Follow your tour guide as we conquer the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam.

Driven by youthful enthusiasm and a love for nature, tour guide Nguyen Thanh Luan (27 years old, Hanoi) has developed experiential tours in the northern mountainous region with the desire to share the fascinating aspects of the highlands with everyone.

Luân shared: “My greatest inspiration comes from experiencing and exploring new lands. It's about learning more about the local culture, diverse and unique cuisine, and the genuine and simple beauty of the people in the highlands.”

Northern mountainous region tours - attracting travel enthusiasts.

Much of the northern mountainous region is wild and difficult to access, yet it boasts some of the most rustic and majestic landscapes in Vietnam. The area attracts tourists with its majestic mountain ranges, misty villages, cloud-covered passes, magnificent terraced rice fields, and forests of bauhinia flowers… all blending together to create an incredibly charming northern mountainous region, inviting those who love exploring the beauty of the highlands. Furthermore, it is home to various ethnic minority groups such as the Thai, Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung…

The tours that Mr. Luan designs mainly focus on the Northeast and Northwest regions such as Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Ta Xua, Moc Chau, Dien Bien, Yen Bai… These tours are suitable for travel enthusiasts who love challenging themselves by exploring winding and treacherous mountain passes through motorbike touring or trekking. Youth will be truly meaningful if you live according to your interests, conquer difficult routes yourself, witness stunning natural scenery firsthand, and capture many memories of your journey with your own hands.

Besides its picturesque highland landscapes and fresh, cool climate, the northern mountainous region also boasts a rich cultural heritage with strong traditional ethnic characteristics. "Enjoying the heartfelt and lyrical songs, the graceful Xoe dance, and the unique folk games is what impressed me the most," Luân recounted.

Besides that, cuisine is also a factor that attracts tourists to the highlands. Irresistible delicacies that excite the taste buds can only be found in the northern mountainous region, such as braised pork belly, smoked buffalo meat, sour pho, and five-colored sticky rice…

When is the best time to visit the highlands?

Depending on the time of year and individual preferences, the northern mountainous region possesses its own unique beauty. According to Mr. Luan, the ideal time to participate in highland experiential tours is from August to April of the following year. The tour guide stated: "When the rice fields begin to ripen, and the flowering seasons follow one another, with stable and pleasant weather, it's the perfect time for you to have many interesting experiences."

Spring is the time when you can witness life awakening after the cold winter, with the tender shoots of countless flowers blooming brilliantly across the land. Among them are the forests of white apricot blossoms, pink peach blossoms, and bauhinia flowers, exuding a pristine beauty amidst the vast mountains and forests, captivating countless visitors. This is also the time when many festivals are held in the highlands, allowing you to easily immerse yourself in and learn about the traditional life and culture of the ethnic groups.

If you want to escape the sweltering heat of summer, the mountains are the perfect choice to immerse yourself in the fresh, cool air and enjoy delicious local specialties.

As autumn arrives, the northern mountainous region seems to be adorned with a new, shimmering golden cloak of ripening rice and undulating terraced fields, a breathtaking sight. Travel enthusiasts and those who love taking stunning photos certainly shouldn't miss this amazing moment.

Visiting the mountainous regions in winter is an experience that truly lets you enjoy the biting cold of Northern Vietnam. At this time, close to the Lunar New Year, everything becomes more hurried, bustling, and vibrant than ever to welcome a new year filled with good fortune.

A few things to keep in mind when traveling to mountainous areas.

To have the most enjoyable trip, especially to remote mountainous areas, you should prepare thoroughly. Before you go, you should research the places you will visit, the routes you will take, monitor the weather conditions, and then create a detailed itinerary.

For a backpacking trip, you should limit your luggage, only preparing a few sets of clothes suitable for the season and bringing only essential items. Good health is also crucial for a successful exploration trip. "When you prepare everything thoroughly, you'll have a very enjoyable trip," Luân added.

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai