Memories of Northwestern Vietnam Trip 6 Days

At 07:00, you'll leave Hanoi for Son La, the starting point of your 6-day trip to northwest Vietnam. After leaving Hanoi, the road passes through the relatively flat Red River Delta region before climbing into the limestone Karst Mountains. Get to Son La by late afternoon, and spend the rest of the day doing anything you choose.

• Hanoi to Son La (300 km): 6.5 hours
• Staying the night in Son La.
• Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

The day starts with an early morning departure for Dien Bien Phu at 08:00. Stop by the Son La prison en route; the French erected it in 1908 to house Vietnamese nationalists who opposed colonialism. The prison, which was bombed to pieces by American jets during the Vietnam War, has been rebuilt.

After the tour, head to Muong Phang, some 35 kilometers outside of Dien Bien Phu, for a traditional meal. After lunch, you should check to see General Giap's command post from the Dien Bien Phu conflict. There are tunnels dug into the forest to shield the place from French bombs.

After the tour, you'll be taken to your accommodation in Dien Bien Phu.

• Son La to Dien Bien Phu (152 km): 4 hours
• Overnight in Dien Bien Phu
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Visit the museum of Dien Bien Phu after you have had breakfast at the hotel, and then go ahead to 'A1 Hill,' which was the scene of some of the bloodiest combat that occurred between French and Vietnamese forces during the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1946. Carry on with the excursion to visit the Muong Thanh airbase as well as a battleground region. After having lunch at a nearby eatery, head back to the hotel to freshen up for the 20-minute trip to Men Hamlet, where you will have the chance to mingle with members of several Thai ethnic groups.

• Overnight in Dien Bien Phu
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, leave for Sapa at roughly 08:00. This journey offers some of the most breathtaking views of the entire trip, with lush valleys and towering mountains all around. Stop by the local market (if it's a market day) or a community inhabited by a minority group to gain insight into their way of life. Reach Sapa in the late afternoon. Check-in your hotel and relax.

• Dien Bien Phu to Sapa 280 km : 8 hours
• Overnight in Sapa.
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

The day will begin with a hearty breakfast before you and your guide set out on an "off the beaten track" hike to explore locations outside of Sapa town that are less visited. The journey to Ban Khoang Valley from Sapa on the twisting route takes around 30 minutes. Take in the spectacular scenery of the Hoag Lien Mountain Range, also known as the Tonkinese Alps, as you go.

The first stop of the journey will be in Lu Khau Village, Ban Khoang Valley, which is home to both the Blue Hmong and the Red Zao. Take a stroll through the hamlet and get to know the hospitable locals while gaining insight into the vibrant culture and way of life of the countryside.  After leaving Ban Khoang Valley, travel another 8 kilometers along the road to Ta Giang Phinh Valley for a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

Spend the afternoon taking a leisurely stroll around the Ta Giang Phinh Valley's picturesque surroundings. Take a stroll along the trail that snakes down the spectacular valley, which is home to individuals who belong to the Blue Hmong ethnic minority. Pay a visit to some of the homes in the area to look at the handicraft workshops and watch the villagers as they work in the fields with buffalo to tend to their crops.

Note: Trekking in Sapa requires proper footwear. Also, please be aware that the schedule may be altered if the weather is rainy.

• Overnight in Sapa.
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

This morning is free so you can rest up or go out and about in Sapa on your own. Explore the local markets or take a cable car to the top of Mt. Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina (for a fee).

Please check out of the hotel by noon. Start the five-hour trip back to Hanoi in the afternoon.

Please be aware that the route may be altered due to weather and road conditions, especially in the months of July through September, when monsoons are common.