Meetup Travel

Bac Ha & Hoang Su Phi Rice Terraces - 5 Days

4.9 on Tripadvisor Licensed international tour operator What makes Meetup different
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This journey is real. Yours will be your own version of it.

Every day on this page comes from trips our guests have already taken. It is written out in full so you can see exactly how the journey feels, not so you have something generic to skim.

What changes is the detail: your dates, your pace, how long you stay in each place, where you sleep. A local expert rebuilds it around you one trip at a time, and that is where the final price settles.

At a glance · this journey as it runs

Duration

5 days, 4 nights

Departs any day, year round

Starts / ends

Hanoi → Ha Giang City

Departures are built around Saturday night, because the Bac Ha market runs on Sunday morning only and that market is the reason most people take this route. Other departure days are possible and still visit Bac Ha town, Hoang A Tuong Palace and the villages nearby, but the market itself will be closed. Ha Giang has no airport and no railway station, so arrange your onward transport to Hanoi at the same time as the tour.

Destinations

1 stops, 9 spots

Hanoi

Tour pace

Medium

Physical rating

Moderate

Getting around

Overnight sleeper train, Private car

Can be reworked overland if you would rather not fly

Sleeping

  • 1 Hotel in Si Ma Cai or Bac Ha

  • 1 Hotel or homestay in Xin Man

  • 1 Village homestay in Ban Phung

  • 1 Homestay among the rice terraces, Nam Hong

Actual properties are chosen together with your local expert

Best season

September - November

Indicative from

From $600 per person

Route

Hanoi→Lao Cai →Bac Ha→Si Ma Cai→Suoi Thau Grassland→Xin Man (Coc Pai)→Chieu Lau Thi→Ban Phung→Nam Hong→Nam Khoa→Ha Giang City

This is a west to east traverse along the Chinese border, not a loop, which is why it does not double back on itself. You arrive by overnight train at Lao Cai, climb to the Bac Ha plateau at 1,000 m, run north through the border district of Si Ma Cai, cross into Xin Man for the grassland at Suoi Thau, then drop into Hoang Su Phi for the summit at Chieu Lau Thi and the terraces at Ban Phung, Nam Hong and Nam Khoa. Driving days stay at 3 to 4 hours because the train removes the long approach at the start. The route finishes at Ha Giang city, which is where the Dong Van loop begins if you want to keep going north.

About this trip

This 5-day private tour crosses northern Vietnam from Bac Ha to the rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi, following a mountain route that most travellers never see. After the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, travel through Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai and Xin Man to Suoi Thau Grassland, Chieu Lau Thi and the terraced villages of Ban Phung, Nam Hong and Nam Khoa.

The roads are rougher and the stays simpler than in Sapa, but that is also why the route feels different. You travel with your own driver and English-speaking guide, stop when you want for photographs, walk through local villages and spend two nights in homestays among the rice fields. During the golden harvest season, when rooms in Hoang Su Phi are limited, your stays are arranged in advance so you can focus on the journey rather than the logistics.

Tourist in traditional dress at Hoang Su Phi rice terraces Ha Giang
Golden harvest moments at Hoang Su Phi on our Ha Giang & Bac Ha tour.

The journey, day by day

Written out the way it runs, so nothing is left to your imagination. Read it, note the days you would keep and the ones you would skip, and a local expert reshapes the rest around you.

⌂Night in Hotel in Si Ma Cai or Bac Ha
06:00The night train pulls into Lao Cai. You board it at Hanoi railway station the evening before, with the departure time shown on your ticket. Your guide meets you on the platform06:30Breakfast in Lao Cai07:30Drive up to Bac Ha, around 2 hours on a climbing road09:00Bac Ha Sunday market: Flower Hmong textiles, buffalo trading, corn wine and thang co. On other departure days, a walk through Bac Ha town and the villages around it11:30Lunch in Bac Ha13:30Hoang A Tuong Palace, built in 1921 for the family that ran the local opium trade15:00Drive north to Si Ma Cai, a border district few travellers reach17:00Check in and rest18:30Dinner in Si Ma Cai, then an early night before the border road

Highlight

Colour, noise and corn wine before 9 in the morning, then the border road north to a district few travellers reach.
Included
  • Soft sleeper berth on the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
  • Private car and English-speaking guide from Lao Cai station
  • Bac Ha market visit and Hoang A Tuong Palace entrance
Excluded
  • International flights and Vietnam visa
  • Transfer from your Hanoi hotel to the railway station
  • Drinks, personal spending and tips for the guide and driver

What this journey includes

This covers the journey as written above. Once your version is set, your local expert confirms in writing exactly what sits inside your quote and what does not, before anything is agreed.

What our guests say

4.9Excellent on TripadvisorVerified reviews from Meetup Travel guestsRead all reviews →
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TripAdvisor

574sharikar

Sep 2026

Family trip to Vietnam

We had a wonderful experience booking our Vietnam trip with the Meetup Travel. From the very beginning, they were extremely supportive, responsive, and helpful throughout the entire journey. Everything was well coordinated, and we truly enjoyed a memorable trip. Coming to Macao, she was the very first person we contacted when we made our initial enquiry. From that first conversation until the end of our trip, the entire journey was absolutely beautiful. She understood what we were looking for, guided us patiently, and made sure everything was taken care of. Another brilliant service from Stellah which is unforgettable. She had gone all the way out to help us and make sure we were comfortable ❤️ We are truly grateful for all the support and care . Highly recommended Meetup Travel for your Vietnam trip

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unnikrishnann2023

Sep 2026

Excellent Vietnam Family Trip with Meet Up

We had a wonderful experience with Meet Up Team during our Vietnam trip. From the initial planning to the completion of the journey, the team was very helpful, professional, and well coordinated. Our itinerary covered Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay, and the arrangements were handled smoothly. The hotels, transportation, sightseeing, guides, and Halong Bay cruise were all well organized. The team was always available whenever we needed assistance and made sure everything went according to plan. A special mention to the guides and drivers, who were friendly, punctual, and supportive throughout the trip. The coordination between the different destinations was also excellent, which made the journey comfortable for our group. Overall, it was a memorable Vietnam holiday for our family. Thank you to the entire Meet Up team for the excellent arrangements and coordination. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a Vietnam trip.

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aleenap231
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aleenap231

Sep 2026

Vietnam Trip

We had a wonderful experience with the travel agency during our 7-day trip to Vietnam. From planning and accommodation to transportation and sightseeing, everything was well organised and handled smoothly. The team was supportive, responsive, and always available whenever we needed assistance. Overall, it was a memorable and hassle-free trip, and we would definitely recommend their services to anyone planning a Vietnam holiday.

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Getaway52029306358

Sep 2026

Especially thanks to Xeon & Hazel

Thank you, Xeon, Hazel, Krystal, Kim, Stella, and the rest of the Meetup Travel staff for the excellent service, from arranging the trip until the very end of my time in Hanoi and Sa Pa. I was welcomed by the rain when I arrived, but I’m more than happy that the sun came out on my last day here. Despite the rainy season, I still managed to enjoy and make the most of my trip. Vietnam is such a beautiful and lovely country to visit, with so much to experience. For sure, I’ll come back again! 🇻🇳❤️ Take care, and see you again!

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aleenap231
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aleenap231

Sep 2026

Vietnam Trip

We had a wonderful experience with the travel agency during our 7-day trip to Vietnam. From planning and accommodation to transportation and sightseeing, everything was well organised and handled smoothly. The team was supportive, responsive, and always available whenever we needed assistance. Overall, it was a memorable and hassle-free trip, and we would definitely recommend their services to anyone planning a Vietnam holiday.

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jandanielj2026
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jandanielj2026

Sep 2026

Experience

Great experience with the assist pf ms Evie and Stella

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Vinay781
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Vinay781

Oct 2026

Awesome visit with the awesomeness of Meetup Travel

We recently travelled to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with our daughter and had a wonderful experience, thanks to the excellent planning and support provided by Meet Up Travel, Vietnam. From the initial planning to the execution of the trip, everything was handled very efficiently and professionally. The itinerary was well planned, the arrangements were smooth, and the overall experience was comfortable and enjoyable for the entire family. A special mention to Rosie and Hazel, who were extremely supportive, responsive and efficient throughout our trip. They were always available to clarify our questions, address any concerns and ensure that everything went smoothly. Their attention to detail and willingness to help made a significant difference, particularly while travelling with a child. We truly appreciate the efforts of the entire Meet Up Travel team and would happily recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in Vietnam. Our Phu Quoc trip created some wonderful family memories, and Meet Up Travel played an important role in making it a hassle-free and enjoyable experience. Thank you, Rosie, Hazel and the entire Meet Up Travel team for a fantastic experience!

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847gayathrin

Sep 2026

Great experience with Meet up Travel

It was such a wonderful experience traveling with the Meet Up Travel team! From the initial planning and itinerary preparation to the actual trip, everything was well organized and smoothly managed. Our sincere thanks to Ms. Macao and Ms. Stella for their excellent support and for making our entire trip so enjoyable and memorable. We truly appreciate all the effort, coordination, and care that went into making this journey an awesome experience.

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malum615
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malum615

Sep 2026

Vietnam Trip

Team Meetup Travel was available throughout the journey at any time. They accommodated every special requests, our time constraints. Entire travel within Vietnam was so effortless. They planned every minute details before we reached zero confusions and full utilisation of time we got both in Sapa and Hanoi. A big thank you to Hynnee, Krystal and Kim from team Meetup Travel for making our time in Vietnam comfortable and enjoyable.

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208miraha

Sep 2026

SuperB experience

Vietnam was absolutely beautiful, and the people were so warm, kind, and welcoming. 🇻🇳❤️ Booking through Meet Up Travel was also a different experience from the usual travel agency. From the very beginning, I shared my dietary requirements and made quite a number of changes to the itinerary, and they were always so accommodating and patient with all my requests. They even went through the entire itinerary carefully with us to make sure everything was well arranged and the trip would run as smoothly as possible. What I really appreciated was how they were always there whenever we had any questions or needed help. It genuinely felt like having a Vietnamese friend we could turn to throughout the trip someone who was just a message away and always ready to help. Thank you so much for organizing everything and making our trip such a smooth and enjoyable one! We will definitely be visiting Vietnam again, and I would absolutely liaise with you again for our future trips. Thank you once again for taking such good care of us and making the whole experience so memorable! ❤️

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rosellem176

Sep 2026

unforgettable experience

hazel and jasmine were very accommodating,they help us in all our needs and provide us with a great tour, good food and happy memories in Vietnam

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411abithab

Sep 2026

Unforgettable Vietnam Adventure 💫

Amazing Vietnam trip! ❤️ Everything was perfectly organized, from hotels to tours. Excellent service, smooth arrangements, stress-free and unforgettable experiences throughout.

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Trek63307760434

Sep 2026

Honeymoon holiday

Had the pleasure of Meetup Travel organising our Honeymoon holiday from Hanoi to Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Phoenix was my first point of contact & he organised our itinerary from beginning to end. We were then introduced to his Team Lead Kim who with the rest of her team carried us through our travels answering all our questions everywhere we went. I would highly recommend Meetup Travel to anyone coming to Vietnam. Thank you Kim & your team for a fantastic first time experience in Vietnam.

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unnikrishnann2023 review photo
unnikrishnann2023
TripAdvisor

unnikrishnann2023

Sep 2026

Excellent Vietnam Family Trip with Meet Up

We had a wonderful experience with Meet Up Team during our Vietnam trip. From the initial planning to the completion of the journey, the team was very helpful, professional, and well coordinated. Our itinerary covered Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay, and the arrangements were handled smoothly. The hotels, transportation, sightseeing, guides, and Halong Bay cruise were all well organized. The team was always available whenever we needed assistance and made sure everything went according to plan. A special mention to the guides and drivers, who were friendly, punctual, and supportive throughout the trip. The coordination between the different destinations was also excellent, which made the journey comfortable for our group. Overall, it was a memorable Vietnam holiday for our family. Thank you to the entire Meet Up team for the excellent arrangements and coordination. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a Vietnam trip.

Posted on

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N7329DIedwinp
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N7329DIedwinp

Oct 2026

Vietnam Tour Sept - Oct 2026

Lynna and Stella provided excellent customer experience from Hanoi to Sa Pa and back to Hanoi. We will definitely get Meetup service again. See you again on Feb 2027!

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williamanthonym2026

Sep 2026

Honeymoon trip!

Meetup have made our holiday such a trip to remember, stress free. Kim, Phoenix and the rest of the team have gone above & beyond to make our honeymoon a dream come true. I so love Vietnam💜 thank you so much!😁💜💜💜

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yosit257
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yosit257

Sep 2026

Vietnam Travel

We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.

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teresanE7446QJ

Sep 2026

North Vietnam

Experience with the Meetup Team was fabulous. Atmosphere was very warming and cheerful - wants you get to know that there is a whole team to guide you through the days of touring. The crowd size was small and very manageable. Staff were very helpful and solved all problems straight away - making sure you are enjoying your day ahead valued. I would differently use this service again.!!

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M9944TClindal

Sep 2026

Beautiful Sapa & Hot Hot Hanoi

Visited Sapa in July 2026, as it is a wedding anniversary holiday, we decided to get a travel agent to plan the whole trip for us. It was a 6D5N trip to Sapa and Hanoi. So Shirley planned the itinerary for us; 3N in Sapa and 2N in Hanoi, with visits to many attractions in Sapa based on our likes and dont..🤭. She is very accommodating to our requests and make amendments to the itinerary during our discussions and also make good recommendations: where to go in July, where to take nice pictures etc etc (and we really took many nice pictures throughout the trip). As weather in July is not ideal, there are places which she advised us against visiting so it will not be wasted trips…truthfully recommendations. Then there was Stella who briefed me through the whole itinerary before our trip so that we are well prepared and also things to look out for while in Sapa and Hanoi as we travelled without a tour guide. That was very helpful as it was our 1st time to Sapa and Hanoi. She also keep checking on us to make sure we were doing fine ourselves, we were at the right locations without any tour guides. The whole experience was seamless from the time we touched down at the airport to the bus journey to Sapa, our trips to all the recommended attractions to our way back to Hanoi and finally back home. During the whole trip it was fuss-free as everything was well arranged for us ie the drivers were on time to pick us and brought us around, the lunch arrangements and access to the attractions etc, it’s all so efficient…we really enjoyed the whole trip and was surprised that all went well with no hiccups 👍. The team did a fantastic job with all the arrangements that made it a delightful holiday for us!! Lastly, the price for the whole package is reasonable with excellent service!

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yosit257
TripAdvisor

yosit257

Sep 2026

Vietnam Travel

We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.

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Is this journey a good starting point for you?

The honest version

Tell us which window you are chasing and we will set your departure against reported field conditions instead of a fixed calendar, then hold your rooms while you think it over.

A good starting point if you are

  • Judged by what you saw, not by the room you slept in.
  • Polish traded for access: roads the coaches do not use, viewpoints often entirely to yourself.
  • Introductions your guide has already made, in villages few outsiders reach.
  • Right if the landscape sets your dates, not the other way round.
  • For anyone who did Sapa and wanted that scenery without the queue.

Say so early if you

  • Comfort is uneven by design. On the second half it is not something money moves.
  • Each day answers to the road and the weather, not to a schedule.
  • Not for a decide-as-you-go holiday: the departures worth taking are pinned to the farming calendar.
  • If predictability matters more than location, or switchbacks do not agree with you, Sapa gives similar scenery on far shorter transfers.

The next step asks for real detail. Your dates, who is travelling, how you like to move, what you would change about this route. It takes a few minutes to fill in, because a local expert writes your itinerary from those answers rather than sending you a file. Nothing is booked or charged at this stage.

Before you get in touch

Yes. The big market runs on Sunday morning only, so your trip has to start with the Saturday night train from Hanoi. On other departure days you still visit Bac Ha town, Hoang A Tuong Palace and the villages nearby, but the market itself will be closed. Tell us at booking if the market is the reason you are coming and we will build your dates around it.

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