Vietnam Adventure Tour

Destination Vietnam
Days 11
Grade 3 · Kinda Fit
Accommodation Lodge · Hotel
Start · End 5:00 pm · 10:00 am

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Northern Vietnam, where vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and authentic local experiences await. Begin in bustling Hanoi with its lively Old Quarter and street food delights, then explore the peaceful waterways and ancient capital of Ninh Binh. Trek through the remote villages, terraced rice fields, and lush tea plantations of Ha Giang, before immersing yourself in the colorful markets and highland culture of Bac Ha. Experience the hidden trails and scenic valleys of Thai Giang Pho, and uncover the unique traditions of the Black Hmong and Red Dao in Muong Hoa Valley. Challenge yourself with the breathtaking Fansipan summit, visit Cat Cat Village, and savor sunrise walks over the misty Sapa mountains. This adventure combines cultural discovery, nature immersion, and unforgettable trekking, offering a perfect blend of exploration and relaxation.

What's included

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Experienced & qualified guides

Our guides are trained to give you the best on and off trail support.

First Aid Support

All our staff are Remote First Aid trained, have comprehensive first aid kits and carry UHF radios and PLBs when required.

Pre-departure Support

Everything you need to prepare for your trip, including visa advice, cultural awareness training, access to your dedicated pre-departure portal, and more.

Social & Fun

The TSA community is supportive and our groups are welcoming.

Transportation

To and from the airport, plus everything in between. Daily transport to your placement and back.

Field notes

Trip Highlights

Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter and vibrant street food scene

Rowboat through Trang An and visit the ancient capital Hoa Lu

Climb Hang Mua for panoramic views of limestone karsts and rice fields

Trek through Ha Giang’s remote villages, rice terraces, and tea plantations

Discover Bac Ha’s colorful markets and Flower Hmong villages

Hike hidden trails in Thai Giang Pho and Na Lo with stunning highland vistas

Experience Sapa’s Muong Hoa Valley trekking, Black Hmong and Red Dao villages, and waterfalls

Ascend Fansipan Peak by cable car, visit Cat Cat Village, and enjoy sunrise walks in Sapa

Itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi Street Tour

At 5:30 PM, we embark on an evening food and walking tour. Wander through the bustling Old Quarter and lively markets, where hawkers sell everything from live seafood to fragrant spices, tropical fruits, and handcrafted souvenirs. Sample an array of authentic street foods (think savory bánh mì, fresh spring rolls, sweet desserts and refreshing drinks) while your guide introduces you to Hanoian culture and daily life. Return to your hotel around 9:00 PM, taking in the evening glow of the city streets.

Meals · Dinner Stay · Hotel
Day 2 Ninh Binh exploration

Depart your hotel at 8:00 AM for a scenic two-hour drive to Ninh Binh (approx. 100 km). Arrive at Trang An, where you’ll board a traditional rowboat to glide along calm waterways, passing towering limestone karsts and small, mysterious caves. Listen to your guide share stories of local folklore and the region’s geology while absorbing the serene landscape.

Afterward, enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch featuring fresh local ingredients. In the afternoon, explore Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s 9th-century ancient capital, and learn about its historic temples and former kings. Conclude your day with a climb up 500 stone steps to Hang Mua (Mua Cave), where panoramic views of rice fields, rivers, and jagged limestone peaks await — a perfect photo opportunity. Return to Hanoi around 6:00 PM, reflecting on a day of history, culture, and natural beauty.

Driving duration: ~2 hours each way

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 3 Hanoi → Ha Giang

Leave the bustling streets of Hanoi behind and journey to the remote northern mountains of Ha Giang. The drive (6 hours / 290 km) gradually transitions from the flat, fertile Red River Delta to rolling hills, stilted villages, and dramatic limestone ridges. Stop for lunch in Tuyen Quang, sampling traditional Vietnamese dishes while taking a brief rest.

Continue deeper into the mountains, where rivers snake between cliffs, valleys widen, and cool, fresh mountain air invigorates you. Spot traditional stilt houses and meet local ethnic communities who have lived here for generations. Arrive at Pan Hou Retreat in the late afternoon, nestled in a peaceful forested valley, and unwind in your tranquil surroundings.

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 4 Ha Giang trekking

Trek: Pan Hou – Giang Ha return hike
After breakfast, begin your full-day trek into remote Red Dao villages. Pause to meet a local family, enjoy a cup of herbal tea, and witness traditional life, including the cultivation of medicinal plants used to treat aches, colds, or fatigue. Participate in meal preparation with the local guide if you wish.

The trek continues through lush rice terraces, gently rolling hills, and fragrant tea plantations, offering scenic viewpoints perfect for photography. Your support guide will provide assistance to clients and help facilitate interactions with local families, acting as an ambassador for TSA. Return to Pan Hou Retreat to relax in the peaceful surroundings of the mountains.

Walking duration: 4–5 hours (+400 m / –400 m)

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 5 Ha Giang → Bac Ha

Travel to Bac Ha, famous for its Flower Hmong villages, highland scenery, and vibrant cultural life. Upon arrival, check in to your eco-lodge before heading out for an afternoon trek from Ta Van Chu to Na Kim.

Stroll through orchards, terraced fields, and quaint villages, enjoying sweeping views of the valleys and distant mountain ridges. Along the way, your guide will share stories of local traditions, crops, and village life. Arrive at Na Kim for sunset views, then return to your lodge to unwind, enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Walking duration: 5–6 hours (+400 m / –400 m)

Drive: 4 hours / 145 km

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 6 Bac Ha hidden trails

Venture along narrow paths in Thai Giang Pho, where flowering orchards and terraced valleys create a spectacular spring landscape. Encounter local Flower Hmong and Phu La ethnic communities, gaining insight into daily routines, handicrafts, and cultural practices. The trail leads to the serene village of Na Lo, offering expansive views of layered hills and farmland.

Finish the day with dinner at your lodge and an optional tasting of traditional local corn or rice alcohol.

Duration: 3–5 hours (+300 m / –300 m)

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 7 Bac Ha → Sapa

Begin with a tranquil 1.5-hour boat ride along the Chay River, admiring peaceful river landscapes. Continue your journey to Sapa (3 hours / 100 km), a culturally rich town surrounded by misty valleys and rice terraces.

Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and explore at your leisure. Sapa’s streets are filled with boutique shops, colorful markets, and cafés. Later, indulge in a traditional Red Dao herbal bath, using local forest herbs to relax and rejuvenate after the journey. End the day with dinner and a visit to the lively night market.

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 8 Sapa → Ta Van trekking

Embark on a full-day trek through Muong Hoa Valley, passing rice terraces, Black Hmong villages, and fascinating rock carvings. Enjoy lunch in a local home, experiencing traditional hospitality. Continue through bamboo forests to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao village, with optional rest stops near waterfalls. Conclude the trek with a gentle climb to a road where your vehicle will return you to Sapa.

Drive: 1 hour

Walking duration: 5 hours (+300 m / –300 m)

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 9 Fansipan Peak & Cat Cat Village

Start with a visit to the Sapa Market, a vibrant gathering of ethnic minority communities. Take the cable car to Fansipan and explore temples at 2,800 meters before climbing the final 600 steps to the summit. Capture panoramic views of the Hoang Lien Mountains and the valleys below.

After lunch, visit Cat Cat Village, observe daily life, and trek to waterfalls and historic French hydropower ruins. Return to Sapa for a relaxing evening.

Walking duration: ~2 hours

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 10 Sapa → Hanoi

Begin with a peaceful sunrise walk, savoring the calm and misty beauty of Sapa. Return to your hotel for breakfast before driving back to Hanoi (5–6 hours / 320 km). Spend your final evening at leisure, enjoying the city’s vibrant atmosphere or reflecting on your adventure.

Meals · B · L · D Stay · Hotel
Day 11 Depart Hanoi

After breakfast, enjoy a few final hours for shopping or sightseeing depending on your flight time. Transfer to the airport for your departure. Goodbye, and we hope to welcome you on another TSA adventure soon!

Meals · Breakfast Stay · Hotel

Additional Information

Trip summary

This is more than a sightseeing trip, it’s an immersive journey through Northern Vietnam. You’ll combine trekking, cultural discovery, and scenic exploration in the region’s most spectacular areas. We like to go in months when the weather is generally mild and pleasant, with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid-20s °C, cool mountain mornings, and the occasional light spring drizzle, perfect for outdoor adventures without the intensity of summer heat.

Vietnam is a country of diverse landscapes and rich traditions, where bustling city streets sit alongside remote mountain valleys, and historic culture thrives in every village. In this tour, you’ll experience the vibrant street life and markets of Hanoi, the peaceful waterways and limestone karsts of Ninh Binh, the remote ethnic villages and terraced fields of Ha Giang, the highland culture and hidden trails of Bac Ha, and the breathtaking valleys and Fansipan Peak of Sapa — all while engaging with local communities who warmly welcome travellers.

The social aspect is central to the TSA experience. Meals, walks, and shared adventures are opportunities to connect, swap stories, and build friendships. Whether you’re rowing along tranquil rivers, trekking through bamboo forests, or exploring Hanoi’s vibrant streets together, you’ll find that travelling with old and new friends enhances every moment. Evenings at local lodges, eco-retreats, or boutique hotels provide the perfect space to relax, reflect, and enjoy authentic food and local hospitality.

Each stage of the journey reveals a different side of Vietnam, from the calm waters of Trang An and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, to the colorful highland markets of Bac Ha, the dramatic limestone passes of Ha Giang, and the misty valleys and sunrise views of Sapa. It’s an experience full of colour, connection, and adventure, carefully designed for travellers who want both active exploration and shared, meaningful experiences.

 

Single supplement

Yes, a single supplement is available for the 10 night tour. The additional cost is $950. You can request this on the ticket purchase or after by emailing us directly, and we will send a separate invoice.

 

What to bring

We will provide a full packlist prior to travel, and provide suggestions for bag type, weight limits etc. You will not need any special gear, clothing or equipment for this adventure.

 

Hanoi, Vietnam Meeting point & route
Map & Location

Getting there

Hanoi and Northern Vietnam

 

 

Book your next adventure

Next departure April 18, 2027 – April 28, 2027 · From $5,695.00 per person. Still got questions? We're happy to help.

Enquire

Still got questions? We're happy to help!

Not sure about grading, flights, or whether this trip is right for you? Ask away — we answer every enquiry personally.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Name(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.