Summary

Hiking and Trekking in Vietnam

Despite the huge variety of facilities and methods of transport available to the modern day traveller, in the end, there is nothing to beat the oldest travel method of all - walking!

Whether that means strolling around the old Quarter in Hanoi or reaching some hill tribe village after trekking through dense rainforest and crossing mountain paths, there is a great satisfaction to having done it under your own steam. And there are some places that can only be reached on foot.

Vietnam offers innumerable opportunities for hiking and trekking, whether it be in the highlands of the north, the fertile plateau of the Central Highlands, or the flat wetlands of the Mekong Delta in the south.

The highlands of north-west Vietnam are real hiking territory. You can get out among the hill tribe villages and meet the various ethnic minorities. The Mai Chau valley is one good starting point. From here you can trek to H'mong minority villages such as Sa Linh, then on through tropical rain forest, using the local tracks to reach the Thai area where you can spend the night in a typical Thai stilt house. Next, you can walk on towards Mai Chau town which is surrounded by picturesque Thai villages.

The more energetic, may choose to tackle Phan Xi Pang or Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest mountain, dubbed "the Roof of Indochina". The trek begins in the town of Sapa from where you walk among the hill villages, home to the H'mong people. The mountain here is covered in forest and most treks climb to 1,650 metres before pitching tents and enjoying a meal around the camp fire.

The next day is the most strenuous as you continue to the summit. A lunch break at 2,220m allows you the chance to look back at the breathtaking views of the Sapa valley before climbing to 2,900m and another overnight stop. The third day takes you through bamboo forest to the Pahan Si Pan Summit at 3,143m. It is a strenuous climb, but worth the effort to find yourself standing on the roof of IndoChina.

In the Central Highlands, the Ba Na region around Kon Tum offers ideal hiking. You can pass through cassava and sugar plantations and have dinner in a communal village house, known as a Rong. You can the nearby Lak Lake and perhaps give your legs a rest by taking a short elephant ride then spend the night in a traditional longhouse.

The Mekong Delta, too is full of minority villages and waterways, but the land here is much more flat, allowing for more sedate hiking. You can visit the many floating markets, ethnic villages, farm lands etc.

Around Ho Chi Minh City are many reminders of the Vietnam War, most of which can be reached by foot for those interested in this period of history. One memorable site is the 75-mile long complex of tunnels at Củ Chi which has been preserved and turned into a war memorial park.

The most popular trekking, hiking package tours in Vietnam are jungle trekking, mountain hiking, countryside hitch-hiking, walking, rambling adventures; The most wanted destinations for trekking, hiking are located in the North Vietnam such as Sapa, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang. The central highland including Dalat, Kon Tum, Pleiku, Dak Lak can also be good places for short trekking, hiking tour.

Althrough the non-stop growth of our business, our mission remains unchanged - to customize high quality jungle trekking, mountain hiking, countryside hitch-hiking, walking, rambling tours at low cost for those who like discovering the real and authentic Vietnam.

Here we have only given a few suggestions for hiking and trekking in Vietnam. The possibilities are limitless.

* GTT Vietnam Hiking & Trekking Tour Package

Detailed Itinerary

Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival - Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi - Lao Cai
Day 3: Lao Cai - Bac Ha ( Sunday)
Day 4: Bac Ha - Nam Mon
Day 5: Nam Mon - Coc Ly - Sa Pa
Day 6: Sa Pa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van
Day 7: Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Ban Ho
Day 8: Ban Ho - Nam Tong - Nam Ken - My Son - Thanh Phu
Day 9: Thanh Phu - Ben Den - Pho Lu - Hanoi
Day 10: Hanoi - Tho Ha Village - Halong
Day 11: Halong - Hanoi
Day 12: Hanoi - Departure

Detail Itinerary

Day 2: Hanoi - Lao Cai
Today we spend a half day exploring the charming Hanoi City . The first stop is Ho Minh Complex containing the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow it with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities, some of which we will see on our forthcoming days. Afterwards we drive back to the town center to visit the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple and the vibrant old quarter streets. The reminder of day is free for your own exploration of town. By mid evening you are transferred to Hanoi rail station and board a night train to Lao Cai. The train conditions are very basic however we will travel in soft sleeper class which is compartment for 4 passengers. O/N on board .(B)

Day 3: Lao Cai - Bac Ha ( Sunday)
The train journey ends once arriving at Lao Cai Station. You are greeted by our local guide and begin a rugged but scenic drive towards Bac Ha. This remote hill town is a world famous site with the lively and colourful Sunday market. There are various ethnic minority groups including Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay but the dominants are the Flower Hmong people. These ethnic minorities wear distinctive costumes and come in town for trade on every Sunday. On arrival we stroll around this colourful congregation to see the different hill tribe groups and their amazing trading way. The remainder of day is for some trekking options. There are several footpaths but we walk from Hmong King’s former residence through corn fields to Ban Pho Village where we see the Flower Hmong making the potent local maize alcohol. O/N in Bac Ha. (B)

Day 4: Bac Ha - Nam Mon
Heading out of Bac Ha Town we embark on a walk using the local track to Nam Mon. This mountainous region is inhabited by the Variegated Hmong and Tay ethnic minorities. They have settled there longtime ago and made for the main local population. Along the way we make stop at several seldom visited villages, catching a chance to understand a little more about the culture and lifestyle of these tribal groups. Tonight we will be toasted as honored guests of a Thai family and sample some of their homemade rice wine! The accommodation is very simple and dormitory style, no western facilities but the experience is definitely unique. O/N at Tay Village. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Nam Mon - Coc Ly - Sa Pa
The following destination of our trip is Coc Ly. We spend one hour walking through Trung Do village to the Chay River. Here, we board a boat for a two hour cruise along this scenic watercourse to the colourful market of Coc Ly, which is also an important trading hub for many tribal groups. We visit this market and wind our way on a scenic drive uphill to Sa Pa. At an elevation of 1,500 meters, Sa Pa has warm days and cool evenings. This mountainous region is home of various ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao, Xa Pho , Tay and Zay people. They may be our fellow passengers since we will use their footpath in coming days. We check in hotel and begin our exploration of Sa Pa Town. The ethnic minority people are frequently seen in this hill town and small vendors along the street sell local textiles and handicraft. We visit the lively market of Sa Pa and pack for the trekking expeditions. O/N in Sa Pa. (B)

Day 6: Sa Pa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van
The extremely beautiful mountain region of Sa Pa is ideal for anyone seeking a true adventure and trekking expedition. Today we get well and truly off the beaten track and venture into the remote and beautiful mountain areas around Sa pa Town. The footpath traverses some hamlets of San Sa Ho and Lao Chai which are conquered by the Black Hmong ethnic minorities. We make stopover at these sleepy villages and see various ethnic minority people on daily business. They still retain their age old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct by their dress. We finish our walking day on arrival at Ta Van village where we are toasted as honored guests and are able to sample some of their homemade foods. O/N at Ta Van village. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Ban Ho
The undulating mountainsides will involve some uphill and downhill walking, but it is still an unforgettable expedition. We continues our trek passing through many different hilltribe villages. A part of the pleasure of our adventure is the simple joy of seeing the scenic mountain scenery and the varied customs of local people. The next stop is Giang Ta Chai which is home of the Red Dao People. They are some of Vietnam's most colorful tribal groups. We walk down to Ban Ho village and see many mountaineers their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The blend of rugged mountain backdrop and colourful population makes for an unimaginable view. O/N at Ban Ho. (B.L,D)

Day 8: Ban Ho - Nam Tong - Nam Ken - My Son - Thanh Phu
The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of ethnic minorities are a highlight of our expedition although the conditions are very basic. Upon leaving the village of previous night we blaze a trail with our local guide and walk into the lowland of Sa Pa, past Nam Tong, Nam Ken and My Son hamlets, getting a chance to explore the Red Dao, Xa Pho and Tay people. By mid afternoon we reach the charming Thanh Phu village and have time to stroll around this charming village, allowing us to understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle. They are very poor but have an interesting local culture and colorful history. O/N at Thanh Phu village. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Thanh Phu - Ben Den - Pho Lu - Hanoi
Today we spend few more hours walking along the local trail through the lush plantation to Ben Den. At this small village we take a short drive using the local transport towards Pho Lu. There are nothing to see in town but it is still a necessary stop to catch the night train back to Hanoi. The day room in a simple guesthouse will be arranged for our group to freshen up and leave luggage. By mid evening we board our train and travel overnight to Hanoi. The train conditions are basic; however this journey is in keeping with the adventurous nature of our trips and allows you to experience a taste of the 'real Vietnam'. The food on board is not the best you will have in Vietnam, so we recommend you to prepare some foods, water, snack. O/N on board. (B,L)

Day 10: Hanoi - Tho Ha Village - Halong
The train journey delivers you to Hanoi Station in early morning. You are met by our guide and transferred to a small hotel for breakfast. By mid morning we travel by roads along the scenic Cau River towards Tho Ha village. This former craft center has remained detached from the world by a boat ride for hundreds of years. We stroll around this charming village to see various ancient style houses and home works such as rice paper making and rice wine distilling. The pace of our walk is very relaxing and different from theprevious day activities. Upon leaving this area we set forth to Halong Bay and pass trough Dong Trieu pottery village. The remainder of day is free for a well earned rest on a beach O/N in Halong Bay. (B)

Day 11: Halong - Hanoi
The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. Today we board a traditional boat for a five hour trip around Halong Bay. The exciting cruise provides a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands, which rise amazingly from the clear and emerald water. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. We end up our excursion with a seafood lunch served on board and make our way back to Ha Noi, arriving in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets. O/N in Ha Noi. (B,L)

Travel facts

Green Trail Tours - Traveller Tips for Vietnam

GEOGRAPHY: Vietnam stretches over 1600 km.along the eastern coast of the IndochinaPeninsula. The S-shaped country is broad in the north and south and very narrow in the centre. Almost 80% of Vietnam consists of mountains and hills. The TruongSonMountains extend almost the length of Vietnam along the borders with Laos and Cambodia.

VISAS: All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam. A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas for regular visitors. All visitors must obtain visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department before a visa is issued.

MONEY: The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used informally throughout the country. Bank notes in denominations of 200d to 100,000d are presently in circulation. The exchange rate is approximately 18,000d = US$1. Australia Dollars are accepted in many hotels, restaurants. Banks are open Monday to Friday and some are open Saturday morning. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at banks, some international hotel and some exchange bureaux but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. Visa Card and MasterCard are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.

ELECTRICITY: Electric current in Vietnam is 220 volts and will operate all Australian appliances. Always carry a torch with fresh batteries. Recharge photographic batteries regularly.

CLOTHING: Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting the north of Vietnam. Visitors to Buddhist countries should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home

CLIMATE / WEATHER: Vietnam’s weather conditions are pleasant for visitors throughout the year. The WINTER monsoon comes from the northeast between October and March with wet chilly conditions in the north, but dry warm temperatures to the south. From April to October the southwest monsoons bring warm, humid weather to the whole country.

LANGUAGE: Because Vietnamese has six different tones, it is a difficult language for most foreigners to speak despite the fact that the Roman alphabet is used in modern Vietnamese. The same word can have six different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. In the cities and larger towns English is becoming popular and is now spoken by many younger people while some of the older generation still speak fluent French. Russian and Chinese are also spoken by some people

ACCOMMODATION: All group tour hotels have been especially selected. All have private western bathroom facilities. Laundry service can launder clothing within 24 hours. It is not customary for all hotels to have refrigerator and tea/coffee facilities.

FOOD / DRINK: The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market. Food is usually prepared with a minimum of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam. Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include pho, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast, cha gio, deep-fried spring rolls and goi ngo sen, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimps and peanuts. Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available.

SHOPPING: Souvenirs to look out for in Vietnam include lacquerware, silk, conical hats, woodcarvings, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, embroidery, marble, ceramics, silver jewellery, antique watches and paintings. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the best choice when it comes to shopping but Hoi An in the centre of Vietnam is also a very good place to hunt for bargains.

TOILETS: Public toilets can sometimes be difficult to find. Take every opportunity you can to use clean toilets in hotels and restaurants. Make this a habit on your stay.

HEALTH: Consult your medico or visit the Traveller Medical and Vaccination Centre for professional medical advice well in advance of your departure, Wash hands before and after eating. Carry ‘wet-ones’,anti bacterial handwash, insect repellant, band aids and emergency medicines eg. Diarrhoea. Drink plenty of water and have adequate rest. Seek medical care, if needed. Don’t take risks with health and personal hygiene.

SAFETY / SECURITY: Always maintain a high level of personal security. Cash or wallets in pockets, obvious jewellery and open bags attract unwanted attention. Beware of pickpockets in crowded places. Lock your case, Carry a hotel card so that taxis know where to take you.

LUGGAGE: All passengers are limited to TWO items of luggage each. One case with maximum weight weight of 20 kg. and maximum size of 70 litres. It is essential to lock this case. One piece of hand luggage with maximum weight of 5 kg. It is advisable that hand luggage consist of a ‘daypack’ to carry camera, water, toilet paper, umbrella, hat etc.

TIPPING: Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in these developing nations. It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped.

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