Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Upon arrival at Hanoi airport (Noi Bai Airport), your tour guide and driver will welcome you in the arrivals area after which you’ll transfer to your hotel.
Overnight Silk Path Hotel, Silk Deluxe Room
Day 2: Hanoi
Today, embark on a city tour to Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda. Built by King Ly Thai To in 1049, the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. You’ll also get a chance to see the Temple of Literature – also known as the first university of Vietnam.
Next, you’ll visit the house of Mr. Liem – a solo water puppet artist – and enjoy an authentic Vietnamese lunch with a local family. Learn about Vietnam’s history of water puppetry. Watch how puppets are made and learn how to control puppets in a homemade pond before attending the show.
Take a leisurely walk through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, where you’ll meet a local family. Discover their way of life and the traditions of North Vietnam, and enjoy a walking tour to admire French architectural details and Chinese symbols. In addition, you’ll see some typical communal houses restored by UNESCO. Be sure to sample some local spring rolls and culinary specialties.
Overnight Silk Path Hotel, Silk Deluxe Room
Meals: B L
Day 3: Ha Noi to Duong Lam Village
Meet your guide at your hotel and start traveling west to Duong Lam Village – an agricultural area of the Northern Red River Delta where the culture and values of the ancient Vietnamese are still perfectly preserved. This is a good opportunity for you to fully experience old Vietnam as you walk along narrow alleyways past many hundred-year-old houses. Upon arrival to Mong Phu Temple, you will have the opportunity to speak with local people, visit their ancient houses, and learn about their lifestyles.
After lunch with a local family, begin your bike trip to Mia Pagoda. Constructed in 15th century, the pagoda contains 287 statues of varying sizes and is considered to be the landmark of Duong Lam Village. Continue biking to Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung Temples, which pay tribute to the two national heroes of Vietnam. Cycle back to Duong Lam Village and return to your hotel in Hanoi for your overnight train to Lao Cai, Sapa.
Overnight on train, sleeper cabin with AC
Meals: B L
Day 4: Lao Cai to Sapa – Volunteer Service
At 05:30am, you will arrive at Lao Cai railway station. Here, you will meet your driver and head to Sapa. On the way, enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant. After a rest, travel to a local village where you’ll meet community members and participate in a short trek to the village school. The hill villages are a collection of diverse and exotic communities. Despite their naturally beautiful environment, they have some of the lowest standards of living, health, and education in the country. The Village School needs a lot of help and assistance. You will get to join the builders in rebuilding and painting the walls of the school.
Later in the afternoon, trek to Topas Ecolodge.
Overnight Topas Ecolodge, Deluxe Bungalow
Meals: B L
Day 5: Sapa – Su Pan – Volunteer Service
Enjoy an early morning breakfast at the hotel before heading to the village. Stroll back to the school and continue helping villagers with the rebuilding and repainting of the school’s walls.
Lunch will be provided at the school.
Overnight Topas Ecolodge, Deluxe Bungalow
Meals: B L
Day 6: Sapa – Volunteer Service and Farewell Party
After an early breakfast at the hotel, travel back to the village. Walk to the school and continue helping villagers with the repainting and rebuilding of the school’s walls.
At noon, you will have a small farewell party among your new friends. Around 7:00 pm, your driver will transfer you to Sapa.
Overnight Victoria Hotel, Deluxe Room
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Sapa – Sapa O Chau
After breakfast, head to Sapa O’Chau. Sapa O’Chau accommodates 35 students and provides daily support to more than 70 students overall. Most of the students are from Black H’mong villages, but some are from Red Dao and other minority villages. Most of the students come from particularly disadvantaged situations and live at the Center during the week. Without this this opportunity the students would not be able to further their education as it would mean walking over 10 kilometers to and from their village daily in order to attend classes. The organization runs free English and Vietnamese literacy, arts & crafts, and life skills classes. Sapa O’Chau’s mission is to get all their students back to school and into careers.
Upon arrival to Sapa O’Chau, you will spend some time with the children while helping them to improve their English. You can organize games, watch an English movie with them, and discuss and exchange different methods of studying English.
At noon, enjoy lunch with the children, other volunteers, and the staff. You will have the option to either cook with the children or prepare some western food for them.
Overnight Victoria Hotel, Deluxe Room
Meals: B, L
Day 8: Sapa O Chau – Trekking with Red Dao Minority
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Sapa O’Chau, where you’ll enjoy trekking with the Red Dao Minority.
The day will begin with a 3km trek to the village of Suoi Ho, home of the H’mong minority people. Here you can delight in the stunning views of the rice terraces and witness the local people’s daily life. Later, continue to Matra Village, where you’ll come across the impressive ruins of a convent from the times of the French occupation in the early 1900s.
The next stop will be Ta Phin Village where you will be able to meet both H’mong and Red Dao minorities. The Red Dao minority are known for their expertise in herbal medicine as well as usage of plants from the land to treat many illnesses. Your guide will introduce you to some Red Dao women who will tell you more about their many remedies.
Next, you will be welcomed into the home of Chao Thi May and her Red Dao family, where dinner will be cooked on an open fire. You can soak your body in an herbal bath and sleep soundly, enjoying the serenity of sleeping out in the mountains.
Overnight in a homestay – local house
Meals: B L D
Day 9: Sapa O Chau – Trekking with Red Dao Minority – Lao Cai
After an early homemade breakfast, begin your trek to Trung Chai Village. You will have many different choices of routes, depending on the weather and your preferences. Trung Chai is home to Red Dao and H’mong minorities, and they have chosen a location with an exceptional landscape! You will be provided with a picnic lunch on route to the village. Upon arrival in Trung Chai, prepare to head back to Sapa Town.
Upon arriving in Sapa Town, your driver will take you to the Lao Cai Train Station where you will take the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on train, sleeper cabin with AC
Meals: B L D
Day 10: Hanoi
After an early morning arrival, transfer to hotel for breakfast and enjoy leisure time to yourself.
Overnight Victoria Hotel, Deluxe Room
Meals: B
Day 11: Hanoi Departure
You will have today to yourself before your driver transfers you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Meals: B
