5 Days Private Tour in Hanoi, Mu Cang Chai and Sapa

I went trekking for five days through rural villages in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, where about 50 ethnic minorities live. From the capital Hanoi to Sapa near the Chinese border, it is about 450 km, and along the way I stopped at Gia Lộ and Mù Cang Chải, traveling by car. The terraced landscapes of Mù Cang Chải and Sa Pa are ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world. I have visited terraced fields in the Philippines, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, and Guizhou in China, but this was my first time experiencing terraced landscapes on such a large scale. Guided by a Hmong guide who speaks fluent English, the stories about the agriculture and daily life of the ethnic minorities were truly fascinating. Moreover, the homestays were clean and comfortable. I was able to experience the terraced rice field landscapes, tea plantations, livestock such as water buffalo, pigs, chickens, and ducks, the warm hospitality with tea, corn production and its efficient use without waste, the symbiosis of water buffalo and rice cultivation through practices such as returning manure to the paddies and feeding rice straw, hand-harvesting rice and threshing by hand, the production and use of traditional rice (floating rice), strolling through Hmong villages and observing their way of life, as well as the handmade everyday clothing of the Hmong people.

Huong, owner of Color Vietnam, is a very passionate, caring and friendly guide and host who made my private hike through Sapa and Mu Cang Chai an unforgettable experience. An impressive tea ceremony was also part of the event. In addition to a private driver, I also had a private guide 'Y' at my disposal for the entire trip. I had a delicious meal at his parents' house and drank a lot of rice wine. :-) Warm and nice people all. In Sapa I stayed at Huong's homestay, 'Valley View' and got the 'millionaires' corner suite with a beautiful view. I highly recommend this very affordable trip that I booked from Haarlem on a gamble and, considering what you get for it, it turned out very well.