THE NORTH RUN ADVENTURE
7 DAYS: Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi - Sapa - Fansipan
Sapa, originally established as a hill station by the French in 1922, has become the tourism center of the northwest region. Offering breathtaking views on clear days, the town overlooks a plunging valley surrounded by towering mountains. Although mist often rolls across the peaks, the town is always filled with color from the local hill-tribe people. However, if you are expecting a charming alpine town, be prepared to adjust your expectations. The development of modern tourism has caused Sapa's skyline to continuously expand due to rarely enforced building height restrictions. Nevertheless, Sapa remains northern Vietnam's top destination for trekking enthusiasts who can launch themselves into a surrounding countryside of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe villages that seem a world apart. Fansipan, the highest mountain in Indochina at 3,143m (10,312ft), is also included in this excursion, making it a real challenge even though it can be climbed with specialist equipment, guides or porters.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Duration: 7 day/6 night
Group size: max 6 persons - 4 years old and above
Frequency: Scheduled small group or private groups
Pick-up/drop-off: Hanoi
Mode: Trekking and riding a motorbike, sitting on the back of a driver, or traveling in a car
Level of intensity: Extreme
ITINERARY
Please note that while we strive to visit all sites listed in our itinerary, it may be subject to change at the guide's discretion due to factors such as group pace, weather conditions, transit issues, and other unforeseeable circumstances.
Riding a motorbike without relevant experience is extremely dangerous. There has been an increasing number of accidents and deaths caused by and to tourists in Ha Giang. Therefore, it is a must you need to be experienced to ride a motorbike. In case you are an experienced rider, We can support you with information on validating your domestic licenses to make it fully legal here. We also offer a 50cc motorbike. Under Vietnamese jurisdiction, you don’t need a license to ride these.
For those who plan on riding a motorbike, we recommend arriving one day prior to the tour to review safety procedures. If you are not riding a motorbike, you can join us for lunch on day 1 before we embark on the bike journey.
Our standard trip covers all of Sapa and Ha Giang's attractions, but we understand that travelers may have specific interests they would like to explore. If you have something in particular that you want to experience, please let us know so we can customize a private tour for you.
Sundays are market days, which is a significant social and cultural experience for the highland minorities. If your departure date is on Friday, we can fit in some time to visit the market.
For guests with back problems or families with elderly or young children, please inform us in advance so that we can make the necessary preparations. We had a courageous seven-year-old who enjoyed every moment of the adventure!
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For travelers coming from other locations such as Sapa, or Ha Long, we kindly request that you plan to arrive one day prior to the scheduled departure on Day 1. Furthermore, if you are planning to travel by motorbike, we would appreciate it if you could allocate the morning of Day 1 for completing certain procedures before meeting the group and commencing the journey after lunch.
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If you choose to travel with us by van from Hanoi, we will arrange for our van to pick you up between 6.15-6.45 am. You will then be transported to Ha Giang where you'll meet the rest of the team and enjoy lunch before embarking on the motorbike adventure.
However, if you plan to ride a motorbike, our guide will meet you at your hotel in Ha Giang around 9.00 am. From there, we'll take you to our office where we'll begin the essential safety procedures. After gearing up, we'll provide a comprehensive briefing about Vietnam traffic and practice some fundamental bike skills on roads around Ha Giang. This practice session is designed to prepare you for your upcoming trip. Our guide will assess your ability at the end of the session and recommend whether you should use an automatic, semi-automatic, or avoid riding altogether for your safety.
After the session, we'll serve lunch around 12.30 pm, followed by a trip briefing conducted by our guide. You'll depart for our Dao homestay in Nam Dam, Quang Ba District, passing through stunning valleys and villages along the way. We'll make several stops throughout the journey for photos and rest, including a beautiful sunset view from the top of Lung Khuy Cave. Finally, you'll check into the homestay and enjoy dinner before spending a peaceful night nestled in the mountainous heart of Nam Dam Village.
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Once we've had breakfast at our homestay, we'll prepare the bikes and embark on the next part of our adventure. During today's journey, we will visit a charming village called Lung Tam which is known for producing high-quality hemp linen. Here, you'll have the opportunity to watch the entire linen-making process, from start to finish, and even try your hand at rolling out the cloth. You'll be surprised by how much balance and strength it requires!
After crossing a mountain via a shortcut, we'll arrive in Yen Minh for lunch. Following that, we'll head towards the border between Vietnam and China, covering a guest favorite 50km stretch along the way. While en route, we'll make a stop at the house of the Hmong Opium King, where you'll get an insight into the life of the wealthiest man in the region. We will also visit the Extreme North Point, where, on a clear day, you might glimpse some of the Chinese towns on the other side.
Upon reaching Dong Van, we'll check into our hotel. Dinner will once again include plenty of happy water for those of drinking age who wish to partake. We strongly recommend scheduling your trip to pass through Dong Van on Sunday, as this is when the villagers host their weekly highland market. This market is not only a chance for locals to trade goods and livestock, but it's also eagerly anticipated as a weekly social gathering.
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We will depart after breakfast and venture into the most tranquil areas of the region. Our destination today is towards Ma Pi Leng, deemed as the most beautiful pass in Vietnam. During our 7km hike here, you'll have the opportunity to capture breathtaking photos. Later, we'll be cruising via Tu San Abyss Alley before breaking for lunch at Meo Vac.
Our journey continues to Du Gia where we will spend the night. Along the way, we'll stop for a coffee in Mau Due, marked as the beginning of "the road of children." You'll see many minority children playing by the roadside while their parents work alongside rocks.
In Du Gia, weather permitting, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in a secret waterfall before settling down for the evening in this cozy little village.
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After having breakfast, we will have a leisurely ride through the natural reservation of Yen Minh District. For the first half of our journey, we will return to Ha Giang City to complete the famous loop. After lunch, we will continue on to Hoang Shu Phi District. It is important to note that the road is very mountainous and picturesque, but also highly susceptible to landslides during heavy rains.
Therefore, if there has been bad weather, you may need to wait for the road to be cleared. Due to narrow roads and stunning scenery, progress will be slow as you may want to make frequent stops. We will reach our homestay in Thong Nguyen at around 5 pm, where we will spend the night. We will use a car to travel there given the condition.
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Hoang Su Phi is an isolated town located in a steep valley, and like many towns in the region, its streets are incredibly windy and steep. However, on a rainy and grey day, it can feel very gloomy despite its dramatic location. On our journey to Sapa via Hoang Su Phi, we will experience a great ride, but be prepared for a full day in the saddle as road conditions can be challenging. Nevertheless, our team of drivers is highly experienced and has done this trip many times to ensure a safe journey.
We strongly recommend that you plan your trip to pass through Bac Ha on Sunday when the villagers host their weekly highland market. This event provides locals with an opportunity to buy and sell goods and livestock, as well as serving as a highly anticipated weekly social gathering.
Our lodge in Sapa will be our stop for the night.
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Before embarking on our longer trek to Fansipan top, we will have breakfast and coffee. Fansipan is located in Vietnam's Hoang Lien Son Range, which is essentially the southeastern-most extent of the same continental collision that formed the Himalayas.
As we begin our hike, we will immediately plunge into brush and forest. The trail is well-maintained, paved at first, with large stepping stones over cold mountain streams. Some trees, bushes, and flowers are labeled, and the canopy is thick but allows light to shine through the branches, illuminating patches of the forest floor, which are thick with roots and fallen leaves. The first hour or so of the hike is peaceful, quiet, gentle, and pretty, reminiscent of walking in the Welsh landscape on a damp but bright spring day. A few hours into the climb, the forest gradually fades away, going from a thick, gnarly canopy to a spindly, thin covering with bald patches until it disappears altogether, leaving us hiking along the top of an exposed ridge. Although open to the elements, the views back over the forested valleys and mountains are breathtaking.
We will have lunch served between the trek before reaching Fansipan summit, where we can enjoy a coffee and take some photos before taking the cable car down. We will then arrive back at our homestay around 6 pm.
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You can take your time in the morning to relax and enjoy the mountainside at our farm stay near Sapa. Alternatively, you may visit a workshop on the traditional linen-making process. After our farewell lunch, we will board our bus back to Hanoi at around 2 pm. We will arrive back at Hanoi Center by 8 pm, where we will drop you off at your hotel.
PRICES
Our prices are based on adventures that start in Ha Giang and end in Sapa, as we are a Ha Giang-based operator.
Riding a semi-automatic/automatic bike: $525 per person
Riding a manual dirt bike Honda XR 150: $645 per person
Riding as a pillion passenger: $750 per person
Traveling by car: $915 (starting from 2 persons)
However, in response to popular demand, we do offer transfer services for our customers at an additional cost of $60 on top of the tour price if you wish to leave and return to Hanoi. Our transfer from and return to Hanoi is usually with your group in an SUV (only up to 3 people).
Please note that prices are subject to change depending on various factors such as transportation means, trip details, blackout dates, holidays, limitations, and policies.
Airbnb Adventure, Trip Advisor, and Viator are our resellers. Therefore, they add commissions on top of our prices.
The prices include all meals, water, accommodations, tickets, motorbike and car rental with gas, English-speaking guides, safety gear, and entrance fees at all sites. However, insurance, visa, flight tickets, and tips are not included.
FAQs
Let us know if you have any questions concerning our trip. We are happy to get back to you.
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Yes, our tours are small group tours unless you book a private trip. We limit the number of people in each group to six individuals. This is because our facilities, including our team, homestay, motorbikes, and camping equipment, are limited in size. Additionally, our excursion requires us to pay close attention to each of our customers' needs and ensure that everyone has a personalized experience. We believe that traveling with a small group adds to our standard and value and offers a more intimate and customized experience for our guests.
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This itinerary is designed for those who are currently staying in Ha Giang City, and we will arrange to pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. If you have a preferred pickup location other than your hotel, please let us know, and we can discuss the options with you.
If you wish to start this adventure from other locations such as Ha Noi, or elsewhere, please feel free to contact us, and we can coordinate transportation via buses. We also offer van and bus services for those who want to continue traveling to other destinations mentioned above but not via Hanoi.
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Ha Giang and Lao Cai (Where Sapa is located) are provinces located in the mountains and experience varying weather conditions depending on altitude. During summers, temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit while winters in some parts of the province may fall to 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It's important to note that there is no definitive weather as it can vary greatly from one location to another. Rain, snow, or sunshine can occur at any time during the trip.
While traveling on a motorbike can be thrilling, it's recommended to sit in a car if you don't want to take chances with the weather. In case of adverse weather conditions such as mudslides or rockslides that may impede our journey, we reserve the right to cancel the trip. If you need to cancel your trip due to bad weather or for any other reason, please inform us 48 hours before the scheduled trip to receive a refund.
As weather conditions can be unpredictable, it's advisable to keep a close eye on weather reports for the area before embarking on your journey.
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This is a very difficult question, we think Ha Giang is beautiful at any season. Each season has its charm and beauty.
While hot season from April till the end of October is perfect weather to go on a motorbike. It is also the busy tourist season that you might find it a bit too much, though nothing in terms of tourism in comparison to other destinations in Vietnam.
The cold and wet season, from November till the end of March, might not be ideal and as comfortable as the hot season. But it is a lot quieter, the landscapes are a lot more mysterious, people are a lot calmer and it feels lots cozier with a bonfire and good food. It is the true sense of northern Vietnam in our opinion.
On top of it, Northern Vietnam including Ha Giang is famous for rice terrace structures. Many people see these famous photos of an endless rice field in the mountains and ask us when they can see that. So for your references, this could be experienced from the 2nd week of September to the 2nd week of October every year. This is the time when the rice is ripe and people are ready for their harvest season. Hoang Su Phi district is the best place in Vietnam you can enjoy this sight.
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Of course, this depends on the time of year. In the cold season (from November till the end of March) it is cold, especially for riding motorbikes, 3 layer rules are applied. shirts, something warm like a sweater, and something water/windproof like a jacket.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD WALKING SHOES.
For the rest of the year, bring bikinis, long sleeves, and pants. In the worse case, please let us know while communicating with us. We have all the clothing for you to borrow.
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In general YES, our experiences cover all costs. Food is a big part of our experience, we cover all the meals—in a country with so much great food, it would be crazy not to include meals. Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, or organic-only) and/or allergies in the customer information form. For not using plastic bottles. We will provide you with a 750ml aluminum sports bottle that can be refilled at our lunch stop or homestay/hotel. Due to the nature of our experience, we encourage travelers to keep themselves alcohol-free during the experience, especially those who ride a motorbike with us. A beer or 2 which costs about one USD is fine at the end of the day.
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Tipping is always optional, but if you have a great time and want to thank your tour guide or simply want to contribute to our cause, gratuities are very much appreciated. Since we create experiences that are often alternative to the industry, helping us to spread the word by writing a review or recommending us to other travelers is also a great way to show your gratitude!
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Yes! People of all ages and abilities can have a great time on our tours! Our excursions are private or small group tours where you can go at a pace that is comfortable for you and your group. We can stop whenever needed. We can also customize each tour to be more suitable for all members of the group. We do love children and find that they truly enjoy the experience. It's just a matter of choosing to communicate about options for them. The same goes for other minors. In our experience, we have had a courageous 7-year old or an exciting late 50-year old having a blast, loving every bit of the adventure.
Since 2020, we’ve started to employ deaf communities to train them to be our guides. Therefore, we provide this adventure in sign language too. we sign in Vietnamese, American, and Korean sign languages.
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We will stay at a homestay. These are the actual homes of minority locals who live in the villages where we will spend the night. You will get to meet their families, eat dinner at the family dining table, and share shots of traditional rice or corn wine (aka "happy water") with the hosts. Meals are typically fairly simple—but very tasty—and include rice, veggies (cooked and raw), a meat dish or two (usually pork or chicken), and sometimes egg from their own garden or raised/produced by their own. Sleeping situations vary from homestay to homestay. Some have a common room with mattresses on the floor, blankets, pillows, and a mosquito net, where each bed setup is separated by curtains for privacy. Other home-stays have raised beds in rooms with walls and a door. Which type of homestay we stay in depends on if we do the loop clockwise or anti-clockwise. It also depends on the guide cos they might bring you home and show you their villages. Our guides or drivers live all over the loop you are going through. Other nights in the trip we will stay at a hotel. We selected the cleanest and nicest hotels the area offers for our trip. The room type might be single, double, and twins, or triple room.
We sometimes camp in nature too but note that this must be a group consent since it might affect the itinerary of the group. If you are booking a private trip, This option is possible. Camping sites are often with stunning views, away from residential areas. We make some bushcraft food over the fire and enjoy a quiet night in the mountains.
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You can safely leave your bags in your hotel in Hanoi. Most hotels are happy to let you store your luggage there. Our Hanoi team will also be able to store your bags too in Hanoi.
Otherwise, if you plan to go somewhere else rather than back to Hanoi after the trip, let us know. We’ll coordinate your luggage and send it there.
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A motorcycle often called a bike, motorbike, or cycle is a two-or three-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including racing), and off-road riding. Most motorbikes in the West are fully manual and require riders to be able to comprehend the gear system while using a clutch system. Your car license is not something valid for riding a motorbike since it is a different category to ride a motorbike. A scooter is a type of motorbike and it is most often the easiest type to drive due to the fact that there is no gear system; there is only an acceleration system. It is as simple as accelerate and go. It is also called an automatic motorbike. In Asia, the most common motorbikes are semi-automatics. Semi-automatic motorbikes are the hybrids of a motorbike and a scooter. There are a simple gear system and no complicated clutches, which makes it much easier for users to ride.
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It all depends on your level of riding a motorbike and relevant licenses.
Even though a scooter is the easiest type of motorbike you can ride, we prefer not to use the scooter on our tours. Scooters are only city-friendly while riding in some parts of our motorbike tours, they are not really convenient. They are gas-consuming and difficult to repair when something breaks due to their unpopularity in mountainous areas. For our trips, we use mainly semi-automatic motorbikes. To ensure safety first, we have invested a lot of money into our Honda Wave Blades. This is a very reliable model and is friendly to new riders. This is the bike we hope you will ride with us. Otherwise, you will of course ride an automatic or if you don’t want to ride, our driver will be glad to ride you.
We can also have other types of fully manual dirt motorbikes. For riding fully-manual bikes, Note that an extra fee will be collected for riding these since they are very expensive motorbikes. We have a few mountain manual bikes Honda XR 150cc in store for you.
The Wave Blade and the Honda Xr150 we chose are the most suitable bike for the trip. These can be easily fixed by locals, parts can be found anywhere. Consider that we might have to bring along a mechanic, and extra parts in case you want a bigger type rather than what we choose. This would add more cost and it might not be necessary.
For people who are not licensed to ride a motorbike, we offer a 50cc semiautomatic bike that you don’t need a license to ride in Vietnam. Keep that in mind this is slow and might affect the group so consider doing a private trip.
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Yes! Motorbikes are the most common way people in Vietnam travel. Almost every adult has a motorbike and almost every kid grew up on a motorbike here. We are no exception. We provide good equipment, trained drivers, and other safety gear. The experience is small group and you-centric, if you want to stop for a photo, just let us know! If you want to stop to take a breath in nature, we're happy to make that happen. We understand that Vietnam is overwhelming for many people from the West and we are here to make your trip safe and fun.
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In short No, you need an international license to ride a motorbike in Ha Giang now, There is an increasing number of accidents and deaths caused by and to tourists who are not licensed or experienced. Therefore, the police are checking everyone.
Having relevant licenses is also a must for insurance. As we are operating in the type of tourism with high risk, consider riding without relevant license and experience.
Ha Giang Adventure operates fully legal and does not encourage any violation of laws, though a big part of our job is to maximize the fun and create an experience for you and the group you are with. By preparing and getting your license done where you are from, You would be able to enjoy this experience fully.
For people who are not licensed but insist on riding a motorbike, we offer a 50cc semiautomatic bike that you don’t need a license to ride in Vietnam. Keep that in mind this is slow and might affect the group so consider doing a private trip.
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If you have just a national riding license where you are from, Issued by the official authority. You can convert it or translate it into an international license to ride in Vietnam legally. It can be done pretty easy via some internet agency. Please see below for some information on converting your license into an international license that is valid in Vietnam.
https://e-ita.org/logging-in-to-the-customer-portal/
Note that in some countries mostly in Europe, when you have a car license, you can ride some certain type of scooter under a 50cc engine. Riding a 50cc does not require a license here so no need to exchange it.
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We have a 48-hour refund policy. If you do not cancel your experience within this time frame you will be held responsible for the total amount of your tour. If your flight has been canceled because of the weather, please call us right away—no matter what time—and leave a message. We will try and reschedule your tour for you and discuss other options.
We discourage people from booking their tour on the same day their flight is due to arrive, as we all know flights run late all the time. If your flight is arriving on the same day as your tour, we suggest giving yourself at least 3 hours leeway between your flight arrival and your tour. Between flight delays, traffic, and having to drop off your bags at your hotel, know that the risk of running late is high.
Please also know that it is YOUR responsibility to keep a check on the 5-day weather forecast. We go out rain, snow, or shine and if you don't want to go out because of inclement weather, once again, you must let us know 48 hours before your tour.
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Even though it is not a government requirement for travelers to have insurance to enter Vietnam, it is your responsibility to travel with travel insurance when going on a trip with us. Let us know ASAP if you don’t have travel insurance in the information document. We can advise so you can buy some local insurance. If you sit on the back of a driver, most insurance will cover your expense in case of accidents. As a legal enterprise, our drivers are hired and trained as well as licensed. We can help with reporting, providing the authority with our corporate or legal documents to obtain any paper for your insurance claim. Since the start of our operation in 2015, none of our customers got in any accidents. Riding your own motorbike is fun but it is extremely dangerous, especially in Ha Giang. If you insist on riding a bike without a license or experience, please make sure that you understand all the risks involved, including the worse case of a lethal situation. There is a waiver you need to sign as the requirement to be on our trip.
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The most important part of a safe journey in any adventurous excursion is the facility and equipment. It is the requirement from many of our overseas partners including Airbnb Adventures Collection which Ha Giang Adventure is the only operator in Vietnam. We have invested most of our money in facilities and equipment to live up to their expectation. All of our equipment is original, certified for not only safety but also environment-friendly, socially responsible standards. Any damage, usually on the motorbike and equipment from riding a motorbike without experience will result in extra expense you will have to pay. Please pay attention to the guide’s instructions on how to best use them and avoid damages or losses.