Are you an adventurous person? Do you love hiking? Are you eager to discover new places and wander amidst the wild nature? Leaving the crowded city destinations behind and take Cambodia & Vietnam trekking tours. The soaring mountains and lush forests of these countries await!
I. Top destinations for Vietnam trekking tours.
1. Ha Giang – the northernmost land of Vietnam.
Duration: 3 – 4 days
Difficulty level: Extremely hard
Highlights: challenging Ma Pi Leng Pass, tribal villages, Love Market
These years, Ha Giang has attracted huge attention from adventurous travelers thanks to its intrepid trekking routes. It is definitely a worth-visiting destination for trekking tours in Vietnam.
Ha Giang possesses untouched natural settings. It is home to marvelous mountainous sceneries with steep hills, deep valleys, and dense forests. Especially, a hiking tour to this land will allow you to conquer Ma Pi Leng Pass – the “King of Vietnam passes”. From the pass, you can also witness the beauty of Nho Que River, which lays deep beneath the abyss.
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This winding road crossing the mountains will then lead you to Dong Van Plateau and Meo Vac, where live different ethnic groups. These indigenous people are friendly and hospitable. Their worry-free life is what each of us wants to achieve.
Other must-see destinations in Ha Giang are Khau Vai Love Market, Dong Van Geopark, Sa Phin village, and Hoang Su Phi town, and so on.
2. Sapa – a place that Vietnam trekking tours should never miss.
Duration: 2 – 3 days
Difficulty level: hard
Highlights: jungle trek to Fansipan Peak, local ethic villages, local market
Thanks to its spectacular landscape, Sapa deserves to be one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Vietnam that adventurous travelers must see at least once. This mountainous area captures visitors’ heart with its soaring mountains and distinctive ethnic cultures.
Sapa and its surroundings are the highest mountainous terrain in Indochina with the highest peak at an altitude of 3143 meters. You will definitely stand in awe when seeing the majestic mountains loom in front of your eyes. The mountains seem to dominate the whole horizon whichever direction you are looking. It looks like a giant beast who took a nap and will never wake up.
Sapa treks will enable you to conquer nature. You can step inside the dense jungles to observe the wildlife, to listen to the murmurs of the birds, and to cool down with the splashes from the nearby waterfalls. Especially, there are customized hiking tours to conquer Fansipan Peak. You will spend days crossing the jungles before reaching the summit, where the panoramic views it offers would make your jaw drop.
North Vietnam tours to Sapa also mean an approach to the local ethnic life. While hiking through the tribal villages like Cat Cat, Ta Phin, and Ta Van, travelers will get the opportunities to observe the daily life of the indigenous people. It seems like you are stepping into a whole new world with stilt houses, rice terraces, and smiley people.
3. Mai Chau – the hidden valley amidst the mountains.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty level: normal to hard
Highlights: marvelous Thung Khe Pass, rice terraces, and stilt houses of Thai ethnic people
Located about 160 km from Hanoi city center, Mai Chau is a fascinating place for Vietnam trekking tours. The town is located between tall cliffs and surrounded by bright-green paddies, making it a sight to behold.
The route from Hanoi to Mai Chau is one of the most beautiful roads for Vietnam trekking tours. If you travel by motorbike, you will get a chance to catch the jaw-dropping views of the rice paddy fields, the sugarcane and orange plantations, the steep hills, and the incredible passes. Thung Khe Pass, which people also call as “Da Trang” Pass (White rock pass), is extraordinarily majestic and perfect for shooting photos. The final stretch to the town is awe-inspiring, too.
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Additionally, Lac and Pom Coong Villages are two hamlets of Thai ethnic people that you should visit when trekking to Mai Chau. Their houses are built on stilts so as to protect people against rising water and dangerous animals. Now the locals serve stilt houses as accommodation for tourists, which we call “homestay”. You will live with the host in a shared house, eat meals, and even follow them to go the paddies to do farming. It is a great way to get exposure to the local culture.
4. Pu Luong – A new destination for Vietnam adventure tours.
Duration: 2 – 3 days
Difficulty level: hard
Highlights: Pu Luong Natural Reserve, screaming Hieu Waterfall, Cao Son remote villages
Although Pu Luong is still a new name in the map for Vietnam trekking tours, most of the travelers coming here would live a good review. They have a strong impression with the pristine beauty of this land, especially the dense primary forests and colorful terraced rice fields. It is quite easy reached from the city, thus becoming an ideal place for weekend breaks.
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As Pu Luong is a Natural Reserve, the whole area still remains intact from tourism acts. You could trek to conquer Pu Luong Peak, which is at an altitude of 1,700 meters. It would be quite exhausting, but the exceptionally breathtaking view from the peak will make all your effort worthwhile. From here you can take a panoramic view over the mountainous areas and the tranquil valley far beneath.
Adventurers can also the dense jungle and rugged roads to reach the mysterious land of Cao Son, the home to 3 remote villages: Son, Ba, and Muoi. Or stop by some hamlets like Kho Muong, Pon, Thanh Cong, Cao Hoong, and Kit to observe the life of the tribal people.
Additionally, don’t forget to visit Hieu Waterfall to let the water splashes re-energize you for the next trip.
5. Cuc Phuong National Park – A paradise for nature lovers.
Duration: 1 – 2 days
Difficulty level: normal
Highlights: huge hundred-year-old trees, butterfly season
If you are eager to explore the rich bio-ecosystem of tropical forests, Cuc Phuong is where you should head your Vietnam trekking tours to. The roads on Cuc Phuong seems to be a match made in heaven for trekkers. The road curves along the valley, bordered on both sides by dense primary forests as well as a number of trails to accommodate trekkers.
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For those traveling to North Vietnam between April and June, Cuc Phuong is absolutely a must-stop. It is when the park is full of different species of butterflies. When visitors drive or hike across the roads or the mud glades, you will stand in awe when seeing the large groups of butterflies burst into a cloud of colors. An assortment of butterflies ceaselessly patrolling the roads and chasing each other is such an amazing scene to watch.
Moreover, the night on the Park is also incredible to admire. The forest is enlightened with fireflies! The scene of millions of fireflies glittering under the moonlight in the jungle is just too awe-inspiring to dream.
6. Cat Ba Island – A promising land for Vietnam trekking tours.
Duration: 2 – 3 days
Difficulty level: normal to hard
Highlights: limestone islets of Lan Ha Bay, lush forests
Cat Ba Island has long been a famous tourist attraction with its stunning beaches. Regretfully, most travelers do not know about Cat Ba National Park, which is also spectacular to explore.
The Park is the very first marine protected area of Vietnam. It consists of 3 subdivisions: terrestrial forest ecosystem, marine ecosystem, and mangrove ecosystem. It provides a natural habitat for various species of flora, fauna, many of which are rare plants and animals needing to be rigorously protected.
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On your hiking route throughout the park, you will come across small streams, see various kinds of plants and animals, and smell the aroma from the flowers in the forest. The final destination is the mountain peak, where you can take a bird’s eye view over the breathtaking Lan Ha Bay.
Hard and tiring as your trip may be, the view you get from the peak makes it all worthwhile. Don’t forget to bring along a camera to take quintessential photos to bring home.
7. Phong Nha – Ke Bang – The sleeping giant in Middle Vietnam.
Duration: 2 – 4 days
Difficulty level: extremely hard
Highlights: awe-inspiring karst caves, jewel-blue streams, thrilling games
Holding significant geological and bio-ecological values with a large system of karst cave and limestone mountains, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province possesses an irresistible appeal that could steal travelers’ heart from the very first meet.
The area is a model of karst landscapes with exceptionally underground rivers and marvelous karst caves. Moreover, it is home to evergreen primary forests, jewel-blue streams and river, and majestic limestone grottos. The scenery here is just too good to be true.
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Your Vietnam trekking tours will never be complete without a visit to a karst cave: either Phong Nha or Thien Duong Cave. The million years of natural processes have left these places with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, turquoise lakes, stunning sand, and rock bars. Your jaw will drop when witnessing such these unbelievable sceneries.
At Mooc Stream and Dark Cave – other famous destination in this park, travelers can participate in thrilling games like zip-line, kayaking, and jumping onto the water.
You can also book trekking tours to conquer the less-visited grottos deep inside the jungle. For a one-of-a-kind experience, you can try booking a tour to explore Son Doong Cave – the world’s largest cave. However, for these activities, you are required to have an exceptional physical condition, and of course, a super fat wallet.
8. Nam Cat Tien National Park – The must-see for south Vietnam tours.
Duration: 2- 3 days
Difficulty level: normal
Highlights: lowland tropical forests, bird gardens, lotus fields
Not as famous as the North regarding destinations for Vietnam trekking tours, South Vietnam still has awe-inspiring places to explore. Nam Cat Tien National Park, with its stunning lowland tropical forests, is a quintessential place that adventurous travelers should not miss.
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The whole area consists of different habitats, including the primary evergreen forest, secondary forest, bamboo forest, grassland, etc. It is diverse in flora & fauna, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. A visit to Cat Tien would allow travelers to wander around the forests, and even stay overnight at bungalows there.
Vietnam treks to Nam Cat Tien has its own appeal that you can not find in any other trekking tours. Not only can you explore nature, visitors can also learn about the long-lasting cultures of the surrounding areas by visiting the archeological sites.
II. Best places for trekking tours in Cambodia.
1. Mondulkiri Adventure – A step into the world of elephants.
Source: Lux Travel DMC
Duration: 2- 3 days
Difficulty level: normal to hard
Highlights: mighty rivers, dense jungle, and elephant-taming activity
Mondulkiri is a highland province in the northeast of Cambodia. It is among the most favorable place for Cambodia hiking tours with its fascinating elephant tours.
Taking a jungle trek in Mondulkiri, travelers will be able to observe the wild nature here with screaming waterfalls, mighty rivers, wild animals, murmuring birds, etc. Especially, you will have the chance to play with elephants. Not only can you see and touch them, you can also feed, wash them, and follow them to the bamboo forests.
Staying overnight in the jungle is another should-try experience when coming to Mondulkiri. Let’s leave every stress and fatigue of life behind and harmonize with Mother Nature!
2. Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Reap.
Duration: 2- 3 days
Difficulty level: hard
Highlights: exquisite waterfalls, religious temples and pagodas
Where to go hiking in Cambodia without going too far from the city center? Just about 1.5 hours driving from Siem Reap, you will reach Phnom Kulen National Park – the home to exquisite mountain and waterfall.
Kulen is a perfect destination for an outing. Here exist marvelous waterfalls, which are perfect spots to cool off. There are also Cambodian-style shelters and hammocks for you to hide away from the sunlight. It is undoubtedly a promising land to visit during hot summer days.
In addition to the magnificent landscapes, Phnom Kulen is also a sacred land with several temples and historical sites. Don’t forget to hike up the mountain to visit Kbal Spean – a significant Hinduist temple to immerse yourself into the serene spiritual world. For Buddhist followers, you can pay a visit to Preah Ang Thom instead.
3. Cardamon Mountain – An untouched rainforest.
Duration: 2- 3 days
Difficulty level: normal to hard
Highlights: jungle treks, diverse wildlife
Krâvanh Mountains, also called Cardamon, is a great place for Cambodian trekking tours. Located near the border between Cambodia and Thailand, Cardamon is one of the largest rainforests in southeast Asia. It still remains intact from human activities.
Thanks to its untouched beauty, this mountain range has become a haunted place for intrepid tours. Here travelers can glide the boat along the rivers to reach the forests, walk under the large foliage inside the jungles, and experience a day like a local. Along the way, you will catch the image of different wild species. If you are lucky, you might come across a wild elephant or leopard, also.
4. Ratanakiri – Ideal place for jungle trekking in Cambodia.
Duration: 3- 4 days
Difficulty level: hard
Highlights: majestic Sesan river, indigenous Cambodian ethnic people
An expedition in Ratanakiri would place a perfect end to your Vietnam Cambodia tour. This place has gained huge reputation worldwide for its outstanding natural beauty.
Ratanakiri possesses exceptional settings of soaring mountains, rolling hills, stretching bamboo forests, overwhelming rivers, and even more. Traveling to this land, you will be able to wander around the lush forest, paddle the boat on Sesan river, and spend the night in a tribal village amidst the jungle.
Visitors can also approach the life of the ethnic minority here. Many of them are illiterate and live by farming. They are struggling a hard life, but their smiles always hang on.
III. The bottom line.
The land of Vietnam and Cambodia still have many mighty areas that have not been discovered yet. If you love to challenge yourself with intrepid trips to remote areas, these two countries are definitely worth your consideration.
With 15 years of experience in organizing tailor-made tours to numerous travelers, Lux Travel DMC takes pride in being one of the best tour operators in Vietnam and Indochina. We always commit to bringing our dear customers the best experiences during their stay in our lovely land.
If you are seeking an agency to help you plan your Vietnam trekking tours, do not hesitate to drop us a line. We are always happy to be of service!
