Once a year, paths across Ha Giang’s limestone mountains lead to Khau Vai. People arrive here to meet friends, hear music, share food. And according to a long-held tradition, they will reconnect with a former love. The gathering is known as the Khau Vai Love Market. But its atmosphere is closer to a community reunion than an ordinary shopping market. It takes place around the 26th and 27th days of the third lunar month; the precise festival programme should be confirmed for each departure.
This five-day journey travels from Hanoi through Hmong villages, the weaving community of Lung Tam, Dong Van’s stone highlands and the dramatic road to Meo Vac. A night near Meo Vac puts you within reach of Khau Vai’s evening festivities and its main gathering the following morning. If you have enjoyed the village encounters featured in Ha Giang Tours. So, this route offers another perspective on northern Vietnam’s highland cultures, shaped by Ha Giang’s rocky terrain and annual meeting traditions.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Ha Giang
07:00–08:00 — You will meet our tour guide in Hanoi and set off by private vehicle. The journey is long, so we allow for comfort stops rather than treating today as a race to the mountains.
12:00–13:00 — You will stop for lunch en route. Besides, our tour guide can help with local dishes and explain ingredients if you have dietary requirements.
16:00–17:30 — Arrive in Ha Giang and check in. If time and energy allow, you will take an easy walk near the town centre before dinner.
18:30 — You will enjoy your first northern Vietnamese meal and a short introduction to the route ahead. Note, you should bring a light layer into your overnight bag. And the mornings in the highlands can feel cool even when Hanoi has been warm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Dong Van
07:00 — You will have breakfast at your accommodation, then depart for the mountain road through Quan Ba. You will stop at a viewpoint when conditions are clear; clouds can move quickly here. So, the guide may adjust photo stops as the day unfolds.
10:30–12:00 — Next, you will visit Lung Tam, where Hmong artisans work with hemp fibre, weaving and decorating linen. Noted, you should watch the steps at a comfortable pace and ask before photographing someone at work. The village visit is an opportunity to understand the craft, with no expectation to purchase.
12:30 — You will enjoy lunch in the Quan Ba or Yen Minh area. Try a simple mountain meal of rice, seasonal vegetables and a locally prepared main dish.
14:00–17:30 — Afterward, you will continue traveling across the stone plateau, stopping at a suitable Hmong village and roadside viewpoints. Notice how homes, fields and paths fit into small pockets of land among the limestones. You will arrive in Dong Van in the late afternoon.
18:30 — You will have dinner and a relaxed walk through Dong Van’s old quarter. We keep the evening gentle ahead of tomorrow’s mountain drive.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Meo Vac or nearby
07:00 — In the morning, you will have breakfast in Dong Van. After checking out, you spend time with our guide in a nearby village. Or along the town’s old streets, depending on the day’s conditions and local activity.
10:00–12:00 — Next, you will follow the road towards Ma Pi Leng Pass. Its bends and exposed viewpoints deserve an unhurried drive. Note, you should use designated stopping places, remain behind barriers and let the driver concentrate on the road.
12:30 — In the noon, you will enjoy lunch in or near Meo Vac.
14:00–16:30 — Upon arrival, you will check in, rest and learn about the Khau Vai gathering before visiting. Especially, the tradition brings together several highland communities, including Hmong participants. So, visitors may also encounter Tay, Nung and other groups. Note, please listen to our guide’s introductions rather than assuming every outfit or custom belongs to one community.
Late afternoon and evening — Travel to Khau Vai for the festival-eve atmosphere if the confirmed programme includes evening events. Explore food stalls, music and gathering spaces with your guide, then return to your accommodation. Keep some cash in small notes for snacks and drinks and agree on a meeting point. And the paths can become busy after dark.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Ha Giang
05:30–06:00 — You will have an early breakfast before travelling to Khau Vai. Reaching the market early gives you time to watch arrivals without hurrying through the gathering.
07:00–10:30 — Then, you will explore the Khau Vai Love Market with our guide. From here, you can listen to music, browse the stalls and see families and friends meet over food. Moreover, its well-known love story is part of the festival’s identity, yet each person attending has their own reason to be there. Note, give people space for private conversations and always request permission before taking a close portrait.
11:00–12:30 — You will try a market snack with your guide, then sit down for lunch. Choose freshly cooked food and carry drinking water; facilities and queues may be more basic than in the towns.
13:00–18:30 — You will begin the return drive to Ha Giang, with planned breaks along the mountain route. Arrival time depends on traffic, weather and the festival crowd. Finish the day, you will check in and enjoy dinner after a full day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
07:00 — In the morning, you will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out.
08:00–12:30 — Then, you will drive south, taking breaks to stretch and enjoy a final look at the changing landscape.
12:30 — You will have lunch on route.
17:00–18:30 — You will arrive in Hanoi and conclude the tour. Note, please avoid arranging a tightly timed flight or train connection for this evening. Because the mountain travel can take longer than expected.
The times above are a working schedule. The guide may adjust stops and driving times for road conditions, weather and the confirmed festival program.
Come for the right date. The Love Market is the reason to make this journey. Outside its annual festival period, Khau Vai may still be visited as a place, but you will not experience the gathering described here. The market is traditionally associated with the 27th day of the third lunar month, while some festival programmes also include the preceding day.
Pack for changeable mountain weather. Bring walking shoes with grip, a rain layer and something warm for early starts. Travel light enough to move comfortably between your vehicle, accommodation and market paths.
Treat the gathering as a community occasion. A warm greeting and a little patience go further than a camera raised immediately. Your guide can help translate, explain what you are seeing and identify moments when it is best to simply let people meet in peace.
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Item |
Details |
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Duration: |
5 days / 4 nights |
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Route: |
Hanoi → Ha Giang → Quan Ba → Lung Tam → Dong Van → Meo Vac → Khau Vai → Ha Giang → Hanoi |
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Departure: |
Scheduled around the annual Khau Vai Love Market |
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Transport: |
Private vehicle with a local driver |
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Accommodation: |
Local hotels and a guesthouse or homestay, subject to availability |
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Activity level: |
Moderate: short village walks, uneven paths and several winding mountain drives |
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Meals: |
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners |
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Best time for this tour: |
The annual festival period, traditionally centred on the 27th day of the third lunar month |
Festival planning: Khau Vai is an annual event, so this itinerary must be dated around the relevant lunar-calendar gathering. Opening events and market arrangements can vary by year. Book accommodation near Meo Vac early and confirm the official programme before publishing fixed departure dates.
I first traveled with Impress a few years ago when i visited Sapa and naturally it had to be Impress when i decide to visit Vietnam again.
They are very professional and have good English speaking guides which makes our tour so much convenient and comfortable.
Their local guides are very knowledgeable and gives excellent service.
I will gladly recommend to Impress Travel to my family and friends if they are visiting Vietnam.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I first traveled with Impress a few years ago when i visited Sapa and naturally it had to be Impress when i decide to visit Vietnam again.
They are very professional and have good English speaking guides which makes our tour so much convenient and comfortable.
Their local guides are very knowledgeable and gives excellent service.
I will gladly recommend to Impress Travel to my family and friends if they are visiting Vietnam.
This was my 2nd visit to Vietnam in the last 3 years and i decided to come back again with Impress Travel with my friends beacause you have been very professional in order to organizer my first trip with my Family.
My sincere thanks to you Mr Tommy and extended the same to Mr Truong , our guide in SA PA.
My Friends and me are very happy withs this trip to Vietnam and we find very satisfactory your services all.
Spanish Guide in SAPA, Hotel, Meals , Organization and all was perfect.
Marcos
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
South Africa
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
At first, I was just planning a trip to Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh for my small family.
Some close friends heard about our plans and wanted to join the trip. Eventually the group grew to be 7 families, with 25 adults and children of varying interests and expectations.
While I was excited at the prospect of touring Vietnam with good friends, I felt anxiously responsible to ascertain that everything must be well organized and everyone satisfied. This is why I am so very, very glad to have found Impress Travel. Mr. Mark responded quickly to all my inquiries, customized a wonderful trip according to the group's preferences, tirelessly worked out every detail for our 7-day trip, all at a reasonable price. Our guide, Trung, is knowledgeable, helpful, quick to respond to any need, and well-loved by everyone in the group. All my friends found this a marvelous trip, filled with beautiful memories, very much to my delight and relief!
Mr Tommy, on behalf of our group, we thank you for your efforts in putting together such a memorable vacation and experience of Sapa, overnight train, Halong Bay, Hanoi + Bai Dinh, your tour guides are so knowledgeable, passionate + helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we will certainly recommend your tour agency to our friends and share our experiences in social media.
Thumbs up, best regards,
David
It was amazing place to visit in the north of vietnam , we really enjoy all the trip especially their foods , culture, beautiful view and so on.
Accommodations were good especially Thang Long Espana Hotel (the Hotel Management automated upgraded us to VIP rooms.Is really unexpected). Overalled tours n places visited very well but only local guides r not good organizing the itineraries. Especially at Sapa Lao Cai and Cat Cat Villages walking tours push to the same day about 8hours for 7km (which is on 1st&2nd days arrival) so tiring. Lunch not good enough 4 so many hours of walking. In Danang Bana Hill the local guide shd arrange 2 visit Bana Hill 1st n not last coz' spend a short time n not nice photos taken due to rain (went in morning time no rain).
Overall tours, hotels, transportation, prices are strongly recommended. Especially Daniel Dang Impress Travel for welcoming and bye-bye wishes.
Daniel Dang tks from 8 of us having a wonderful time n memorable trip for 8D7N Sapa, Hanoi, Danang with Impress Travel. Meet u all again.
We are family of 6 from Singapore and Malaysia joining Hanoi Impress Travel on 30 October-04 November 2019. We are really impressed with the company and tour guides with their professionalism and well organised arrangement. Lily is our guide for Hanoi, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh. She is excellent and very informative. She even taking care of us until late night. We walk us from Old Quarters to the hotel and brought us to try the famous road side foods. She even helped us to pay for our order to avoid overcharge by the stall. Another guide, David BK (Swan Cruise) brought us to Halong Bay cruise. He is excellent and humorous. He handles everything throughout the trip. He served meals for guests on the cruise, organised happy hour, guiding us for Kayaking, teaching Taiji and cooking class on cruise. The cruise ship is ok and the hotel in Hanoi-Adamas Hotel is small but new and clean with reasonable ok breakfast. Anyway thank you for the wonderful arrangement.
We booked a 8 day private tour package for 9 persons for Northern and Central Vietnam . We experienced great and very professional service from the Impress travel team. Tommy was very easy to contact and accommodated our requests.
All the tour guides were very good, spoke good English, friendly and patient. All the vehicles were very clean , spacious enough for our group of 6 adults and 3 children. The drivers were extremely safe and ontime.
Meals were served in clean restaurants.
Overall we had a good holiday .Thank you Tommy and Impress travel for a great experience.
We booked package for 9 persons in Hanoi and i was experienced great service during my stay! the PIC (Mr. Mark) was very pleasant and so easily to contact, i was communicated so easily for trip preparation..the tour guide for Trang An was good, Mr Hiep was helped us very well, and he was so patient on witing us shopping! Thank you Hiep!!
during in Hanoi we were stayed in great hotel with nice service also, and during in Halong Bay, they also choosen the best cruise for us! Swan cruise and also the Mr Cong was great!! thank you!!
for transporation, the car was good and driver are pleasant, but only a little bit communication since the driver less good in english. but overall great!!
all the choosen food for lunch and dinner was delicious
Thank you so much Impress travel
Impress Travels has been very helpful in making our vietnam travel amazing. We were a bunch of 7 friends wanting to go on a budget trip covering most locations. Hence, this subjected to a lot of changes during our discussion with the tour guide Daniel.
However, he has been patient enough in hearing out our needs - be it itienary , hotel bookings or even the mode of payment.
They really understand your needs. And needless to say our experience was amazing. All of this support and help has really made our vietnam trip the most memorable as far ❤️
I was searching for a reliable travel agent and come across Impress Travel and the many reviews of them. I booked 5D/4N, Hanoi-Trang An-Halong Bay private trip for a party of 6. I communicated with Mr Daniel Dang throughout the time until the day we arrived. Mr Daniel is very patient, helpful, and accommodating to our requirements despite many changes made to the itinerary. The price is very reasonable unlike other travel agents.
Our tour guide, Lily was very friendly and efficientknowledgeable and speak good English.
Highly recommend “Trang An Boat Tour”. The caves was spectacular and beautifully.
2D/1N Halong Bay – Swan Cruise was awesome with amazing view of the cave. Our guide Mr David was hilarious, helpful, accommodating, and everything was well organized. Beside the normal
activities of kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, culinary lesson, we are indeed very very fortunate to have
the chance to celebrate the “Mooncake Festival” while cruising and admiring the full moon.
Spread of mooncake, dessert, sweet snack, fruits, cocktail, beer and mini dragon dance complete the celebration. Tourists from all over the world party all night long.
Although we paid for a 3-star package, the hotel (Thang Long Espana Hotel), meals and transport provided were also above average. Our gang have a very enjoyable and memorable trip in Hanoi.
Impress Travel really impressed us with their service and will engage their service in future.
P/S:- Don’t worry, Impress Travel CAN be trusted.
Hanoi – Duong Lam - Halong Bay – Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho – Phu Quoc Island - Ho Chi Minh city.
It is worth talking about details, say what you want to see, watch the hotels, indicate which rooms you want, the office will organize everything for you. I highly recommend!
The whole trip was arranged with the active help of Mr. Daniel Dang.
Thanks to Mr Tommy and staff for putting together an active and interesting tour in all 3 countries. In every city or town we had we met by very nice, friendly and knowledgeable guides. We went in June which was HOT HOT HOT and were always so happy to have an air conditioned vehicle with cold water waiting for us. We traveled by planes, trains, automobiles and boats and all were fabulously coordinated by Mr Tommy without fail. The selection of sites helped us enjoy so many aspects of all 3 countries!
