The North-West of Vietnam is characterized by high mountains and colorful ethnic minorities. The North-West of Vietnam includes the provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai.
Thanks to the geographical terrain and the ethnic population, The North West of Vietnam is perfect for the adventurous travellers. Except for Sapa, other areas of the North West are still relatively poor.
North West of Vietnam Travel Guide, What to see, Tourist Attractions in the North West of Vietnam
1/ Hoa Binh
Hoa Binh Town is the capital town of Hoa Binh Province. The town is 76km southwest of Ha Noi with good road condition. The town is dissected by the Da River, or Black River (a tributary of the Red River). The highlights of Hoa Binh include a walking tour to visit the Muong and the Zao Villages; and a cruise on the Da River to visit the ethnic communities inhabiting on the river banks and on the mountain slopes. From Ha Noi, Paradissa Travel offers half day or full day tour to Hoa Binh Town.
Hoa Binh Town from above
2/ Mai Chau Valley
Mai Chau Valley belongs to Hoa Binh Province and offer stunning nature beauty as well as exotic ethnic culture. Paradissa offers relaxing sightseeing tours as well as trekking adventure tours to these two valleys. The tour can range from 2 - 5 days.
The scenic mountain town of Mai Chau in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam
3/ Hang Kia Valley
Hang Kia Valley belongs to Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province. But Hang Kia is perched on the Moc Chau Plateau with altitude above 1,000m above sea level. Hang Kia is cool all year round.
4/ Moc Chau Plateau
Moc Chau is a plateau with altitude above 1,000m above sea level and with cool climate all year round. Moc Chau is 200km west of Hanoi.
Tea plantations at Moc Chau, Son La
5/ Son La City
Son La Town is the capital town of Son La Province which is 304km from Ha Noi. The town has a hotspring and a former French prison for the Vietnamese patriots. Son La Town can be visited for half a day and a good transit stop for the tour to Dien Bien Phu where the French lost the battle to the Vietnamese in 1954.
A Thai village near the hotspring in Son La
6/ Dien Bien Phu City
Dien Bien Phu City is the capital of Dien Bien province which is 470km from Ha Noi. It's right on the border between Vietnam and Laos. The town is actually the biggest valley in the North West of Vietnam.
French Commander bunker of Dien Bien Phu Battle
Dien Bien Phu is a famous site thanks to its history. In 1954, 16,000 French troops were besieged for 57 days and nights before they surrendered to the Viet Minh. Also after the military failure at Dien Bien Phu, the French declared to withdraw their troops out of Vietnam.
In Dien Bien Phu, you still can visit the former battlefields such as A1 hills, the Commander Post, Muong Thanh Bridge, Nam Rom River, Gabrielle Hills, Beatrice Hill, Anne Marie Hills…
7/ Muong Phang and Ba Khoang Lake
Muong Phang and Ba Khoang Lake is 30km from Dien Bien Phu. This was the commander post of the Vietnamese where legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap conducted the battles of Dien Bien Phu.
Ricefields at Muong Phang, Dien Bien, Vietnam
8/ Lai Chau City
Lai Chau City is surrounded by high mountain peaks and green tea plantations. The town is 200 km from Dien Bien Phu City.
The road leading into Lai Chau City
9/ Phong Tho
Phong Tho is a little valley 180 km from Dien Bien Phu and 100km from Sa Pa Town. Phong Tho is surrounded by mountains and inhabited by different ethnic groups such as the H'Mong, the Phu La, the Zao...The surrounding villages can be explored in a day or two. Trekking with overnight stay at a local ethnic family is available at Paradissa Travel.
Mountains outside of Phong Tho Town
10/ Sin Ho Plateau
Sin Ho is a plateau of 1,500m above sea level. The district with stunning mountains and valleys is off the tourist track. Sin Ho is 60 km from Lai Chau City.
11/ Tam Duong
Tam Duong is 40km from Sapa, there's an ethnic market every Thursday.
Green ricefields at Tam Duong, Lai Chau, Vietnam
12/Sa Pa (or Sapa)
Sapa is a hill station on 1,500m above sea level inhabited by amazing ethnic minorities with traditional lifestyle. Sapa is 400km from Hanoi, 9 hours by overnight train and 5 hours by car via the expressway.
Red Zao brocade in Sapa Vietnam
Rice terraces at Sa Pa
13/ Bac Ha Plateau
Bac Ha located on a plateau of 1,000m above sea level is 100 km from Sa Pa and the ethnic Sunday market has been famous to our travellers. Some travellers have joined Paradissa on a trekking tours exploring different H'Mong and Phu La ethnic villages around Bac Ha. In Bac Ha there's still a house of the H'Mong King. The area is off the tourist track.
Mountains at Bac Ha, Lao Cai
14/ Coc Ly
Coc Ly is 130 km from Sa Pa and on every Tuesday there's a colorful ethnic market just by the Chay River. Visiting Coc Ly you can not only join in the bartering of goods with the ethnic, but also visit their villages and have a nice cruise on the Chay River.
Boat trip on the Chay River at Coc Ly, Lao Cai
15/ Can Cau
Can Cau is 130km from Sa Pa and there's a weekend market at Cat Cau every Saturday morning.
Can Cau Market
16/ Nung Khau Nhi
Nung Khau Nhi is 100km from Sapa, there's an ethnic market every Thursday.
17/ Muong Khuong
Muong Khuong is 100km from Sapa, there's an ethnic market every Thursday.
18/ Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai (300km from Hanoi) in Yen Bai Province is well known for the jaw-dropping rice terraces. Most of Mu Cang Chai terrain is above 1,000 in elevation and the area has cool climate all year round.
Rice terraces at De Xu Phinh, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai
19/ Tu Le Valley
Tu Le is 250km from Hanoi. Tu Le is inhabited by the Thai and Hmong People. The valley has an amazing idyllic beauty.
20/ The Khau Pha Pass
The Khau Pha Pass connecting the Tu Le Valley and Mu Cang Chai offers stunning photos to the visitors.
21/ Ta Chi Nhu Mountain (Phu Song Sung Mountain)
22/ Ta Xua Mountain
A part from the rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai is also known for mountain trekking tours to Ta Chi Nhu and Ta Xua Peaks which are among the highest mountains in Vietnam. Paradissa offers mountain biking tours through Yen Bai Province.
Rice fields at Nghia Lo, Muong Lo
Travel and Tours, Things to do
The North West of Vietnam is ideal for sightseeing relaxing tours, nature tours, culture tours, adventure tours such as trekking, hiking, mountain biking or white-water rafting...
From Ha Noi, you can join Paradissa Travel on a relaxing tour, discovery tour or adventure tour of the North East of Vietnam for 8-12 days.
Where to stay, Accommodation
There are many hotels of basic facilities in different towns of the North West of Vietnam. There is a wide range of hotels, luxury mountain resorts and ecolodges in Sa Pa Town.
Staying with an ethnic family in their simple house is an option. The conditions are limited, but the experience is just exceptionally cozy. Exchanging culture talk with our local tour guide and with the host family who is of ethnic origin has been highlights of the tour in Vietnam for many of Paradissa' travellers.
Getting there and away
From Ha Noi to Yen Bai, Lao Cai you can travel either by road or by train. The trains are fairly good with soft seats or soft sleepers and with air-conditioning.
For other areas in the North West of Vietnam, the only choice for the travelers is by road. You can hire a private car or van for exploring this region completely in 4-5 days. Otherwise you can hop onto many local buses from My Dinh Bus Station which is 20km from Ha Noi.
Getting around
1/ On foot
Trekking the mountains of the North West of Vietnam is quite an experience. Paradissa Travel offers upto 8-10 day trekking through different hill tribe villages of this area.
2/ By Motorbike
You can hire a motorbike for an adventure in the North West of Vietnam or join Paradissa Travel for an off-the-beaten track adventure through this area. Some parts of the tour involve staying at local ethnic homes with very poor conditions.
