06 DAYS NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

06 DAYS NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

Private tour (HANMCNH06): Daily from Hanoi with English or local French-speaking guide (other language speaking guides at surcharge)
Note: Due to road and weather conditions, this programme will operate for groups of maximum 14 persons.

DAY 1: HANOI – MAI CHAU – SON LA (-/L/D)

 Drive to Mai Chau, approximately 150 km from Hanoi, home to several ethnic minorities, particularly the White Thai and Muong ethnic group. Their traditional stilt houses are large structures with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo floors. The kitchen is located in the centre of the house; the cooking as well as the weaving of the colourful Tho Cam, the material used to make their clothes, takes place there. Visit a Thai ethnic minority village.

Continue to Son La with a stopover at Xa Linh ethnic village of the Flower H’Mong and the Green H’Mong.

Dinner and accommodation at hotel in Son La

Meals included: Lunch
Dinner

DAY 2 :   SON LA – MU CANG CHAI – THAN UYEN (B/L/D)

Visit Son La Penitentiary before departing to Than Uyen with a visit to the Thuan Chau market. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular view of mountain passes and ethnic minority settlements along the road as it takes you to Than Uyen, one of the best known rice growing areas of the Northwest. Drive a distance of about 40 km further from Than Uyen towards Mu Cang Chai. Enjoy breath-taking vistas of terraced rice fields, considered the most spectacular in Vietnam. The area looks at its best in May when the locals prepare and water the fields for the new crop and during harvest time between September and October. Return to Than Uyen.

Accommodation at a simple guesthouse in Than Uyen

Meals included: Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

DAY 3 : THAN UYEN – SAPA – LAO CHAI – TA VAN – SAPA (B/L/D)

Today, the journey continues to Sapa via Binh Lu and the Lai Chau Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Stopovers on the way to visit some ethnic minority villages. Upon arrival in Sapa, check-in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, drive from Sapa town down to Lao Chai village. Views of the Muong Hoa Valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets.
Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, we will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Walk back to the meeting point for your return transfer back to Sapa town.

Accommodation at hotel in Sapa
Meals included: Breakfast
Lunch at local restaurant
Dinner at local restaurant

DAY 4 : SAPA – SUOI HO – MA TRA – TA PHIN – SAPA (B/L/D)

Enjoy a full day of trekking. Visit Suoi Ho village with tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails to visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra. After passing a school and scenic views en route, a picnic lunch will be served. After lunch, continue trekking to Ta Phin village where you will meet Red Dao people who are famous for their weaving skills. Walk around the village where 2 ethnic groups, Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities, live their own way with no cultural mixture. Experience how different they are in many ways by visiting their house and interact with the locals. Proceed to the meeting point and transfer back to Sapa.

Accommodation at hotel in Sapa

Meals included: Breakfast
Picnic lunch
Dinner

DAY 5 : SAPA – CAT CAT – SIN CHAI – SAPA – LAO CAI – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B/L/D)

From your hotel in Sapa, we follow the track downhill along the valley for about 3 km to visit the ethnic minority of H’mong people. Further down into the valley, you will see the old hydro-electric power station which was built by the French in 1925. Across the bridge, the river and waterfall provide an excellent place for sunbathing or swimming, weather permitting.
Take up the path which passes through primary forests, bamboo forests at a higher elevation and along a watershed that offers spectacular views of the Vang River. The river provides a variety of habitats for birds and butterflies and there are several view points where you can have a nice overview of Sin Chai. Take a pleasant stroll through the village where you will be invited to a private home to understand more about the H’mong way of life. Arrive back to Sapa in the late afternoon.

Transfer to Lao Cai railway station for the night train to Hanoi.
Overnight in shared sleeping compartments of a local train (2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 20:15 hrs.

Notes:
Train schedule is subject to change.
Private compartments on request at surcharge.
Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

Meals included: Breakfast
Picnic lunch
Dinner

DAY 6    HANOI – DEPARTURE (-/-/-)

Early morning arrival in Hanoi. Transfer to your hotel (accommodation in Hanoi is not included) or to Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport at surcharge.

Meals included: None
“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”
SPECIAL NOTE
Bring along - Light cotton dress / trousers
- Warm jacket (rain and wind)
- Silk sleeping bag
- Mosquito repellent
- Good walking / hiking shoes
- A walking stick
- Sun hat / sun lotion
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
Roads - Driving can be a challenge as roads can be bumpy or under construction
- Driving time depends on weather and road conditions – only rough estimates can be given
Reward - Stunning scenery
- Most colourful people and dresses
- Countless photo opportunities off the beaten track
TOUR PRICE

Deluxe Hanoi Hotel (Son La), Than Uyen Guesthouse (Than Uyen), Victoria Sapa Resort – Superior room (Sapa)
First Hanoi Hotel (Son La), Than Uyen Guesthouse (Than Uyen), Chau Long Hotel – ROH New Wing room (Sapa)
Superior Hanoi  Hotel (Son La), Than Uyen Guesthouse (Than Uyen), Cha Pa Hotel – Superio room (Sapa)
Please contact us for rates based on different hotels.

(*)  Child policy:
Discounted rates are applicable for 1 child (from 2 – 11 years of age) accompanied by 2 full-paying passengers (in other words, for every 2 full-paying participants 1 child is entitled to the special child rate).

OUR TOUR PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF
Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
Transfers and tours with local English or French-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
Local train ticket Lao Cai – Hanoi in shared compartment with 4 soft berths
Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles
NOT INCLUDED ARE
• Domestic airfare (quoted separately, if requested)
• International airfare to / from Vietnam (quoted separately, if requested)
• Optional tours
• Surcharges for other language guides
• Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
• Drinks with meals
• Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
• Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
CANCELLATIONSNS
• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  According to the costs incurred will be charged
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price
• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price
• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price
• 1 day prior to departure or no show:   100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  no charge
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price
• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.
PLEASE NOTE
• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL
HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:
Address:  5th floor,  130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da,  Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone during office hours:  +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898
Fax:  +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)
Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.
 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.
 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.
 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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