Vietnam Rural Villages Trek
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
OFF THE MAP, INTO THE REAL VIETNAM:
Ever wondered what it’s like to visit a place so untouched by tourism that you’re the main attraction? As you hike through hidden villages, locals wave and smile – not because they’re selling anything, but because they’re just as curious about you as you are about them.
WHO NEEDS HOTELS?
You’ll learn more about Vietnam in one night at a family homestay more than you ever could at a 5-star resort. Expect to wake up to the clatter of morning markets, the smell of rice cooking over a wood fire and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like a long-lost relative.
ULTIMATE GROUP BONDING:
It’s all about the crew! By the end of this adventure, you’ll feel like you’ve known your fellow trekkers forever – complete with inside jokes, shared meals and memories you’ll be laughing about for years.
SUNRISE OVER RICE TERRACES:
Crack of dawn, boots on and you’ll set off to watch the golden sun pour over Pu Luong’s stairway-like rice terraces. It’s one of those moments where you just stand still and think, "Yep, I’m really here".
PHO-NOMENAL FEASTS!
Chopsticks in hand, you’re about to dive into the best bowl of pho you’ve ever had – made by a grandma who’s been perfecting it for decades. One slurp, and you’ll understand why breakfast in Vietnam hits different.
Uncover more info by clicking the tabs below!
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
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Price Details
- $1,350 AUD deposit.
- 2 week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: $1,166 AUD, max 2 spots
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
12 days, 11 nights
Meeting point
Foreign Relations Hotel, Hanoi
Departure point
Foreign Relations Hotel, Hanoi
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
- You’re open-minded and open-hearted.
- You try to embrace the little things.
- You don’t mind basic washing facilities in your homestays.
- You love adventure and the surprises that come with it.
- You are gracious to others and a team player.
Fitness
Level 2 – Moderate
If you’re comfortable trekking for 3 to 4 hours and over 7 to 10 kilometres continuously at a time, Level 2 is for you! Expect the terrain to be relatively flat, although it can be undulating in some areas. If you walk at a distance in varying terrain on a regular basis, you should be well prepared. Aside from trekking for a few hours each day, ‘moderate’ trips may include activities like a short cycle tour through beautiful countryside or around quaint towns.
Included
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation
- 11 nights accommodation
- Traditional Bamboo raft ride
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Personal trekking equipment
- Late check-out at hotels
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks with included lunches and dinners
- Tip kitty
- Personal expenditure
Accommodation Preview
Pu Luong Valley Home
Mai Chau Ecolodge
Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge
Overview
Trip Summary By Days
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Welcome to Vietnam and Hanoi! | ||||||
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Hanoi food tour and Hang Da Market shopping followed by a cooking class | ||||||
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Drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve and an afternoon hike; bamboo rafting | 2,5 | 1,5 | 4 | |||
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Sunrise hike at Pu Luong Nature Reserve and picnic lunch | 13 | 6 | ||||
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Head to Pu Luong and work beside the locals in their rice fields | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | |||
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Hike from Na Cut Village to Cha Long Village | 10 | 3 | 20 min | |||
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Drive to Nghia Lo and visit Nghia Lo Market; night in a local homestay | 2 | 1 | 5.5 | |||
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Thai minority villages and a short hike | 6 | 3 | 2 | |||
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Trek to My Hang and a drive to Sapa | 6 | 2,5 | 4 | |||
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Visit Sapa villages and meet the Red Dao ethnic minority; drive to Ta Giang Phinh Village | 8 | 4 | ||||
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A drive back to Hanoi and a farewell dinner | 5 | |||||
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Goodbye Vietnam! | ||||||
| Total: | 50,5 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Trip Map
Get to Know Your Vietnam Rural Villages Trek Itinerary
What You'll See & Do
Day 1 – Welcome to Hanoi!
The adventure begins as soon as your plane touches down in Hanoi, a city with a thousand years of history and your home for the next couple of nights – so let’s not waste a second! Our crew will be there at the airport, whisking you off to your hotel with the kind of welcome that says “you’re one of us now”. This evening, get ready to meet your 11 new best friends over a welcome dinner. There’s nothing like chowing down on huge bowls of noodles to bring a group together, so it’s time to do just that.
As the evening winds down, you’ll find yourself marvelling at how quickly strangers can transform into friends, and you’ll feel like you’ve known your new travel buddies for years, not hours. Tonight is just the beginning, and trust us, the adventure only picks up from here!
Accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel (or similar)
Included: Dinner
Day 2 – Hanoi
Delving mouth-first into Vietnam’s out-of-this-world food scene is pretty much mandatory for any traveller worth their salt. So, what’re you waiting for? Inside the kitchen of a local family, tucked away in Hanoi’s maze-like Old Quarter, you’ll learn the secrets of how Hanoian food tastes that good, and how to replicate it for yourself.
But first, a mission: infiltrate Hang Da Market to snag the freshest, juiciest ingredients for your cooking extravaganza!
You’d think chopping, slicing and dicing your way to Masterchef status would have quenched your new obsession with Vietnamese food, but chances are, it’s only made it more intense! Hold on to your chopsticks, because this afternoon, we have a surprise up our sleeves. We’re keeping this one under wraps, but trust us, it’s going to be delicious.
Accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Wave goodbye to Hanoi’s buzz – you’re off to the quiet paradise of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. After a stunning 4-hour drive you’ll hit the ground walking, starting from a suspension bridge over the Cham River that’ll have you questioning the laws of physics in the best way possible.
This afternoon’s hike is 2.5-kilometre trek with a steep start, where you’ll learn about the inner workings of the water wheel before meeting Dinh and his crew for an adventure that screams “holiday mode”: bamboo rafting. So, grab your life jackets and leave your worries on the shore. Gliding along the calm river, with nothing but the sound of your oar (and possibly questionable paddling skills – we don’t judge) echoing off the water, you’ll not remember a time you felt this relaxed.
Accommodation: Pu Luong Valley Home (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Crack of dawn, and you’re off to catch the valley in its morning best – soaked in a golden haze and decked out in every shade of green you can imagine! As soon as your feet hit the trail, you’re stepping into a world where rice terraces unfold like a living, breathing postcard, so you’ll want to make sure your camera is fully-charged for today.
After exploring the rice terraces, it’s all downhill (in a good way) to the valley’s base, zigzagging through roads and villages that haven’t seen a traffic jam ever. Of course, you can’t hike on an empty stomach, so the plan is to break up the hiking with a picnic lunch before tackling the rest of the day’s 13 kilometres of trekking.
Tired? We’ve got the solution – rounding off the day with some time by the river, letting the peace and quiet wash over you before heading back to the hotel for a well-earned rest. Sweet dreams!
Accommodation: Pu Luong Valley Home (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Mai Chau
Today’s the day you go from tourist to local in Pu Luong, diving headfirst into village life where you’ll do more than just observe. Ever wondered how rice is grown, or how the locals’ colourful textiles are woven? You’re about to find out, getting dirt under your fingernails alongside locals in their farms and rice fields, and dye on your fingertips as you check out the local looms.
Post-lunch, it’s time to head out on a leisurely 3-kilometre trek around the village to stretch your legs for a couple of hours. Then, it’s a swift 1.5-hour drive to our next adventure hub. Mai Chau, your time is now!
Accommodation: Mai Chau Ecolodge (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Nà Cụt and Cha Long villages
Buckle up for a quick 20-minute drive to Nà Cụt village – so short you’ll barely have time to ask, “Are we there yet?” Once you ditch the wheels, it’s hiking time. Today’s 10 kilometres of trails will take you into the heart of a thick bamboo forest, passing hidden villages, towering limestone cliffs and houses on stilts peeking out of terraced fields. It’s a view so pristine it feels too good to be true!
Obviously, it’d be a crime not to make plenty of stops to account for those “wait, let me take a photo” moments, and chats with locals that’ll likely turn into impromptu language lessons, so the hike will be pretty easygoing.
The trail comes to an end in Cha Long Village, where cassava and corn fields reign supreme. Hiking complete, the afternoon is yours to rest your achy feet, or, oh go on then, head back out to hike around the hotel’s glorious surroundings.
Accommodation: Mai Chau Ecolodge (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Nghia Lo
Can you believe it’s day seven already? Only a week ago you were introduced to Vietnam’s complex and colourful cultures, and now – this morning – you’re finally heading out to spend the night in a homestay! But first, there’s a five hour scenic drive peppered with “stop the bus!” moments for those must-capture snapshots to endure! Your anticipation builds as you roll into Nghia Lo. Sweeping rice paddy terraces surround tiny villages like layers of frilly petticoats and tonight this divine pocket of the world will be your home.
It’s just as you imagined – welcoming locals will instantly adopt you and shuffle you off to Nghia Lo Market. Here, the colours, smells and sounds whip up a sensory cocktail you didn’t even know you needed! Then, it’s off to explore the surrounding villages, where you’ll feel well and truly off the beaten path and out of place, in the best possible way.
Tonight, you’re bunking down dormitory style. It’s like a whole group sleepover, complete with giggling, sharing stories and maybe throwing a pillow or two in the direction of any snorers. You’ll know each other a lot better after sharing such close quarters!
Accommodation: Local Homestay
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Mu Cang Chai
Team, it’s time to rise and shine! The early wake-up call might not be your favourite, but we’re making it up to you with a drive so scenic, you’ll soon forgive us for pulling you out of bed early. And it’s a brief one, so you can save your drive snacks for later.
The destination is the Thai minority villages, where the rice fields roll out like green carpets, setting the stage for this morning’s gentle 4-kilometre stroll. And you’re in luck – this walk was designed to awe, not exhaust, so you’ll still have plenty of energy left in the tank at the finish line.
How you spend this afternoon is up to you: sink into some well-earned relaxation, or continue your quest through more Thai villages. Your guide will be more than happy to point out a few other 1 to 3 kilometre routes, in case you just can’t get enough hiking – and we wouldn’t blame you!
Accommodation: Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – My Hang Trek
Fuel up with a breakfast that’s almost as epic as today’s agenda, because you’re heading to Pung Luong for a trek to My Hang that’ll easily land a place on your ‘favourite hikes of all time’ list.
Along the way, you’ll rub elbows (figuratively, of course) with the Hmong people, whose smiles are as inviting as the stories they share. And we can’t forget to mention those terraced rice paddy fields! You don’t need another 50 selfies in front of stunning rice fields, but you’ll certainly want them! Today’s trekking covers six kilometres over 2.5 hours, but who’s counting when every step is this glorious?
This afternoon you’ll journey to Sapa, and if you thought the views couldn’t get any better, brace yourself. You have another opportunity to admire the Hoang Lien Son mountain that you passed earlier on the trip. Seeing it again, you’d almost swear it’s even prettier the second time.
Accommodation: Bamboo Sapa Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 – Sapa
Buckle up for a road trip with a view, leaving Sapa town in the rearview as you cruise towards the northern villages of Sapa. Ban Khoang village is the first stop of the day, where you’ll get to meet the Red Dao Ethnic minority. The women here are embroidery legends, and believe us when we say you won’t be able to resist “oohing” and “aahing” at their brightly woven clothing.
After learning about their way of life, it’s back on the road to Ta Giang Phinh village, the home of the ethnic Black Hmong people. Here’s your chance to plunge into their culture and traditions – from their traditional festivals to their marriage and funerary rituals, surrounded by some of the most gasp-worthy scenery you’ll ever see. Let’s just say if ‘breathtaking’ was a place, you’d be standing right in the middle of it.
Accommodation: Bamboo Sapa Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 – Hanoi
Hanoi’s so nice, you’ll see it twice! After breakfast, today you’re on the road again to return to where it all began, Vietnam’s lovable capital. The 5-hour drive is the perfect time for reflection, playlist sharing and maybe a cheeky nap- but the real finale is set for this evening.
As the sun dips below the Hanoi horizon, you’ll roll up to your final feast, capping off this wild ride through Vietnam. Tonight’s farewell dinner is where you’ll clink glasses, crack jokes and chow down on all your favourite Vietnamese dishes with your fabulous Camino crew – celebrating every twist, turn and triumph of the journey you’ve shared together. It’s about the belly laughs, the shared sweat of your treks, and those “can you believe we did that?” moments, so make the most of your final night together!
Accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 – Farewell Friends
Time flies when you’re having fun, and just like that, departure day has dawned. Over breakfast, share those last laughs and maybe a tear or two as you reminisce about the journey with your new hiking pals.
As you board the plane, remember: the adventure doesn’t end here. The only question that remains is, where will you explore with us next?
Included: Breakfast
FAQs
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:USD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD : 0.66 USD.
A deposit of $1,350 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made 110 days in advance.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information
For travelers departing from Australia to Vietnam, there are several 1-stop flights available, typically transiting through major hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), or Bangkok (Thailand). These routes are the most direct and convenient options for reaching Hanoi.
For those traveling from New Zealand, 1-stop flights are less common. However, 2-stop routes via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok are the most direct and practical choices. These routes often involve a stopover in Australia or a major Southeast Asian hub before continuing on to Hanoi.
Level 2 – Moderate
If you’re comfortable trekking for 3 to 4 hours and over 7 to 10 kilometres continuously at a time, Level 2 is for you! Expect the terrain to be relatively flat, although it can be undulating in some areas. If you walk at a distance in varying terrain on a regular basis, you should be well prepared. Aside from trekking for a few hours each day, ‘moderate’ trips may include activities like a short cycle tour through beautiful countryside or around quaint towns.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
For your Vietnam adventure, we ask your contribution be:
- 2,200,000 VND (equivalent to $130 AUD) to your guide on Day 1. The kitty will be managed by your guide and distributed along the way at restaurants for included meals, hotel staff, drivers, train station porterage and services.
What is not covered is a customary tip at the end of the trip for your guide. If they’ve ensured that your trip is memorable, we recommend the following guidelines:
- 1,500,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND per person at the end of the trip ($89 – $118 AUD equivalent).
(Exchange Rate used – $1AUD : 16,952 Vietnamese Dong)
Solo travellers will be matched with a room-mate. Of course, if you prefer to have your own space, you can reserve the private room supplement. We have 2 private supplement rooms available for this trip. The private supplement is not available on Day 7 when you’ll be spending the night at the homestay.
Please contact us for more information.
Australians and New Zealanders require a tourist e-Visa to enter Vietnam, which will cost around $50 USD. When the time comes apply, we’ll assist with all the info you need.
We advise you to pack light and choose either a backpack or a suitcase for your trip. Your luggage will be transported between overnight stays, however you’ll be responsible for your daily needs on treks, so best to have a comfortable day pack for that.
You will be accommodated in lodges, primarily bungalow-style accommodations that are twin share with ensuite facilities. On Day 7, you will stay in a local home with dormitory-style accommodation.
November marks a delightful transition in Vietnam from the rainy season to the dry season. While weather conditions vary across regions, it’s generally pleasant for travelers. In the north, cities like Hanoi and Sapa experience cooler temperatures, averaging around 22°C, accompanied by clear skies and minimal rainfall.
During February and March, Vietnam experiences a varied climate, offering an appealing time for travel. The northern areas are cooler, with average temperatures around 18°C and occasional light rain as they move from winter to spring. Central Vietnam enjoys warming temperatures and decreasing rainfall, creating excellent conditions for beach-going. In the south, the weather remains warm and dry, with temperatures typically around 28°C, ideal for urban exploration and outdoor activities.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
