06:15 – 06:30: The day begins early with a bus pick-up from your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel. As the city fades behind you, the landscape transforms — rice fields stretch wide, mountains rise, and fog dances over the valleys.

10:00: A brief stop halfway allows you to stretch, grab a coffee, and breathe in the cool northern air.

13:15: Arrive in Sapa, where your local guide meets you and takes you for a well-earned lunch.

14:00: The motorbikes roar to life, marking the start of your mountain ride. Winding down the valley, you pass Cat Cat and Sin Chai — the heart of H’mong country — before climbing towards O Quy Ho Pass, Vietnam’s legendary mountain route with jaw-dropping views of Hoang Lien Son National Park.

Continue through Ban Khoang, a quiet village shared by H’mong and Red Dao communities, before stopping at Ta Phin to explore the eerie ruins of an old French monastery half-swallowed by the hills. The ride continues through Sa Seng, Y Linh Ho, and Lao Chai, a route lined with ancient terraces and riverside trails.

17:30: Arrive in Ta Van Village, your home for the night. Check in and relax in the peace of the valley.

18:00: Join your host family for a cooking class — a hands-on chance to learn local recipes from scratch.

18:30: Sit down to a shared dinner, full of laughter, rice wine, and stories from the mountains.

Overnight in Ta Van homestay.

07:00 – 08:00: Wake to the sound of roosters and the scent of wood smoke. Enjoy a traditional breakfast overlooking misty terraces.

08:30: The ride continues deeper into the mountains. Climb towards Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao village perched at 1,400 metres, surrounded by dense forest. Continue down winding roads through Su Pan, a cluster of Black H’mong homes with sweeping views of Muong Hoa Valley.

Further along, reach Ban Den, where five ethnic groups — H’mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Nung — share one vibrant community. The journey continues to Ban Ho, a remote Tay village at the bottom of the valley, connected by narrow, winding roads and wooden bridges.

From there, ride on to Thanh Phu, Nam Sai, and finally Nam Cang, a frontier village deep within the Hoang Lien range. Here, waterfalls cut through jungle, and streams curl around the rice terraces.

12:30: Return to Ta Van for a well-earned lunch and rest.

14:00: Transfer by car back to Sapa town.

15:30: Board the bus for Hanoi.

21:30: Arrive back in the capital — tired, muddy, and exhilarated — with memories of the northern mountains that few travellers ever find.