This 4-day trek in northern Vietnam is a great add-on to a deeper exploration of Vietnam. Escape into this former French hill station to trek through the beautiful, expansive rice terraces, interacting with the locals in the villages along the way.

Transfer with a guide to Hanoi railway station where you will board the train for a 10 hour overnight ride to Lao Cai province.

Sapa is a frontier town in northwest Vietnam, 350km northwest of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son mountain range dominates the landscape, which is actually the far eastern edge of the Himalayas. Sapa is famed for its terraced fields, diverse mix of hill tribes and magnificent landscape. With an annual average temperature of just over 15°C, Sapa is a remarkably cool place so it is advised to bring warm clothes as nights can be chilly in this part of Vietnam. The area is also home to a large number of ethnic hill tribes.

Spend the night on board where you may purchase food and other essentials although it may be advised to bring your own.

When you arrive early in the morning at Lao Cai station, near the Chinese border, refresh with a simple breakfast at the local Thien Hai hotel before a 2 hour drive up and down hill over slightly bumpy roads to the small Coc Ly Market, situated alongside Chay River. Every Tuesday morning, locals from the surrounding ethnic villages such as Flower H’mong, Phu La and Black Dao, resplendent in their distinctive costume, gather here to buy and sell their products, whether it is a buffalo or a bunch of chillies.

Afterwards, take a simple local boat down Chay River for the sights of beautiful caves and local life on the riverbanks before having a packed lunch on board.

Take a short trek to Na Nen Village where Flower H’mong lives and enjoy a fun water buffalo cart ride through the village.

Return to Sapa by road which is a three hour drive and relax in this former French hill station.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive 30 minutes south of Sapa town into the Muong Hoa valley, home to the largest terraced rice fields in Vietnam. If your visit is between May and October, it will coincide with the planting and harvesting time, and provides a chance to see the local farmers in action.

The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black Hmong minority to Ta Van village of the Giay minority. The magnificent views of the terraced fields, Fansipan mountain range and the cool climate all contribute to an excellent experience. Enjoy boxed lunch on the way.

Continue to trek through farmlands and rolling hills to Giang Ta Chai village to visit Red Dao people. Then trek back to the road where your driver will take you to Lao Cai with optional visits to the Tran Hung Dao temple, the century-old banyan tree, and the Chinese-Vietnamese border.

Transfer to the local Thien Hai hotel to freshen up before taking an overnight train back to Hanoi. Spend the night on board where you may purchase food and other essentials although it may be advised to bring your own.

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning.