According to the Australian edition of the famous travel guide Lonely Planet, tribal treks around Bac Ha and cultural treks in Sapa are rated among the top eight treks tourists like when visiting the country.
The hill tribe trek from Sa Pa is the easiest trek for beginners, taking only one to two days. Tour guides recommend that visitors be accompanied by a guide who speaks the local minority language and can familiarize them with the diverse communities that live in the area. For a more authentic experience, it’s important to note that visitors can spend the night with a local homestay, go on a two-day hike, or save the hike to a more remote location, such as Bac Ha or Ba Be National Park. (Photo: Vietnam Tourism)
The tribal trek around Bac Ha is the best trek to meet the tribe. According to Lonely Planet, the village remains an unspoilt trekking center with access to 11 tribes’ villages and stunning natural beauty. For a real taste of local life, hikers should consider traveling with a local guide and spending the night in a village hidden among the emerald hills. Visitors are advised not to miss the Sunday market in Bac Ha and the Saturday market in nearby Can Cau. (Photo: itinari)
The best mountaineering route is Fansipan, the highest mountain in the country. “Expect an adrenaline rush as you climb the slopes of Fansipan, climb the steep slopes and see breathtaking views of the Eastern Cinis Alps as the clouds clear,” the website says. (Photo: lonely planet)
Babe National Park is widely regarded as the best hike to escape the crowds. According to the guidebook, the hike offers insight into mountain culture and insight into a way of life that still changes with the rhythm of the seasons. “As well as experiencing country life, you can visit spectacular waterfalls and tortuous cave systems, and spend the night in quiet B&Bs overlooking the lake,” it notes. (Photo: Babe National Park)
Cat Ba National Park was voted the best island adventure in Vietnam by Lonely Planet. The landscape of Cat Ba National Park in Halong Bay is almost entirely green, with beds of moss and forest clearings taking on a spectrum of emerald, lime, chartreuse and other hues. The site notes that the park is also a great place for rock climbing, with several operators taking all their gear to the local karst outcrop. (Photo: Lonely Planet)
Cat Tien National Park represents some of the best trekking in southern Vietnam. According to the website, the most popular trip is a half-day hike from the national park headquarters to look for the golden-cheeked gibbon, although this requires an early start to catch the primate’s dawn chorus. “Most hikers drop by the Daotian Endangered Primate Center in hopes of encountering more apes; travel fees help fund conservation activities at the park,” it added. (Photo: Lonely Planet)
Tourists don’t have to venture far from Hanoi to find good hiking terrain, Lonely Planet said, particularly the town of Mai Chau, about 135 kilometers (84 miles) southwest of the capital, on a carpet of green rice fields. It advises tourists to try the 18-kilometer (11-mile) trek from Ban Lac village to Xa Linh village. “A local guide will help you navigate the slippery trail and you will need to arrange for a vehicle to meet you at the end of the trail and return to Mai Chau,” the website says. (Photo: Vietnam Tourism)
The mountainous northeastern province of Cao Bang ranks among the best off-the-beaten-track trekking lists. Tour guides highlight that the main destinations for trekkers include the hillside villages of the Tay, Nung, Hmong, Dao and Lolo people, with markets moving from one village to another on different days of the lunar month. It added that it was an easy stroll around Ban Gioc Waterfall and Nguom Ngao Cave, both of which have local buses from Cao Bang. However, to gain access to remote villages, tourists need local support. “Most hikes are multi-day events, and your guide will need to arrange for an overnight stay,” it advises. (Photo: Vietnam Discovery)
