Premium Walking & Hiking in Vietnam





Hike through the green heart of Vietnam, from bustling Hanoi to the stunning terraces of Hoang Su Phi and Tu Le
Experience both the bustle of Hanoi and the gentle lifestyle of northern Vietnam’s hill tribe communities on this nine-day Premium hiking adventure through Vietnam. Hike with a knowledgeable local leader through valleys, tea plantations, limestone peaks and verdant rice terraces in Nam Ti and Hoang Su Phi, and capture the panoramic views from Horse Shoe Viewpoint and Raspberry Hill. Spend the night at two Feature Stays, including the Garrya Mu Cang Chai Eco Lodge, surrounded by beautiful mountains and rice terraces, learn about northern Vietnam’s rural village culture in La Pan Tan and Tu Le, and enjoy Vietnam’s local cuisine with a traditional barbecue in Sapa and a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hanoi.
Start: Hanoi, Vietnam
End: Hanoi, Vietnam
- Duration
- 9 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Premium
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Walking & trekking
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Our best hand-picked accommodation and the highest level of service
The must-see highlights, plus authentic experiences only available on Premium trips
Trips led by our most experienced and top-rated local leaders
Why you'll love this trip
- Explore Sapa – a mountain town known for its rich hill-tribe culture. Visit the Sapas Stone Church, learn about the French influence on the area’s architecture and wander the local market.
- Hike through valleys surrounded by towering limestone peaks, bamboo groves and rice terraces in Nam Ti and Tu Le.
- Visit the National Heritage Site of Hoang Su Phi and stroll through its renowned rice fields.
- Indulge in Vietnam’s local cuisine with a traditional barbeque in Sapa and Michelin Star restaurant in Hanoi.
- Learn about northern Vietnam’s rural culture through meaningful local interactions – meet welcoming families in Lim Thai Village in Tu Le and hear about the village's history and way of life.
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and taken to your comfortable hotel, where your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in Vietnam's storied capital. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures to sample local street eats from markets and food carts, take a stroll around the serene Hoan Kiem Lake or explore the Old Quarter lined with shops, imperial temples and French architecture. This evening, head out to dinner with the group at Tam Vi, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its authentic ‘mother’s cooking’ style dishes and take the time to get to know your leader and group.
- The Ann Hanoi or Similar (1 night)
- Dinner
- Hanoi - Welcome dinner at Tam Vi Restaurant
- Hanoi - Fast Track Airport Service on Arrival
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80003
- Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Today you’ll travel by private vehicle to Hoang Su Phi – a mountain village known for its stunning terraced rice fields. Today is a bit of a long but definitely worthwhile travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts or watch the scenery pass you by. Stopping for lunch along the way, you’ll soon arrive in Hoang Su Phi, a mountainous region on Vietnam’s northern border and far from the usual tourist trail. When you arrive, set off on a village walk to Nam Ti – known for its stunning patchwork of sprawling vibrant green tea plantations. After walking through this amazing scenery check into your first feature stay eco-lodge, voted one of Vietnam’s Leading Green Resorts for 2025. Perhaps enjoy a post hike relax in the hot springs before dinner, then attend a cultural Flame Dance Ceremony and a traditional blessing ceremony to prepare for your upcoming trekking adventures.
- Panhou Retreat or Similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Hoang Su Phi - Traditional Flame Dance Ceremony
- Hoang Su Phi - Na Namem Ti Guided Village Walk
Your walking distance today will be approximately 6 km.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.
This morning, set off on an incredibly scenic hike through Hoang Su Phi’s rice terraces. This region – that remains largely untouched by mass tourism – is known for its verdant green hillsides and traditional stilt houses. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Raspberry Viewpoint where vivid red hues contrast with lush greenery to create a stunning natural mosaic. With panoramic views of the layered rice fields and surrounding highland landscape, this is the perfect spot to pause your hike and snap a few photos. This afternoon is free for you to spend how you like. Maybe head back to your comfortable eco-lodge to relax or unwind in a rejuvenating herbal bath.
- Panhou Retreat or Similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Hoang Su Phi - Raspberry Hill Viewpoint walk
- Hoang Su Phi - Rice Terraces Guided hike
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 11 km.
After breakfast transfer by private vehicle though the mountainous scenery to the bustling town of Sapa (1600m), nestled in the shadow of the highest peak in the region, Mount Fansipan (3143m). After checking in, set out on a guided walk through the town, renowned for its colourful hill-tribe cultures. Visit the iconic Sapa Stone Church, a testament to the French influence in Vietnam’s architecture in the 1920s, then, explore the town’s local market filled with fresh produce and handmade crafts. Later, enjoy a traditional Sapa-style barbeque and learn about the area's culinary culture. This specialty is grilled over open flames and served street-style with local meats and vegetables.
- Sapa Jade Hill or Similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Sapa - Sapa Market
- Sapa - Walking tour of Sapa
- Sapa - BBQ street food meal
- Sapa - Sapa Church
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
This morning you’ll drive from Sapa to Nam Cang – a remote community primarily home to the colourful Red Dao people, with a small population of Black Hmong residents. From here, set off on a circular hike through terraced rice fields, dense bamboo forests and misty hills. As you hike past traditional hill tribe villages, your guide will introduce you to the region’s history and the rich culture of northern Vietnam's local communities. On arrival back into Sapa you have some free time to explore before retiring to your comfortable hotel bed for the evening.
- Sapa Jade Hill or Similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Sapa - Full - day Guided Hiking: Nam Mat - Suoi Thau - Nam Cang
Your hiking distance will be approximately 10 km.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
After breakfast you’ll drive south through the misty grey mountain peaks, passing O Quy Ho, one of the 'Four Greatest Passes of Vietnam' to Mu Cang Chai, a stunning region at 1500m above sea level, which the temperature is ideal for hiking with breathtaking landscapes views. This afternoon, take a break from hiking and settle into your second Feature Stay at the Garrya Mu Cang Chai Eco Lodge. Surrounded by mountains, and terraced rice fields this is a haven of relaxation. Enjoy some ‘you time’ with a spa treatment or massage to soothe your trekking muscles.
- Garrya Mu Cang Chai or Similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
No included hiking today
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Start your morning with a short drive then discover the traditional culture and one of the most stunning landscapes of Vietnam on a trek below the majestic 'Dinosaur Spine of De Xu Phinh'. Set out on the hike along footpaths lined with Hmong houses and rice terraces, as the village's daily life unfolds around you. These paths look out over Vietnam’s well-known landscape of patchwork green and brown rice fields, surrounded by mountains and towering trees. Stop to enjoy the views with a light picnic lunch of traditional foods and take the time to meet the local Hmong community to enjoy the warm hospitality the region is known for. After the hike take the short drive back to your Feature Stay eco-lodge and relax in its comfortable surroundings.
- Garrya Mu Cang Chai or Similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- 'Dinosaur Spine of De Xu Phinh' Guided Hike
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 8kms.
Your travel time today will be approximately 20 mins.
Today, travel by private vehicle down the scenic route back to Hanoi, as you drop from the mountainous north to the coastal plains of the Red River. Stopping for lunch on the way, you’ll arrive back in to the bustling city in the afternoon. The rest of today is free for you to spend how you like. Tonight, head out for a traditional Vietnamese dinner with your group at the Ha Thanh Maison Restaurant. Located within a beautifully restored historic mansion, tonight’s restaurant offers a charming dining experience with meticulously crafted dishes that celebrate local flavours – the best way to celebrate the end of your trip.
- The Ann Hanoi or Similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Hanoi - Farewell Dinner at Ha Thanh Maison Restaurant
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time in Hanoi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
- Breakfast
- Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
Inclusions and activities
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Private Transport, on foot
Comfortable hotels (4 nights), Eco Resort - Feature Stays (4 nights)
- Arrival airport transfer
- Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
- Hanoi - Welcome dinner at Tam Vi Restaurant
- Hanoi - Fast Track Airport Service on Arrival
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Hoang Su Phi - Traditional Flame Dance Ceremony
- Hoang Su Phi - Na Namem Ti Guided Village Walk
- Hoang Su Phi - Raspberry Hill Viewpoint walk
- Hoang Su Phi - Rice Terraces Guided hike
- Sapa - Sapa Market
- Sapa - Walking tour of Sapa
- Sapa - BBQ street food meal
- Sapa - Sapa Church
- Sapa - Full - day Guided Hiking: Nam Mat - Suoi Thau - Nam Cang
- 'Dinosaur Spine of De Xu Phinh' Guided Hike
- Hanoi - Farewell Dinner at Ha Thanh Maison Restaurant
- Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80003
- Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
- Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
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Why choose us
We’re adventure travel experts with decades of experience and proud to run trips in over 100 countries.
We keep our group sizes small and our experiences big, so you can get more out of your travels.
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The Intrepid Foundation gives back globally and our B Corp status is proof that we're dedicated to creating a positive impact.
Before you book you should know
- While the hikes on this trip are at relatively altitude (maximum 1600 m asl), this active hiking trip requires a good level of fitness, due to the varied terrain and potentially hot temperatures. Many of the hiking days involve steep hills and lots of steps that you'll need to be able to walk up and down.
- Summer temperatures can be very hot, especially on trails that have little or no shade. It’s essential to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- To get to the best hiking trails in the region you’ll cover a lot of distance on this trip, but all in the comfort of our private vehicle.
- In Hoang Su Phi there is only one rice harvest per year, which takes place in October. The rice fields are usually flooded at the end of May or early June, which makes for harder hiking, but stunning photographs.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
THE ANN HANOI
38A Hang Chuoi Street
Hanoi
VIETNAM
Phone: +84 2438713838
Instructions
Please make sure that you provide your flight details no later than 14 days before departure to book your arrival transfer with us.
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met outside Hanoi Airport by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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