Hanoi → Ha Giang “On the Road to Happiness”

Highlights You Won’t Find Elsewhere

Dirt-bike 150 cc convoy – safety pick-up truck escort.

Off-map trekking Khe Tam & Thau Chin – no Google-Map trace.

Kayak Tu San gorge – tallest limestone walls in SE Asia.

Bon-night & workshops with three ethnic groups: Hmong, Tay, Lo Lo.

The Rock bungalow – valley-view balcony in Meo Vac.

Transportation
Bus, Limousine
Accomodation
3 Stars Hotels
Best season
Feb, Mar, Apr & May
Tour type
Eco-Tour, Hiking
Meals
All meals during the trek
Language
English, Spanish, French, Chinese
Fitness level
Easy to Moderate
Minimum Age
12
Maximum Age
65
Group Size
1 - 6
Destinations
Ha Giang, VietNam
Activities
Boating, Hiking, Peak Climbing, Trekking
Trip Type
Cultural, High Altitude, Nature Friendly, Special Tours, Viet Nam tours

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Leave the busy capital behind: in only four days the scenery changes completely—from ancient heritage to the cloud-hugging Ma Pi Leng Pass, from street-side coffee to corn wine in Pho Bang, from electric scooters to dirt-bikes climbing zig-zag passes.
Three different nights: a wooden-stilt homestay, a rock bungalow overlooking the karst plateau, and a heritage hotel inside Dong Van Old Quarter.
The trip is unique thanks to a secret trek, kayak among 700 m limestone walls, and a bon-night with three ethnic groups.

Highlights

Watching the sunrise on the top of Ma Pi Leng 1,500 m
Kayaking through Tu San Canyon
3 nights stay at Lim Wood local homestay
Strolling around Dong Van ancient town on the cliff
Explore the Meo King's Palace
Quan Ba Heaven Gate & Fairy Twin Mountains
Meo Vac Market – Red Dao, Paper, Lo Lo
Picking buckwheat to make black banh chung with the Tay people
Bonfire night – corn wine, armpit pork, Mong flute
The road to Yen Minh – hunting for “clouds” on the stairs

Day 01 :

HANOI – HA GIANG – QUAN BA – YEN MINH

06:30	VIP Limousine pick-up at Hanoi Opera House (or any Old-Quarter hotel). Breakfast-box: iced coffee & steak-bread.
08:30	Quick stop at Xu-an Quan village for green "sticky-rice" cake and a 15-min highway stretch.
11:30	Coffee "cuc cu" and tapiaco crackers at Goc Da café, Vi Xuyen district.
13:00	Ha Giang Km-0 landmark: trip briefing & hand-out Mong-white fabric bracelet.
14:30	4 km off-map trek Khe Tam, Quan Ba; first buckwheat flowers, stream-net fishing.
17:00	Check-in Trinh Tuong house homestay, Yen Minh. Join making black banh chung, grill hill pork.
20:00	Stargazing in total darkness (no public lights).
21:00	Overnight – mattress, duvet, private bathroom.

Day 02 :

YEN MINH – DONG VAN – MA PI LENG – MEO VAC

05:45	Sunrise coffee on homestay terrace.
07:00	Motorbike caravan over Quan Ba Heaven-Gate; stop at Sung La – visit "Pao's house" film-set, learn leaf-flute.
10:30	Vuong family palace – story of the Hmong king.
12:00	Herbal lunch: bamboo-tube rice, grilled stream-fish, bitter-cress salad.
13:30	Pho Bang ancient S-street; wall-painting workshop with coloured clay; try handmade Do paper.
15:00	Conquer Ma Pi Leng pass by bike & 3 km cliff-side trek to Panorama point.
16:30	Kayak on emerald Nho Que River through Tu San gorge (700 m walls).
18:30	Check-in The Rock bungalow, Meo Vac – balcony over the valley.
19:30	BBQ dinner: three-layer beef, buffalo dried-smoked meat, Meo Vac honey-wine.
21:30	Bonfire, Hmong mouth-organ, traditional circle dance.

Day 03 :

MEO VAC – LUNG CU – DONG VAN

05:45	Dawn watch on Meo Vac pine hill – 360° cloud ocean.
07:00	Breakfast: wild-frog bun cha + hill chicken egg.
08:00	Ride along 4C highway; stop at Nam Ban valley for late-autumn peach flowers.
10:30	Lung Cu flag-pole – 1,470 steps; fly hand-made "I ♥ VN" kite.
12:00	Lunch at Lo Lo Chai: five-colour sticky rice, black chicken, bitter-bamboo shoot soup.
13:30	Secret 5 km trek down Thau Chin stream – jungle banana forest; swim in summer, ice stalactites in winter.
16:00	Back to Dong Van; stone-mill coffee on 200-year-old flag-stone street.
18:30	Check-in Heritage hotel – electric blanket, stone chandelier.
20:00	Dong Van night market (Fri & Sun): egg-rolls, dried plum, hemp fabric.
22:00	Free time – optional rooftop sky-bar.

Day 04 :

DONG VAN – QUAN BA – HANOI

06:30	Early market: buy buckwheat honey, smoked pork.
07:30	Pho Phia café & charcoal-grilled banh bao.
09:00	Sung La valley – 45 min hemp-embroidery & silver-ring workshop, take your hand-made souvenir.
11:30	Quan Ba lunch: cast-iron pan beef + peach-flower smoothie.
12:30	Limousine ride back to Hanoi; tea-stop at Thai Nguyen for snow-shan tea.
18:30	Arrive Hanoi – drop-off at original point. Good-bye & see you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expand all

How fit do I need to be to do this trek?

Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.

How long do we walk every day when doing Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.

What is the highest altitude reached in this trek?

The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.

What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?

Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.

Are there ATMs on the way to Annapurna Base Camp?

No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.

What about internet access?

Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.

Is it necessary to hire Guides/trekking agency for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.

It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.

How much do guides and porters cost?

For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.