islands. Summer is the peak season when most students visit Co To. Thanks to perfect landscape, many couples choose Co To as their honeymoon destination, too.

Recommended: Co To island with many wild and beautiful beaches is the ideal place for beach leisure, camping and hanging out. Apart from swimming, remember to visit the lighthouse, Van Chai beach, and especially tasting BBQ seafood dinner on beach. Sip cold beer, taste a baked squid or fresh crab, listen to the rhythm of tides, cool wind in your hair are perfect moments in your summer holiday.

Cai Rong port is nearly a must marked point in your Bai Tu Long trip map because it’s the starting point of many speedboats to Quan Lan island and Co To island. Your schedule is that: 12:00 get out of the Halong bay boat then you take a taxi to Van Don district; 13:00 you arrive at Cai Rong port; 13:30 embark the speed boat to Quan Lan or Co To island.

Cai Rong – Van Don used to be a busy international port since 1149 under Ly dynasty. During the feudal times, the port is not only in Cai Rong town as today. It comprised of some tens of kilometers long with dozen docks for big ships. Vietnam goverment has an ambitous plan to wake up this district, and choose Van Don as 1 of the three main sea economic zones of Vietnam. Remember its name coz in the next 10 years, there might have an international airport in Van Don district, and travelers can ignore Hanoi and fly directly to Van Don – Bai Tu Long bay.

Recommended: Please check the speedboat schedule carefully before planning your Halong – Bai Tu Long trip because the schedule can be changed upon the seat availability. On some off-peak days, the boat company can organize the morning boat only and cancel the afternoon boat. In this case, you have to stay 1 night in a hotel/guesthouse in Cai Rong town, which is only 5 minute walk from Cai Rong port, then take the speedboat in the next morning. Anyway, remember there’s still Bai Dai beach (attraction No.1 we suggested above) for you to kill your time.

Vung Vieng is located in the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, 24 km from the mainland. This is the favourite stop of many Bai Tu Long boats/junks so the easiest way to get there is booking a boat trip. You are not only be immersed in the quiet and peaceful location viewing the charming landscape, and discovering the cultural life of the fishermen but also will be directed aboutt sailing, pulling & dropping net off and fishing.

You will be enchanted by the beauty of the boats, the nets in front of the house, the simple but hospitable fishermen, and the small children smiling as they go to school. This idyllic scene shows the traditional character of a fishing village on the sea.

Recommended: Kayaking or rowing in sampan boat around the villages and karst mountains. This activities are included in most 2 days/1 night boat trip. So it’s better you book a package Bai Tu Long tour.

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Visit highlights of Hoi An town

Hoi An is famous as an attractive destination in central Vietnam. Rich in history and culture, Hoi An town in Vietnam has remained a well-preserved model of a traditional Vietnam port city of an earlier era. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains a charming, small riverside town with its history intact.

Historically, Hoi An was the commercial capital of the powerful Champa Kingdom, who built the city in the 1st century AD and ruled it until the 15th century. Hoi An quickly became the largest harbor in Southeast Asia and one of its most important seaports. From here, the Champa gained control over the highly-lucrative spice trade, generating great wealth for the city. A key stop on the silk road, Hoi An became the dominant power in the spice and silk trade spreading its influence as far as Baghdad.

In the 15th Century, when the Champa Kingdom fell to the northern Viet people, Hoi An gradually lost its primacy as a seaport, though in the next century it was briefly restored to its glory by the Nguyen Dynasty, following the settlements of Japanese, Chinese, Dutch and Indian merchants in the city.

Today, Hoi An is a popular travel destination in a package tour to Vietnam. Its beautiful old buildings and architecture, its quiet narrow lanes (cars and motorbikes are mostly banned from its streets), its many craft shops including local ceramics and fabrics and its history as a central ancient seaport all draw travelers to this lovely city. In addition, The town is renowned as the tailoring capital of Vietnam, with its hundreds of skilled tailors whipping up custom-made clothing at great value.

Not far from tours to Hoi An, the Champa's commercial capital, lies My Son, its spiritual capital. Once a holy valley of impressive Hindu temples and burial grounds of the Champa kingdom's royalty, My Son is often compared to Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Egypt's Valley of the Kings.

My Son dates back to the 4th century AD when the Champa King Bhadravornan created the first temple on the site and appealed to following generations to honor the temple and respect the site. Over the centuries, more temples were erected and at its peak, My Son embraced more than 70 temples and monuments. With the disappearance of the Champa Kingdom in the 15th century, My Son gradually deteriorated and fell into ruins. In the 1930's, the French restored the site only to have it destroyed during the Vietnam War. In spite of that, the site remains an impressive monumental site of the Champa Kingdom and an icon of the early heritage, history and culture of Vietnam.

Centered around Hoi An, this is a region to enjoy life at a slower pace than elsewhere in Vietnam day trips. Nearby, the Marble Mountains offer a taste of adventure, where hiking and cycling opportunities abound, and the long stretch of lovely China Beach close by features white sands and turquoise waters for the best water adventures around. Most of all, walking around Hoi An's quiet streets, visiting the city's museums, merchant houses and neighboring My Son, and sitting quietly by the banks of the river in the relaxed atmosphere here make Hoi An a top destination in any Vietnam adventure.

Sylvia is a trip consultant, planner and manager who creates unique intercultural adventures for families and loves to impart information,tips and personal experiences especially related to family adventure travel.

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Diversified cultural colors of northwest ethnic groups

Northwest region of Vietnam is one of the most attractive destination. Northwest Vietnam is rich in tradition and custom. For hundreds of years ethnic people in the northwest still retain their traditional habits and some of them have become very attractive to many travellers as they will have a great time not only to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountainous areas but also to discover the very unique customs of various ethnic groups living in the northwest Vietnam. One of the most special customs is “Wife stealing” of H’Mong people

When the spring arrives, as all the apricot flowers are blooming white and you will see a wedding season coming with brocade colors in almost every village throughout the North West. You will be excited when listening to the “Wife stealing” custom of H’Mong people. It is said that during the day, a young couple in love arranges to have a date in their secret place – maybe in the forest, on the road or even in a marketplace. After the date, in late afternoon, the young man asks some of his close friends to go to the dating place where they will help him to pull his girlfriend to his house ethnic travel Vietnam.

Travellers might feel a little bit strange about “wife stealing” custom, but in H’mong culture, no girl will willingly step into her boyfriend’s place even when she fell in love with him and they had promised to live with each other for their entire lives. It is the reason why the man has to carry out “a stealing event” if he want to marry his beloved. Hmong people believe that the more friends participate the event and the more determinedly they drag the girl, the happier the couple will be, the longer they will live with each other, the more children they will have as well as the richer they will be.

After coming to the man’s house, the young girl will live there during three days in order to get used to the set-up in his family. During that time, if she likes it there, then the couple in love will officially become husband and wife. Unique customs including “stealing wife” of the various ethnic minority groups in northwest Vietnam has become a great tourist attraction.

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Short trip to Tam Coc

Our trip to Tam Coc was planned as we heard Tam Coc in Ninh Binh is one of the most beautiful sites in north Vietnam. Our last overnight sleeping bus experience took us from Hue to Ninh Binh, a small city about 90 driving minutes away from Hanoi. We were not disappointed and reached Ninh Binh two hours earlier than scheduled. To achieve this the driver did not stop for the last 5 hours. Somehow you just get used to getting out of a bus at 3:30am and crashing down and some weird place. This time it was the local travel agency. Who was all Vietnamese and as soon as people slowly waking up started to sell hotel beds, bus trips and Ninh Binh sightseeing tours.

We hired two kids-sized push bikes and cycled in the beautiful light of the sunrise (my favourite hour in Vietnam) the easy 5km on a road through small rice fields and local markets to Tam Coc.

As we were a little early for the first boat and quite hungry we went to the local market. Still, one of my absolute favourite places in Vietnam. I never get tired of the colourful variety of fruit, vegetables and meat in such small place. We got ourselves some fruits and sweet bread (paid of course 3 times more than any local without the option of bargaining the price down).

It was 6:30am and the Tam Coc wharf still quite deserted apart from a few local women and men washing their clothes in the crystal-clear water. Unlike many other places we visited in Vietnam this one was kept clear of any waste and even a sign told the tourists, that a healthy environment is everybody’s responsibility. Very unusual for Vietnam but it seems to help as the water was absolutely clear all along the way.

15 minutes later the ticket booth opened and we headed off into the beauty of Tam Coc as the first boat of the day. Tam Coc is called the “Halong Bay of the Rice Fields” and stunning limestone karst towers hearken to the famed landscape of the bay. Our rower used her feet to row so that she could sit back relaxed and show us through the three caves plus the amazing countryside. Along the way we passed three caves. Numbered, not named, the caves transport you through a seeming portal in time, ever further from the familiar into the misty mountain valley along this meandering stream; there is Hang Ca (Cave One) with over 100 metres length, then Hang Hai (Cave Two) with 70 metres, and lastly the smaller Hang Ba (Cave Three) and Trang An tours in Ninh Binh.

On our way back we got approached by a couple of vendors offering food and drinks. Since Can Tho we rather pay the guide a meal than giving a tip, therefore we got our rower a drink and a package of crisps (the former was most likely to be sold back at half price). She still requested a tip by the end of the trip which we kindly denied. Speaking to other travellers we learned later that the rowers are paid the minimum wage and only allowed to take a certain number of tours per day. Therefore the tip is their main income.

We left Tam Coc behind and continued our push bike journey to the Mua Peak. On top of the Mua Cave is a small pagoda and a female Buddha located. We had to conquer 450 steps in the morning heat but were due to the early hour more or less completely by ourselves. The view from above is absolutely stunning and definitely worth the effort to climb all these stairs.

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Sapa mountain, must see if you can

If you visit north Vietnam in a few days Sapa must be the top choice. Taking an overnight train to Sapa was what we did. The night is cool and crisp and we are boarding our train from Hanoi, Vietnam to the northern mountain town of Sapa. Our train is a modern overnight sleeper; clean, comfortable, and sparkling white. The rest of the station is like stepping back in time. Ancient boxcars darkened by time, are parked in the yard, and steam is rising in the air. People donning conical hats are huddled around open fires. Some squat on small plastic stools eating noodle soup with chopsticks. As I look out the window I feel as though it is 1969.

We are led to our bunks by a petite and quiet women from ODC Travel. The company based in Hanoi where we booked our four-day, three-night excursion. For $75 each, all meals accommodation and transportation are included in our trip to see the magnificent rice terraces and to experience the traditional lives of the hill tribes of Sapa tours from Hanoi.

It is not long until I am peacefully sleeping. Rocking with the rhythm of the train I dream of the adventure ahead. 4:30 am arrives quickly however and I awake famished and thankful for the complimentary sweet bread and bottled water.

We have arrived in Lao Cao, a small town on the Chinese border. As I step onto the platform a brisk, cold wind awakens my senses. Luckily, a van is waiting to take us the rest of the way, so we don't have to wait in the morning chill for long. It is a harrowing journey up the winding mountain road. We put our lives in the hands of our speeding driver who dodges herds of water buffalo, oncoming traffic and local villagers herding their oxen. Whizzing around each corner, we are thankful to not have plunged off of a vertical cliff into the deep valley below.

We arrive a little shaken but all in one piece to our hotel where we meet our guide, Xin. He is a friendly young man who grew up in the area and as we will soon learn, enjoys singing and playing the guitar. We will be spending the next two days with him as he takes us through the mountains to visit the Hmong and Dzai People who live among the rice terraces.

The scenery is magnificent and as we venture farther from the town, my breath is taken away by the incredible view unfolding. Thousands of rice terraces filled with water glisten in the sun for as far as the eye can see. Every turn becomes more overwhelming and I am struck with awe by the giant terraced mountains surrounding me.

Barking dogs guard their territory as we pass and gaggles of ducks waddle by following their leader with frenzied dedication. Villagers from the Hmong Tribe speed past us carrying heavy loads in their woven baskets. They walk with ease as I gasp for air climbing the steep path. As we continue to hike, Xin tell us about the people and the history of the land and how it has changed.

The Hmong village we are visiting has come to depend on tourism and he tells us not to feel pressured to give money or to buy jewelry to the people who will be approaching us. Not wanting to contribute to a begging society, I chose not to give children the "bonbons" that they have come to expect or to give money for nothing. Instead, I gladly buy some silver bracelets from a lady who invites us into her home for a glimpse of tribal life.

We make our way to the top of a mountain, where Xin puts out a picnic lunch and we dine among a herd of water buffalo. As we look into the deep valley, children stop by for a visit and we share some cookies and fruit. It is a place of overwhelming beauty.

The contentment is short lived however, because we have a lot of ground to cover to make it to the village of the Dzai people where we will be spending the night. Being farther away from Sapa and not a part of the usual one-day tours, this tribe is less corrupted by the tourism industry. They are completely self-sufficient at harnessing water from mountain runoff for irrigation. They grow their own rice, sugar cane peanuts and vegetables. Every child attends school, they raise their own livestock, and weave and dye their own fabric for clothing. This is truly a people who are at one with the land.

We stay with a family that has four generations living under one roof. Their house, built by the hands of villagers using traditional methods is gigantic and surprisingly cozy in the brisk mountain air. It takes one year to build a home and everybody pitches in. We are treated to a feast after we settle in and enjoy their friendly hospitality. The 94-year-old grandfather keeps my plate full, urging me to eat more and we stuff ourselves until we cannot move.

Later that evening we walk to visit other houses and the celebrations continue. Rice wine is flowing as we sit around the fire in their kitchens singing songs. The local people are eager to hear songs from our country and there is no getting out of belting out a tune. They applaud with enthusiasm and then Xin treats us to a traditional Vietnamese folk song before heading back to bed.

It is a cool night, but we sleep well under a thick warm blanket and awake a little groggy from the abundance of alcohol the night before. Saying goodbye to our hosts after a breakfast of fried eggs and a warm baguette, we slowly walk to the mountains feeling the burn in our legs from the day before. We trek to the high waterfall overlooking the valley, walk through a bamboo forest, and once again witness the beauty of gigantic rice terraces.

A jeep picks us up at the end of our trek to take us back to Sapa where we sleep comfortably that evening in our small hotel. Our last day is spent exploring this beautiful town. We hike up Ham Rong Mountain to see its many gardens and stone forest, shop for fresh fruit in the market and relax on a terrace overlooking the mountains. The people are friendly and as usual, the scenery is magnificent.

Northern Vietnam is a fascinating experience. It is rich in culture and history and diverse in landscape. If you do it right and stay in a Home Stay far away from the village, it will be an experience that you will remember forever.

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Cruise Halong bay on a junk

Halong bay is the top destination in Vietnam that all travelers cannot miss. Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's top ten experiences for foreign travelers. When Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site in 1997, tourism seemed to be bursting at the seams in this truly unique place. Hundreds of tourist companies, both domestic and international, built their tours on cruises around Ha Long Bay, providing tourists with a wide range of choices for their journeys to enjoy the unique beauty of the bay, which lies along the Hon Gai coastal town in Quang Ninh province.

Most people chose to stay one or two nights on board, with elegant food presentations and adventure options to entertain more rugged travelers. I chose to spend a night at Ha Long Bay with the the Ha Long Ginger, a large wooden ship dripping with old-world charm. I really wanted to spend more than one night on this boat after quietly chugging along through the innumerable aquatic paths created by each uninhabited island.

Cruise manager Michelle Thong stood on deck waving as the Ginger approached, her white ao dai billowing in the wind - a true vision against the blue sea and sky of Ha Long Bay family cruise in the afternoon. Then we sailed deep into the bay for about four hours, breathing in the fresh sea air the whole way. After the captain ordered his crew to set sail, new sounds and colors filled the air, giving us a truly beautiful experience.

Cruise manager escorted us to our cabins and handed us keys in the shape of a fish. The air-conditioned room really won us over with large windows for viewing the scenery, a sparkling bathroom, five-star fluffy beds and all amenities. And the person whose passion attaches to traveling and cruising was open to share his story about this wonderful ship.

Sonny Bui, who worked 12 years in tourism traveling to many places inside and outside Viet Nam, is the man behind the Ginger budget Halong tours. Son said he wanted to do something on his own to capitalize and develop what he had learnt and experienced after years working as a tour guide. The 36-year-old, called Sonny Bui by his foreign friends, wanted to make something different from the tours which have been mostly designed on the same route. "Our route is wider and goes through new interesting places that others do not," said Son. "That's the first thing we aimed at when we started building up our tour two years ago."

"The most discouraging thing for us is the idea that there is not a professional wooden shipbuilding company," said Bui Cao Son, who eventually got the Ha Long Ginger built after 14 months of working with fishing boat builders.

The US$500,000 beauty, which has 10 rooms and can serve a maximum of 20 travelers, was put into operation early this year. The boat was built through the co-ordination of Huong Hai Company, which has more than 10 years of experience designing and building boats for tourists to stay on overnight. Huong Hai boats are among the first giving overnight tours at Ha Long Bay.

The Ginger blends classical beauty with modern comfort, catering to groups of between six and 20 people. Measuring 38m in length and 8m in width, it has three decks that house the elegant restaurant, a lounge, two bars, a small boutique and a library, as well as ten luxurious sleeping cabins. Fitted out with wood and bamboo, its interior is charming. The stylish decoration of the dining room - not to mention the fact that the staff change their uniforms to serve meals - is highly impressive, seemingly more suited to a five-star hotel.

"Sonny and I designed the cruise," said Thong, a Malaysian-American who worked as a tour escort/leader in the US before coming to Viet Nam four years ago. "We worked hard together to create a design which could give the best comfort to our customers," said Thong who has been working on the Ginger cruise for a year. "We put a lot of ideas into the blueprint with an aim to infuse Vietnamese style in western comfort," added Thong. She did a boat project in HCM City two years ago before working with Son on the Ginger.

Thong said the cruise was designed to emphasize taking care of customers and the staffs are present to provide anything needed. Amenities on the cruise are from the same provider of Park Hyatt, ensuring guests feel they are in a world of luxury.

"To give visitors a good night of sleep, we equipped the rooms with high-quality beds," said Son, adding that he wanted large windows (1.2m x 1.3m) to give customers the best view from their rooms. Bamboo is a major feature in the restaurant and lounge, which is associated with other kinds of wooden materials and flower designs making the whole middle deck's ceiling into more of an artwork. The mixture of elegant decorations, food and service left lasting impressions on customers after leaving the Ginger, most of which have plans to come back for a group celebration or possible honeymoon trips.

With the expected increase in number of customers, the Ginger will be joined by sisters to meet the demand of visitors. "We are building two other cruises of such kind with the hope of giving more interesting tours to the visitors," said Son, whose customers are mostly from five-star hotels like Metropole Ha Noi, Hilton and Sofitel Plaza. The two new ships are to be named after two kinds of flowers, Jasmine and Violet, with which Son wants to add more elegant colors to Ha Long Bay.

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Vietnam, cheap way to travel

Do you know that traveling Vietnam is very cheap? Vietnam is one of the hottest travel destinations in Asia. More and more tourists come to Vietnam every year because of its peace, friendliness and fast development. Tourists can enjoy visiting peaceful traditional villages, grand temples and pagodas or sunbathing on beautiful beaches in luxury seaside resorts. However, to enjoy the best of your travel, you have to know something about the art of bargaining in this country. Except grand hotels, big restaurants and luxury resorts where fixed prices are listed, you can bargain for anything in Vietnam.

Before going to Vietnam you should do some searches for a general idea about prices in Vietnam. The Vietnamese currency is the Vietnam Dong ($1 = 15800 VND). On the internet, you can easily find information about prices of going by taxi or some other means of transportation. However, for long distances, you have to bargain for a lower price because for some certain long routes, the price is not what is counted on the taximeter. If you go by taxi over a distance which is greater than 50 km, you should call the taxi company directly and ask for their price for that long route.

Going in a tour group arranged by a tourist agent is an interesting way to explore Vietnam. There are many famous tourism agents in Vietnam and most of them have their own websites. You can search on the internet for famous travel agents in Vietnam and book in advance if possible. However, if the online booking function is not available or you want to book for a tour when having come cheap tours to Vietnam, you should ask for their fixed list of available tours and their prices in advance. Most well known tourism companies have their tours and prices listed on a large board in their offices. If you register for many tours of the same company, you can ask for a discount because it is a usual thing in Vietnam.

Vietnamese food is very delicious and well known all over the world. It is really a memorable experience to taste Vietnamese food right in Vietnam. However, you have to be careful when eating in restaurants. Even natives can be overcharged sometimes when they go to restaurants. There are some restaurants whose menus are just lists of dishes and don't include the prices. In that case you have to ask the waiters to tell you the prices of the dishes in advance otherwise they may give you a big bill with amazing prices at the end of the meal.

It is a fun experience to go shopping budget tour packages in Vietnam. The goods are usually very cheap and there are large selections for buyers. Apart from grand shopping centers where prices are fixed and written already on the tags, most markets, souvenir stands and street vendors don't have fixed prices for their goods and customers have to bargain. Sellers there always try to take advantage of foreigners whom they assume to be rich and have a lot of money. When you go to markets and souvenir stands, the prices they tell you are never true. The true prices are usually half or one third of what you are told. There are many sellers who can speak nice English. They will tell you that you are the first customer of their store today and they will give you the item at their buying price for some luck. Don't ever believe them. The "buying" price they tell you is always many times more than the real value of the product.

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Majestic beauty and challenging roads of northwest Vietnam

Northwest Vietnam is famous for terraced paddy fields, hill tribe markets and spectacular scenery. Northwest attracts tourists by majestic mountains and rugged stretch of road full of challenges. Besides nature is stunningly sharp and poetic beauty of the villages perched on high mountains. Whether to Northwestern season of the year, visitors are not from your hearts in amazement at the beauty of this land.

Through the bumpy road, the vast terraced rice fields and the crystal-clear streams, you will arrive at noon Ngoc Chien. Is a remote village in Muong La district, Son La, Ngoc Chien located at an average altitude of 1,800 m above sea level compared to the year-round mild weather is like Dalat Monday Ethnic travel Vietnam.

Here, in addition to the famous hot spring source was intrigued by the local specialties such as wine, cider cat, sticky cassava, rice,, winning try, barbecue, grilled fish, vegetables cats… And above all, but the wild beauty makes people majestic stupor. Between the cool weather, the stilt houses have timeless hidden inside the plot at yellow, green at the picturesque.

Nam Khat Commune stop, the village remains quiet in thin mist awaiting the start of the day’s rays. Approaching noon, fog, warmth spread throughout the valley create a lively scene. Some of Hmong women are quickly inside the brilliant brocade cloth, while the kids frolic in the fields laughing golden and shining.

Supply lines Khau Pha Pass next to challenging. Located in Cao Pha, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, where by road slopes, rugged, attractive many backpackers. Overcome the steep path perched around the mountain, to lunch, Khau Pha Pass was out front. Standing on the pass, the group enjoying the immense valleys and mountains of rice colored majestic splendor of the winds.

Khau Pha name means heavenly horn. Only when standing on the majestic mountain pass, looking at the Lim Mong, Lim Thai engulfed in fog in the distance, can understand the feeling of smoking protruding halfway hog heaven is like. From above the pass, we see quite clearly the floor roof of the Thai side of the stream Lim bends between upland rice immense. In the distance, the Lim Mong appeared perched mountainside with original apricot, peach root aging. Beautiful picture that is colored by the water flashed terraced color rice interwoven with golden time, when green.

Unlike the low-lying Lim Thai, Lim Mong is the people, who are used to living freely only where high mountains, so when residents are more crowded, they move up to higher positions. Maybe so, but it is said, to the Lim Mong is to the end there will be no more public roads, just the way the forest slash only.

Although the journey to conquer the difficult, dangerous roads and the provision of a rustic village between always made spectacular natural attractions Northwest any time of the year.

[tripstovietnam]

Wonderful trip to Tam Coc in Ninh Binh

We spent the last portion of our travel Vietnam in and around Hanoi. Everyone who spends any time in Northern Vietnam goes on the Halong Bay, it’s a given. I’m sure you have seen the many amazing pictures of the karst formations popping out of the bay. Initially, we had planned to do an overnight tour of Halong Bay like everyone else, but as we spent more time researching, we got overwhelmed by the amount of cruises being offered. The average price was about $125 per person, with most of the cheaper tours not getting very good reviews. So we decided we wanted to try something different, a bit less touristy, more off the beaten path.  After debating whether or not we would regret not going to Vietnam’s “CAN’T MISS” tourist attraction, we decided to instead take a short two hour train ride to the town of Ninh Binh. The countryside just outside Ninh Binh tours also contains many beautiful karsts, and thus it looks similar to Halong Bay, aside from the sea. We rented a scooter, giving us easy access to a number of beautiful nature spots, including Tam Coc, Ma Yen and Trang An.

Getting There: Tam Coc tours is located in a small town SE of Hanoi called Ninh Binh. We took the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh using Seat61’s amazing timetable and information. Just scroll down to the Southbound Timetable. I would recommend having your hotel or hostel call to confirm the times because our train back to Hanoi ended up leaving an hour later than we thought it would. We took the 9am and arrived in Ninh Binh around 11:20. It was a short and easy ride! I’ve said it once and I will say it again, I love train travel! It was lovely looking out the window and seeing village life pass by.

Unlike the other places we visited in Vietnam, there weren’t a lot of housing options in Ninh Binh. This site allows anyone to add travel information for any place, including favorite hotels, restaurants, things to do, how to get there and anything else. It’s like an updated Lonely Planet guide. I especially find it useful for smaller cities, because the larger ones sometimes have too much information. We found Kim Lieng Guesthouse through wikitravel. A very sweet couple runs the guesthouse and the owner lady, Kim, made a wonderful (huge) dinner for us (costing $5 each). The rooms were not quite as nice as the photos online and after spending very little in Vietnam we felt the cost of the room and moped were overpriced, but overall it was a nice, quiet place to stay.

What to Eat We only had two meals in Ninh Binh, one at our guesthouse and one at Trung Tuyet (a restaurant half a block from the train station). It was the top-rated restaurant in Ninh Binh, nothing to write home about, but the owners were friendly and good at marketing. The girl would run out to greet any tourist walking by, and at the end they give you their business cards. Aurelien tried the Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk here and loved it.

View The boat dock at Trang An. Each boat is manned by a little Vietnamese lady. There is nothing to do in the actual town of Ninh Binh, but a lot of beautiful things to see in the area due to the amazing karst formations that cover the landscape just outside town. The most popular spot is Tam Coc, which is like Halong Bay but with more land. People take boat rides through the valley and go to different sites along the way. The first picture in this post is a view of Tam Coc, you can see the river winding through the rice fields and the karsts (mountains). We were planning on going there but our guesthouse owners mentioned that Trang An would be less crowded and was their favorite place, so we decided to give it a try.

The best way to get around is definitely by scooter! We rented one from our guesthouse for $6 for the day. We felt it was a bit expensive considering it had trouble starting, but it got the job done and we loved the flexibility it gave us. We would never rent a scooter in a big city like Hanoi or Saigon, but the traffic around here was minimal and relaxed.

Trang An was a short 20 minute ride from our guesthouse. Once we arrived to the boat dock we paid for scooter parking because we had been warned that if you park it elsewhere people might deflate your tires and then charge you to get it fixed. You then cross a bridge onto an island and pay 150k dong per person ($7.50) and then go into a boat that is manned by a female rower. There were way more people than we expected, but they were all Vietnamese, so it’s clearly a popular spot for locals, rather than foreign tourists. We had to share a boat with two other guys who were possibly drunk and a little high, which put a damper on my experience for the first five minutes, but I got over it eventually.

The ride was lovely. It’s a loop that took about two hours, the highlights included going through about ten different caves! We were in some of the caves for 4 minutes! The caves had electricity so they were lit up, which was nice. I can’t imagine going through the caves with flashlights, that would of been scary. At the far end of the loop everyone gets out and you can climb a series of steps to get to a little temple. The temple was nothing special, but it was fun to see all the locals so excited and surprised to see us on this tour. It was clear that not many westerners come to Trang An.

Caves Headed into one of the many caves at Trang An! After the boat ride we zipped over to another attraction to get to a view point overlooking Tam Coc. The place is called Ma Yen and it has 500 steps to get to the top. We had to pay 50k dong ($2.50) each for admission. It was already late in the day, so we and a trio of English tourists were the only people climbing the steps. It was hard work, but the view of Tam Coc from the top was completely worth it!

After coming down from Ma Yen, it was starting to get dark, so we quickly rode over to the starting point of Tam Coc just to see what it was like and then headed home. The Tam Coc area is much more built up than Trang An, as there was a small town surrounding the dock. There were some hotels, places to eat, and many people selling trinkets. Seeing that, we were pretty happy that we had gone to Trang An instead.

The next morning we had planned to go visit some other sites, including the Van Long nature reserve and perhaps the National Park, but it was raining and so we decided to just head back to Hanoi. If the weather had been better I would have enjoyed seeing more beautiful landscapes and experiencing peaceful boat rides, but it didn’t work out this time. If we come back to Vietnam, we will definitely come back here again!

[tripstovietnam]

Spend your cheap holiday in Vietnam

There are many reasons for you to choose Vietnam as the next holiday - Vietnam travel tips. If you are a world traveler, a nature lover, a student of unique cultures or a gourmand who enjoys Asian cuisine, then Vietnam is a country that you will surely fall in love with. Fascinating and beautiful, cheap holidays to Vietnam not only has a unique geography and landscape, but also its own distinct culture and cuisine.

Geography: Vietnam is a long, thin country that stretches along the right coast of the South-eastern Asian peninsula. There are few countries in which you can experience multiple climates in one trip, but here you can travel from the cool mountainous north to the hot tropical south. And along the way you will see stunning landscapes that have been recognised by Unesco as World Heritage Sites - things to do in Vietnam.

Culture: Vietnamese culture is unique in many ways. It not only has its own language, cuisine, architecture, but also intricate social customs. The culture is strongly influenced by Chinese culture, and also years of Chinese rule in its history, which has led to a Confucianist society. However it has also been strongly influenced by ancient Hindu empires to its left, such as the Khmer in Cambodia, and by Hindu Buddhism. Colonization by the French has left its marks in terms of impressive French architecture and the creation of French-Vietnamese fusion cuisine.

People: The Vietnamese people are generally gentle, accommodating and quick to learn. They are eager to absorb lessons from new cultures, but are also protective of their own traditions and customs. Poverty levels are still high but the people are resilient and self-reliant. Many young Vietnamese can speak fluent English and there is a strong interest in becoming entrepreneurs.

History: Vietnam's history sheds light on the characteristics of this nation and its people. Ever since ancient history, it has been an area that has been suffered occupation and colonization by foreign powers. Its history tells of emperors and warriors that fought off invasions from Chinese and Mongol armies that came over land and sea. The subsequent French colonization, World War II invasion by Japan and Vietnam War tell the story of what the Vietnamese people have endured.

Cuisine: Lastly, one cannot leave out a major reason to visit Vietnam, and that's its world-famous cuisine. Vietnamese food is known for its simple style and delicate flavors that bring out the taste of fresh ingredients, making it one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Much of the classic dishes are Chinese in origin, for example, the noodle soups, spring rolls and dumplings. But they are given a twist with Thai fish sauce, lemon grass and basil. And trading with India also gave Vietnamese their own types of curry.

Colonisation by the French then introduced French-style cooking into Vietnamese cuisine. The humble baguette is a essential part of everyday life in Vietnam, and many French-influenced dishes have made their way into fine dining such as bouillabaisse and tartare.

Influenced by many cultures that have come before, and years of political turmoil, today's Vietnam is thriving and bustling, but still as mysterious as the mist on its hills. With so many reasons to visit Vietnam, consider planning that trip today.

[tripstovietnam]

Magic beauty of Bai Tu Long bay

Bai Tu Long bay has been emerging in recent years as a popular destination for visitors doing Indochina junk cruise. When you start browsing vacation spots in Vietnam, you will likely come across some images of an otherworldly bay. This bay is called the Bai Tu Long Bay, and it is a part of Halong Bay, one of the well-hidden vacation spots in Vietnam.

A few kilometers of water sprinkled with some islands is easy to describe on paper, but no words or images for that matter, can do justice to the magic of this place. If you want to experience the true splendor of this enchanting bay; cruises of Bai Tu Long Bay are the best ways to do it. Note the fact that there is an 's' at the end of cruises, as in multiple cruises will help you explore this tranquil bay in the most comprehensible way possible.

If you aren't convinced by the images and the descriptions of the bay, then you may want to look at some intriguing reasons why you should visit this heaven on earth at least once in your life:

1. A "Road" Less Travelled The most appealing thing about the Halong bay is that its beauty is incomparable indochina junk Bai Tu Long bay; the most unappealing thing about it is that the main part of the bay is very popular among the tourists. If you are looking for a quieter spot, Bai Tu Long Bay is the perfect choice. There won't be hundreds of ships bothering your serenity, and you can enjoy the sound of the water and fauna without any interruptions.

2. The Hidden Beauty There are many different hidden caves and lagoons in the area, each amazing in its own unique way. This is why pictures and descriptions can never reveal the true beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay. You will have to go out to the bay yourself and explore all of the secrets it hides yourself.

3. The Locals There are still many different people still living on the small isles in the Bai Tu Long Bay. There are fishing villages along the way - the government of Vietnam has provided these people with a sustainable living plan, which also keeps the protection of the natural environment of the bay in check.

4. Privacy The seclusion of the bay means that you will be free of any type of noise, or any other kind of, pollution. The few boats that are present in the bay will be quite far away from each other, guaranteeing your privacy. The government program "For a Green Halong Bay" is strictly adhered to by the locals in Bai Tu Long Bay, this is the main reason why the bay still remains clean and natural. The lack of tourist traffic is also a big part of why the bay seems untouched.

5. Once in a Lifetime A trip, that includes a visit to Vietnam, will be one that you remember for the rest of your life. Yes, there are many more vacation spots that are more popular, but there are none that offer more in terms of peacefulness, magnificence and serenity.

So, book yourself a ticket to Vietnam and a few Bai Tu Long Bay cruises now, so you can experience this heavenly spot for yourself. The best way to experience the magnificence of this area is through cruises of Bai Tu Long Bay

[tripstovietnam]

Experience life in Vietnam along the coastline

Compare to other countries like Cambodia, Laos or Thailand, Vietnam is a nice and peaceful country located in the South East of Asia. With a long coast line from the North to the South and a lot of mountains and highlands, Vietnam has both sea and mountain attractions. Having the area of 331,688 square km and a population of more than 84 million people, Vietnam is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world.

Known as the heart of this beautiful country, Hanoi capital is one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam. This city is located in the Red River Delta in the North of Vietnam and is the economic centre of the whole delta. Hanoi is a cultured city with many traditions, old streets and houses. Even nowadays, when globalization is becoming more popular and Hanoi is influenced strongly by this trend, the traditions and many old features cannot be lost and are still an important and memorable part of this city.

In the middle of Vietnam, the most famous city is Hue. It was the capital of Vietnam during the feudal system's time. Hue has many old temples and palaces which date back from many centuries ago, when the King was still in power. It is also famous for many kinds of unique food which are usually very hot and spicy.

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city of Vietnam and is located in the Mekong River Delta, in southern Vietnam. It was previously known as "Saigon" and that name is still used nowadays. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is a young city with much economic potential. Lots of foreign companies have invested in HCMC, which makes this city the most developed one in Vietnam. When coming to Saigon, you are easily tempted to do a lot shopping. There are many shopping centres as well as open markets in HCMC where you can find a wide range of goods at incredible prices. Most foreign tourists visiting HCMC will come to Ben Thanh market, the symbol of this active city. There you can find many traditional items as well as modern ones and you can bargain for your desired prices.

Besides the aforementioned cities, there are many other beautiful cities and towns with lots of attractions. Tourists can enjoy beautiful beaches in Vung Tau or Nha Trang city, green mountains and peaceful lakes with European pine forests in Da Lat, splendid waterfalls in Cao Bang and mysterious caves in Ha Long, Quang Binh. That's the reason why Vietnam has been chosen as a favourite destination of millions of tourists all over the world.

[tripstovietnam]

Bac Ha Market

Being a minority ethnic people market, Bac Ha market is located in 80 km from Sapa, Bac Ha is famous for its Sunday market which is a trading centre and meeting place for couples, friends, and relatives.

Every Sunday, Bac Ha hosts the biggest fair near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. It is the largest and most colourful market in the area and attracts throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes. Some walk several hours for the weekly opportunity to trade and barter food, animals, clothes and household goods. 80km from Sapa, Bac Ha Market is not only the place for buying and selling, but also a place for cultural and sentiment exchanging. On the market days, right from the early morning, all paths and mountain roads are full of people and horses pouring to the market. People usually sit in groups around a soup pan (“thang co”) eating and chatting. sapa attractions

Many different ethnic groups such as Flower H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. The market was very crowded, local products for sale or barter are carried on horseback. Besides the usual items like pigs, cows, chickens, and ducks, Bac Ha Market sold dogs. As dogs were available as cuts of meat, they were also available live, right next to the live pigs, chickens, and other livestock. There was a brisk trade at the market for everything from hand-embroidered skirts to all manner of 4-legged animals. The “fresh” meat section is not for the faint of heart and might steer more than a few visitors in the direction of strict vegetarianism.

Sapa tours Though tourists were not in short supply, they were not the focus. Most locals paid little attention to them, rather choosing to focus on their business and the short Sunday-sized window of opportunity. Rounding the corner and pungent fumes of alcohol accosted your senses of smell, from corn whiskey, a Bac Ha specialty. The potent moonshine is decanted by vendors from large white plastic jugs to used bottled water containers. If you doubt the ability of a vendor’s hooch to peel paint or light your senses on fire, you can try a shot for free.

At the fair, adventurous gastronomes can try “thang co” blood porridge, a popular dish of the H’Mong and other local people. The Flower H’mong minority is the most common here, and their colourful dresses makes is a beautiful sight.

Let’s once visit Bac Ha Market and you will be able to experience a wide range of different colorful ethnic minorities and more interesting things of life in the mountains…

[tripstovietnam]

Bai Tu Long bay cruise – Yen Duc village tour

This package divides your stay for 1 night on board in Ha Long Bay and 1 night in luxury Vietnamese house in Yen Duc village, the tour is a great combination of unique experience, both natural landscapes discovery and cultural exchange. This village tour is managed by Indochina Junk and local community based. Yen Duc village is just on the way between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, creating a very easy accessible place. It is worth staying more and enjoy.

Day 1: Hon Gai Harbour – Bai Tu Long Bay – Thien Canh Son Cave (L, D) 07.35 – 08.00 : Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter 12.00 – 12.30 : Embark at Hon Gai International harbor. 12.30 – 13.00 : Check-in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing. 13.30 – 15.00 : Have lunch while cruising to magnificent BaiTu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way. 15.15 – 15.40 : Explore the well- hidden ThienCanh Son Cave. 15.45 – 18.00 : Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon Co island, swimming or kayaking. 18.00 – 19.00 : Back to junk for refreshing before having dinner on board. 20.00 – 21.00 : Relax, enjoy fresh air & overnight on board.

Day 2: Vung Vieng Fishing Village – Hon Gai Harbor – Yen Duc Village (B, L, D) 07.30 – 08.00 : Morning view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air. 08.30 – 09.30 : Visit VungVieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat, meet the local peopleand pass through the floating school and fish farms. Dragon Pearl junk 10.00 : Check out of the cabin. Start cruising towards the harbor while an A la carte lunch is served. 11.45 – 12.00 : Disembark. Drive to Yen Duc village – the second village of the day for another new experience. 13.30 : arrive at Yen Duc village, check in the luxury room in Viet house Enjoy welcome drink and free TIME for discovering the poetic landscape. 15.30 : Visit an ancient house in the village to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese family traditions. 16.00 : Experience the farming works such as milling and pounding rice, picking vegetables, gardening, and fishing. Then interact and exchange with local people. Indochina junk cruises 18.30 : Enjoy dinner. 20.00 : Participate in the farmer’s daily life or make traditional Troi (floating rice) cakes with the host. 21.30 : Overnight in Viet House.

Day 3: Yen Duc Village – Hanoi (B, L) 06.30 : Start a new day with Tai Chi session. Have breakfast before cycling around the village in the fresh air, passing a local market and visiting a historical pagoda. 09.30 : Visit a local house and learn about their handicraft work. 10.30 : Return to Viet House and Check out. Have lunch and relax. 13.30 : Enjoy water puppet show by local artists. Farewell. 17.00-17.30 : Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends.

[tripstovietnam]

Sapa Trekking 3 days - Homestay

Day 1 Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van Sapa trekking tour 3 days: Arrive Lao Cai Train Station around 6:00. Then take an one hour bus ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. The ride gives you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces that make Sapa famous with travelers. Upon arrival in Sapa’s town, have breakfast and freshen up before your trekking of the day. 7km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho Village of the Black H’mong to see those sensual patterns of the terraces from above. And then 3km trekking down to Lao Chai Village, 4 km through terraced rice fields to Ta Van Village of the Dzay minority people. Have picnic lunch at a local family, where you can see the local house architecture and witness local daily life styles and exclusive customs. Enjoy the landscapes on the way until dinner at a local family. Overnight at Sapa homestay. Trekking: 14 KM of trekking, 40km Driving Meals: Breakfast/Picnic Lunch/Dinner Accommodation: Home-stay at the Dzay local house

Day 2 Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Ban Ho In the morning, have a pancake breakfast made by the host family. Then continue to discover Giang Ta Chai . On the narrow path to Giang Ta Chai, visitors will have to pass through Muong Hoa stream which flows slowly year by year in Hoang Lien forest and enjoys gorgeous sceneries of mountains and rice terraced fields. Vietnam tours Trek to nearby Su Pan villages of the red Dzao minority, where the simplicity of ethnic inhabitants and natural sights are still intact. After picnic lunch, keep on hiking to Ban Ho , the village lies within a beautiful valley, home to the Tay minority people who have their traditional house on stilts and we will spend the night here. Free at leisure until dinner and overnight at local homestay. Trekking: 9 KM of trekking. Meals: Breakfast/Picnic Lunch/Dinner Accommodation: Home-stay at the Dzay local house

Day 3 Ban Ho – Nam Toong - Sapa In the morning, have breakfast made from our local host family. Have a walk of 2km to a very nice waterfall discovered and named “the Lavie” by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam for a swimming time. Freshen up and continue hiking up to the mountain to visit a small hamlet of the Red Dzao people called Nam Toong , then get back to Ban Ho before get to Sapa by jeep. Free at leisure until your transfer to Lao Cai train station. Board an overnight train back to Hanoi. Trekking: 5 KM of trekking.

Day 4 Arrival in Hanoi In the morning, arrive in Hanoi Station at around 5h30 . Upon arrival to Hanoi Station, end of services. You are free to travel onward or stay in Vietnam on your own arrangement. Meals: NA Accommodation: NA