Hidden Landscapes and Cultures of Northeastern Vietnam (10 Days)

At around 7:00–7:30 a.m., our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for the drive to Ha Giang. Although the journey is long, it is filled with picturesque landscapes, where our first photography opportunities of the day begin.

We continue traveling along the Lo River, passing orchards of grapefruit, tangerines, and oranges stretching from Tuyen Quang City to Viet Quang Town. After a lunch break, we resume our journey through winding mountain roads to Hoang Su Phi—home to breathtaking rice terraces and distinctive hill-tribe villages. Here, we spend the night at a homestay hosted by a local Dzao family.

The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the village before enjoying a home-cooked Dzao dinner.

After enjoying breakfast, we begin the day with a hike up Kiou Leou Ti Mountain for a cloud-hunting photography session.

We then continue to Hoang Su Phi, a true paradise of rice terraces. Unlike other regions in northern Vietnam, the terraces here extend across numerous villages, each shaped by distinct topography and landscape.

The Ban Phung rice terraces, cultivated by the La Chi ethnic group, are recognized as the highest terraced fields in Vietnam. Ho Thau village, home to the Red Dao people, features a unique farming method in which rice fields are integrated with forest land to help prevent flooding and landslides.

Thong Nguyen is considered the most beautiful rice terrace area in Hoang Su Phi, while the terraced fields of Nam Ty are officially listed as national heritage sites. The route not only showcases the terraces but also leads us through lush forests and dramatic mountain slopes.

Lunch can be enjoyed at a location of your choice. By late afternoon, we return to our homestay in Ban Luoc, with the remainder of the day free for relaxation or exploration.

After enjoying your complimentary breakfast, we bid farewell to our welcoming hosts and set out for an in-depth exploration of Ban Luoc Village.

The day begins with an adventurous trek to a mountain summit, rewarding us with even more spectacular views of multi-layered rice terraces, deeper insight into the daily life of the local Dzao people, and the chance to admire a beautiful waterfall in the area.

Following a three-hour hike along mountain dirt trails, ascending and descending through the landscape, we reunite with our driver and continue our journey to Ha Giang. En route, we stop at Khuoi My Village—home to around 200 Dao Ao Dai ethnic minority households—nestled at the foot of Tay Con Linh, the highest peak in Northeastern Vietnam.

We spend the night in Ha Giang City.

We begin our exciting journey in Ha Giang City, driving approximately 60 km along scenic mountain roads to Quan Ba Town. Here, we make our first stop at a viewpoint offering breathtaking vistas of Heaven’s Gate and the Twin Mountains (Fairy Bosom).

Continuing along the loop toward Du Gia, we stop at Lung Tam Village, home to the H’Mong ethnic community, renowned for their traditional hemp cultivation and weaving techniques.

We then carry on to Du Gia. After the long drive, you’ll have time to unwind in the refreshing waters of a nearby waterfall. The day ends with check-in at a local homestay and a delicious dinner featuring regional specialties.

Wake up to the soft morning light and the sounds of the mountains, then check out and prepare for a day that takes us to the northernmost frontier of Vietnam.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our homestay hosts and continue driving north toward the Dong Van Karst Plateau, an exceptional setting for photography.

Along the way, we stop at Sung La Valley to visit a traditional H’Mong clay house and Vuong Palace, once the residence of Vuong Trinh Duc—known as the “H’Mong King,” who led around 70,000 H’Mong people in the region during the French colonial period. We then rejoin the route, continuing our loop through Ma Le, often referred to as the “one-eyed ghost” area. This little-known road leads us to Lung Cu, the northernmost point of Vietnam and home to the Lo Lo ethnic minority.

If our visit to Dong Van falls on a Sunday morning, we won’t miss the weekly tribal market—a vibrant gathering where ethnic minority groups from across the region come together.

After leaving the market and Dong Van town behind, we drive about 30 minutes to Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam’s most spectacular mountain passes. From the towering cliffs, we look down on the peaceful Nho Que River winding through the landscape far below. Traveling close to the clouds, we trek along a traditional H’Mong path that follows the pass.

Following the hike, we continue to Meo Vac for a boat trip on the Nho Que River, where we experience the dramatic scenery of northern Vietnam’s deepest canyon. Our journey concludes in Meo Vac, where we check in and spend the night at a charming clay house homestay hosted by a local H’Mong family.

After a hearty breakfast, we take a scenic two-hour drive to Bao Lac, where one of the most memorable experiences of the journey begins with a visit to Khuoi Khon Village.

This village is home to the Lo Lo ethnic community, known for preserving their distinctive traditions and way of life. If we are fortunate, we may also have the chance to join the lively weekly open-air market in Bao Lac District, where Lo Lo, H’Mong, and Yao ethnic groups gather.

For reference, the market is held every five days, starting from the 5th day of the lunar calendar. We then continue with a three-hour drive to Cao Bang, where the evening is free for you to relax or explore the area at your own pace.

Located approximately 60 km from Cao Cang City Center and adjacent to China through the Po Peo border, Trung Khanh draws travelers by its picturesque natural scenery.

We will start the day with a short stroll down the paths in Phuoc Sen Village -The site is known to be where the Nung ethnic citizens call their home for centuries. Other than that, Phuoc Sen Village is where they make knives as traditional handicrafts for a living.

Then, make our way to Ban Gioc Waterfall. Earning the award of the fourth largest waterfall in the world and the largest waterfall in South East Asia, Ban Gioc Waterfall won’t disappoint you. It is likened to the fairy scene between the mountains and the forest with the magnificent and poetic white-water layers.

Choose to walk or take a bamboo boat to experience the waterfall at best. Not far from Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave is located inside a spectacular mountain with a length of 2144m and 3 main gates.

Once we get inside the cave, we will surely be overwhelmed by the mysterious and shimmering scenery with the stalactites in various shapes and murmuring streams. The last activity of the day is visiting Phong Nam & Ngoc Con valley which is home to the Tay tribe who significantly contributed to the beauty of the town through their agricultural works a hundred years ago with rice terraces cultivated in the valley along the Quay Son River.

Similar to the other parts of Northern Vietnam, the town will be in the most beautiful version of itself during the rice harvest season, in Autumn (August to early October) and it attracts visitors not only to the rice terraces but the wild beauty and peaceful rural lifestyles.

We continue our journey from Cao Bang to Ba Be, traveling through Phia Oac–Phia Den National Park. Along the way, we stop at Kolia Organic Tea Farm for a short break and enjoy a cup of locally grown tea.

Rejoining the main road, we then turn onto a smaller winding route that passes through mountain tea plantations and rice terraces before arriving at Pac Ngoi Village, home to the Tay ethnic minority. Here, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a local Tay family into their traditional stilt house.

The day concludes with a wonderful home-cooked dinner and a peaceful evening with your hosts.

Today, we dive into the natural wonders of Ba Be National Park. Our exploration includes a boat ride along the Nang River, time to admire the serene beauty of Ba Be Lake, and a visit to Puong Grotto—famous for being home to thousands of bats.

Before lunch, we continue downstream to see the Dau Dang Waterfall. After returning to the pier, we board our vehicle and begin the journey back to Hanoi.

As our adventure comes to an end, it’s time to say goodbye and return to daily life. We hope this journey through Northeastern Vietnam has been an unforgettable experience with FTRIP, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future.