Meeting with the ethnic groups of North Vietnam – 8-day tour

Go on a timeless journey in the North of Vietnam, in the heart of grandiose mountains and secret valleys, where life still follows the rhythm of the seasons and traditions.
This North Vietnam Ethnic Circuit leads you to meet the peoples of the highlands - Tay, Dzao, Hmong, Nung and Black Lolos - whose cultural richness and kindness are the true treasure of this region.

From Ba Be, with its peaceful lake bordered by tropical forests, to the spectacular landscapes of Ha Giang and Meo Vac, you will discover an authentic and vibrant Vietnam.
Each day is an immersion: crossing colorful markets, gentle walking in mountain villages, sharing meals with the inhabitants and sincere exchanges with local families.

Accompanied by an experienced English-speaking guide, you will learn to read the landscapes, understand the customs and appreciate the raw charm of North Vietnam.
This 8-day trip is above all a human experience, an immersion in the cultural diversity of the country, between wild nature, crafts, ancestral traditions and shared smiles.

A tour designed for those who dream of a preserved, deep and sincere Vietnam - a Vietnam that one discovers not as a tourist, but as a guest.

Programme of the Ethnies du Nord circuit (8 days / 7 nuits)

This 8-day tour in the North of Vietnam takes you to discover spectacular landscapes and peoples with centuries-old traditions.
Between villages on stilts, rice terraces and colorful markets, each day will bring you a little closer to the vibrant heart of mountain Vietnam.
An itinerary accompanied by a passionate French-speaking guide, to experience the country through its inhabitants.

Day 1 | Hanoi – Ba Be | L, D

Around 9 a.m. meet our English-speaking tour guide to take the road to Ba Be, the largest natural park in North Vietnam.

Formed by a set of several lakes and surrounded by lush forests, the region is populated by several ethnic minorities including the Tay, the Dzao and the Hmong.

On the way, enjoy a stop at Thai Nguyen to discover the green tea plantations. Also take different photo breaks along the way. Lunch on the way.

Arrival in Ba Be at the end of the afternoon, transfer to the village Nam Mau of the Tay minorities. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 2 | Ba Be | B, L, D

After breakfast, join the pier on foot for a cruise on a long motor boat on Ba Be Lake to admire the sumptuous landscapes of the region drawn by limestone cliffs and mountains with lush vegetation. Make a stop to discover the Dau Dang waterfalls.

After lunch, continue your cruise to the south of the lake to visit Hua Ma Cave and traditional villages of the Tay and Nung to discover the life of these minorities. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 3 | Ba Be - Nam Ngu | B, L, D

After breakfast, around 7.30 a.m. departure to Nam Ngu through roads number 3 and 4.

Arrival at the village of Nam Ngu in the late morning, go for a walk to discover the region and tobacco manufacturing with all tobacco ovens, depending on the season. Lunch on the way in the form of a picnic.

Contemplate the west of the Thong Nong Massif and the limestone peaks of the Mo Sat massif. In the distance, you can see the ridge lines of the Chinese border. This region, far from tourist circuits, offers an authentic and unique experience. Dinner and night at the Nung’s place.

Day 4 | Nam Ngu – Bao Lac | B, L, D

After breakfast, take the road to Bao Lac. On the way, enjoy several stops to admire the landscapes of the region where you arrive for lunch.

In the afternoon, go to meet the ethnic group of the Lolos Noirs, discover among others a traditional stilt house.

Take a walk in the fields and, depending on the season, learn about agricultural work: clearing land, plowing fields, growing rice or corn, collecting wood, weaving...

In the evening, dinner and night with the locals to discover their culture and lifestyle.

Day 5 | Bao Lac – Meo Vac | B, L, D

Early departure around 7:30 a.m., to go to Meo Vac.

Then go for a boat trip on the Nho Que River. of about 45 minutes, an opportunity to observe the grandiose landscapes of the valley from the river and the gorge of Tu Sản.

After lunch, go for a 4-hour hike in one of the most picturesque regions of North Vietnam, to admire the mountain landscapes, to meet the Hmong and other ethnic minorities living in the region in very remote villages and discover the hemp plantations and corn as well as a bamboo forest. In the evening, dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Day 6 | Meo Vac – Phuong Do | B, L, D

Early departure around 7:30 a.m., to join Ha Giang. Admire the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains from Ma Pi Leng Pass. On the way, explore the palace of the H'mong King with its many references to opium, Chinese culture and feng shui.

Discover the panoramic view of the region from the Yen Ming pass before a break in the cob village of Nam Dan for lunch with the locals. Then walk in the village and the surroundings and relax near a waterfall to refresh.

Finally arrived in Phung Do at the end of the day. Dinner and night with the local.

Day 7 | Phung Do | B, L, D

Early departure around 7:30 a.m., for a hike of 9 or 13 km in the surroundings of Ha Giang with our English-speaking guide and a family member where you spent the night who knows the area well.

Get off the beaten track to enter a world of landscapes drawn by rice fields, the unusual serrations of the iconic karst mountains of the northern province of Ha Giang. Cross on the way 2 villages of the Red Dao and discover many facets the school system, the work in the field, the rice pounding, home life, etc.

Lunch during the day in the form of a picnic. Arrival at the village of Thon Tha, return by car to the house then relax.

Dinner and night with the local.

Day 8 | Phung Do - Hanoi | B, L

After breakfast, take the road back to Hanoi where you arrive around 4.30 p.m.

Lunch on the way.

Price 2026

2 pax: 1.070 € / pax

4 pax: 770 € / pax.

Le Nord du Vietnam, terre des ethnies et des montagnes

North Vietnam is undoubtedly the wildest and most fascinating region of the country.
Between limestone peaks, deep valleys and terraced rice fields, this land of contrasts is home to a mosaic of millenary peoples and traditions.
Here, the mountains are alive: they resound with the noise of markets, the pounding of weaving looms and the laughter of children running in the red earth paths.

The Haut Tonkin, which extends from Ba Be to Ha Giang via Meo Vac and Dong Van, is a true cultural sanctuary.
It is there that the mountainous ethnic groups of Vietnam live: Tay, Dzao, Hmong, Nung and Lolos Noirs, each with their costumes, customs and language.
Their life is intimately linked to the mountains, to the cultivation of rice, corn and a deep respect for nature.

A world suspended between sky and rice fields

In the valleys enveloped in mist, the rice terraces draw landscapes of striking beauty, hand-carved for generations.
Each season offers a different face: the tender green of the young shoots in spring, the gold bursting of the harvests in autumn.
The villages on stilts blend into this natural setting, and the inhabitants welcome you with a sincere smile, always ready to share a tea or a story.

A human experience above all

Traveling in the North of Vietnam means meeting a people deeply attached to their roots.
It is to attend a colorful ethnic market, observe the weaving of a handembroidered scarf or listen to the songs of a village festival.
Accompanied by a French-speaking guide, you will discover not only the grandiose landscapes, but also the stories, beliefs and gestures that perpetuate the identity of these communities.

Far from the urban turmoil, this region offers a journey of emotions and encounters, a return to simplicity and beauty of true things.