Far North Vietnam

Here some of Vietnam’s most spectacular scenery can be found.  On several days we venture away from the tourist meccas, cycling through traditional villages and staying in small towns with modest lodgings.

Much of the area is sparsely populated and the mountains are still home to many ethnic minorities. The women wear brightly coloured skirts, tops and hats, with each ethnic group favouring its own colour variation and design. One of the highlights of the tour is the Bac Ha weekly market where villagers from miles around to buy and sell everything from crafts to horses.  There is an overnight at Sapa, a onetime French hill station; from here we take an overnight train back to Hanoi.