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Vietnam & China: Hanoi to Kunming by Rail

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: CBSY
Overview
Destination:
China, 
Vietnam, 
Start:Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish:Kunming, China
Duration:11 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
March 2026 - October 2026
Explore rice terraces, alpine cities, Tibetan towns and plunging canyons on this 11-day adventure. Start in Hanoi’s alleyways slurping bowls of pho, then get to know H’mong culture on a hike through Sapa’s misty rice fields. After crossing into China, travel through the wrinkled peaks of the Hengduan Mountains on a bullet train to Shangri-La to make yak butter tea with a Tibetan family, visit a Buddhist monastery and spin one of the world’s largest prayer wheels. Hear the thunderous flow of the Jinsha River in Tiger Leaping Gorge, follow the footsteps of tea traders and learn how to write ancient Naxi Dongba characters. Wrap up in Kunming, AKA the City of Eternal Spring.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent if you are interested.
2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase our train tickets.
3. You will have tour leaders from Vietnam and China accompany you in respective countries and you'll be unaccompanied for the border crossing.
4. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps – Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. Please read ‘money matters’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.
5. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps. Please check the Essential Trip Information for more details. 

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Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner.
  • Transport: Private Vehicle, High Speed Train.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights), Guesthouse (1 night).
  • Sapa - Sapa Church.
  • Sapa - Sunset Walking Tour.
  • Sapa - Street Food BBQ Dinner.
  • Sapa - Rice terrace hike.
  • Shangri-La - Dukezong Old Town walking tour.
  • Shangri-La - Ganden Sumtseling Monastery.
  • Shangri-La - Tibetan family with lunch.
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge - Guided trek (X2).
  • Lijiang - Old town walking tour.
  • Lijiang - Naxi family visit and Dongba calligraphy writing.
  • LIjiang - Baisha old town visit.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel to meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in Vietnam's storied capital. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures to sample local street eats from markets and food carts, take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake or explore the Old Quarter lined with shops, imperial temples and French architecture. This evening, maybe get to know your leader and group over dinner.
Day 2: Sapa
After breakfast, take a private transfer to Sapa – a misty mountain town on the slopes of the Muong Hoa Valley near the Chinese border. Take some time to relax at your hotel before regrouping for a sunset walk around the town with your local leader. Along the way, visit Sapa Church – built by French colonisers in the early 20th century and seen as a symbol of the town – and learn how the square in front of it has become a cultural hub and gathering place for the ethnic groups in the area. Then, check out the stalls at the night market and dig into a feast of grilled meats, seafood and corn at a local barbecue.
Day 3: Sapa
Take a private vehicle to Tan Van Village this morning and lace up your walking shoes for a day hike through Sapa’s iconic rice terraces. With crisp air, paddies that cascade down the hillsides and the chance to meet traditional hilltribe villagers, you’ll soon see why this has become a quintessential image of Vietnam. Before heading back to Sapa town, meet a local H’mong family in their home and share a tasty home-cooked lunch. You’ll arrive back at your hotel in the mid-afternoon, where the rest of the day is free to enjoy a well-deserved rest. For dinner, maybe check out one of the town's many restaurants with your group.
Day 4: Border crossing/Kunming
Today it’s time to hit the road to Lao Cai where you'll cross the border into Hekou, China. It's a short drive to the immigration office where you'll say goodbye to your Vietnam leader. You'll clear immigration by yourselves without your leader, and it could take some time, so a bit of patience can go a long way. Say ni hao (hello) to your new China leader who'll meet you once you cross the border, then jump on a private bus to Honghe City where you’ll board your first high-speed train to Kunming – the capital of the Yunnan province. Check into your hotel late afternoon before heading out for an orientation walk. For dinner, you could try over-the-bridge rice noodles – a signature Yunnan dish.
Day 5: Shangri-La City (3200m)
This morning, take a bullet train from Kunming to Shangri-La – an alpine city in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains. The journey is long, but the views (especially on a clear day) of snow-capped peaks, valleys and lakes make it worth it. Then, take a private vehicle to your hotel and join your leader for a walking tour of Dukezong Ancient Town – one of the largest and best-preserved Tibetan settlements in China that dates back to the 7th century. Most of the town was destroyed by fire in 2014, but immense effort has gone into restoring the original architecture – including the 21-m-tall prayer wheel, which is the largest in China and takes at least 10 people to turn. Take your time to wander the cobbled lanes and watch artists create intricate thangka paintings. The square comes alive in the evening with traditional music and line dancing – everyone’s welcome, so feel free to join in!
Day 6: Shangri-La City
Today you'll take a private vehicle to the outskirts of Shangri-La to visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery – the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province. Wander halls decorated with elaborate frescoes depicting ancient Buddhist tales, take in the views of the surrounding countryside and enjoy the serenity of the nearby Lamuyangcuo Lake. Then, return to the city where you’ll be welcomed into the home of a local Tibetan family. Learn how to make traditional yak butter tea and share a home-cooked lunch. You’ll also see the family’s scripture or shrine room – a sacred and essential space in Tibetan households used for prayer, meditation and rituals. The rest of the day is free to relax.
Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge
Take a private transfer this morning to Tiger Leaping Gorge – a dramatic canyon on the Jinsha River, where legend says a tiger escaped poachers by leaping across the water. Meet your local guide here to begin your hike through the gorge. This is one of the world’s deepest river canyons, with the Jade Dragon and Haba Mountains rising nearly 3800 m above the riverbanks. This trail takes you deep into the heart of it, along narrow switchbacks and cliffside paths with views of the surrounding peaks. Enjoy a well-earned rest this evening at a guesthouse overlooking Jade Garden Snow Mountain. Make sure your camera is charged as the sunsets here on a clear evening are gorgeous! Get a good night’s sleep, as another big day on the trail awaits tomorrow.
Day 8: Tiger Leaping Gorge/Lijiang
Continue hiking through the gorge in the shadows of the mountains. The trail is mostly downhill today, taking you past waterfalls and giant boulders. After finishing the hike, take a private vehicle to Lijiang – a UNESCO World Heritage city home to the Naxi people and several other ethnic groups. Freshen up in your hotel, then join your leader for an orientation walk in Old Town to learn about the city’s role in the Tea Horse Road, an ancient trading route from the seventh to the 20th centuries. Explore the maze of cobbled alleys, canals and traditional Naxi wooden houses. This evening, perhaps head out for dinner with your group and try some traditional Lijiang dishes – how about steam pot chicken or chickpea jelly?
Day 9: Lijiang
Take a private vehicle this morning to Baisha Old Town on the outskirts of Lijiang. The streets of this sleepy Naxi town are lined with traditional architecture, murals, craft shops and cafes. After walking around, visit a local Naxi family in their home for a Dongba calligraphy class. Dating back to the 13th century, Dongba uses around 1000 pictographic glyphs to represent objects, actions or ideas, and is said to be one of the world's last living pictographic scripts. You have free time for the rest of the day. If you want to explore more, perhaps join an optional bike ride around Lashihai Lake.
Day 10: Kunming
Today you'll take a train back to Kunming, arriving in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. There's plenty to do in Kunming – nicknamed ‘Spring City’ thanks to its mild climate, natural beauty and laidback vibe. Explore manicured gardens and watch locals practising tai chi in Green Lake Park, learn about Yunnan’s ethnic groups at the Village of Ethnic Culture or rub shoulders with university students along Wenlin Street. This evening, maybe head out with your leader and group for an optional farewell dinner and raise a toast to a great adventure!
Day 11: Kunming
With no activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. You’re free to leave any time after check-out. If you’d like to extend your stay in Kunming, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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