Vietnam
The morning your legs tell you exactly how far you walked yesterday, and you go again anyway.
Six nights built on the two things Vietnam does that nothing else in Southeast Asia does: the Hoang Lien Son mountains in the north, and the Truong Son range dropping into the sea at the Hai Van Pass. A full day's trek through the Ta Van valley, the Fansipan cable car to 3,143 m, then Ba Na Hills and the Marble Mountains at the Da Nang end. It is a walking holiday with a cable car in it, not a sightseeing tour with one hill.
Day by day
Arrive and transfer in. The evening is yours — an Old Quarter street food walk can be booked if your flight is in early.
Hanoi old quarter
Morning transfer up to Sapa by limousine van, about five and a half hours on the expressway and then the mountain road. Afternoon at Sun World Fansipan Legend — the cable car to the upper station, then 600 steps to the summit marker or the funicular for most of them. At 3,143 m it is cold and often inside cloud; the view is a matter of luck and we will not pretend otherwise.
The trekking day. Down through Lao Chai and Ta Van on farm tracks, earth bunds between the paddy terraces and two or three stream crossings, with lunch in the valley. Roughly 10 to 12 km over five to six hours, about 300 m of descent and the same again coming out. Graded in full below. A shorter valley loop is the alternative and we build it in if you tell us before you travel.
An early start back down to Hanoi, then the afternoon flight to Da Nang. A long travel day by design — it buys the third night in the south rather than a second night in Hanoi.
A full day at Ba Na Hills — the cable car, the Golden Bridge, the gardens and the French village at the top. Early is the answer to the crowds and we will have you on the first cars.
Ba Na Hills · Da Nang
North over the Hai Van Pass on the old road, stopping at the top, then back for the Marble Mountains — the steps up Thuy Son, the Am Phu cave descent by torchlight, and Son Tra peninsula and Lady Buddha at the end of the afternoon.
Transfer to Da Nang airport.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive and transfer in. The evening is yours — an Old Quarter street food walk can be booked if your flight is in early.
Day 2: Transfer
Morning transfer up to Sapa by limousine van, about five and a half hours on the expressway and then the mountain road. Afternoon at Sun World Fansipan Legend — the cable car to the upper station, then 600 steps to the summit marker or the funicular for most of them. At 3,143 m it is cold and often inside cloud; the view is a matter of luck and we will not pretend otherwise.
Fansipan
Day 3: Sightseeing
The trekking day. Down through Lao Chai and Ta Van on farm tracks, earth bunds between the paddy terraces and two or three stream crossings, with lunch in the valley. Roughly 10 to 12 km over five to six hours, about 300 m of descent and the same again coming out. Graded in full below. A shorter valley loop is the alternative and we build it in if you tell us before you travel.
Lao Chai · Ta Van
Day 4: Flight
An early start back down to Hanoi, then the afternoon flight to Da Nang. A long travel day by design — it buys the third night in the south rather than a second night in Hanoi.
Day 5: Sightseeing
A full day at Ba Na Hills — the cable car, the Golden Bridge, the gardens and the French village at the top. Early is the answer to the crowds and we will have you on the first cars.
Ba Na Hills
Day 6: Sightseeing
North over the Hai Van Pass on the old road, stopping at the top, then back for the Marble Mountains — the steps up Thuy Son, the Am Phu cave descent by torchlight, and Son Tra peninsula and Lady Buddha at the end of the afternoon.
Hai Van Pass · Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) · Son Tra peninsula
Day 7: Departure
Transfer to Da Nang airport.
Visa for Indian travellers: fee, stay and documents in our Vietnam visa guide
Tell us when and who is travelling, and we price this exact route for your dates. A specialist replies within 4 working hours.
Make it yours
This is a starting point, not a fixed product. Different dates, a better room, an extra island, one grandparent who can't manage stairs — say so and we rebuild it around you.
5★ hotel in Da Nang · Breakfast · Airport transfers
A morning in the cloud at fifteen hundred metres, and a beach to come back down to.
All 3 at Hanoi, Old Quarter · Breakfast · Airport transfers
Three nights in one city, mostly on foot, mostly eating.
4★ hotel in Hanoi · Breakfast · Airport transfers
One extra night, and what it buys is limestone, a rowed boat and five hundred steps.