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MOUNTAIN VILLAGE TREK — 5 Days/4 Nights (EVN/MVT)

This is a program for hikers and walkers, and if you enjoy being away from the big cities and into the beautiful hills and vales of Northern Vietnam. Sapa was a former French colonial hill resort, and trip takes you right to the border of Vietnam and China.

Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa (B)
Leave Hanoi by road for the picturesque day's journey to Sapa, in the far north western corner of Vietnam. There are many photo opportunities along the way and after a lunch stop at Yen Bai visit Black Dao and Flower H'mong villages en route. Arrive at Lao Cai in the late afternoon where you can gaze across the Red River at China on the opposite bank. From Lao Cai the road winds up the terraced hillsides to Sapa, a former French hill resort and home to some of Vietnam's most colourful ethnic groups. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 2: Sapa-Sin Chai (B,L,D)
Leave Sapa by Jeep after breakfast and head down a dirt-track to Su Pan. Continue by foot from here through the beautiful mountain scenery of terraced rice fields tended by colourfully-dressed local minority farmers. Lunch is a family home at a Thay minority village called Than Phu. After lunch trek up to an altitude of over 1000m before arriving at the isolated and seldom visited village of Sin Chai. The trek cook prepares a hearty evening meal before settling down for the night in a local house or tent. Overnight at Sin Chai.

Day 3: Sin Chai (B,L,D)
Sin Chai is a village belonging to the Dao people, whose women wear beautifully embroidered clothes with distinctive silver jewellery and an enormous red turban. The day begins early in Sin Chai with the first cock crow. After breakfast a two-hour easy morning trek to Suoi Thau, another Dao village, gives magnificent views across the valley. After lunch at Suoi Thau, return to Sin Chai for further exploration and dinner. Overnight at Sin Chai.

Day 4: Sin Chai - Sapa (B,L)
Say goodbye and leave Sin Chai for the trek back to Sapa after breakfast with a tea-break and perhaps a swim in the river at Than Phu. Lunch is prepared at a local home in Ban Ho village and after lunch continue the trek to Su Pan where the jeeps are waiting for the drive back to Sapa. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi (B)
Return to Hanoi after breakfast via Lao Cai and Yen Bai.