Best treks near Hanoi
Cat Ba National Park is simply stunning
Hanoi is a great base for those coming to Vietnam in the search for hiking trips. The surrounding mountainsides boast some of the country’s finest trails, with numerous options available for trekkers of varying capabilities. Many of the tours depart from the Vietnamese capital, while booking the treks is relatively hassle-free and can be done with any of the travel operators in the city.
An extensive range of treks can be arranged in the hinterlands of Hanoi ranging from half-day gentle-paced tours to extremely challenging multi-day treks. Those staying in the area for just a couple of days are offered the opportunity of one or two-day treks, while tourists with less time restrictions can enjoy hikes which last for ten days or longer.
Among the many places for trekking which begin in Hanoi are Mai Chau Valley, Ba Be National Park, Pu Luong Nature Reserve and Cat Ba National Park. Those who want to fit some fun, easy treks into a relatively short period of time would be advised to check out treks in Mai Chau, while Cuc Phuong National Park also boasts some excellent short treks.
Mai Chau lies in the heart of a stunning valley which seems worlds away from Hanoi’s hustle and bustle. This beautiful area is inhabited by mostly ethnic White Thai who are distantly related to tribes in Laos, Thailand and China. Most locals do not normally wear the traditional dress, but the Thai women are renowned for their masterful weaving which ensures there is fine selection of traditional-styled clothing on sale. More on souvenirs.
A standard three-day trek will begin with a beautiful four-hour bus journey from Hanoi to Pom Coong, a Thai ethnic minority village in Mai Chau. A relatively easy walk along country roads to another Thai ethnic minority village, Xo, will complete the first day.
Mai Chau is filled with ethnic minority villages
The next day will involve trailing past local rice paddies to Buoc Village, where lunch will be served, and then on to the beautiful village of Van where you will stay overnight. Day three includes some of the most beautiful trails between the paddies and mountains to Van Mai village before taking the bus back to Hanoi.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve boasts treks of varying length and difficulty. A typical trip will combine home stays with trekking, while offering tourists the perfect opportunity to take in the outstanding natural beauty, limestone panoramas, rich forest and rice terraces, as well as observe the culture and everyday life of the farming communities of the Muong and Thai ethnic minorities. To ensure the authentic Vietnamese experience, trekkers stay in traditional wooden stilt homes with local families.
Taking a six-day trek through the region will involve some slightly more gruelling trekking. The first day eases you in gently with a bus journey to Mai Chau followed by a four-hour walk through relatively easy terrain to Hang Village. Day two is where the hard work starts with an arduous six-hour trek through working rice fields into dense jungle, before arriving at Kho Muong Village for the night. Day three sees a continuation of the hard work, but it is well worth it to take in the beauty as you climb the Pu Luong Range, passing through minority villages and small hamlets to the heart of the reserve.
The next day will see trekkers exit the forest and continue through rice fields and villages, before spending the night in Cao Village with a Thai family. The penultimate day involves hiking through a wide open valley to the Ma River, which boasts a picturesque backdrop of rice paddies and water wheels. The day finishes by getting a transfer from the market town of Pho Doan back to Mai Chau. Day six is easy-going where trekkers will have the option of exploring Mai Chau Valley or taking in the local markets before heading back to Hanoi.
Another extremely popular place for trekking in this area of northern Vietnam is Sapa, which boasts Indochina’s highest mountain, Fansipan. Those keen enough are able to climb the 3,143 metres to the roof of Vietnam, but the only way to do so is by joining a tour group and allowing a guide to lead the way. The views and feeling of accomplishment will be well worth it as you stand on top of this part of the world.
If all that climbing seems a little too strenuous, cultural treks and home-stay tours are other options in Sapa. Here you can enjoy gentle-paced walks between local villages while learning to make handicrafts or even helping the local farmers along the way. Guides will take you from village to village and the evening will be spent in the homes of local ethnic minorities. More on Sapa.
Cat Ba National Park is home to the world-famous Halong Bay, a must-see for most visitors to Vietnam. A four-day tour to Cat Ba Island will include some time on the beautiful beaches, camping on the beaches, kayaking around Lan Ha Bay and staying overnight on Halong Bay.
However, the big challenge is on the second day which involves a tough trek through the jungle and the opportunity to get a panoramic view of the stunning Halong Bay from one of the mountain summits that are conquered on the trek. More on Halong Bay
Panoramic of Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong is the largest national park in Vietnam and home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The park’s proximity to Hanoi means it can be visited as a day trip, or for those who want to stay longer there are many options for overnight lodgings. There are numerous trails through the forest which offer scenic one or two-hour hikes suitable for day trippers.
Those that wish to stay longer can arrange a two-day trek where you can take in the Primate Rescue Centre, hike through the national park’s jungle, visit Muong ethnic minority villages, enjoy a boat ride among rice paddies and limestone mountains, and visit Hoa Lu once the ancient capital of Vietnam.
In an endless list of excellent trekking options, Ba Be National Park, home to the northern Vietnam’s biggest natural lake, offers yet more adventure. There are many trekking tours on offer with certain trips lasting eight days, passing through numerous ethnic minority villages and coming close to the Chinese frontier. Other more gently paced treks may be arranged around the lake where you can visit local temples and paddle out to An Ma Island and Dau Dang Waterfall.
Tourists to northern Vietnam will soon find that whichever area they wish to trek in tours can generally be arranged for as many or as few days as is desired. What’s more, trekkers of all capabilities are catered for, ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy the landscape of one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful regions.
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