SAPA & Y TY - THE TRIBAL LOOP

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, your driver and guide will meet you and they will transfer you to your hotel downtown. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, where travelers can find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, and unique museums within the city center. In the morning, breakfast at the hotel. Start the city tour with Ba Dinh Square, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, view of the presidential palace, Uncle Ho's house-on-stilts, One Pillar PagodaTemple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Set menu lunch at a restaurant in the city. In the afternoon, Hoa Lo Prison (An add-on if you are interested in); Ethnology Museum (about Vietnamese ethnic minorities). End the day with a water puppet show.  ​

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi early in the morning (about 7.30 AM). This morning, you will travel to Sapa on the HW Noi Bai – Lao Cai. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province, will be a good start for your trip. Arrive in Sapa by noon. Have lunch at a restaurant in town. After that, you will be transferred by the car to a trekking point to Y Ling Ho Village, Muong Hoa Valley. Muong Hoa is the biggest valley in the Sapa region and bottomed by a rocky river. This is one of the most scenic trekking paths in Sapa. Begin with a slope to the valley, the scenery of the rice terraces along your way is very beautiful and could be the highlight of the day. Cross the river on a small suspension bridge and continue on the trek uphill. This is rather challenging when it is wet but definitely offers you a spectacular view over the valley. Finish your trek at Lao Chai Village where your private vehicle awaits you. Get picked up at the end of the trek and make your way back to Sapa town. Check-in a hotel for the night. 

Breakfast is served at the hotel, as usual, check out of your hotel and depart for Y Ty, the northernmost region of Lao Cai province and also one of the scenic rice terrace spots in Vietnam. If today is Sunday, you will have a stop to visit Muong Hum market in the midway. This market is a tribal one where many different colorful ethnic minority people gather around to trade; If it is not on Sunday, you just drive through and have some stops on the way for photo opportunities. Arrive at Y Ty around noon. After lunch and rest, the tour guide will take you down a valley for a trek to view the highlights of Y Ty. Get picked up at the end of the trek and check-in your accommodation for tonight.​ ​

• Approx.: 7 km/ 2.5 hours.

This morning, take it easy with your breakfast. Check out of the room at 9:00 a.m for a 7-hour drive back to Hanoi. Lunch is at a restaurant in Lao Cai City. Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi and finish the tour.​ 

If today is your departure day, be at leisure until the pick-up time for the airport transfer. Otherwise, this trip will be extended to other locations from Hanoi. The recommended places are as follows: 

Northern Vietnam: Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Pu Luong, Ha Giang, Cao Bang 
Central Vietnam: Phong Nha Caves, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang 
Southern Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc island, Con Dao island​