TREASURE OF HILL TRIBES

Over 54 minority ethnic groups gives Vietnam a diversified culture collection, each is a unique treasure. This trip is organized for hill-tribe lovers who want to rough it for a while in Vietnam . A combination of adventure (soft trekking, white water rafting) and aboriginal cultures in the northern mountain chains and the central highlands will give visitors quite a thrill. In the north, their experience will be plentiful - mingling with garishly-attired people from the H’mong, Dao, Tay , Day tribes at animated markets and remote villages.  Note: Depart in Thursday.

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (B, L, D)

Price / Person (for 2+)
Executive	Contact us for current pricing
Deluxe
Standard
(Single person surcharge applicable)

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Have short rest. Visit the Ethnology Museum where a seminar about Vietnam’s 54 minority groups will be offer followed some walk around the indoor and open-air displays. You will gain the general about the diversity of Vietnam’s ethnological culture here. If time permits, sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising the Temple of Literature, the old quarters and a downtown pedicab ride (1 hour). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Lao Cai (B, L, D)
Depart for Hoa Binh (75km), a quiet town surrounded by lakes and mountains. Take a boat ride on the Da River to visit villages of the Dao and Muong tribes in natural lakeside surroundings. Enjoy a tribal folk show performed at a traditional house-on-stilts. Return to Hanoi. Spend time shopping or at leisure before transferring to the Hanoi Railway Station. Board a night train for Lao Cai (370km). Overnight on board

Day 3: Lao Cai – Can Cau - Sapa (B, L, D)
After a 10 hours’ ride, wake up early in the morning by the bird’s song and the fresh air fill the mountainous landscape along the railway. Arrive in Lao Cai, a small border town by the Red River. Pick up and travel up to Can Cau (90km) via a winding road with breath-taking mountain views. Visit Can Cau Fair (on Saturday only) with thousands of Flower H’mong gathering and trading farm products and colorful clothing in natural surroundings. It is no doubt one of the most attractive places for photo hunters in Vietnam. Leave Can Cau by road for an interesting trip to Sapa (130km). Nestling on Mount Fansipan, Sapa offers spectacular scenery and is home to different hill-tribes. The evening entertainment is a tribal folk show at a bar. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4: Excursion to Tam Duong (B, L, D)
Thread one’s way up a winding road to Tam Duong (70km) through Hoang Lien Son, the highest pass in Vietnam (2047 metres). Visit Binh Lu Fair and Tam Duong Dat Fair (on Sunday only), considered living museums of the H’mong (Black, Flower), Thai (Black, White), Yao (Black, Coin, Blue, Red) and Lu tribes. Each group is easily identified by its sophisticated and colourful dress. Return to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa (B, L, D)
Explore Red Dao and the Black H’mong villages at Ta Phin. Socialize with the villagers, wander around villages (2km) and get to know their simple lifestyle in harmony with nature. The rest of the day is leisure or shopping for delicate embroideries and batik at Sapa Fair. Climbing the steps to Mount Ham Rong with a panoramic view of Sapa is recommended. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 6: Sapa – Lao Cai - Hanoi (B, L, D)
Transfer to the Lao Cai Railway Station (40km) by coach. Return to Hanoi (370km) by railway. Survey the rustic scenery of forested hills and rice fields stretching along the Red River. On arrival in Hanoi, transfer to a hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Da Nang – Quang Ngai (B, L, D)
Early in the morning transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a short flight to Da Nang. Pick up and transfer to Hoi An (30km), a trading post of seafaring Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese merchants several centuries ago. The rest of the morning is leisure to relax by a pool side or on the sandy beach of Cua Dai. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely walk around Hoi An town with ancient houses, temples, markets and handicraft workshops. Onwards to Quang Ngai (120km). Overnight in Quang Ngai.

Day 8: Quang Ngai - Kontum (B, L, D)
Travel up to Kontum (200km) via a newly-built road (National Route 24) across the picturesque Kon Plong Plateau. Admire the sights of H’re tribe villages around Ba To and endless forested mountains en route. The day ends in the small town of Kontum where French missionaries first set foot in the Central Highlands in 1848. In the evening, attend a tribal folk show performed by children at Vinh Son Orphanage. Overnight in Kontum.

Day 9: Kontum (B, L, D)
Before leaving for Plei Konang by car (14km), visit an exhibition on the lifestyle, customs and spiritual beliefs of the Bahnar people. Take an exciting trek to Kon Monang (6km) on a jungle trail to discover more about exotic flora and fauna. Then paddle an inflatable raft or dug-out canoe on the Dak Bla River to the Bahnar tribe village of Kon Ktu. Stop on a white sandy bank circled by hills, forests and clear water for a picnic lunch and a swim. Visit Kon Ktu Village, many still retaining the ancient way of life. The day ends with a gong show with villagers including young women and old men in traditional dress dancing around a bonfire. Transfer to Kontum. Overnight in Kontum.

Day 10: Kontum – Pleiku (B, L, D)
Leave for Pleiku (50km), a busy town, home to the J’rai hill-tribe, on a fertile basaltic plateau at the height of 1,000 metres above sea level. Onwards to Plei Kia Village (60km) for a fun elephant ride through J’rai villages, rice fields, forests and streams. Have a picnic lunch under a canopy of leaves by Ia Nhi Falls. Return to Pleiku. Overnight in Pleiku.

Day 11: Pleiku – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D)
At leisure until transfer to Pleiku Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (daily except Tuesday and Thursday as per the 2002 flight schedule). An afternoon tour round Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, features the History Museum, the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D)
Spend last minutes for downtown shopping (embroideries, silk, lacquerware,...) or at leisure before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure.

All tours include: Present of handmade work - Accommodation based on twin sharing either Executive, Deluxe or Standard - Air Conditioned transportation - Meals in full board - All admission fees - English speaking guide - Tourist insurance. NOT included are: Single person surcharge - Drinks - Personal expenditures - International air ticket and airport tax - Tips