This section has a set of suggestions of routes that have been enjoyed by our visitors in the past. Come with us and find the "Hidden Charm" of Vietnam. This page takes you to:
The Far North
This tour takes you to the most northerly part of Vietnam. It is an area only visited by occasional foriegners - you may not see another tourist in your time there. But it contains some of Vietnam's most spectacular scenery, most notably the Ma Pi Leng pass.
May 2016
- Tour the Far North (seven nights/eight days)
- Visit the spectacular Ma Li Peng Pass
- Look for new jungle tracks where cars cannot go
- See the final outposts of the Himalaya
- Shop at the famous Bac Ha market
There you will see spectacular country which few tourists are able to visit. We must note that this is a gently adventurous trip, unforeseen delays and closure of areas are not uncommon. We leave Ha Noi on the excellent road to Ha Giang and from there circle the mountains to enter the Ma Pi Pheng pass with its great gorge and rugged high plateau. We stay in the most northerly District of Vietnam where the fine mountain air and peaceful atmosphere can revive the most jaded traveller. Then by more peopled mountain roads over to Xin Man near the Chinese border, here you will have the opportunity of taking old jungle tracks that show the Jeep at its best! And then to the Bac Ha market with its hundreds of stalls selling produce from all the minority groups of the area.
From Bac Ha we decend to the valley of the Song Hong where you can see Ha Noi’s river as it is when newly arriving in Vietnam. Up again to Than Uyen and from there we follow the valley of the river Kim with its beautiful terraced paddy fields down to our last night at Nghia Lo before returning to Ha Noi and so completing this circle.
- Open Jeep for two or three passengers
- Jeep fully covered in bad weather
- English speaking driver
- Please note some of these areas are closed to foreigners on unpredictable occasions
- Suggested route includes Vinh Tuy, Ha Giang, Meo Vac, Dong Van, Ha Giang, Xin Man, Bac Ha, Than Uyen, Nghia Lo
- Add extra days to include Sa Pa, and/or staying in the ATK safe territories.
Below the map shows a route you might take in red. The brown line indicates extensions that can be made from the basic route, each needs an additional day.
