Our tour last during 3 days with experiences of cooking and living with local family. You will walk about 15 km per day, pass through waterfall, forests, terraces and ethnic minority villages, enjoy cooking some traditional dishes with locals and have lunch or dinner with their family.
The package tour including local guide, 2 bottles of water/person/day, breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Please note:
+ Do not give money for locals people if they invite you come in their homes. Please treat them as your friends, not as sellers
+ You could give a tip for a local guide but it is not required
+ Local guides could not speak English but they could understand you completely by Google translate
Tour schedule as following:
Day 1: Hanoi- Cao Son village- Nam Ly Retreat and cooking experience with locals
7:00 Limousine bus pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi. ( Pls note: You should bring some snack for small lunch in the bus)
12:00 Arrive in Tan Quang bus station. A local bus takes you to Hoang Su Phi
14:00 Arrive in Hoang Su Phi. A bike taxi takes your luggage to Nậm Lỳ Retreat and you make a small hiking of 6km to Nam Ly Retreat with a local guide ( Pls note: He could speak a few English but understand you completely by Google Translate). During the hiking trip you will pass through bamboo forest, rice terraces field, visit Tay ethnic group and Black Dao ethnic group families and have a cup of tea with them
The Tay ethnic group are not the main inhabitants of Hoang Su Phi, but they have a long history of settlement in the area. You may easily confuse the Tay with the Nung people, who mainly live in San Xa Ho, Tu Nhan, and Dan Van villages... Although the Tay and Nung share many similarities, they can still be clearly distinguished by their origins and cultural practices. The Tay are long-established indigenous residents of Hoang Su Phi, closely connected to wet-rice farming and low stilt houses. Meanwhile, the Nung migrated later from southern China and usually live on mountain slopes, in both stilt houses and earthen houses. In terms of traditional dress, the Tay wear soft indigo-blue clothing, while the Nung are known for their black garments dyed with indigo for a longer time. Linguistically, the Tay language sounds softer and is closer to Vietnamese, whereas the Nung language is closer to the Zhuang language. In spiritual life, the Tay are famous for Then rituals and the Tinh lute, while the Nung show a stronger influence of Taoism in their traditional ceremonies.
16:00 Check in Nam Ly Retreat and stay at a Private Bungalow room. You could have break in 30 mins then enjoy cooking with local family. You will have an experience of cooking by yourself with the local family and will be shared recipes for traditional dishes of the Black Dao ethnic group in Hoang Su Phi such as: Colour sticky rice, grilled chicken with " Hạt Dổi" seeds ( Vietnamese pepper), a popular spice in the Northwest and spring roll
For vegetarians: Colour sticky rice, Braised tofu in tomato sauce, “ Dớn” vegetable salad (It is a typical wild vegetable from the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, favored for its crisp texture, slightly sour taste, and refreshing flavor) and vegetarian spring roll.
19:00: Have dinner ( Enjoy dishes cooked by yourself)
Day 2: Hiking Nam Ly Retreat- Suối Thầu village
Highlights: Working with local families (farming/ planting/ raising livestock/ picking Shatuyet tea...)
8:00 Have breakfast
9:00 You will follow the small trail leading to Nam Ly Waterfall, passing through the most stunning terraced fields in San Sa Ho. This scenic route brings you closer to the untouched beauty of the mountains. If you visit during summer, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit—you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the cool, refreshing water cascading from the mountain’s peak into the waterfall.
12:30: Stop at the home of a Black Dao family. You have 1 hour working with local families (farming/ planting/ raising livestock/ picking Shatuyet tea...). Then you’ll enjoy a meal rich in traditional flavors while listening to fascinating stories about their cultural heritage.
You can recognize the Black Dao by the women’s traditional clothing: a long black tunic that falls past the hips, a belt, and a white headscarf. The Black Dao live in two-story stilt houses. Among Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, the H’Mong live at the highest elevations, followed by the Dao. For that reason the Black Dao’s stilt houses are lower than those of the Tày and Nùng, because winds are very strong up high. Lower houses are more stable. Also, the Dao are generally smaller in stature than some other groups, so they do not need tall houses. In addition, the combination of a low doorway and a high threshold forces you to bow your head when you step inside — that’s a way of showing respect to the hosts. Anyway, be careful not to hit your head when visiting a Black Dao home.
The Black Dao have a special custom called “Cấp Sắc.” When a boy reaches the age of 18 he is considered an adult and must hold a festival and invite the villagers. The festival lasts from three to seven days depending on how wealthy the family is. During the ceremony the young man must fast and recite prayers together with the shamans. At the end of the festival the young man gains the community’s respect. If he does not hold the ceremony or does it poorly, he will be looked down upon.
The Black Dao also have an interesting tradition of taking in adopted children. Adoption is not because they have no children; rather, adopting is viewed like an exchange of an item. If you are Black Dao and you like one of my children, you may ask me for them. If I agree, you will compensate me with gifts or money. You may even have to give me another child in exchange, along with gifts.
In the afternoon, continue your journey of walking to Suoi Thau Village, home to the ancient Shan Tuyet tea hills—famous for producing some of the finest tea in Hoang Su Phi. At a local family, you can taste a cup of tea, savoring the pure essence of the highlands. You will also have the opportunity to meet Black Dao ethnic group and learn about their unique and fascinating traditions.
On the way back to Nam Ly Retreat from Suoi Thau, you’ll admire a panoramic view of Ban Luoc Commune from an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. The breathtaking scenery of rolling mountains and quiet villages nestled along the hillsides is truly unforgettable. If you wish to capture this moment with a drone, please inform your guide in advance so that we can assist with the necessary administrative procedures.
16:30: Come back Nam Ly Retreat and stay at a Private Bungalow room
19:00 Have dinner
Day 3: Nậm Lỳ Retreat- Lủng Dăm village- Hanoi/Hagiang/Sapa...
Highlights: Waterfall, terrace rice fields, visit Nung ethnic minority families who make rice wine, indigo dyeing and agricultural tools.
7:30 Have breakfast
8:00 You will visit a Nùng ethnic group at Lung Dam village and gain an authentic experience of daily local life. Along the way, you will marvel at some of the most stunning terraced rice fields, traditional stilt houses, and meet local people to explore their unique culture.
The Nung ethnic group in Hoang Su Phi are one of the long-established ethnic groups living amidst the majestic high mountains of Vietnam’s far north. They usually settle on gentle mountain slopes, where terraced rice fields curve gracefully around the villages, creating a landscape that is both poetic and fertile. The Nung are well-known for their wet rice cultivation on mountain terraces and their traditional indigo dyeing craft.
Nung women typically wear traditional indigo garments adorned with delicate silver-thread embroidery, showcasing their skill and refined aesthetic sense. Their everyday clothing is usually green, while their festival attire consists of elegant black dresses and jackets made from high-quality handwoven fabric. To achieve the deep glossy black color, women spend hours carefully polishing the fabric with a smooth stone until it shines beautifully.
The Nung ethnic group maintain rich folk traditions such as the Long Tong Festival ( New Season Festival) and the melodious Sli and Luon folk songs, which have been preserved and passed down through generations. These customs reflect their faith, love of labor, and strong sense of community. Visiting a Nung village in Hoang Su Phi, you will not only admire their distinctive cultural beauty but also feel their sincerity, warm hospitality, and harmony with everyday life.
Unlike the villages in Cao Bang or Sapa, the people of Hoang Su Phi do not live in densely packed communities. It will take time to walk from one house to another, but in return, you will truly immerse yourself in nature and off beaten track
11:00 – Visit Lung Dam waterfall, the most beautiful waterfall in Hoang Su Phi
12:30 – Visit a local family and enjoy a meal rich in traditional flavors while listening to fascinating stories about their cultural heritage.
14:00 – Continue trekking to San Xa Ho, meet the Blue Nung ethnic group, visit local families engaged in traditional blacksmithing, rice wine making, or explore a household specializing in traditional indigo dyeing (only from May to December)
15:00 Comback Nam Ly Retreat and take a bike taxi/taxi to Hoang Su Phi bus station.
16:00 Take a bus to Ha Giang/ Sapa/Hanoi
19:30 Arrive in Hagiang
23:30 Arrive in Sapa/Hanoi.
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* TOUR PRICE: FROM 149 USD/PERSON ( Apply for group of 5 pax upward)
* TOUR INCLUDED:
- 2 nights at Bungalow private room (Family room for group of 3 pax)
- Breakfast / Lunch/Dinner
- Drinks: 2 bottles of water/person/day
- Local tour guide for trekking
- Buses return Hanoi <=> Hoang Su Phi and motorbike taxi for carrying luggages
* TOUR PAYMENT: 100% ONCE CHECK IN NAM LY RETREAT
Notre circuit dure 3 jours, combinant randonnée, cuisine et immersion chez l’habitant.
Vous marcherez environ 15 km par jour, à travers cascades, forêts, rizières en terrasses et villages de minorités ethniques.
Vous participerez à la préparation de plats traditionnels avec les habitants et partagerez déjeuners ou dîners en famille locale.
Le forfait comprend : guide local, 2 bouteilles d’eau/personne/jour, petits-déjeuners, déjeuners et dîners.
À noter :
- Merci de ne pas donner d’argent aux habitants s’ils vous invitent chez eux. Considérez-les comme des amis, pas comme des vendeurs.
- Le pourboire pour le guide local est possible mais non obligatoire.
- Les guides locaux ne parlent pas anglais, mais ils peuvent communiquer efficacement via Google Traduction.
Programme détaillé
Jour 1 : Hanoi – village de Cao Son – Nam Ly Retreat & expérience culinaire
07h00 – Prise en charge à votre hôtel à Hanoi en bus limousine
(Merci de prévoir quelques snacks pour un petit déjeuner léger dans le bus)
12h00 – Arrivée à la gare routière de Tan Quang
Transfert en bus local vers Hoang Su Phi
14h00 – Arrivée à Hoang Su Phi
Un moto-taxi transporte vos bagages jusqu’à Nam Ly Retreat.
Randonnée douce de 6 km jusqu’au lodge avec un guide local (il parle peu anglais mais comprend très bien via Google Traduction).
En chemin : forêt de bambous, rizières en terrasses, visite Les Tay familles locales et pause thé chez l’habitant.
Les Tay ne sont pas le groupe ethnique majoritaire à Hoàng Su Phì, mais ils y possèdent une longue histoire de peuplement. Il est facile de confondre les Tay avec les Nùng, qui vivent principalement à Sán Xả Hồ, Tụ Nhân et Đản Ván... Bien que les Tay et les Nùng partagent de nombreuses similitudes, ils se distinguent clairement par leurs origines et leurs modes de vie culturels. Les Tay sont des habitants autochtones installés de longue date à Hoàng Su Phì, étroitement liés à la riziculture inondée et aux maisons sur pilotis de faible hauteur. Les Nùng, en revanche, ont migré plus tard depuis le sud de la Chine et vivent généralement sur les versants montagneux, dans des maisons sur pilotis ou des maisons en terre. En ce qui concerne les costumes traditionnels, les Tay portent des vêtements d’un bleu indigo doux, tandis que les Nùng se distinguent par leurs habits noirs, obtenus grâce à une teinture à l’indigo prolongée. Sur le plan linguistique, la langue tay est plus douce et plus proche du vietnamien, alors que la langue nùng est plus proche du zhuang. Dans la vie spirituelle, les Tay sont réputés pour les rituels Then et le luth Tính, tandis que les Nùng montrent une influence plus marquée du taoïsme à travers leurs cérémonies traditionnelles.
16h00 – Check-in à Nam Ly Retreat – bungalow privé
Temps libre (30 minutes), puis atelier de cuisine avec une famille locale.
Vous apprendrez à préparer des plats traditionnels de l’ethnie Dao Noir, tels que :
- Riz gluant coloré
- Poulet grillé aux graines de Hạt Dổi (poivre forestier du Nord-Ouest)
- Nems traditionnels
Menu végétarien :
- Riz gluant coloré
- Tofu braisé à la tomate
- Salade de fougères “Dớn” (légume sauvage de montagne, croquant et légèrement acidulé)
- Nems végétariens
19h00 – Dîner (plats que vous avez préparés vous-même)
Jour 2 : Nam Ly Retreat – village de Suối Thầu
Temps forts : activités agricoles avec les habitants (culture, élevage, cueillette du thé Shan Tuyet…)
08h00 – Petit-déjeuner
09h00 – Randonnée sur un sentier étroit menant à la cascade de Nam Ly, à travers les plus belles rizières en terrasses de San Sa Ho.
En été, possibilité de se baigner dans la cascade (prévoir un maillot).
12h30 – Arrêt chez une famille Dao Noir
1 heure d’activités avec les habitants (agriculture, élevage, cueillette du thé Shan Tuyet…), puis déjeuner traditionnel accompagné d’histoires sur leur culture.
À propos des Dao Noirs :
Les femmes portent une longue tunique noire, une ceinture et un foulard blanc.
Leurs maisons sur pilotis sont plus basses que celles des Tày ou Nùng, afin de résister aux vents forts en altitude.
Les portes basses obligent à s’incliner en entrant — un geste de respect envers les hôtes.
Ils pratiquent le rituel “Cấp Sắc”, une cérémonie d’initiation à l’âge adulte pour les jeunes hommes, qui peut durer de 3 à 7 jours selon les moyens de la famille. Sans cette cérémonie, un homme n’est pas pleinement reconnu par la communauté.
Les Dao Noirs ont également une tradition particulière d’adoption rituelle, perçue comme un échange symbolique entre familles.
L’après-midi, poursuite de la randonnée vers Suối Thầu, célèbre pour ses thés anciens Shan Tuyet, parmi les meilleurs de Hoang Su Phi.
Dégustation de thé chez l’habitant et rencontre avec la communauté Dao Noir.
Sur le chemin du retour, vue panoramique sur la commune de Bản Luốc depuis 1000 m d’altitude.
Si vous souhaitez utiliser un drone, merci d’en informer le guide à l’avance pour les démarches administratives.
16h30 – Retour à Nam Ly Retreat – bungalow privé
19h00 – Dîner
Jour 3 : Nam Ly Retreat – village de Lủng Dăm – Hanoi / Ha Giang / Sapa
Temps forts : cascade, rizières en terrasses, rencontres avec l’ethnie Nùng (vin de riz, teinture à l’indigo, outils agricoles)
07h30 – Petit-déjeuner
08h00 – Visite du village Lủng Dăm, immersion dans la vie quotidienne des Nùng.
Découverte de rizières spectaculaires, maisons sur pilotis et traditions locales.
Les Nùng sont réputés pour la riziculture en terrasses et l’artisanat de la teinture à l’indigo.
Les femmes portent des vêtements indigo brodés de fils d’argent.
Les habits quotidiens sont verts, tandis que les tenues de fête sont noires, polies longuement à la pierre pour obtenir un éclat brillant.
Ils perpétuent des traditions riches comme la fête Long Tông (fête de la nouvelle saison) et les chants populaires Sli et Lượn.
Contrairement à Cao Bang ou Sapa, les villages de Hoang Su Phi sont très dispersés, offrant une immersion totale dans la nature et hors des sentiers battus.
11h00 – Visite de la cascade de Lủng Dăm, la plus belle de Hoang Su Phi
12h30 – Déjeuner chez l’habitant
14h00 – Randonnée vers San Xa Ho, rencontre avec les Nùng Bleus, visite de familles pratiquant la forge traditionnelle, la fabrication d’alcool de riz ou la teinture à l’indigo (de mai à décembre)
15h00 – Retour à Nam Ly Retreat, puis transfert en moto-taxi/taxi vers la gare routière de Hoang Su Phi
16h00 – Bus vers Ha Giang / Sapa / Hanoi
19h30 – Arrivée à Ha Giang
23h30 – Arrivée à Sapa / Hanoi
Tarifs & conditions
PRIX : à partir de 149 USD / personne (valable pour un groupe à partir de 5 personnes)
Le prix comprend :
- 2 nuits en bungalow privé (chambre familiale pour 3 personnes)
- Tous les repas (petit-déjeuner / déjeuner / dîner)
- Eau : 2 bouteilles/personne/jour
- Guide local pour la randonnée
- Bus aller-retour Hanoi ⇄ Hoang Su Phi
- Moto-taxi pour le transport des bagages
Paiement : 100 % à régler à l’arrivée à Nam Ly Retreat
