Vietnam Hill Tribes - 13 Days / 12 nights

Tour Code: VA-23

Hanoi, Sapa, Bac Ha, Danang, Hoi An, Pleiku, Kontum, Ho Chi Minh, Chau Doc and Ho Chi Minh
This tour will be very exciting for those hill tribe lovers who want to rough it while in Vietnam. A combination of adventure and diverse aboriginal cultures in the northern mountain chains and the central highlands in addition to the flat and green Mekong Delta will give you quite a thrill. The mingling with garishly-attired people from the H'mong, Dao, Tay, Day tribes at animated markets and remote villages. The way villages of the J'rai and Bahnar minority tribes in the central highlands where you can see their simple cultivation and hunting lifestyles. . Finally the allure of colourful Khmer temples and skillful hand-made clothes of Cham people in the Mekong Delta is irresistible!

Day 1: Arrival in Ha Noi
AM:arrival at Noi Bai Airport. Pick-up and transfer to hotel. PM: visit to Ethnology Museum, Temple of Literature, old quarters and Xich Lo ride(pedaling tricycle). Evening: water puppet show.

Day 2: Ha Noi-Lao Cai
Full day visit to handicraft villages around Ha Noi: Bat Trang pottery village, or Le Mat snake village, But Thap pagoda and Dong Ho traditional printing village and bike ride (4 km) through paddy fields. Lunch of country dishes. Evening: train to Lao Cai. O/N on board.[B,L]

Day 3:Lao Cai-Sapa
AM: arrival at Lao Cai railway station.Pick-Up transfer to Sapa. Stroll around town and socializing with local Black H'mong & Red Dao. PM: Coach to Cat Cat Falls. Trek (5km) to H'mong village of Ninh Ho. Coach back to Sapa. [B]

Day 4: Sapa
Coach to Lao Chai. Trek(10km) to Van and Giang Ta Chai, visit to villages of Black H'mong, Day & Red Dao and Cau May suspension bridge. picnic lunch. Coach back to Sapa. [B,L]

Day 5: Sapa-Bac Ha
AM: departure for Bac Ha, onwards to Can Cau by 4WD car. Attending Can Cau Saturday fair. Picnic lunch. PM: trek (6 km) through villages of Phu La & Flower H'mong in Ta Chi. Transfer to Lan Den Thang village by 4WD car. Dinner and sleep in tent at H'mong village.[B,L,D]

Day 6: Bac Ha-Ha Noi
AM: trek (8 km) with Flower H'mong villagers to Bac Ha. attending Bac Ha Sunday fair. PM: transfer to Lao Cai. Train to Hanoi. sleep on board.[B,L.D]

Day 7: Hanoi-Danang-Hoi An
AM: arrival in Hanoi. Transfer to airport. Flight to Danang. PM: transfer to Hoi An, visit to Hoi An ancient town: temples, workshops and old houses. Overnight in Hoi An [B]

Day 8: Hoi An-Pleiku
A long road trip to Pleiku. Visit to Tay Son Museum followed by martial arts show & Duong Long Towers en route. Sleep in Pleiku.[B]

Day 9: Pleiku-Kontum
AM: transfer to la Monong, visit to J'rai minority village: local home, coffee farm and grave statues. Transfer to Kontum. Lunch at orphanage. PM: visit to Bahnar tribe exhibition and ancient wooden cathedral. Transfer to Konktu village. River bathing Gong show & drink with Bahnar minority people. Dinner and O/N at Bahnar communal house.[B,L,D]

Day 10:Kontum-Pleiku-HCMC
AM: transfer to Pleiku. Flight to HCMC. PM: city tour: History Museum, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Temple. O/N in HCMC.[B]

Day 11: HCMC-Chau Doc
AM: transfer to Chau Doc. PM: excursion to Tri Ton, visit to Khmer village & Pagoda. O/N in Chau Doc.[B]

Day 12:Chau Doc- HCMC
AM: cruise on Mekong River to fish-breeding rafts and Cham minority village. PM: back to HCMC. O/N in HCMC. [B]

Day 13: Departure from HCMC
Downtownshopping ( embroideries, lacquerware, wood-carvings...) or at leisure before chech-out. Transfer to airport for departure. [B]

Meals included: B= breakfast L= lunch D= dinner