Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi, the charming capital of Vietnam. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Take a short sightseeing tour by pedicab through the Friend Colonial Quarter, the Administrative Quarter and the West Lake exploring this stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some of Asia's most striking colonial architecture. Evening enjoy a special welcome dinner.
Overnight in Hanoi.

 Day 2: Hanoi - Lao Cai
Today we enjoy a full day city tour of Hanoi including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, lake of Restored Sword, Temple of Literature, Museum of the Ethnology. Evening we enjoy a fantastic traditional water puppet show. Then take a soft sleeper night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train.

 Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Ylinh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (Trek 15 km)
Morning pick up at the Railways station then drive up an enormous terraced valley to Sapa. Hike along small paths down the valley to the Muong Hoa River to visit the Black H’mong village in Lao Chai, one of the biggest minority groups in Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their own traditions and livestyle. Continue to Ta Van village (1.2 km) to visit Zay hill tribe people, a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. Zay women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green colour. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor.
Overnight at local house in Ta Van.

 Day 4: Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Seo Trung Ho. (Trek 15km)
After breakfast we trek through the forest past waterfalls and over bamboo bridges to a quiet stream where we can rest and swim, then we trek through terraced fields to a Red Zao minority village in Giang Ta Chai. The Red Zao women have very colourful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao legend. Hiking along the local trails to go to Seo Trung Ho of Red Zao village to spend a second night.
Overnight at local house in Seo Trung Ho.

 Day 5: Seo Trung Ho - Nam Toong - Thanh Phu (Trek 20 km)
We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River to the Tay village of Thanh Phu, the most populous of the hill tribes. Tay women still wear the traditional checkered headscarf and skirts.
Overnight in a wooden stilt house in Thanh Phu.

 Day 6: Thanh Phu - Nam Sai - Nam Cang - Ban Ho. (20 km)
After breakfast hiking to Nam Sai village to visit the Tay People, then trek up to a village of Red Dzao hill tribe people, then a village of Xa Pho people, the smallest and distinct ethnic group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam. Journey through the forest to Tay minority village Ban Ho.
Overnight in local house in Ban Ho.

 Day 7:Ban Ho - Sapa - Hanoi
Morning walk to the countryside around Ban Ho then trek up to Ban Den. From here we will be picked up and transferred back to Sapa. Afternoon back down to Lao Cai for a soft sleeper night train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train.