Vietnam Homestay Tour - 9 days

Hanoi - Mai Chau - Lao Cai - Sapa

Specifically designed for travelers who want a deeper look into the cultural heritage of Vietnam, this tour offers 4 nights in local homestays.  Visit Mai Chau and Sapa, two remote areas known for dramatic landscape and rich cultural heritage.  Stay with local families along your journey and end your trip with a relaxing stay at the Eco Lodge Resort in beautiful Sapa.

• Itinerary
• Rates
• Hotels
• Book this Tour

Privately-Guided! Whether you are a single person, a couple, or a group, you'll have your own guide and driver for all airport pickups, drop offs, and daily excursions.  
 
Choose Your Own Dates! This is not a fixed-departure-date tour. Just let us know the dates that work best for you and we will arrange everything.
 
Customizable! Need more time? Less time? Want to see or do something that isn't included? Just let us know, and we will arrange it for you and let you know the change in costs.
 
Click here to read what our clients have told us after they return.

Trip Highlights

• Local homestays in Mai Chau and Sapa
• Duong Lam in Red River Delta
• Breathtaking scenery of Sapa
• Hill tribe people in Mai Chau

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi to Duong Lam Village to Mai Chau
In the morning, begin your drive to Duong Lam village – an agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta that still preserves many hundred-year-old houses. Walk along tiny ancient alleys, visit the Communal House in Mong Phu hamlet, and enjoy a traditional lunch hosted in the oldest house in the village. In the afternoon, take a bike ride around the village then drive to Mai Chau enjoying mountainous scenery along the way. Upon arrival to Pom Coong village, meet your homestay family. Dinner and overnight in traditional stilt house. (All meals)

Day 3: Mai Chau to Xam Khoe to Mai Chau
After breakfast, drive to the center of the valley for a full day trek through beautiful scenery to Xam Khoe village. The trekking is difficult at times with some steep uphill and downhill walking; however, some physical preparation will enable you to fully appreciate today's trek. Follow the trail through remote villages and stop for a picnic lunch in a private home along the way. After lunch hike through a bamboo forest over the mountain back toward your homestay village. Arrive back in Pom Coong Village in the afternoon. Relax over dinner and enjoy music and dance performances in the evening. Overnight in a long house. (All meals)

Day 4: Mai Chau to Xa Linh to Hanoi to Lao Cai
After breakfast drive to the jungle and take a hike to a Muong village on the beautiful plateau overlooking the Da river. Continue walking to Xa Linh, the village of Mong people before coming back to Mai Chau for lunch. After lunch drive back to Hanoi, arriving in the late afternoon for dinner at a local restaurant before transferring to the Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train. (All meals)

Day 5: Lao Cai to Sapa to Lao Chai to Ta Van
Upon arrival in Lao Cai early in the morning, take a 1.5hr drive to Sapa - the former French Hill Station. Upon arrival, enjoy breakfast in one of the local restaurant then begin trekking to Muong Hoa valley. The first part of this hike is on the road, but changes to a small path winding down the valley to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai. The Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area.  After stopping in the village for a rest, continue to Ta Van village (1,200 m) to visit the Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38,000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. Overnight with a local family in Ta Van. (All meals)

Day 6: Tavan to Giang Ta Chai to Ban Ho
After breakfast, take a moderate hike to visit the Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai, stopping along the way to visit a waterfall and shop for local goods. Continue along small paths in the rice fields, crosssing the Muong Hoa River, and trekking up to Su Pan. After a picnic lunch, trek up to Ban Den then to Ban Ho, the village of Tay people. Overnight with a local family in Ban Ho. (All meals).

Day 7: Ban Ho to Eco Lodge  
After breakfast, take a short trek to Thanh Phu then transfer to the Ecolodge Resort, a very impressive resort above Muong Hoa Valley. From the lodge there are breathtaking views across the scenic valleys below, which are home to villages of the Tay and Red Dao minorities. Enjoy the afternoon to relax and explore the area at your leisure. Overnight in Eco Lodge Resort. (All meals)

Day 8: Eco Lodge to Sapa to Lao Cai
After breakfast, spend the morning relaxing or exploring on your own until your transfer back to Sapa. After lunch at local restaurant, you will have free time to explore Sapa on your own before transferring to Lao Cao station for the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on the train. (All meals)

Day 9: Railway Station to Hanoi for Departure
The train will arrive at Hanoi station early in the morning. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.

Rates

Per Person Rates (based on double occupancy) start from:
 
4-star Hotels: $1,210
5-star Hotels: $1,360
 
Single Traveler:
4-star Hotels: $1,915
5-star Hotels: $2,250
 
Single Room Supplement (in groups of 2 or more)
4-star Hotels: $140
5-star Hotels: $320

Contact Us for advice on hotels and a quote based on your choice.

Please note that peak season supplements for stays over Christmas and New Years may apply.

Rates Include

• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Home stay in villages
• Hotel accommodation in Hanoi
• Train ticket Hanoi - Laocai - Hanoi (sharing 4-berth A/C cabin)
• Meals as indicated
• English or French speaking guide
• Entrance fee to indicated sights
• Biking
• Waters and cool towels during the trek

Rates Do Not Include 

• Other meals
• Tips
• Drinks
• International flights & airport tax
• Single room
• Personal expenses
• Insurance

Hotels

Hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking. If a hotel listed below is not available, an alternative hotel of similar quality will be substituted.

To Book This Tour

Please call us toll free at 1-877-362-2793 and let us know that you would like to book this tour. Then follow these instructions:

1. Download, print, and fill out the Reservation Form for each person.
2. Fax the form to us at 206-529-4803, or mail it to:
   
   Red Lantern Journeys
   1000 N. Northlake Way, Suite H
   Seattle, WA 98103

3. Pay a non-refundable $500 per person deposit and we will initiate your reservations.
4. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure.

If your reservation is made less than 75 days prior to departure, the non-refundable deposit will allow us to initiate reservations. Full payment will be due immediately upon confirmation of all hotels and transportation services. If the services quoted cannot be confirmed, alternate accommodation or transportation will be arranged and the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Payments can be made by personal check, bank wire transfer, or credit card. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will initiate your reservations and send you a statement showing your payment. Approximately 4 weeks prior to your departure, we will send you a final confirmation package containing your itinerary and detailed information on the logistics of your trip.
 
Forms to Download (pdf file)
Reservation Form with Complete Terms and Conditions

Cancellation/Refund Policies

- Cancel more than 60 days prior to departure - forfeit your deposit.

- Cancel between 30 and 60 days prior to departure - forfeit 50% of the tour cost.

- Cancel less than 30 days prior to departure - NO REFUND of tour cost.

- Cancellations must be made in writing and sent via mail, fax, or email to Red Lantern Journeys.

- Refunds will be processed within 30 days of receipt of your written request.

- No refunds are available for unused services or tours during your trip.