Mai Chau Trip Overview
Northwest Loop Adventures 11 days 10 nights is a great chance to experience firsthand, the local ethnic minorities and there wonderful hospitable atmosphere. The central north is more remote with many weekly markets it offers a real chance to explore the culture and places all around this eye-catching area.
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (160Km/4 hours) (L/D)
Day 2: Mai Chau – Son La (180Km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 3: Son La – Than Uyen: (160Km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 4: Than Uyen – Sapa (130km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 5: Sapa – Bac Ha – Xi Man (160 km/5 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 6: Xi Man – Ha Giang (150 km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 7: Ha Giang – Dong Van (150 km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 8: Dong Van – Meo vac – Bao Lac (120 km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 9: Bao Lac – Ba Be (120 km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 10: Ba Be Lake Boat Trip (B/L/D)
Day 11: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi (220 km/7 hours) (B/L)
Additional Info
Duration: 11 days
Starts: Mai Chau, Vietnam
Trip Category: Transfers & Ground Transport >> Bus Services
Explore Mai Chau Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam
Northwest Loop Adventures 11 days 10 nights is a great chance to experience firsthand, the local ethnic minorities and there wonderful hospitable atmosphere. The central north is more remote with many weekly markets it offers a real chance to explore the culture and places all around this eye-catching area.
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (160Km/4 hours) (L/D)
Day 2: Mai Chau – Son La (180Km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 3: Son La – Than Uyen: (160Km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 4: Than Uyen – Sapa (130km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 5: Sapa – Bac Ha – Xi Man (160 km/5 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 6: Xi Man – Ha Giang (150 km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 7: Ha Giang – Dong Van (150 km/6 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 8: Dong Van – Meo vac – Bao Lac (120 km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 9: Bao Lac – Ba Be (120 km/4 hours) (B/L/D)
Day 10: Ba Be Lake Boat Trip (B/L/D)
Day 11: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi (220 km/7 hours) (B/L)
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (160km/4 hours)
Stop At: Mai Chau, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in Pom Coong village.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Mai Chau – Son La (180km/6 hours)
Stop At: Son La, Son La, Son La Province
On good road looking high over distant mountains we head up into a forested region populated by H’mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Son La – Than Uyen (160km/6 hours)
Stop At: Lai Chau, Lai Chau, Lai Chau Province
After breakfast, we keep riding on road #6 to Tuan Giao with beautiful and stunning landscape along the way include stop to visit Black Thai village on the off bitten track where we will ride through dark cave to get there. Lunch in Tuan Giao, we then turn to the road 279 to Than Uyen. We will have great experience of driving while ride up the steep winding passes through the forests and terraced rice fields along the road, short break on the Pa Uon Bridge to take in surrounding landscape.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Than Uyen – Sapa (130km/4 hours)
Stop At: Sapa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province
The road follows the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and winds through tea plantations and rice terraces as it hugs the Nam Ma River. This stunning valley is dotted with Tay, Dzao and H’mong hill tribe villages. Over the 1,900 meter Tram Ton Pass to Sa Pa located in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountains. Arrive Sapa in the afternoon.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Sapa – Bac Ha – Xin Man (160km/5 hours)
Stop At: Xin Man, Xin Man, Ha Giang Province
After breakfast, we ride down to Lao Cai – It is center of Lao Cai province which is next to the international border with China, where important trading in North happens – Have a short break at border, before we head to Bac Ha town – Bac Ha is well-know for the century-old colorful market, of real mountainous people including the Dzao and the Flower H’Mong. The market only opens on Sunday morning- . We then continue up north to Ximan via a small trail that has, a deep impressive scenery, while riding through forest, take a short break at Lao Chai village, on top of the mountain to have a look at the overview of Chay river which is high up and hidden in the clouds. There are particularly interesting tracks in this area and well none known is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Vietnam.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Xin Man – Ha Giang (150km/6 hours)
Stop At: Ha Giang, Ha Giang, Ha Giang Province
Breakfast will be served at a local restaurant near by our hotel. We will visit a local market in the morning, where we have the chance, to meet minorities groups such as the Dzao, Nung, Flower H’mong…and also not forgetting to take some memorable pictures and buy some souvenirs. The roads go through some mountain passes but there are lots of tortuous roads, which gives a great opportunity, to test your riding skills. After lunch in Tan Quang. the last 50 km to Ha Giang becomes of ease on road No 2. If the time permits, we can visit Thanh Ha to relax and enjoy the hot springs.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 7: Ha Giang – Dong Van (150km/6 hours)
Stop At: Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Sa Phin, Ha Giang 310000 Vietnam
After getting a visit permit at immigration office in Ha Giang. We then continue our trip exploring the area of Quang Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van which is famous for its impressive and magnificent landscape. The local people living here dedicated to working long hard hours but overcome all difficulties, on rocky farm land in a harsh environment. We will have a short break at an information coffee shop where we can climb up a set of stairs to take in a spectacular view point of Quang Ba. After lunch at Yen Minh town, we will visit Pho Bang, which was built many centuries ago and features multi-storey houses made of clay bricks and tiled roofs. In the area visit the infamous Vuong Palace- H’mong family of high rank during French colonial rule, Vuong Chi Sinh, who was purported to be the H’mong King in Vietnam. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of Europ ean and Chinese architecture. Then we arrive in Dong Van.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 8: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac (120km/4 hours)
Stop At: Bao Lac, Bao Lac, Cao Bang Province
Climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass, from which we can see and enjoy beautiful scenery overlooking the Nho Que River before going down to Meo Vac. We cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of Northeast Vietnam. Many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 9: Bao Lac – Ba Be National Park (120km/4 hours)
Stop At: Ba Be National Park, Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province
Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but many curves. We can stop a lot. All together, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. We spend the night in the traditional stilt house of Tay minority people.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 10: Ba Be Lake Boat Trip
Stop At: Ba Be National Park, Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province
Today after breakfats we will take an easy boating on the lake and river. Go to market (if it is the day you arrive). Stop at waterfall to admire its pristine beauty and enjoy swimming in the largest fresh water lake in Vietnam. Stop at Mr. Pirate’s house, the chef of Dau Dang waterfall where we will enjoy the local specialties. Down the waterfall, we could visit the village and a small school.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 11: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi (220km/7 hours)
Stop At: Ba Be National Park, Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province
In this last day, we will take an easy ride 220kms through Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, and Vinh Yen provinces on a small road with little traffic. We arrival Hanoi around 5PM. End of services!
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
