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20th Apr 2024 - 30th Apr 2024
11 days/Vietnam /Moderate to Challenging
Supporters of Dorothy House will pass through remote villages and stay at different local stilt house accommodation to give you an authentic insight into the lifestyle of the ethnic minority people who live in the area.
Time will also be spent in the Mai Chau region of Vietnam working at a local community project. The specific tasks will be determined closer to the time of departure, depending on the most urgent need in the local area at the time but are likely to include painting, decorating, gardening and other hands-on refurbishment type tasks.
A moderate to challenging trip. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days, over varying and sometimes challenging terrain. You will cover approximately 15-20km per day which will take around 6-7 hours. The community project activities will also be physically demanding.
You will be accompanied by professional English-speaking local guides and support staff who have an excellent knowledge of hiking and culture in the region and are first-aid trained. You will also be accompanied by an excellent support team at the community project, and a Different Travel Company tour manager who together will support you and make your challenge memorable.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but in general it is mostly flat and on established routes through villages and jungle, and occasionally along short sections of road. There are some steep sections to contend with but your guides will support you all the way. The route offers an interesting variety of scenery as you pass through rice terraces, cross shallow rivers, ascend into cloudy forests and enter remote villages. Underfoot the terrain will vary each day but may be quite stony, on roads, grass, over large natural limestone slabs, and depending on the weather, potentially very muddy trails. The itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and, particularly, rainfall.
Temperatures are closely linked with the weather conditions but you can expect temperatures to be around 30°C during the day, dropping down to 19°C at night. Weather conditions will vary but in general you will experience hot but cloudy days with high humidity and occasional short rain downpours. It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures so you should ensure you have the correct kit, such as a waterproof dry bag for inside your daypack and a lightweight poncho to keep you dry but cool when walking. When the sun comes out it can feel very hot and be very bright so wearing sunglasses and a hat, and keeping well hydrated is crucial.
The food served throughout the trip will be traditional Vietnamese with some Western dishes too. The food is freshly prepared and plentiful. Vietnamese food isn’t spicy but if you like your food with a kick, chilli or chilli sauce is often available if you ask. You will have breakfast and dinner at the stilt house you are staying in. Lunch will be eaten at local homes along the way. Typical dishes include; Breakfast: Pancakes, fruit, coffee, bread, eggs, omelette, fruit fritters. Lunch: Fried noodles with vegetables and/or egg, bread rolls. Dinner: Rice, fried chicken, meat stir fry, chips, spring rolls, omelette, eggs, fish, vegetable dishes, noodles, fresh fruit.
There are shower facilities located across the courtyard next to the main stilt house. There may not be hot water and the quality of the facilities will vary so please do not expect hotel standards. We recommend that you take quick showers, turning off the water when lathering up, so warm water can be shared. You should also bring a small pack of baby wipes to freshen up during the trek day.
Toilet facilities at each village will vary but you can expect Asian-style squat toilets, and possibly an additional Western sit-down toilet. Some toilets have a flush but some may only be supplied with bucket of water to flush. Toilet paper is not usually provided so you should bring your own which must only be put into the bins provided. Sewer pipes are not large enough to cope with toilet paper so if you attempt to flush it, you are likely to block the pipes and make the facilities unusable for everyone.
During the trek you will need to pack up any toilet paper you use to dispose of properly at the village. NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter on the trail.
You must be aged at least 18 to participate unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are aged 16 or 17 years old if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian–please contact us for advice. There is no upper age limit. An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
You are strongly advised to train to a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s walk. The distances covered may not be great but you must be prepared for, and be capable of, trekking for many hours a day on steep, rough terrain while carrying a daypack of around 6-8kg in weight. If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be unnecessarily challenging and will hinder your experience, and the experience of your teammates.
The trek is graded moderate to challenging. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days, over varying and sometimes challenging terrain. You will cover approximately 15-20km per day which will take around 6-7 hours.
The tour manager for this trip is
London – Hanoi
Depart London for an overnight flight to Hanoi.
Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to a central hotel. You will have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in and explore independently. This evening you will gather together for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Hotel
Hanoi – Mai Chau
After breakfast we depart Hanoi for Mai Chau (approx. 4.5 hours), the village and project site where you are staying is a further 25km from Mai Chau town and is our base for the next two nights. This afternoon we will have an introduction to the community project! The local hospital in Mai Chau has a small palliative care unit where we will work alongside the local team to improve facilities. Tasks could include activities such as repainting, gardening, decorating and other hands-on refurbishment type tasks. After completing the day’s tasks we will enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night in a local guesthouse.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Guesthouse
Mai Chau
Today we will spend the whole day at the project, celebrating our achievements this evening with the villagers!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Guesthouse
Mai Chau – Hang Village
After breakfast we depart for a short, scenic drive to Pu Luong Natural Reserve, where we start our trek.  Passing through local villages and farms, over undulating terrain, we  stop for the night in Hang Village, home to a Thai ethnic minority. We spend the night with local Thai families in their traditional stilted houses, and have the chance to stroll around the village before dinner.
Trek: Approx. 6 hours / easy terrain.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Traditional stilt house
Hang Village – Kho Muong
Today we will trek for around 6 hours on a path which runs mostly through jungle. We make a lunch stop in a small village along the way before setting off again this afternoon passing several Thai villages. Tonight we will stay in Kho Muong village, a Muong minority village.
Trek: Approx. 6 hours; slightly uphill, rocky path
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Traditional stilt house
Kho Muong – Cao Hoong
The trek is a little harder day today, as we trek uphill into the Pù Luông range, passing through a number of small hamlets and minority villages en route. After 3 hours of gentle ascent, we will then descend to the village of Cao Hoong, a village of Thai ethnic minority people.
Trek: Approx. 6 hours, gentle uphill trail and a gradual descent.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Local homes
Cao Hoong – Cao
Today’s trek through the verdant countryside will take around 6 hours. The trek path runs uphill and downhill through forest, rice terraces and scenic villages. On the trek we are likely to see farmers working on rice paddies and children going to school. We spend the night in the Thai village of Cao.
Trek: Approx. 5 hours, undulating terrain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Traditional stilt house
Cao – Pho Doan – Hanoi
It is an approximate 2 hour trek this morning to Pho Doan, where we will visit the local market. Continuing along the Ma River, we will then be able to enjoy lovely views of the river, paddies and a waterwheel. After a further 2 hours we will be picked up and transferred to Hanoi, in time to enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner.
Trek: Approx. 4 hours, long descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Hotel
Hanoi
Today is free for you to explore Hanoi at leisure before your indirect overnight flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Hanoi – London
Arrive back to London.
N.B. This itinerary has been prepared in advance so while we do not anticipate changes, this itinerary may be subject to alteration due to flight schedules, hotel availability and other factors outside our control. During the trip itself the itinerary will depend on the group ability, weather and the daily circumstances. Any changes in the itinerary will be made in the interest of group safety and enjoyment. In-country, your guide and tour manager will have the final say in the interest of the health and safety of the group.
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Registration fee: £360
and then either…
Sponsorship: £3,900
or
Flexi: £1,950 trip costs* and fundraise at least £1,950 for Dorothy House
There is a minimum sponsorship amount for the tour that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs* (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
*Please note trip costs are based on the final group size and are subject to change.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
