Today you will wake up early for the 6-hour-drive to Sa Pa. The highway crosses beautiful and green landscapes of the Red River Delta. Upon arrival to the highland town of Sapa, you will have a lunch of delicious dishes made from local ingredients. In the afternoon, your local tour guide will pick you up at the hotel to visit the Silver Waterfall located about 30 minute drive from Sa Pa. The intensity of the falling water creates a brilliant white foam, hence the name Silver Waterfall. The roar of the water can be heard from a considerable distance. On the way, you will find it hard to focus on anything other than the stunning views over mountains and lush forests of the Hoang Lien National Park. It’s possible to make a short stop by a tea farm to taste a cup of green tea and talk with people about their daily life. Continue driving uphill to what has been named Heaven Gate, the highest stretch of road in Vietnam to enjoy the breath-taking view over the valley. Back to the town and overnight at the hotel.

We take the road descending to Y Linh Ho village, where we will start your hike to discover fabulous mountain landscapes. We will pass through villages unknown to travellers such as the aforementioned Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai San 1 and Lao Chai San 2, then we cross a still untouched place with small hamlets inhabited by the Hmong ethnic group. Picnic lunch outdoors or eat at a local restaurant. Around 2 pm, a pleasant descent will take you to the centre of the Muong Hoa valley, where the black Hmong, Giay, Tay, Hani, Thai and red Dao ethnic groups live. Discover the daily life of the local populations. The walk will end in Ta Van, a charming village inhabited by the Hmong and Giay ethnic minorities. Overnight at the homestay.
(Note: During May (rice planting month) and September (rice harvesting month) you can learn about methods of planting or harvesting the rice crops). 

In the morning we thank our kind hosts at the homestay and say goodbye to them and Ta Van Village. From there we will hike through lush paddy fields and dense bamboo forest, descend the side of a waterfall, and cross a river on a suspension bridge. Visit the Giang Ta Chai village where the red Dao and the black Hmong ethnics live together. 
After lunch, climb uphill to the main road to take the car ride to Bac Ha, a small, calm, and charming village located at an altitude of 950 m. Here, the colourful Hmong and the Tay, Nung, Dzao, Phula etc. have lived in perfect harmony for more than 200 years. They cultivate, on very steep mountain slopes, various crops such as corn, rice, cassava and several kinds of fruit trees. We will follow a snaking road along the mountain to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by the Flower H’Mong people. Overnight at the hotel.

Taking place every Sunday, Bac Ha Market is where tribal people from surrounding villages flock to exchange their goods. Most still use horses to carry their loads, which means they have to depart early to get to the market in time. If you visit Bac Ha on a spring weekend, you will meet locals in their most beautiful and colourful costumes heading to the market, as it’s the best time of the year for youngsters seeking a partner to marry. Despite the low temperatures, spring is a joyful time because it’s the season of courting, dating and weddings. Nature also contributes to the atmosphere with vibrant red and white flowers blooming everywhere. It all makes for a wholly unique setting. 
In the afternoon, we drive back to Hanoi.