TREKKING HA GIANG LOOP FROM HANOI

You get on the sleeper bus to go to Ha Giang, stay overnight on the bus before arriving in Ha Giang. (The cost of the sleeper bus is not included in the tour program. There are many types of sleeper buses from many provinces and cities in many time frames to Ha Giang with different prices. Hagiang Expeditions can assist you in booking tickets upon request)

This morning drive three hours from Ha Giang to Lung Phin, the starting point of your trek. Meet your team of porters who will carry the camping equipment and set out as a group for today's hike. Trek through the White H'Mong area and in total pass through 2-3 villages as you cross landscape consisting mostly of rocks, corn fields, and bamboo bushes. Foreigners in this area are quite a rarity, and your presence in various villages is sure to spark some local interest. Enjoy lunch en route. Spend the night in one of the La Ta village, Trekking Distance: 3 hours, 5. miles / 7.1 km Elevation: 3500ft / 1080m gain and 3100ft / 955m loss

Start out for a half hour today towards a tiny village called Ca Ha with traditional dark yellow mud homes of the H'Mong dotting a black rock valley. Descend to the village for some time to explore here before making an ascent through rock mountains and dense forests. Within an hour the view changes to a vast green area and another village belonging to the Co Lao group. Visit this village and continue on the path as you ascend on stone trails again through rock fields to H'Mong villages. The last part of today's long trek is a long cross on a rock ridge dotted by two corn-shaped mountains in the middle of the valley below. The crossing is at its lowest point but the trail offers breathtaking views over the valleys and villages. At the top there are spacious spots besides local corn fields for a short break. Descend down the other side of the mountain to the more secluded H'Mong village Ha Sung where you spend the night. Trekking Distance: 5-9 hours, 7 miles / 11.2 km Elevation: 5280ft / 1610m gain and 4670ft / 1424m loss

Over the next few days, you will find your trekking landscape changes significantly. Your views once dominated by rock valleys and limited water supply are now replaced with open landscape and fertile fields that receive abundant water in the form of streams and rivers. Trek in the morning through the remaining rocky landscape and enjoy a long descent after lunch on dirt paths, rice terraces and along rivers and green forests. From Ma Pi Leng Pass, you enjoy an excellent view towards China in the North and Nho Que River in the valley floor. Arrive to the Tay village located by the river with lush gardens and bountiful fruit orchards. In late afternoon arrive to a village of the Giay minority group where you spend the night in a local house. Trekking Distance: 5-9 hours, 8.9 miles / 14.4 km Elevation: 7644ft / 2330m gain and 6,000ft / 1849m loss

Today trek through Tay and Giay villages where you enjoy more opportunities to experience local life here. Explore the beauty of the rice terraces, mountains and fruit gardens. The hike today has some big ascents to villages located on the mountain's side, as well as a descent through a banyan tree jungle and spot the largest banyans which have become a source of great pride for the locals. Walk through the forest here and descend along trails to Thien Huong village for the night, whose corn wine as become well-known nationwide. The local Giay family welcomes you into their home and take special pride in offering you an introductory look into how they produce corn wine and other vegetables. Trekking Distance: 5-7 hours, 7.4 miles / 11.9 km Elevation: 3976ft / 1212m gain and 2470ft / 753m loss

Today we'll embark on a 4km hike along the beautiful Nho Que River, passing through villages inhabited by the Giay and Hmong people, with rice flowers lining the riverbanks all the way to the Vietnamese border. Lunch at the local homestay, After that, we continue to hike the White Cliffs. The route takes you through climbing villages and offers panoramic views of the scenic Ma Pi Leng Pass and Nho Que River, with seas of floating clouds below. Trekking Distance: 8 hours, 7.4 miles / 13.9km Elevation: 3976ft / 1212m gain and 2470ft / 753m loss

Explore Dong Van town early this morning if you like. Here you will find an ancient market with old houses that have existed for hundreds of years. In the morning you start your long drive back to Hanoi, driving for 4 hours on rough winding road from Dong Van to Ha Giang city, and then the remaining 8-9 hours to Hanoi that you traveled on Day 2. You may wake up early today to explore Dong Van town where there is an ancient market with old houses having existed for hundreds of years. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant on the way and arrive to Hanoi after dark. Approximate 22:30, you will arrive in Hanoi.