DAY 1: HANOI - NGHIA LO

Meet your driver 7:30am at the HOTEL, Soon the bustling streets of Hanoi give way to verdant rice paddies and farmland along Hwy 32. By early afternoon you'll be moving away from the Red River Delta and into the mountains of Yen Bai province, on your way to your destination of Nghia Lo. Nghia Lo is situated along a beautiful mountain ridge separating the Red and Black river. With lush forests, tea plantations, rice terraces and gum trees, the picturesque valleys are stunning. The area is home to Thai, Nung, H'mong, La Ha and Ma ethnic minority peoples. Overnight in hotel .( L, D)

DAY 2: NGHIAN LO - THAN UYEN

This day starts with a visit to the local market in Nghia Lo Town, a chance to explore and shop for local handicrafts. Today's drive will take you along one of the most exciting stretches of road in Vietnam and offers some of the most lush and verdant scenery found anywhere. As you climb over the mountain pass to Mu Cang Chai you'll meet H'mong, La Ha and Dzao along the way. The road, which is not sealed and can be muddy and exiting at times, winds along the Nam Kim river which descends the valley over some cascading gorges. At the bottom of the valley you'll arrive in the town of Than Uyen where you'll spend the night in hotel ( B, L, D)

DAY 3: THAN UYEN - SA PA

Enjoy breakfast in a local restaurant, then its time to hit the road for Sapa. From Than Uyen the road rolls along the base of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, home to Mt. Fansipan, Vietnams highest peak. Tea plantations and rice terraces hug the Nam Ma river that winds along this valley dotted with Tay, Dzao and H'mong villages. At Binh Lu junction you'll pick up the main road and start your climb up the highest mountain pass in Vietnam at 1900 Meters, then glide down into the town of Sapa. Enjoy lunch and relax before a 3 hr short trek down this stunning valley sculpted with steep rice terraces, to Ta Van village for a home stay. Your guide will cook you a savory dinner of traditional Vietnamese food that you'll be raving about, as you enjoy the hospitality of your Dzay hosts.( B, L)

DAY 4:SA PA TREKKING

along rice terraces, through lush bamboo forest and local villages including that of the colourful Dzao hill tribe, and down to a rolling stream for a picnic lunch. After lunch, continue trekking along the rice terraces, trails and dirt roads into Ban Ho for an insightful night with your Tay hosts, where you'll sleep in the cozy loft complete with comfy mattress and a mosquito net.( B, L, D)

DAY 5: SA PA SHORT TREK

to the dirt road for the jeep ride back to Sapa. Enjoy a afternoon to explore Sapa town, great shopping in the market for local produce and you can buy handicrafts from many of the local hill tribes selling their wares there. Bus departs Green Trail Tours office in Sapa 4:30pm, arrive Lao Cai 6:00pm Night train back to Hanoi (soft sleeper aircon). Trip ends 5:00am Hanoi station.(  B)