You are picked up at your Hanoi hotel and taken to the Topas Mountain Express, a five-hour drive to the north. Arrive at your mountain retreat in the hills of Sapa Valley, the Topas Ecolodge, and settle in to your bungalow. The views here of the surrounding terraced hillsides are breathaking, and nearly every spot on the property inspires you to pause and take the scenery in.

This afternoon head out with a cycling trip down the main road to the Lech village, a Red Dao community. Leave your bikes and walk a short distance to visit a Red Dao family. Learn about this community's way of life and interact with some of the locals. Hop back on your bikes and continue on to a Moi Village. Learn about the women's embroidery for which the Red Dao are famous. This evening return to the lodge for dinner.

Biking: 1.5 hours on easy grade with 30 minutes of walking, 6 km / 3.7 miles

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and prepare for your hike today. Transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park this morning by vehicle and start out on your hike near Sin Chai Village. Hike through the mountains and past deep valleys with waterfalls as you make your way to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu. The local villagers greet you with a cup of green tea and an invitation into their home to learn about their daily life. From here set out on a small trail for stunning views of the rice terraces dotted with small huts for local farmers during harvest periods. Arrive to Nam Cang village where you enjoy lunch at Nam Cang Riverside Lodge set along a river in one of the most remote areas of Sapa. The Red Dao women here wear some of the most colorful and diverse dress of all of Vietnam's ethnic groups. Learn about the local embroidery, medicine, and herbs used by these women and explore the village with your guide. See how they make rice paper for writing and jewelry, or opt to take a dip in the river. Mid-afternoon your vehicle picks you up for a drive back to Topas Ecolodge to rest this evening.

Hiking: 3 - 3.5 hours of moderate hiking, 6-7 km / 3.7-4 miles

This morning, you have the chance to hike in the mountains, home to the H’mong ethnic group, while enjoying spectacular views of Mt Fansipan – the highest peak in Vietnam. You also get to meet the H’mong ethnic minority group, visiting their homes and seeing how they make their own embroidery to learn more about their culture. There is plenty of time to stop and take in the breathtaking views of the rice terraces, where photo opportunities abound.

You transfer 6km to Hang Da village, to start your hike. The trek begins with an ascent from Hang Da village to Hau Chu Ngai village, both of which are home to the Black Hmong ethnic group. From the villages, the trail heads mostly straight downhill with beautiful views of the mountains, and the deep valley of Muong Hoa on your right. After about two hours of hiking, you reach another village, Thao Hong Den, which is also home to the Black Hmong minority. Here you stop to experience the traditional way of life of the Black H’mong minority, the second biggest ethnic minority group in Sapa. You have a chance to visit a local family and learn more about their culture and lifestyle. Finally, you descend to the main road where your driver picks you up to drive back to Sapa town and back to Topas Ecolodge for going back to Hanoi.

Grade: Moderate
Approx: 17 km driving/ 1hour; 4.6 km hiking/ 2.5 hours.