Adventure in the Hills: Hanoi to Ha Giang

When you arrive in Hanoi, you'll be met by a private driver for a quick 40-minute transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing or go for a wander to get your bearings. In the evening, our local guide will introduce you to some amazing Vietnamese cuisine with a street food tour in one of the most dynamic districts in Hanoi. Soak up the sights and sounds of the city at night, starting in the small lanes of the Old Quarter, lined with stalls and roadside stools. Discover one of the city's best pho shops and slurp this delicious national dish of steaming noodle soup, while perched on a stool alongside the locals.

Continue the tour by sampling local favourites, such as banh cuon - steamed rice paper stuffed with pork and mushrooms, and nem chua ran (fried spring rolls). The next stop is a barbecue dinner of perfectly grilled meats and vegetables, before finishing the evening with a visit to a traditional bia hoi (small shop selling draft beer) for a cold pint as you watch the night-time scenes unfold.

Spend today delving into the fascinating history of Hanoi, with a full day of sightseeing with your private guide. Head out to the West Lake to admire the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda, before visiting the resting place of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh himself at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Spend some time in his old home and surrounding gardens, as well as the One Pillar Pagoda from 1049 in the same complex. Next you can explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university which was also constructed in the 11th century. After lunch, learn about the country's diverse culture at the Museum of Ethnology, or visit the Vietnamese Women's Museum; covering both historic and modern traditions, this museum gives great insight into the lives and milestones of women.

In the afternoon, explore the 36 narrow streets of the Old Quarter by day to learn about traditional ways of life. Continue through the busy Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake, before finishing the day exploring at your own leisure, before returning to your hotel for a well-earned night's sleep.

It's time to head out of the city to start your road trip, with your private driver and car. After a five-and-a-half-hour drive (depending on local traffic), you’ll arrive in Ha Giang. On the journey to Ha Giang, you will pass through the regions inhabited by native Viet people, San Chay and Dao. Here you will have the chance to discover the culture and traditional customs of this remote region. Tuck into a delicious lunch in a local restaurant and continue the journey, stopping to discover quaint villages and bustling markets, while filling your camera rolls with stunning scenery. Continue onto your comfy guesthouse for a traditional dinner, before hitting the hay after a long day of travelling.

Kick off day two in Ha Giang with a visit to the village of Thon Tha. These Tay minority villages are scattered with houses built on stilts and exploring them will give you a taste of daily life here in remote northern Vietnam. By this point, stomachs will be grumbling, so enjoy a lunch in a local restaurant before spending the afternoon travelling to Nam Dam. The road winds through magnificent mountain landscapes and deep, verdant valleys. Stop off at Nam Dam where you’ll don your boots and hike to the village to meet with the chief in this serene and peaceful home surrounded by terraced rice fields. Learn all about village life and take in the stunning surroundings before hopping back in the car and venturing onto Quan Ba. Settle into your hotel before heading out to grab a bite to eat locally (our Concierge can help you find somewhere tasty).

After breakfast you’ll wind your way to the small town of Dong Van, whose limestone geology gives it the status of a ‘world geological park’ (it is located on an area called ‘The stone plateau’). The road is lined with spectacular and tormented stony landscapes (the karsts). You will make a stop along the way at Pho Cao, a Hmong village, where all the buildings are encompassed within beautiful grey stone walls. Venture onto the Sung La Valley for a delicious traditional lunch, famous for its wild forests and its impressive limestone landscapes.

The afternoon brings a visit to the villa of the Royal Vuong Chi Sinh family, with its mixture of striking Chinese and European architecture, before continuing onto Meo Vac along 12 miles of twisting roads. Keep your eyes peeled for amazing panoramas of the Karst landscapes and the Nho river. After a long day you’ll arrive at Meo Vac where you can devour a delicious dinner before settling down in your guest house for the night.

Rise and shine, and head straight to the Meo Vac market, which is held every Sunday morning, where you will mingle among the Hmong minority groups - Dao, Tay, Nung and Viet - dressed in their traditional clothing. Then it’s back to Ha Giang, stopping at Lung Tam, a blue Hmong village perched on the edge of the mine, where you will be able to gain an insight into their hemp weaving heritage. Enjoy a traditional lunch before continuing onto Ha Giang, where we can help find you a mouth-watering dinner before you hit the hay.

Today is your final day in the Ha Giang province – onto Bac Ha. You will meander along a beautiful winding road at the foot of the Hoang Lien mountains before reaching this traditional village after lunch. Continue onto the neighbouring village of Ban Pho, inhabited by the Hmong people in their beautifully colourful costumes, who will give you a deep dive into their customs and crafts. Take a trip to the palace of the Hmong King Hoang A Tuong, which took seven years to build and was designed to portray the family’s strength and power. End the day in Bac Ha for yet more delicious Vietnamese food and a good night’s sleep.

This morning you’ll get the chance to discover the Bac Ha market, one of the most authentic markets in North Vietnam, which is held only on Sunday mornings. Here, the Flower Hmongs will welcome you with their amazing colourful costumes and their products, with everything from fabrics and meat to fruit and local dishes on offer. After the market, you will take the road to Sapa town, at the foot of the wild Hoang Lien mountains, before reaching the Topas Ecolodge, located 11 miles from Sapa, where each lodge offers a breath-taking view of the surrounding valley.

Don your hiking boots, as this morning you will be heading out on foot to the heart of the Hoang Lien mountains. On the way, you will discover vast rice terraces and the many rivers that wind through them, which is typical of the region. The route will pass through the village of Y Linh Ho, where you will have the opportunity to observe the life of the local people who produce clothes in all kinds of colourful hues. Wind your way past breath-taking views of the rice fields nestled in the Muong Hoa Valley and through Lao Chai, before ending up in Ta Van. Make sure you have a camera at the ready. Don’t worry, you’ll get lunch on the way to keep you fuelled.

You will spend today soaking up the views of the peaks and valleys while on a half day hike to the Red Dao ethnic minority village of Lech (after a hearty breakfast feast of course). Follow the road for some time before descending to a winding river and meandering through the rice terraces. Take in the sheer beauty of your surroundings for one last time, before heading back to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, your driver will take you back to Hanoi, with a drive time of around five-and-a-half hours, depending on local traffic. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing in your hotel or enjoying your last fill of Vietnamese street food. We can arrange dinner reservations for you, or perhaps tickets to see a performance at the Hanoi Opera House - just let us know.