When it comes to North Vietnam holidays, this region can offer you tons of ideas with its diversified topography. This time, we are going to lead you to the Northwestern face of the country, where its unique customs and landscapes cannot be found anywhere else. How to get there and what to do? Let’s find out!
When is the best time to visit Northwest Vietnam?
A good news is you can almost visit this area throughout the year. Spring brings with it a blossoming season of all flowers. Mộc Châu during this time seems to just wake up on its infinite plateau. The heat of the summer Sun makes you escape from the burning delta to this highland for a hidden natural air-con. When Autumn arrives, the phenomenon buckwheat flowers lid beside its vast sunny-colored rice paddies. Winter welcomes countless snow flowers in places such as Sapa, where most of you fancy a trip here at least once in a lifetime.
Mộc Châu buckwheat flowers (Source: Google)
How to travel around the Northwest?
There are various means of transportation up to your selection. If you are an adventure taker, take a motorbike to conquer the curving spines of these mountain ranges. Our advice for bikers here is chasing down the route of Hà Nội – Sa Pa – Điện Biên – Sơn La.
From Hanoi to Sapa, you can freely pick from trains, buses or scooters. The newly built Hanoi – Lào Cai Highway takes you only 4 hours sharp on the coach. For trains, Orient Express, Vivi Trans, Fansipan, and Sapaly would be our suggestions.
It is not Europe, it is Vietnam (Source: Google)
Where to have fun in the Northwest?
In order to conquer the region in the fullest way, we advise you to spend from 5 to 6 days here.
Sa Pa, Lào Cai
Lào Cai is a mountainous province where Sapa is its highlight. Arriving in the city on the first day, start exploring Sapa, Vietnam’s frosty heaven. Hàm Rồng Mountain, Sapa Stone Church and several ethnic villages such as Tả Van and Cát Cát are must-see destinations.
On the second day, you can choose to hire a scooter to reach Ô Quy Hồ Pass, which is located roughly 23 kilometers away from downtown. On the way to Ô Quy Hồ, do not forget to visit Thác Bạc, the Silver Fall. When afternoon comes, consider discovering the Dao ethnic group at Tả Phìn Village. Night time in Sapa allows you to walk around its night market sitting right close by the Stone Church.
Ô Quy Hồ Pass (Source: Google)
With your last day here in Lào Cai, do not forget to surmount Fansipan Peak, which is widely known as Indochina’s Summit.
Điện Biên
For Điện Biên, you only need up to one day to fully explore the beauty of this city. In addition to popular historical relics which include Hills A1, C1, C2, D1 or Độc Lập (Independence), Mường Thanh Airport and Điện Biên Victory Monument, you can consider paying a visit to Pá Khoang Stone Lake, who serenity is able to melt your heart.
Điện Biên Victory Monument (Source: Google)
Mộc Châu and Mai Châu, Sơn La
On the first-day arrival in Sơn la, you should spend some time to visit famous landmarks such as the Bat Cave, Bản Áng Town, Dải Yếm Fall or Mòng ethnic village. On the next day, move further to Mộc Châu Plateau to contemplate the utmost significance of its endless tea plantation, the magnificent saffron-colored cauliflowers, and the white plum flowers paradise on Earth. If your time budget allows, do not hesitate and drop over Lác ethnic village and Mỏ Luông Cave.
Why should you select Vietnam’s Northwest for this trip?
As said, this region holds in itself a huge archive of unique cultural and natural values that differ it to the rest of the country. The three provinces above offer you hidden gems lying behind the mountain retreats, which is home to various ethnic villages and communities. These venues obtain a great diversity of traditional cuisine system, unique habitats and interesting rituals and customs. Especially, Sapa, home to the H’mong and Red Dao communities are where you can be offered the rarest delicacies that are hardly found anywhere else on Earth. More than just a regular tourist, picking this area for your upcoming North Vietnam holidays, you will have an opportunity to be a smart traveler, if not saying, to live like a real local.
Red Dao dwellers (Source: Google)
With all of the suggestions listed above, sure thing is that you will definitely have a long-lasting memory when spending your North Vietnam holidays here. Even Vietnamese locals cannot help falling in love with the region, there is no reason you would be left disappointed here. Do not forget to get a local guide with you to learn about Northwestern Vietnam in the finest way.
Yennie Nguyen
