FANXIPAN SUMMIT - NORTH VIETNAM
Hanoi -Sapa Fansipan Discovery Tour

Mt. Fansipan at 3143m, and on the border with China, is Vietnam's highest mountain. It is only 9 km from Sapa town but it takes at least three days to get to the peak and back. Sapa, at an elevation of 1600m, has been described as "Not easily reached... Sees few tourists... Unbelievable mountain scenery... Still retains many French cultural and architectural influences... Has been under the control of at least four countries over the centuries... Unlike other Vietnamese hill towns, different ethnicities cohabitate peacefully here." The region around Sapa is indeed home to various colourful ethnic minorities, wearing traditional attire. The climb is rough, wet and cold, but the views are rewarding. The top is accessible year-round to anyone who is in good shape. As there are no mountain huts on the way, we will be camping. No ropes or technical climbing skills are needed, just endurance and plenty of energy. The equipment and food will be carried by our porters. Trekking time is 5 - 8 hours per day.

Itinerary in brief

Day 1: ARRIVAL - HANOI - TRAIN TO LAOCAI (-/-/-)

Day 2: LAOCAI - SAPA - LAOCHAI - TAVAN (B/L/D)

Day 3: SAPA - FANXIPANG (B/L/D)

Day 4: CAMP 1 - CAMP 2 (2700m) (B/L/D)

Day 5: CAMP 2 - SAPA (B/L/D)

Day 6: SAPA - HANOI (B/L/D)

Day 7: HANOI (B/-/-)

Day 8: HANOI (B/L/-)

Detail program

Day 1: ARRIVAL - HANOI - TRAIN TO LAOCAI (-/-/-)
Pick up at the airport. Welcome dinner, catch an overnight train (about 9 hours) to Lao Cai, 346 km to the northwest. Lao Cai is the last station in Vietnam on the French built train line toYunnan, China. (D)

Day 2: LAOCAI - SAPA - LAOCHAI - TAVAN (B/L/D)
Arrive early morning in Lao Cai and transfer by minibus to Sapa. All day trekking to visit some minority villages. Lao Chai - TaVan - GiangTaChai. You will meet some different minority people H’mong, Zay, Red Dzao, you can see the different colorful dresses.Free time to visit Sapa market. Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 3: SAPA - FANXIPANG (B/L/D)
Commence the ascent of Mt.Fansipan by trekking through terraced rice fields and a hill tribe village of the H'mong. You will follow buffalo paths, crossing streams, until an elevation of 1700m, where break for lunch. In the afternoon, continue to ascend for another 500m where a suitable camping ground is reached. This is the first peak, at 2200m elevation.

Day 4: CAMP 1 - CAMP 2 (2700m) (B/L/D)
Breakfast. Trekking through a primary forest of giant, centuries-old pine expanses of yellow bamboo. Continue climbing to a second peak at 2900m where stop for lunch. After lunch, leave the gear in Camp 2 and push for the summit with just our cameras and water. After taking in the scenery and atmosphere on Vietnam's highest point, roll back down to Camp 2 for dinner and Overnight there.

Day 5: CAMP 2 - SAPA (B/L/D)
After the last breakfast in the mountain, take another way to go down to the foot of Mount where to visit and get understandings of the lifestyles, the traditional customs of the people in a village of the Black H'mong called SinChai, then take bus back to Sapa (18 km by bus). Lunch and check in hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: SAPA - HANOI (B/L/D)
Free to explore Sapa town. In the afternoon, our bus will take you to Laocai Station for the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Day 7: HANOI (B/-/-)
Arrive in the early morning and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is for our own exploration. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: HANOI (B/L/-)
After a week of breathtaking adventure in North Vietnam, goodbye with fond memories. Transfer to the airport for your departure.

TOUR PRICE

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

• Train: (Soft-sleeper Ac cabin of 4 persons ) Hanoi- Lao Cai - Hanoi.
• Full transportation as tour program indicated.
• Twin-share accommodation with daily breakfast;
• 1/2 day hotel on day 1.
• Permission fee to visit FansiPan summit.
• Full meals as indicated in the itinerary.
• English- speaking guide
• Sightseeing fees
• Porters, camps for trekking.
• Tour guides speaking English, or French, or German. Other languages are available upon request.
• Admission fees
• For detailed information, please visit the tour you preferred

Description of service in detail

TOUR COST EXCLUDES:

· International airfare to/from Vietnam

· International airport tax at USD 14.00 nett per person

· Personal insurance

· Expenditure of a personal nature, tips, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, emergency transfers & etc.

· Tips and gratuities

· Visa to Vietnam ( click to see)

REMARKS:

The only thing you should bring yourself is a pair of good walking-boots, or another kind of solid foot-wear. You should have tried them out beforehand, and know that you can walk in them all through the day !

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:

· 2 pairs of thick socks ( for use in the walking-boots)

· Sandals or light footwear ( for use in the evening )

· Sun-cream (with a high factor ; 10-20 )

· Mosquito repellent

· Hat or cap, with a shade

· Bathing suit

· Medicine for your own use (fever, bad stomach etc.)

· 1 warm jacket (fleece-jacket etc.,- for the evenings)

· 1 sweat-shirt

· 1-2 pair of long trousers (loose,- for your comfort)

· 1 pair of short trousers ( for warm days)

· 2 –3 shirts, or T-shirts

· Socks (for use in the evenings, and against mosquitoes)

· Underwear (for the women : also a Bra !)

· Towel

· Toilet requisites

NB : The personal baggage you bring on the trek, should not exceed approx. 10-12 kg, and should preferably be packed in ordinary plastic-bags that fit easily into the soft, barrel-shaped, watertight Blue bag. This bag will only contain your baggage and your sleeping-bag

All your personal baggage in the Blue bag will be carried by the porters. You shall only carry a small rucksack with the things you need during the day (camera, water-bottle etc.)

EQUIPMENT WE SUPPLY:

• Sleeping bag
• Sheet sleeping bag (silk)
• Sleeping mats
• Rucksack
• Waterproof Blue bag (for your baggage)
• Plastic rain coat
• Torch / flashlight
• Water-bottle
• Water-filters (to purify drinking-water)
• Cooking-gear
• Plates, cups, forks, knives, spoons, and chop-sticks
• Tents (incl. Mosquito-net)
• First-aid kit

Brief introduce about tourist sites (click to see)

Photo gallery (click to see)

All's for your satisfaction!