7-Day Northwest Vietnam & Ninh Binh Tour: Khau Pha Pass, Mu Cang Chai & Trang An

Morning activities:

The driver and tour guide pick you up from the hotel, depart from Hanoi, follow National Highway 32 to the Northwest. The group stops to take photos at Long Coc Tea Hill where you can see the amazing of tea plantation in Phu Tho Province.

After that you leave Phu Tho and travel ahead to Van Chan town, where there is a beautiful landscape. You will have lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon activities:

The group continues to Nghia Lo, visit Thai village in Muong Lo – one of the largest fields in the Northwest. Visit the ancient Shan Tuyet tea hill and take photos of the sunset over the beautiful valley.

Evening activities:

You return to check in at the homestay. Enjoy dinner with Thai ethnic specialties. Exchange cultural activities, Xoe dance around the campfire (if organized). Overnight at the homestay in Nghia Lo.

Morning activities:

You will depart early to Tu Le valley, known as the paradise of the golden season. Stroll around Lim Mong village, take photos of terraced fields in the early morning sunlight. Then, you will conquer Khau Pha pass – one of the “four great mountain passes” of the Northwest. Have a light breakfast on the way.

Afternoon activities:

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit La Pan Tan village and Mam Xoi hill – this is the tourist symbol of Mu Cang Chai. Here, you have the opportunity to take photos of the arc-shaped terraced fields and learn about the life of the H’Mong people. It is a wonderful moment when you watch the sunset from high points.

Evening activities:

You return to the center of Mu Cang Chai town. Check in at the homestay, enjoy a rustic dinner. Stay overnight at the homestay in Mu Cang Chai.

Morning activities:

Wake up early, take pictures of the sunrise at Sang Nhu or Kim Noi village – where there are beautiful horseshoe-shaped terraced fields. Then, you will have breakfast and continue to visit Che Cu Nha, De Xu Phinh – these are villages recognized as national landscapes.

Afternoon activities:

After lunch at a local restaurant. The group departs for Moc Chau via Son La. On the way, you can admire the majestic Northwest mountains and forests, stopping to take photos at beautiful spots if time permits.

Evening activities:

Upon arrival in Moc Chau, you will check in to the homestay. Have dinner with delicious highland dishes such as fried veal, boiled cat cabbage, grilled stream fish. Overnight at the homestay in Moc Chau.

Special note: It is a hard time today when you spend around 5,5 hours on the car from Mu Cang Chai to Moc Chau. Therefore, if you would like trip pacing better you should extend 1 more full day in Mu Cang Chai to discover rice terrace fields, and then next day only by car moving from Mu Cang Chai to Moc Chau.

Morning activities:

You will have breakfast at the homestay. Then, the group departs to visit Bach Long Glass Bridge – the longest glass bridge in the world, challenging your courage when walking on the transparent glass surface in the middle of the mountains and forests.

Next, visit Dai Yem waterfall – where there is a poetic waterfall flowing through the primeval forest.

(Note: Depend on season the waterfall can less water and not attractive if you visit on dry season from November to March next year).

Afternoon activities:

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Moc Chau Dairy Farm. Here, you have the opportunity to enjoy pure fresh milk, take pictures with the grass fields and cows. Continue to Ban Ang pine forest – known as “miniature Da Lat“, walk around the lake, take pictures of wild sunflowers, canola flowers (depending on the season).

Evening activities:

Have dinner at a local restaurant, freely explore Moc Chau at night. Overnight at a hotel in Moc Chau.

Morning activities:

After breakfast at the hotel restaurant, you will leave Moc Chau to travel to Mai Chau, the travel time takes about 2 hours. Stop to take photos at Thung Khe pass – where there is “winter in the middle of summer“. Visit Lac village – the cultural center of the White Thai people, experience the traditional village life. Have lunch at a Thai ethnic stilt house.

Afternoon activities:

Continue your journey to Ninh Binh, the travel time is about 4-5 hours. On the way, admire the Northern Delta gradually appearing behind the mountains and forests.

Evening activities:

When you arrive in Ninh Binh, you will check into the hotel. Have dinner with a mountain goat and burnt rice. Overnight at a hotel in Ninh Binh.

Morning activities:

After having an energetic breakfast at the hotel restaurant. You will depart to visit Tam Coc – “Ha Long Bay on land” by bamboo boat. Admire the majestic mountains and rice fields on both sides of the Ngo Dong River. Visit Hang Mua – where there is a “stairway to heaven”, conquer 486 stone steps to see the whole view of Tam Coc from above.

Afternoon activities:

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – the first capital of Dai Co Viet. Learn about the history and architecture of the temples of King Dinh and King Le.

Evening activities:

You will have dinner at a local restaurant. After that, you are free to relax or explore Ninh Binh city. Overnight at a hotel in Ninh Binh.

Morning activities:

You will have breakfast at the hotel restaurant and check out. Visit Trang An scenic complex – a dual heritage recognized by UNESCO. Take a boat through limestone caves, admire the beautiful scenery of mountains, rivers, caves and pagodas.

Afternoon activities:

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Bai Dinh pagoda – the largest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia with the tallest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam. Then, the group departs for Hanoi. The journey ends at around 18:00.