Northern Vietnam Highlands

Vietnam's northwest and northeast border highlands: Sapa's rice terraces, the Ha Giang Loop, Mu Cang Chai's paddies, Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang and Ba Be Lake.

The Northern Vietnam Highlands cover the Northwest (Tây Bắc) west of the Red River and the Northeast (Đông Bắc) to its east. Bordering China's Yunnan and Guangxi, this is Vietnam's most spectacular region for scenery and ethnic minority cultures. In the northwest you'll find Sapa's terraced fields and the villages of the Hmong and Red Dao peoples, the cable car up Fansipan (the highest peak in Indochina, 3,143 m), the layered paddies of Mu Cang Chai, and the Thai stilt houses of Mai Chau and Pu Luong. In the northeast, the Ha Giang Loop passes the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Ma Pi Leng Pass and Cock's Comb Mountain, and is considered one of the most beautiful motorbike routes in Southeast Asia; Cao Bang offers Ban Gioc Waterfall (on the Vietnam–China border) and Nguom Ngao Cave, while nearby lies Ba Be National Park with its lake. Typical itineraries: 2–3 days in Sapa, 3–4 days on the Ha Giang Loop, and 2–3 days for Cao Bang and Ba Be, which can be linked into a grand loop of 10–12 days. From Hanoi, sleeper buses or night trains (to Lao Cai) are available; for the Ha Giang Loop most travelers rent a motorbike or hire an "Easy Rider" driver. Mountain roads are steep and winding, and landslides are frequent in the rainy season; some border areas have access requirements for foreigners, so carry your passport at all times.

Destinations

• Sa Pa
• Ha Giang
• Mu Cang Chai
• Cao Bang
• Ba Be Lake
• Mai Chau & Pu Luong

Itineraries

• Northeast Vietnam Grand Loop: Ha Giang, Cao Bang & Ba Be Lake – After completing the Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng sections, head east to Bao Lac, visit Ban Gioc Waterfall, and finish at Ba…
• Northwest Vietnam Terraces: Mu Cang Chai to Sa Pa – Travel through Nghia Lo and Tu Le, cross the Khau Pha Pass, explore the Mu Cang Chai rice terraces, and trek in Sa Pa.
• Ha Giang Loop 4-Day Motorbike Tour – Loop around the Ha Giang Karst Plateau via Quan Ba, Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng, and Du Gia.
• Mai Chau, Pu Luong & Ninh Binh Trekking Loop – A light trekking route from Hanoi that loops through White Thai valleys, Pu Luong terraces, and Ninh Binh's karst peaks.
• Kunming to Hanoi by Rail: 7 Days Along the Yunnan–Vietnam Line – From Kunming, through the southern Yunnan old towns to the Hekou border, then via Sa Pa and an overnight train to Hanoi.