North Vietnam Itinerary 5 days 4 nights

Vietnamdrive introduces the North Vietnam Itinerary 5 days and 4 nights to explore the Northwest region: Hanoi – Son La – Dien Bien – Sapa – Mu Cang Chai.

The tour gives you poetic nature pictures of Moc Chau and Mu Cang Chai. You can also explore majestic landscapes in Dien Bien, Lai Chau.

Besides, you can know the heroic history coming from the people in Son La and Dien Bien. And then, you will travel to Sapa to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery in the mountainous areas.

Day 01: Hanoi – Moc Chau – Son La (D) – 320 Km

Morning:

7:30 am: The car and tour guide pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and depart for Moc Chau.

On the way, we will stop to rest and enjoy the mountainous view. After that, the car continues passing the winding passes to Thung Khe, stopping to enjoy grilled corn, and baked eggs (optional) – a simple local food in the high mountains.

11:00 am: When arriving in Moc Chau, the car keeps transferring to visit famous places here:

The pine forest in Ang village: with romantic scenery, you feel like losing in the pine hills with thousands of trees.

Moc Chau Farm: You can see huge meadows, tea hills, fields of flowers (depending on the season), and wildflowers showing colors. Breathe fresh air and the scent of flowers in the grasslands.

12:30 pm: The group has lunch, which is an optional meal to try some food because the food is also limited here. So, you can carry a lunch box to come together, or the guide will take you to a restaurant.

Afternoon:

2:00 pm: We continue to depart for Son La.

4:00 pm: We get to Son La and visit Son La Museum, Son La Prison, and Cay Dao To Hieu (famous peach tree).

Evening:

You check into the hotel and enjoy dinner with the local food of Northwest cuisine.

Then, you are free to walk around or rest and spend overnight at the hotel in Son La.

Day 02: Son La – Pha Din Pass – Dien Bien (B, L, D) – 200 Km

Dien Bien Phu is a well-known place in Vietnam where the army base of the French chose to set up the solid one. With the unique skills of the big fighting in 1954, Vietnam’s military won to carry peace for the country.

Nowadays, Dien Bien Province is a tourist destination in the Northern region of Vietnam for the war history. Besides, the life of mountainous people will give you various looks.

Let’s see it today!

Morning: 7:30: Get up early and have breakfast at the hotel.

Then, we get in the car and depart for Dien Bien through the legendary 32km Pha Din pass. The pass is one of the historical sites in Vietnam and has a spectacular landscape.

The name Pha Din pass originates from the Thai language: Phạ Đin, in which Pha means heaven, Din is the earth, meaning this pass is the meeting place between heaven and earth.

Noon: We arrive in Dien Bien and have lunch at a restaurant. Then, check in at the hotel and rest.

Afternoon: The tour guide takes you to:

• Visit the Dien Bien Phu Historical Museum. The museum has 5 display areas with around 270 artifacts and 120 paintings according to each theme: Strategic location, Enemy bases, Influence of victories, and Dien Bien Phu of nowadays.
• Explore Hill A1, one of the most important hills in the system of the Dien Bien Phu Base. Also, visit Martyrs Cemetery – it is optional, where there are hundreds of graves (644) of the soldiers who died heroically in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.
• Visit Do Cat Tunnel, Muong Thanh Bridge, Nam Ron River, and Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument. These places still carry a powerful echo of the war with the historical significance of the entire nation.

Evening: You have dinner with local food. Then, get the freedom to explore the city at night.

Overnight at the hotel in Dien Bien.

Day 03: Dien Bien – Lai Chau – Sapa (B, L, D) – 360 Km

Morning: After breakfast, check out the hotel.

We depart for Sapa along the journey across the Hoang Lien Son range – one of the high mountain ranges in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

We go through Muong Cha to Muong Lay villages. Stop at the bridge over the Nam Na River connecting the two provinces of Dien Bien and Lai Chau.

You can take photos of the new settlement of ethnic minorities after building the Nam Na hydropower plant. You will see new stilt houses designed like adjoining villas. Each visitor will have a unique feeling that only appears in special spaces and times when coming there.

Enjoy lunch at the restaurant.

Afternoon: We travel to Sapa.

On the way, we have the opportunity to admire the grandeur of O Quy Ho Pass with the lovely valley combined with white clouds. The green hills stretch along the pass, and the majestic beauty of Silver Falls is located halfway up the mountain.

Evening: After having dinner, you are free to explore the charms of Sapa at night. You can find and enjoy grilled corn, baked eggs in the fog, and the wind of the forest by the charcoal stove. Or go shopping for souvenirs.

Typically, on Saturday night, you can attend the Sapa Love Market – a traditional culture of the Hmong and Dao people in the highlands of Lao Cai in particular and the Northwest of Vietnam in general.

Overnight at a hotel in Sapa.

Day 04: Fansipan Peak at Ham Rong Moutain – Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D) – 200km

Morning: Have breakfast, then we can have two options to go:

• Option 1: Visit Ham Rong Tourist Area: Stop at the Orchid Garden, flower garden, and cloud yard, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Sapa in the mist. Conquer the top of Phanxipang and enjoy the folk dance performance of ethnic minorities.
• Option 2: You can choose to tour Fansipan Cable Car to explore the top of Fanxipan. The car will take you to Fansipan Cable Car station (3.5km), buy tickets, and get to the Cabin to conquer Fansipan and admire the mountain.

The cable car takes  you to an altitude of 2,800m above sea level, and you continue walking up to conquer the peak of 3,143m. So, please note this one also needs your energy to climb up. The view is beautiful on dry days.

11:30 am: You check out the hotel. Have lunch at a restaurant with famous cuisine in Sapa.

Afternoon: Get in the car to depart for Mu Cang Chai along Highway 32.

On the way, you can discover the life and culture of the Black Mong, Red Mong, Green Mong, and White Mong ethnic groups. Also, you have an opportunity to admire and take pictures at Khau Pha Pass – one of the great peaks in North Vietnam.

Evening: Arrive in Mu Cang Chai. Have dinner at a restaurant, and stay overnight at a homestay in Mu Cang Chai.

Day 05: Cang Chai Season – Ha Noi (B, L) – 280km

Morning: Have breakfast at homestay.

After that, the tour guide will take you to visit the paradise of terraces in Tu Le, La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, Di Xu Phinh, and Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam to visit. Many people compare the terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai to a regional girl, extremely beautiful and mysterious.

The waves of terraced fields on the mountainside spotted by the small wooden houses create incredible landscapes, gently creeping into the middle of the sky.

At noon: The group lunch at the restaurant and rest.

Afternoon: 2:00 pm: We depart for Hanoi. We can stop to rest along the way.

7:30 pm: Arrive in Hanoi. The car takes you to your own hotel.

It is time to say goodbye to you. Although we do not want to end the days with you, the North Vietnam 5-day itinerary is finished for your next journeys in Vietnam.