Tribal treks around Bac Ha and Cultural treks from Sa Pa have been named among the eight best treks for travelers to enjoy when visiting the nation, according to the Australian version of renowned travel guide Lonely Planet.
Hill-tribe treks from Sa Pa are the easiest hikes for beginners and only take one to two days. The travel guide suggests that visitors should accompany a guide who speaks the languages of local minority groups and can get them acquainted with the diverse communities which reside in the area. For a more authentic experience, it is noted that tourists can trek over two days with an overnight stop in a local homestay, or save their trekking for a more remote location such as Bac Ha or Ba Be National Park. (Photo: Vietnamtravel)
Tribal treks around Bac Ha are the best treks for tribal encounters. According to Lonely Planet, the village remains an unspoiled hub for hikes to the villages of 11 tribal groups and is charming in its natural beauty. To really get a feel for local life, trekkers should consider going with a local guide and stay overnight in villages hidden away in the emerald hills. It is advised that visitors do not miss the Sunday market in Bac Ha and the Saturday market in nearby Can Cau. (Photo: itinari)
The best mountain trek is Fansipan, the country’s highest mountain. “As you climb the slopes of Fansipan, expect adrenaline-inducing scrambles up steep slopes and gasp-producing views across the Tonkinese Alps when the clouds clear,” says the website. (Photo: Lonely Planet)
Ba Be National Park is widely considered to offer the best treks for escaping crowds. According to the travel guide, the trek offers a deep dive into mountain culture and an insight into the way of life that still moves with the rhythms of the seasons. “As well as sampling village life, you can drop in on dramatic waterfalls and tortuous cave systems, and stop overnight at quiet homestays overlooking the lakes,” it noted. (Photo: Babenationalpark)
Cat Ba National Park is listed among Lonely Planet’s Best island adventure trek in Vietnam. The scenery in Cat Ba National Park in Ha Long Bay is almost entirely green and features beds of moss and forest glades exhibiting a spectrum of emerald, lime, chartreuse, and other hues. The website notes that the park is also a great spot for climbing, with several operators running trips to local karst outcrops with all gear included. (Photo: Lonely Planet)
Cat Tien National Park represents the best trek in all of southern Vietnam. According to the website, the most popular trip is the half-day hike that goes from the national park headquarters in search of golden-cheeked gibbons, though this involves an early start to catch the primates’ hooting dawn chorus. “Most trekkers drop in on the Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre for more simian encounters; trip fees help fund the park’s conservation activities,” it added. (Photo: Lonely Planet)
Lonely Planet said that visitors do not have to go far from Hanoi to find good hiking terrain, particularly as the township of Mai Chau is only located about 135km, equal to 84 miles, southwest of the capital on a green carpet of rice fields. It suggests that visitors try the 18km, equal to 11 mile, trek from Ban Lac village to Xa Linh village. “A local guide will help you navigate the slippery trail, and you’ll need to arrange a vehicle to meet you at the end of the trail for the trip back to Mai Chau,” says the website. (Photo: Vietnamtravel)
Cao Bang, a northeastern mountainous province, is named among the list of the best off-the-beaten-track treks. The travel guide stresses that the main destinations for hikers include hillside villages of the Tay, Nung, Hmong, Dao, and Lolo people, with markets that shift from village to village on different days of the lunar month. It adds that there are easy strolls around Ban Gioc Waterfall and Nguom Ngao Cave on offer, both of which are served by local buses from Cao Bang. However, to access outlying villages visitors require local support. “Most treks are multi-day affairs, and your guide will need to make arrangements for overnight stays,” it suggests. (Photo: vietnamdiscovery)
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