Adventurous Self-drive Northern Vietnam 4x4 Tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay - 12 Days

Northern Vietnam is an amazing place to visit and learn about the hill tribes' distinct cultures. You plan on visiting remote locations but are unable to ride a motorcycle? Don't worry; we'll organize a 4WD adventure tour in Northern Vietnam for you.

This 12-day Northern Vietnam 4x4 journey will take you to some of Vietnam's most remote but beautiful destinations, including Mai Chau, Phu Yen, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Halong Bay, where you can get a true spirit of adventure. Don't wait anymore; grab your backpack and be ready to join us right away!

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Tour code: OFFR03
Duration: 12 days 11 nights
Route: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Mu Cang Chai - Sapa - Ha Giang - Meo Vac - Ba Be - Cao Bang - Lang Son - Halong Bay

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau (150 km)
- After breakfast, you will go to our garage to pick up your car and begin your journey to Mai Chau, a little village hidden in a verdant valley surrounded by stunning rice terraced fields. When you leave the city and travel across the Da River delta plains, you will be welcomed with breathtaking views of majestic natural scenery sprinkled with old temples and calm rural villages.
  
  Today, you mostly drive around rivers and lakes on narrow country roads. If you have enough time, you can stop along the road to see a Muong ethnic minority village and halt at Thung Khe Pass to take in the amazing views of Mai Chau valley from above. Late in the afternoon, you arrive in Mai Chau town. Here, you have dinner and then stay overnight in a Thai stilt house.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen (180 km)
- It's a short drive to Phu Yen, which has plenty of spots to stop for photos of the gorgeous mountain scenery. First, you'll follow Hua Tat, a peaceful mountain path. Hua Tat was built by the French during the war, and it now appears to have been forgotten, but it enhances the fascination of your journey.
  
  After lunch, continue driving on the magnificent 43 Road, which leads to a region populated by both Kinh and Thai ethnic minorities. After crossing the Da River's water reservoir on the Van Yen ferry, keep going on a magnificent winding road to Phu Yen, a small town in Son La province located in the centre of a vast rice-field valley. Dinner with local cuisine and spend the night at a hotel in this town.
Day 3: Phu Yen - Mu Cang Chai (180 km)
- Begin your journey to Mu Cang Chai earlier today, as it is a long journey with a lot of wonderful natural landscapes to admire. You leave town and traverse the Lung Lo Pass before heading to Tu Le, a small town where we will have lunch.
  
  After lunch, continue driving along the various paths with picturesque vistas of the Hmong and Thai people's rustic villages. If you visit Mu Cang Chai, which is known for having the most magnificent terraced rice fields in Northern Vietnam, don't forget to bring your camera and shoot some wonderful images of natural settings to keep track of your memories. Enjoy a good night's sleep at a nearby hotel after dinner in town.
Day 4: Mu Cang Chai - Sapa (170 km)
- As you continue straight towards the main Mount Fansipan range, today's ride is extremely fascinating. The spectacular natural scenery of this area, with the green mountains running along the road from Than Uyen to Tram Ton - Vietnam's highest mountain pass road - will definitely astound you.
  
  Drive through Lao Cai's administrative lands, which are over 2,000 meters above sea level, before arriving in the Sapa valley around lunchtime. Check-in your hotel room and have lunch there. Then, today, you'll spend the entire afternoon exploring this beautiful town. Sapa has become one of the most famous tourist sites in northern Vietnam due to its natural beauty and rich culture. Sapa can meet all of your demands, whether you're searching for a place to unwind after a long day at work or to indulge your desire for adventure. In this town, you'll stay at a hotel for dinner and the night.
Day 5: Sapa - Ha Giang (240 km)
- You'll have another pleasant journey from Sapa to Lao Cai today. You'll spend some time at the Chinese border along the route. The Lao Cai international border gate is one of Vietnam's largest international border gates. Coming here will immerse you in the ambience of a bustling border city where a large number of tourists pass through every day.
  
  You follow a little road along the Chinese border to Viet Quang, where lunch is served. You will have the chance to discover the breathtaking beauty of the lush mountain ranges as well as visit several ethnic minority villages and markets during your journey. You arrive in Ha Giang late in the afternoon, have dinner, and spend the night in a local homestay.
Day 6: Ha Giang - Dong Van - Meo Vac (180 km)
- Today's journey is definitely the highlight of this 12-day tour, as you'll drive to Dong Van, one of Vietnam's most remote districts, known for its beautiful natural landscape and unique ethnic minority culture. Drive on a tortuous road for about 14 kilometres till you reach Vuong Palace, which is roughly 14 kilometres from Dong Van. The Vuong Family's house, located in the gorgeous Sa Phin valley with classic Chinese style, is considered the King of the Hmong people in Dong Van. The entire structure is made of wood and rock, all of which were imported from China.
  
  When you arrive in Dong Van, you will have the opportunity to move around ancient alleyways lined with centuries-old clay and brick houses. Then continue on to Meo Vac, which is home to ethnic minorities such as Dzao, Tay, and Hmong. Despite modern life, they retain their fundamental simplicity and peacefulness. Here you can have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 7: Meo Vac - Ba Be (180 km)
- You get on the drive to Ba Be Lake after breakfast. This is one of the most gorgeous roads on our journey, stretching across numerous mountains allows you to admire the wonderful grandeur of the Nho Que River from afar.
  
  To get to Ba Be, stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Bao Lac town before conquering 30 kilometres of paved road and a short trail through the forest. There are several beautiful streams and rivers along the road, making today's drive even more delightful. In the late afternoon, you arrive at Pac Ngoi, a small Tay village located within Ba Be National Park. Your group will stay in a local homestay for dinner and the night.
Day 8: Ba Be - Cao Bang (150 km)
- The morning of the eighth day will be spent exploring Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park. Taking a boat tour of Ba Be Lake is the best way to discover its beauty. You can relax on the boat while admiring the magnificent surroundings, learning about wildlife, or even going for a swim if you want.
  
  The boat will take you to Puong cave, where you will see thousands of bats and stalactites of all shapes. Continue down the Nang River to the Dau Dang Waterfall before stopping for lunch at a riverside restaurant. Then return to the homestay, pack your belongings, and begin a 3-hour drive to Cao Bang town, where we will spend the night.
Day 9: Cao Bang - Quang Hoa - Lang Son (180 km)
- Keep going on the renowned Colonial Road No.4 from Cao Bang to Lang Son. We'll pass via the villages of Dong Khe and That Khe, which are famous for innumerable terrible battles between Viet Minh and French forces in the 1950s.
  
  Continue driving to Quang Hoa village, which is home to the Nung An people. Before heading to Lang Son, stop in this village for lunch and a short rest. Lang Son is now the major trading hub between Vietnam and China, with a plethora of Chinese appliances and electronics such as toys, phone chargers, and other items. After a long day of driving, have dinner at a local restaurant and then go to your hotel to rest.
Day 10: Lang Son - Loc Binh - Tien Yen - Halong Bay (200 km)
- You will explore Tam Thanh cave after breakfast before returning to the hotel to check out and depart for Halong Bay. Tam Thanh is Lang Son's largest cave, located only 2 kilometres from the city centre. The cave is 400 meters long and has two entrances, one of which houses a Buddhist shrine called Tam Thanh Pagoda and the other of which provides a spectacular panoramic view of a beautiful valley. Tam Thanh cave and To Thi mountain takes about 2-3 hours to explore.
  
  Then you'll return to Colonial Road No.4 and drive along the coast until we reach Halong City. Arrive at Halong late in the afternoon, check in your hotel, have dinner and stay the night.
Day 11: Halong Bay
- You won't have any long drives today, so it'll be a relaxing day. You have the morning free to explore Halong City, including the market and the beach. At 12:00 noon, you go on a cruise trip to Halong Bay. Halong Bay, designated one of the world's new seven natural wonders by UNESCO, offers a breathtaking landscape of over 3,000 surrounding islands and cliffs.
  
  While the cruise moves deeper into the bay, seafood lunch is served in the dining area, providing a better view of hundreds of limestone islets such as Fighting Cocks, Stone Dogs, Duck, Finger, and others. You'll also go to Thien Cung Cave, which will definitely astound visitors with its magnificent formation.
Day 12: Halong Bay - Hanoi (170 km)
- Begin your day with a serene morning surrounded by crystal clear water, picturesque islets, and a soothing sunrise. The cruise will take a short trip around the bay after breakfast before returning to the port.
  
  Continue on the final leg of the 12-day Northern Vietnam 4WD Adventure Tour by returning to Hanoi along the main road via the Red River Delta. You're once again surrounded by the tranquillity of rice fields and rustic rural villages. To avoid traffic jams, arrive in Hanoi before 5 p.m. The tour has come to an end.

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Adventurous Self-drive Northern Vietnam 4x4 Tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay - 12 Days

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