Hiking Through Hoang Su Phi’s Most Breathtaking Rice Terraces 8 Days

Our tour guides are fluent in English or French and hold a university degree in tourism, along with a national guiding license. If you prefer a tour leader to accompany your group, they can fully rely on the expertise and experience of our local guides. For remote treks, a local representative is always present to manage permits, liaise with authorities, and oversee the porter team. These representatives speak the local dialects, are familiar with cultural traditions, and provide advice on appropriate behavior in sensitive ecological areas and tribal communities. In some cases, the tour leader and representative roles may be combined.

When to Hike : Northern Vietnam experiences two distinct seasons: winter and summer. Winter, which lasts from November to April, is cool, dry, and ideal for trekking. Daytime temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C, and nighttime temperatures fall between 0°C and 10°C. With minimal rain, winter offers the most favorable weather conditions for hiking in Vietnam.

Porter Service : For all trekking tours, we may use local porters to carry your luggage and trekking equipment, where needed. To support the local economy, we hire villagers for this task. Each participant is assigned a personal porter who will carry up to 15 kg of their belongings. Travelers only need to carry their daypacks.

Vehicle : Depending on the nature of the tour, air-conditioned cars or minibuses will be used for longer overland sections of the journey.

Campsites and lodges are uncommon in Vietnam; instead, we offer homestays, where travelers stay overnight in tribal villages along the trekking route. The facilities are basic but clean. Travelers sleep on bamboo-slat floors, divided by curtains. Animals often rest under the house, and restrooms and showers may be lacking. Water sources are available outside. We provide mattresses, blankets, and mosquito nets. Over the years, Golden Trail Travel has worked on several projects to enhance the comfort of homestay accommodations. Despite the simple facilities, staying in a tribal village and sharing a meal with the locals offers travelers unforgettable cross-cultural experiences. In our 15 years of organizing these treks, we have never received a complaint.

**Food:** Meals during the trek are prepared on-site, either at local restaurants or in village homes along the way. Our cooks, local guides, or hosts prepare the meals, ensuring hygiene while offering a variety of local dishes. Occasionally, this may include the slaughter of a chicken, duck, or pig. We sometimes bring western foods, snacks from Hanoi, and offer abundant coffee and tea. Our cooks strive to provide as much variety as possible, with porters assisting when necessary.

**Drinking Water:** In most areas, bottled water is available for purchase, and for remote trekking tours, we stock up on enough water for several days. We recommend bringing water purifying tablets as an extra precaution.

**Packing:** Comfortable, lightweight clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton is ideal for travel in Vietnam. The dress code is casual, typical of tropical regions, but it's a good idea to cover your arms and legs in the evenings to avoid insect bites. A lightweight raincoat is recommended during the rainy season, and warm clothing is necessary for the northern regions in winter. When visiting religious sites such as pagodas, temples, or communal houses, avoid wearing shorts, short skirts, or revealing clothing. Shoes should be removed before entering private homes.

What you pack depends on your destination and the type of journey you're undertaking. While packing can be challenging, the following checklist provides essential items to consider:

- 1 medium-sized backpack
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- 1 pair of long (easy-to-dry) pants and 1 long-sleeved shirt for the trek
- 1 pair of flip-flops (sandals)
- 1 pair of shorts and a T-shirt for the campsite (2 pairs if you're doing a 4-day trek)
- 1 medium-sized towel
- 1 medium-sized dry bag
- Hiking poles/walking sticks
- GPS

We firmly believe that Responsible Tourism can benefit local communities by providing income, fostering positive cultural exchanges, and encouraging the protection of the natural environment. While we acknowledge there is always room for improvement, we consistently work to bridge the gap between principles and practice.

**Environment:** We are committed to environmentally responsible tourism, implementing practices that minimize the impact of tourism on local habitats. From using biodegradable soaps to providing reusable water containers, we offer clients the necessary information and tools to help protect local nature and communities in a positive way. This is a key criterion that can be upheld long after the trip has ended.

**Community:** Before our tours, we engage with local community leaders to ensure that we are welcomed in a way that minimizes negative social and cultural impacts. We support local development and community projects by encouraging customers to donate and participate in a sustainable manner. Our tours are designed to benefit the local community, ensuring that where possible, our activities generate positive outcomes. We stay in locally owned accommodations and visit cottage industries that produce local handicrafts, creating income for small businesses. We also hire local staff such as guides, motor-taxi drivers, and cooking assistants on all our trips, providing long-term employment opportunities for the community.