Trip highlight

The 7-day trek includes 3 days of trekking through the most unique and remote villages of  north eats Vietnam mountain . 5 nights among local ethnic minority community, in basic traditional houses on stilts, trying traditional mountain village lifestyle. The genuine hospitality of the villagers will create a truly unforgettable experience. This trip is especially suitable for those who want to get off the beaten track.

Day 1: Hanoi – Thai Nguyen – Ba Be National park

Travel north along High way 3 to Thai Nguyen for a stop to enjoy a lunch of traditional Vietnamese food. Worth a visit here is the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam Ethnic Groups. Leaving the delta behind, you’ll start climbing into the mountainous area of Ba Be National Park. Take a short boat trip (30 minutes) to a Tay village for dinner and homestay at local house.

Day 2: Ba Be – Cao Bang

Ba Be National Park, surrounded by rugged limestone mountains, is Viet Nam’s only natural mountain lake. This important eco-system is best known for its over 330 species of butterflies! Have breakfast with your Tay hosts. The lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains is your backdrop as you explore the lake. Reach the end of the lake and stop for a trek to Dau Dang waterfall. Meet your Lotussia car, head north through the lush mountain passes to the city of Cao Bang. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 3: Cao Bang – Phuc Hoa – Dong Khe – That Khe

Drive from Cao Bang town to the Ta Lung national entrance 70 km, visit the national entrance. Have lunch there. Go on walking along the valley and lime stone mountain from Ta Lung to La village about 15 km. Dinner and overnight at the Tay’s stilt – house.

Day 4: Hill tribe village trekking.

After breakfast, continue walking and climb the lime stone mountain. Have lunch. Traveling along the lime stone to the Na Nieng village. Dinner and overnight at the Tay ‘s stilt – house.

Day 5: Hill tribe village trekking.

After breakfast, leave the Na Nieng village to Dong Khe town on walk 12km. Lunch in Dong Khe. Continue to the Pac Khoang village. Dinner and overnight at the Red Dao ‘s village.

Day 6: Hill tribe village trekking

After breakfast, trekking through lime stone valley, the small streams. Stop for lunch. Continue walking to Na Pang village, Trang Dinh district – Lang Son. Dinner and overnight at Tay’s stilt-house.

Day 7: Cao Bang hill tribe village trekking. Travel back to Hanoi.

After breakfast, trekking to That Khe town. Lunch in town then drive back Hanoi. End trip.

Inclusions:

• All accommodation at hotel in CaoBang and home stay in village
• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• English speaking guide, sightseeing fees and permits
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions:

• Visa to Vietnam, departure airport taxes
• Personal travel & medical insurance, all personal & daily expenses
• Gratuities and tips for drivers and guides, things not mentioned in the program

What to bring: Suitable walking shoes, raincoats, jackets, torch, insect repellent and sunscreen

Important:

 All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.

 Note:

    We working and keep reservation from clients in internet by email

 We may not always have cruise , tours, holidays, travel available at certain time. Please contact us as early as you can.
Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

How are we Trek

A normal day trek would start at 9am in the morning. We come and meet you at your hotel and together we plan how you want to spend your day. It's your private trek and we will try our best to arrange it after your wishes.
Most trails goes down the valley. We will walk on the edges of the rice fields, pass over the river, through bamboo forest and visit some villages. If you are coming in the summer, bring bathing clothes and ask us to take you swimming!

 After trekking down hill over the day we either stop at a local restaurant for lunch or we can prepare food in a Hmong house. At the end of the trek, walking or going by motorbike back to Sapa is optional but most people take the easy way out. If you want, you can always start walking up hill by the main road and get on someone who stops to give you a ride for a cheap price. The treks normally end at 3pm.
We can also arrange two day or three day treks with real home stays. If you want, we can also do day tours to some of the bigger markets in the area; Coc Ly market on Tuesdays, Can Cao market on Saturdays and Bac Ha market on Sundays. Get in touch with us and we'll settle a reasonable price.
Furthermore we can provide you with beautiful original handicrafts and custom made Hmong clothes made after your own desires and measures.

So far we have no possibility to arrange train tickets or hotel bookings.
Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Choosing the right foot wear to hiking

5 questions you just gotta to ask a boot salesperson

Ask experienced trekkers what they consider the most critical piece of gear, and nine out of ten will say "boots" without hesitation. Happy feet are the first step towards a happy trip. That's why the experts insist you invest a bit of time in the store to make sure you pick the best boot for your foot and get the boot properly fitted for each foot.
What's a conscientious consumer to do? Here are five specific questions to ask your boot fitter.

1. Will you measure my feet (please)?
The first step is always to get an accurate measurement using a brannock device. "If a fitter doesn't start by measuring and inspecting a customer's foot that may be a sign that he is not well trained in boot fitting."

2. Can you customize the fit?
A well trained boot fitter should be able to modify boots to perfectly fit anybody's funky foot. He should say "Every size nine feet is shaped differently. If you have a bunion, we can make a pocket to accommodate it so there's no additional chafing. If you have a narrow heel or a low volume foot, we can add different types of padding to secure the foot inside the boot." The key is to stay in the proper size for your foot length, not bump up or down to the next size to solve a volume issue.

3. What type of socks should I be wearing?
"Never underestimate the importance of socks. If your feet are perpetually cold and clammy, merino wool socks are probably best for you. If they're always on the hot side, a synthetic blend will quickly wick sweat away from the foot and keep them cooler and drier. Plus, varying the thickness of socks can also fine-tune the fit of a boot.

4. Do I need custom footbeds or insoles?
Almost anyone can benefit from footbeds even someone with a very average, problem-free foot will see a boost in comfort with a quality footbed. Custom molded footbeds always offer the best match for your foot, but even a less expensive off-the-shelf model will help. For instance, if your arch is high, a footbed can prevent it from elongating or collapsing with each step. Anything that cuts down on movement inside the boot means fewer blisters and a higher comfort level.

5. Do I need waterproof boots?
Of course, if you're a desert hiker, there's no need to spend the extra money on a waterproof liner. But if you hike where there's lots of rain, or you often find yourself sloshing across streams, a waterproof liner (like Gore-Tex) is a wise investment. Day-hikers who can go home at the end of the day to a pair of dry socks and slippers don't need to worry about liners. But on longer trips it becomes more important to keep your feet dry. Also don't neglect the leather just because you have a boot with a waterproof liner. It still needs to be treated periodically to keep it from drying out and cracking. Remember that you are the one wearing the boots. Boot fitters can guide you in the right direction and make sure that the fit is correct, but if you think a boot is too stiff, for instance, for your comfort level, listen to your gut.
Solving fit problem
Must know secrets on tweaking boot fit.
Your feet tell no lies. If you feel your heel slipping or a pinky toe rubbing or other minor fit problems, then consider using simple techniques to modify your new boots.

Stretching
Boot fitters can rub, soften, or stretch out troublesome spots with a rubbing bar or a pneumatic stretcher. Most leather and synthetic footwear can be stretched from the inside out. The usual suspects are funky toe joints, bothersome bunions, bone protrusions, and extra-wide toes.

Spacers
Folks who need excess volume gulped up in their boots can consult a plethora of foot spacers found on the market. 5-irons, a flat spacer inserted under the insole, help adjust volume under the foot. Heel shims and other localized spacers target specific gaps. Tongue depressors placed between the laces and tongue fill in extra volume from the top. The biggest secret in all volume adjustment is to make sure the heel stays in the boot's heel pocket. Also, make sure your toes don't get pushed into the roof of the toe box.
A Long Life for Your Boots
Always clean your boots after use. Take them to a utility sink and scrub them with an old veggie brush. They usually come home wet, so water's fine. Remove the footbeds. Dry the boots at normal room temperature, with no heat. Put a waterproofing treatment or a leather conditioner on them if they look dry. With modern, cemented-sole boots, don't over waterproof them, and don't use any heat because it can cause the sole edges to delaminate.

Boots are pretty maintenance-free and durable but when you get a boot saturated and muddy, the mud draws a lot of moisture out of the leather as it dries. So after cleaning and drying, use a silicone-based leather treatment to recondition the leather. Silicones are absorbed better than wax treatments and don't tend to clog pores or inhibit leather breath-ability as much. Things like mink oil will soften leather too much. When boot leathers are tanned, often stiffeners are put into the leather, and you don't want to lose all the support.

Never put your boots next to a fire or stove. Two things can happen. Put them too close, and you singe or melt or burn the materials. Second, wet leathers will shrink as they dry, and the boot's fit will change. Finally, don't wear your boots when working with pesticides, herbicides, and any other chemicals, since they can cause a sole to peel.

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Hiking & Trekking in Vietnam

Vietnam offers some excellent trekking opportunities, notably in its growing array of national parks and nature reserves.

There are ample opportunities to hike to minority villages in the northwest, northeast and centre highland regions. Anything is possible, from half-day hike to a six-day ascent of Fansipan, Vietnam´s highest mountain. The best bases from which to arrange treks are Sapa, Bac Ha, Cao Bang, all in northern Vietnam; Bach Ma National Park in centre Vietnam and Cat Tien National Park and Pleiku in the south.
Contact Lotussia Travel fore more details.