Your journey begins with curiosity; where it leads is entirely up to you.
Choose your way through the mountains: walk, ride, create or simply sit and listen.
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Feel it.
Lace up your boots and leave the crowds behind. Our treks lead you deep into the quiet folds of northern Vietnam, where forest paths weave through bamboo groves, terraced rice fields and hillside hamlets untouched by mass tourism. Whether you’re out for half a day or settling into a multi-day journey, each route is personal and off the beaten track. Along the way, you’ll stay in traditional Hmong or Dao homes, share meals by the fire and wake to mist drifting over the valleys. These are not just hikes through beautiful landscapes; they are slow, meaningful movements through living culture.
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Ride it.
Climb onto the back of a bike or take the handlebars yourself; either way, there’s no better way to feel the land than out on the open road. Our motorbike journeys carry you through the lesser-seen side of Northern Vietnam: sweeping highland passes, rural backroads, rice terraces and villages. You’ll stop for meals with local families, wander through remote villages and ride through places that never make it onto maps. Whether you choose a short loop or a week-long adventure, the journey unfolds through connection, freedom and the ever-changing rhythm of the road.
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Design it.
Sit beside a local artisan, feel the weight of a needle in your hand, and begin to understand how cloth carries story. In our textile workshops, you’ll learn from Dao and Hmong women who still practise batik, indigo dyeing and hand embroidery using techniques passed down through generations. These are not simply crafts; they are cultural archives, patterns drawn from memory and meaning. Whether you come for a few hours or spend the whole day stitching, this is a chance to slow down, to focus your hands, and to witness a creative tradition that is very much alive.
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Experience It.
Step gently into everyday life here in the mountains. Our cultural experiences aren’t tours; they’re exchanges, shaped by friendship and trust. You might spend the day planting rice in a hillside field, picking wild herbs for traditional medicinal baths, learning to cook over an open fire, or sharing in a community ritual. These moments aren’t polished or posed. They’re personal, sometimes surprising, and always rooted in real life. You’ll leave with more than just memories; you’ll carry new ways of seeing, new flavours, and a deeper sense of place and northern Vietnamese tribal culture.
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Taste It.
Get ready to taste the mountains. Food with ETHOS isn’t just about what’s on the plate; it’s about where it comes from, who prepared it, and the stories behind every dish. Wander through fragrant street markets and smoky roadside grills. Sample rainbow trout fresh rolls, ant egg omelettes, or frogs with ‘long legs’, grilled over hot coals. You might sip wild tea with a Hmong family beside their garden or help gather herbs for a traditional meal cooked over fire. Whether you’re exploring street food or stepping into a home kitchen, every bite connects you to a deeper understanding of culture, community and place.
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Share It.
Travelling with family is about more than seeing the sights; it’s about creating moments of connection that linger long after the journey ends. Our family experiences are designed to be gentle, engaging and full of heart. From short, child-friendly walks through rice fields to immersive homestays where kids and adults alike can learn to cook, craft or simply play, each day offers a chance to slow down and share something real. These are experiences grounded in community, rich with culture and made for memory-making, together.
Click here to learn more about the incredible ethnic diversity of Vietnam as well as some of the cultures ETHOS work together with in the Northern Provinces.
Top Tips for Travelling with ETHOS
Travel light. A sturdy backpack is practical, especially when navigating steep hills and narrow village paths. For homestays and treks, a 10–15 litre backpack works well for essentials. If you join a day trek, you are welcome to leave your main luggage safely at our office.
Good footwear is essential. Trekking shoes with reliable grip will keep you safe on muddy or uneven trails. Clothing should be light, breathable and ideally water resistant, as Sapa’s weather often shifts quickly between sun, mist and rain.
Always bring layers. Even in summer the evenings can feel cool, and in winter temperatures drop sharply. Layers allow you to adjust easily when trekking uphill or resting in the shade.
Homestays are at the heart of an ETHOS experience. They allow you to step beyond the town and into the rhythm of everyday village life, sharing meals, stories and laughter with families who have lived here for generations.
Do not expect luxury. Rooms are simple, mattresses are firm and there is no heating or air conditioning. Showers and toilets are proper but basic. What you will find instead is warmth, generosity and a genuine welcome.
If travelling in winter, pack extra clothing as evenings can be very cold. A head torch is also a good idea, as village nights are dark and electricity can be unreliable. From spring through autumn, the weather is cool and comfortable, perfect for sleeping after a day of trekking.
3. Support Local Craftswomen
Many Hmong and Dao women make beautiful hand-embroidered textiles. These are not mass-produced souvenirs but pieces of cultural heritage, created using skills passed down for generations. Each item can take many days of labour and represents a vital source of income for families.
There is never any obligation to buy, but choosing to support these artisans means you are directly contributing to community resilience. Every purchase helps women gain greater independence and ensures that traditional knowledge is valued in a modern world.
4. Choose a Private Guide
Large group tours from Hanoi often follow the same crowded routes and miss the deeper connections that make Sapa truly memorable. With ETHOS, a private guide means more than just quiet trails. It means walking at your own pace, asking questions freely, and hearing personal stories that bring the mountains to life.
Our guides are local women who grew up in these villages. They are not only companions on the path but cultural interpreters who help you understand the land, the people and the challenges they face today. This is what transforms a trek into an experience of real exchange and learning.
Click here for our Do’s and Don’ts in Vietnam: Ethical Travel Guide for Respectful Cultural Experiences.
