3-day Hoang Su Phi trek — 38 km traverse, two homestays, motorbike luggage transfer. From US$295 per person. Book here.
Duration
3 days · 2 nights
Difficulty
Demanding
Distance
38 km total
Altitude
900 – 1,700 m
Best season
Sept – Oct · golden
— Overview
Why this route.
This is the Ban Luoc long traverse programme — three walking days from Black Dao Ban Luoc to Tay Thong Nguyen with no road between valleys until the finish. You book here for day rhythm, homestay logistics, luggage transfer, group size and price. Day 1 reaches Red Dao Nam Hong; Day 2 crosses the ridge into La Chi Ban Phung; Day 3 descends through Tay tea country to the river. Your main bag moves by motorbike each morning; you walk with a daypack only. Choose Nam Hong if two days and one homestay fit your calendar; choose Ban Phung if you want only the La Chi terrace day. For landscape context, ethnic sequence and seasons, read the Ban Luoc trekking guide — this page holds the booking itinerary.
— Trip highlights
Black Dao Ban Luoc — cardamom margins and herbal plots above the first valley
Red Dao homestay in Nam Hong with the same bath ritual as the two-day route, but fresher legs on arrival
Day 2 ridge-to-terrace crossing — 14 km, Chay valley humidity, La Chi stilt house by sunset
Motorbike luggage handoff each morning — walk with daypack only
Tay tea-garden descent into Thong Nguyen and river lunch before the road
— Itinerary
Day by day.
Times and stops are indicative. Pace and arrival are set by the slowest walker, the weather, and the village.
Day 1
Ban Luoc → Nam Hong
12 km · 5 h walking
Meals · Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Stay · Red Dao homestay
"Morning transfer from Hoang Su Phi reaches Black Dao Ban Luoc by mid-morning. The walk climbs through herbal margins and cardamom shade, lunching on the ridge with Nam Hong visible across the valley. Afternoon descent into Red Dao Nam Hong — bath drawn before dinner while legs still feel fresh from the shorter first day."
07:00
Depart Hoang Su Phi town
Drive west toward Ban Luoc; light breakfast in town before pickup.
09:00
Trailhead in Ban Luoc
Black Dao local guide joins; main bag labelled for motorbike transfer to Nam Hong.
09:30
Climb through herbal gardens
Mugwort and star anise drying on bamboo racks beside the path.
12:00
Ridge picnic
Terraces visible toward Nam Hong; save appetite — dinner is family-style.
14:30
Descent into Nam Hong
Bamboo margins thicken; humidity rises as altitude drops.
16:30
Red Dao homestay
Wood-fired herbal bath; forty minutes before the low table is set.
19:00
Family dinner
Corn liquor in small cups; quiet after 21:00 — Day 2 starts early.
Day 2
Nam Hong → Ban Phung
14 km · 6 – 7 h walking
Meals · Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Stay · La Chi stilt house
"The spine of the traverse: leave Nam Hong at first light, cross the open ridge, drop into humid Chay valley country, then climb La Chi terrace walls to Ban Phung before sunset. Fourteen kilometres — guides pace against terrace light, not the clock."
06:30
Breakfast and pack out
Sticky rice or host table; main bag collected for motorbike run to Ban Phung.
07:00
Upper ridge with Red Dao guide
Open spine — wind before 15:00 is manageable; rest stops on lee slopes.
10:30
Early lunch before the valley drop
Eat before the long descent — not on the climb into La Chi country.
11:30
Descent toward the Chay
Knees work harder; humidity and clay increase; gaiters useful in harvest weeks.
14:00
Climb into Ban Phung
Terrace walls steepen; La Chi guide takes the lead on maintenance paths.
17:00
Stilt-house arrival
Terrace sunset from the ridge path when weather allows — shoot before dinner prep fills the kitchen smoke.
19:30
La Chi dinner
Earlier night than Nam Hong — chicken, sticky rice, shorter table talk.
Day 3
Ban Phung → Thong Nguyen
12 km · 5 h walking
Meals · Breakfast · Lunch
"Recovery day through Tay tea gardens and bamboo — twelve easy kilometres after two harder ones. River lunch at Thong Nguyen, then road transfer to Hoang Su Phi town by late afternoon. Plan a rest evening, not a fourth walk."
07:30
Breakfast in Ban Phung
Softer morning light on terrace walls if you skipped photos yesterday.
08:30
Tea-garden descent
Gentle contour; Tay pickers on working paths — ask before portraits.
11:00
Bamboo corridor
Shaded, rooty in wet weeks; poles optional but kind to Day-2 legs.
12:30
River lunch at Thong Nguyen
Last hosted meal on the traverse; cold drink if the shop is open.
14:00
Road pickup
Vehicle to Hoang Su Phi town; arrival usually 15:30–16:30.
— Inclusions
What's included.
Included
Private transfers to and from the trail
English-speaking lead guide for all three days
Local guides from each ethnic group on their territory
2 nights homestay (Red Dao + La Chi)
All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 lunch
Traditional herbal bath on Day 1
Permits and community contributions
Personal accident & trekking insurance
Not included
Transfers outside Hoang Su Phi district
Hotel before/after the trek
Alcoholic beverages
Tips for guides, drivers and host families
Personal expenses
— Pack list
What to bring.
01Sturdy trekking shoes (broken in)
02Daypack (25 – 30 L)
032 changes of trail clothing + warm layer
04Rain shell, gaiters in shoulder season
05Headlamp
06Quick-dry towel and small toiletries
07Trekking poles recommended for Day 2 descent
— Good to know
Before you walk.
This programme page is the booking source — day-by-day times, includes, price and enquiry are here, not on journal articles.
Day 2 is fourteen kilometres with six hundred metres up and eight hundred down — poles help on the Chay valley descent.
Main bag moves by motorbike each morning; label clearly and keep passport and medication in your daypack.
Night 1 is Red Dao in Nam Hong; Night 2 is La Chi in Ban Phung — different house styles, same shared-floor format.
October harvest weeks fill homestay beds — book the traverse before add-on day walks if dates are fixed.
For what the valleys feel like, when to walk and how Ban Luoc compares with Nam Hong or Ban Phung, read the Ban Luoc trekking guide.
— Field
Frames from the route.
Black Dao country above Ban Luoc — the traverse begins in herbal-garden terraces before the first ridge.Sunset over Ban Phung terraces on Day 2 — the longest walking day ends above the Chay valley.Red Dao homestay near Nam Hong — shared room, wood-fired bath, family table.Tay tea gardens on the gentle descent into Thong Nguyen, Day 3.
— FAQ
Common questions.
Q · 01
How fit do I need to be for Day 2?
Comfortable with six to seven hours on uneven farm paths, including a long afternoon climb. Pace follows the slowest walker — not a timed event.
Q · 02
Can luggage be transferred between homestays?
Yes — community drivers run the route weekly. Pack a daypack for water, layers and camera; main bag meets you at each house before dinner.
Q · 03
Is the route safe in October rains?
October is usually dry and the best month for terrace light. We monitor river colour and clay daily; unsafe sections are bypassed, not forced.
Q · 04
Why three days instead of Nam Hong alone?
Ban Luoc adds Black Dao herbal country, La Chi Ban Phung and Tay tea valleys in one walk — four ethnic groups, two homestays, no road between valleys until Thong Nguyen.
Q · 05
Which homestay is more basic?
Both are simple shared rooms with wood-fired hot water when available. Night 1 has the herbal bath ritual; Night 2 is terrace-side with an earlier meal.
Q · 06
Do I need trekking poles?
Recommended for the Day 2 valley drop — we can lend a pair if you ask when you enquire.
Q · 07
What meals are included?
Lunch Day 1 through lunch Day 3, breakfast both mornings, hosted family dinners Nights 1 and 2.
Q · 08
Can I start from Hoang Su Phi town?
Yes — transfer to Ban Luoc trailhead is included. Arrive the night before Day 1.
— Related programmes and guides
This page is the three-day traverse programme — fit, logistics, schedule and enquiry. Journal articles cover landscape and field detail; they do not replace booking here.
This page holds the schedule, price and inclusions for this route. Confirmation and payment steps are handled directly with our team — not through this website.
Step 1
Enquire
Tell us your route, dates and group size — by WhatsApp from any programme or tour page.
Step 2
Confirm
We reply with availability, a clear price and the logistics needed to confirm your departure.
Step 3
Prepare
You receive what to pack and where to meet before you travel.
— Why book with us
Licensed local operator
Hanoi Travel Mate Co., Ltd. (tax code 0110906485) runs every departure listed on this site — not a reseller or marketplace listing. Licensed Local Operator
Local trekking expertise
Ha Giang has no marked national-park trail network. Paths follow irrigation channels, farm decisions, and weather calls made by people who live on the route. Local trail guides from each community negotiate homestay space, read fog on the ridge, and know when a bamboo bridge is safe after rain — alongside English-speaking trekking leads who handle logistics, pace and guest communication.
Transparent enquiry process
No payment on this site. Enquire by WhatsApp; we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, a clear price and what to pack. Booking Terms
No payment on this site
Every departure is confirmed after a direct conversation. Nothing is collected or stored here. Payment Policy
Safety and responsible travel
Personal accident and trekking insurance is included on every guide-led programme — see each programme's includes list. Permits and community fees are included on programme prices where listed. Safety Policy
Community payments stay local
Homestay payments go directly to host families — we do not take a margin on meals or overnight stays. Responsible Travel
— Deposit, cancellation & enquiry
—Enquire by WhatsApp — we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, price and what to pack
—No payment on this site — confirmation steps are shared directly after your enquiry
—Deposit and cancellation terms are confirmed for your specific departure before you travel
—Weather or safety may require a postponed or adjusted route — we confirm options with you, not through the website checkout
Days alone do not define the trip. A three-day Ban Luoc programme and a three-day Tay Con Linh Summit extended journey share duration but not product line or booking page. Programme vs Extended Journey.
Hub programme
One to three focused walking days in Hoang Su Phi, Village Treks or Ridge & Cloud — a defined route with schedule and price on the programme page.
Local trail guides from the communities on the route, with English-speaking trekking leads on every departure. Guide roles & field notes
Community & permits
Homestay payments go directly to host families — we do not take a margin on meals or overnight stays. Community and forest permit fees are included in programme prices and paid to the communes on your behalf.
Insurance & group size
Personal accident and trekking insurance is included on every guide-led programme — see each programme's includes list. Guide-led programmes run small groups — typically 2–8 trekkers; ridge routes cap at six.
Operator & enquiry
No payment on this site. Enquire by WhatsApp; we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, a clear price and what to pack. Licensed Local Operator · Safety Policy
— Places and routes
Entity guides hold landscape and season research; this programme page holds schedule and enquiry.
HSP · 042 days · 1 night