Pass Thung Khe of Highway 6, Hoa Binh province, between Tan Lac and Mai Chau. Thung Khe Pass or White Stone Pass early in the morning is clear sky, sunny afternoon with sunshine and Evening and night are foggy all the way.

At the peak of Thung Khe Pass at about 1,000 meters above sea level. Here are a few rows of leafy stalls, which are assembled from shaggy timber trees on the way to sell. Such as sugarcane, rice, moss, wild vegetables… You can stop to enjoy the boiled corn, boiled sugar cane, eat rice dot sesame wild, attractive.

In addition. It’s a great ideal place to stop. Where you can buy something as a gift, with only a few bare trees to hang the branches of wild orchids, cats, strange flowers, pineapple forest healing stomach for visitors. bring as gifts for Hanoi. A unique feature of the Muong people.

MUST-TRY DISHES IN MAI CHAU

Peak Thung Khe Pass is a place where tourists can feel the cool air is very characteristic of Mai Chau. From the top of Thung Khe, you can admire the whole valley at the foot of the pass, take the face to welcome the cool winds, can see the green carpet full of vitality. This is one of the most beautiful places in Hoa Binh also this is best destinations combine halong bay.

Passing Thung Khe Pass at night in the winter. It will be unforgettable experience for any driver or traveler. Especially with the fog covered with cool cold to the point of sight. Also limited visibility is limited to 3m. Pass Thung Khe Pass when the only light is just your own car or truck light, the car goes in the opposite direction. Mai Chau valley appears under the foot of Thung Khe pass in the light as thousands of flames are smoldering fire. You go to Thung Khe and experience the unique nature of the forest here when the opportunity.

Source: originvietnam

Mai Chau’s Guide: Thung Khe Pass
Nguyen Thanh Van

Sapa, the wonderful combination of harmonious weather, pristine nature and uniquely ethnic minority groups culture; is definitely one of the most well-known tourist attractions in northern Vietnam. However, that is also the reason why this small town is always packed with tourists both local and foreign all year round. If you are looking for a change, something off the beaten track, in northern Vietnam, there are still many others for consideration for the same time and budget spent.

Tam Dao Hill Station – cool climate and tranquil trekking trails

Only 80km away from Hanoi, Tam Dao Hill Station is a rather popular escape from the heat of the Red River Delta area. Nestling below soaring forest-clad peaks, Tam Dao is a former French hill station in a spectacular setting northwest of Hanoi. Today it’s a popular summer resort – a favoured weekend escape for Hanoians, who come here to revel in the temperate climate and make merry in the extensive selection of restaurants and bars. Founded in 1907 by the French, most of its colonial villas were destroyed during the Franco–Viet Minh War, only to be replaced with brutalist concrete architecture. Tam Dao is a useful base for hiking, but the town itself is an unattractive sprawl of hotel blocks.

In addition to the cool climate, this region provides full opportunity for physical activities such as mountain sight-seeing, serious trekking and even bird-watching that Sapa has to compare. Nature lovers who are fascinated about Sapa’s wild surrounding can also visit Tam Dao National Park with eight kinds of forest types distributed in different topographic and climatic areas, more than 2000 plants and 904 species.

Mai Chau – inhale the ethnic culture

It will be a 135km trip from Hanoi, or 60km trip from Hoa Binh City to reach Mai Chau, the green valley. If you love to discover more about the daily life of ethnic minority groups, especially Thai people, Mai Chau is surely a great choice. Stilt houses with exclusive Thai architecture line up on both sides of the road in the valley. Tourists can visit those houses or even try cooking and making clothes in Thai style. Homestay programs are available, and everybody will have great time watching traditional dancing and music instrument performances, while enjoying local specialties such as rice cooked in bamboo tubes and grilled meat on skewers.

4 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT CYCLING IN VIETNAM’S MAI CHAU VALLEY

From Mai Chau, one can also join one of the trekking tours to remote villages. Although Mai Chau’s weather is not as cool as in Sapa, it has otherwise many things else to offer: the landscape, the people, the food, and the air. Currently, there are some agencies providing tours of Hanoi- Mai Chau-Sapa, in which tourists will travel to Hoa Binh and stay at Mai Chau, then passing Son La province and Dien Bien Phu Loop before reaching Sapa.

MUST-TRY DISHES IN MAI CHAU

Lai Chau – panoramic landscape and untouched local culture

Located in the northwest region, Lai Chau is 450km northwestern from Hanoi. To reach this province, you can choose Highway 12 (from Dien Bien Phu Loop) or Road 4D (from Sapa, catching local bus which is available daily in Sapa terminal). Lai Chau has several highland villages such as Sin Ho, Ta Phin, Dao San, most of which are at the altitude of more than 1500m. The high altitude makes the weather here much like Sapa, cool and foggy with the average temperature of nearly 20oC and two seasons: dry and rainy.

Besides the high mountain ranges surrounding the province, Lai Chau is well-known for narrow valleys, waterfalls, and the three large rivers: Da, Nam Na, and Nam Mu; which create the stunningly picturesque sceneries. Visiting Lai Chau, tourists can not only go mountain trekking but also sail along Da River, discover primitive caves or bathe in natural hot springs.

Especially, Lai Chau is home to nearly 20 ethnic minority groups, including H’Mong, Thai, Dao, Ha Nhi, Mang and La Hu. Tourists will have an opportunity to witness the special multi-cultural society through the original local market taken place every Thursday and Sunday morning or minorities’ authentic festival such as Thai’s “Hoa Ban Festival” in the second lunar month or H’Mong’s “Gau Tao Festival” in spring.

There are buses to Sapa departing from Lai Chau terminal every hour, starting from 5 in the morning. It will be a 2-3 hour trip for the route of 175km.

Phia Den- Phia Oac – wild nature

Visiting Phia Den- Phia Oac (or Phia Dac), tourists will be amazed at the gorgeously wild panorama of mighty mountain ranges, rivers, caves and huge areas of original forests. Belong to Nguyen Binh- a remote district of Cao Bang Province, 240km far from Hanoi, Phia Den-Phia Vac is a potential ecotourism spot in Vietnam’s northwest region.

The 1500m average elevation with the highest peak up to 1931m makes Phia Den- Phia Vac covered in mist all the time, which is similar to Sapa’s climate. In the past, the area shared the same historic background with Sapa, as it was controlled by the French colonialists for exploiting aromatic wood and other precious minerals. Consequently, there are several French villas and military posts like Tai Soong, Tatsloom still remained here. For culture discovering purpose, tourists can meet a lot of Dao minority people living scattered throughout the area.

Cao Bang is 272km north of Hanoi following National Highway No.3. There are direct buses departing from Cao Bang terminal to Lao Cai terminal and vice versa, so reaching Sapa from here is pretty convenient.

Mu Cang Chai – unparalleled for photographs

4 THINGS YOU WILL LOVE ABOUT MU CANG CHAI

Lying quietly between two mountain sides in Yen Bai Province, Mu Cang Chai, one of Vietnam’s poorest regions, possesses many terraced fields which have been regarded as a national level heritage and Asia’s most beautiful ones. If you have ever fallen in love with the terraced fields in Sapa, Mu Cang Chai will definitely take your breath away. The little town is 300km far from Hanoi, and can be reached only from Yen Bai City or Lao Cai via rough roads with continuous slopes and passes. Remote as it is, Mu Cang Chai can still reserve the wildly primitive beauty. Everything, both nature and human, is pure and untouched, and perfect for both trekking and sightseeing.

Source: Vietnamonline

Beyond Sapa: 5 Alternatives to consider for your next trip
Nguyen Thanh Van

Are you an adventure seeker? If so, you may love trekking in Vietnam. The country offers excellent trekking with remarkable sceneries.

PREPARE FOR TREKKING AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Sapa (Lao Cai)

Highlights: Located quite far from Hanoi and right next to the neighboring country, China, Sapa is famous for its spectacular mountains, jade hued rice paddies and unique culture as a home of some of the Vietnamese ethnic minorities. It offers diverse and beautiful hiking trails such as Cat Cat village, Y Linh Ho village, Ta Phin village, Muong Hoa Valley, Ham Rong mountain, Sky Gate, etc. Especially, Sapa is the home of the highest peak in Vietnam: Fansipan mount (3143 m).

Best time to trek: from March to May when it is dry and clean; and from September to November if you want to enjoy the terraces

2 DAYS TREKKING TOURS IN SAPA – OVERSTAY AT HOMESTAY TA VAN

Popular treks in Sapa:

There is no specific map if you choose to trek by yourself in Sapa. Most people get lost in the beauty of the land and cannot find the way out. So, there are some recommended trek routes for you if you want to experience quite easy trekking tour level:

• Lao Chai Village (5 km from the town of Sapa)
• Sin Chai Village (5 km from the town of Sapa)
• Ta Van Village (10 km from the town of Sapa)
• Hau Thao Village (11 km from the town of Sapa)
• Ta Phin Village (12 km from the town of Sapa)
• Ban Ho Village (21 km from the town of Sapa)

Things to keep in mind: 

• Before taking photos of local people, ask them. In some cases, you must pay money for them.
• Make copies of all your documents in case you lost the original ones.
• Bargain half prices for anything.

2. Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)

Mai Chau is well known for easy trekking. If you are a beginner, this is a place to go.

Highlights: Only 150 km far away from Hanoi, Mai Chau seems like a totally different world with the idyllic, rural valleys, peaceful atmosphere and laid back ambiance. There are some places to visit: Thac Bo Temple, Thung Khe pass, Mo Luong lake, White Rock pass, Chieu Cave, Go Lao waterfall, Hoa Binh lake, etc.

Best time to trek: from late September to early May

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT CYLING MAI CHAU – MAI CHAU ECOLODGE

Popular treks in Mai Chau:

For experience the slow life of the Thai and H’mong people: Ban Buoc, Cun Pheo, Hang Kia,…

For more challenging trek: Mai Chau valley, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Cuc Phuong National Park

3. Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Thanh Hoa)

Highlights: If you are heading back to Hanoi from the middle of Vietnam, you must add Pu Luong nature reserve to your list. It is the combination of Northern Vietnam’s beauty with beautiful terrace rice fields as Sapa, the magnificent passes as Ha Giang and large fields as Mai Chau. Visiting Pu Luong reserve, you also have the chance to experience the daily life and culture of the Thai and Muong people.

Best time to trek: during rice harvest season, from September to October and from February to May.

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS MAI CHAU VILLAGE AND TREKKING PU LUONG

Popular treks in Pu Luong: A popular trekking adventure will take you to Pu Luong jungle and beautiful small villages like Hang, Kho Muong, Kia villages. Some popular trekking routes: Hieu village – Nua village, Nua village – Son village.

Things to keep in mind: 

Although Pu Luong is a huge national forest, there are still restaurants and accommodation service areas. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about staying overnight there.

4. Ha Giang

Highlights: Ha Giang is also known as the “Final Frontier of Vietnam” for its sweeping views of carpets of flowers, karst mountains and colorful markets of ethnic minority communities. Their highlights include Yen Minh, Meo Vac valley, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Duong Lam village.

Best time to trek: October to December

How to get there: catch a bus in My Dinh bus station, it takes 6 hours to 8 hours

TRAVEL TO HA GIANG WITH RUBICON TOURS VIETNAM’S TRANSFER SERVICE

Popular treks in Sapa:

• Dong Van valley
• Si Phai Mountain Village
• Trung Son – Bo Dot – Hop Nhat
• Tam Son town (Heaven’s gate)
• Sky Path: Col de Ma Pi Len

Things to keep in mind: on the map, there is a road between Niem Son and Yen Minh, which is noted as a big road, but it’s actually a mountain track. The best route would be going from Meo Vac through Lung Phin.

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS HA GIANG LOOP TOURS

5. Cat Ba National Park (Cat Ba Island) 

Highlights: Located on Cat Ba island, Cat Ba National Park attracts tourists not only thanks to the beautiful sea but also a number of highlights and attractions, which make your trip promisingly enjoyable. Inside the national park, there is also a museum, a rehab center, a small zoo, etc. And, some viewpoints that you can find while hiking would be worth your going.

Best time to trek: from September to October

Popular treks in Cat Ba National Park:

• Kim Giao Forest – Ngu Lam Peak (1.5 km)
• Trung Trang & Uy Ban Grottoes (1.2 km)
• National Park HQ – Ao Ech – Viet Hai (14km trekking and walking)

Things to keep in mind: 

• Fires, tree felling, branch cutting, and hunting are not allowed in the forest
• Watch the time out because the national park closes at 5 pm.

6. Cao Bang

Highlights: Cao Bang is a frontier region of North Vietnam with immense beauty. The landscape here is famous for jagged mountains, thin winding roads, and sporadic rice paddies. Choosing Cao Bang as trekking trails, you should not miss these places: Ban Gioc Waterfalls, Nguom Ngao cave, Thang Hen Lake, Pac Bo cave, and Ky Sam Temple.

Best time to trek: from October to April

How to get there: You can take a bus in My Dinh or Gia Lam bus station in the morning or evening.

Popular treks in Cao Bang

• Ba Be National Park
• Pac Po cave – Trek Nam Nhung
• Tong Cot Village
• Ta Lung border town

Source: Vietnamdiscovery

Top trekking places in Vietnam (Part I)
Nguyen Thanh Van

Before spring, the plum gardens in Pa Phach hamlet in Moc Chau district, Son La province, have begun to wake up, dotting the area with pristine white flowers.

Moc Chau has long been famous for the white flower field improvements, the tea plantation or forest gush of white plum blossom and also one of the attractions people dissipated attract tourists at home and abroad.

Moc Chau in Son La province, lies 180 km away from Hanoi, on Highway No. 6 to Son La, Dien Bien. The best time to travel around Moc Chau Tet (February calendar) is seasonal peach, plum flowers blooming around the streets so ubiquitous at this plateau is also the scenic vistas and romantic .

In the spring, the Moc Chau is flooded in white plum blossom color, cherry blossom pink and wealth. You can stop at any public gardens caught on road.

As the sun began to warm up on the plateau and the hills of tea, it’s time plum branches, twigs apricots white flowers sprung racing. Right to Moc Chau on sunny days you feel all the beauty of the flower-covered canopy lit plum under the blue sky.

Plum blossom in the period not long, lasting from 2 to 3 weeks, so if you want to admire the beauty of this flower, you should plan to travel Moc Chau in the first days of February next.

Where many of the most plum blossom in Moc Chau is an area of pine forest and uplink of Ang Sap border gate, the center of Moc Chau town about 30 km.

Plum flower brings early spring in Moc Chau
Nguyen Thanh Van