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Vietnam Trek for Hospiscare 2028

4th Nov 2028 - 13th Nov 2028

10 days/Vietnam /Moderate to Challenging

Overview

Trip Summary | Vietnam Trek for Hospiscare 2028

Supporters of Hospiscare 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.

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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.

There are shower facilities located away from 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 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.

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.

Visit here to find the kit list relevant to this trip.

Itinerary

Vietnam Trek for Hospiscare 2028

Day 1 (Saturday 4 November 2028)

London – Hanoi
Depart London for an indirect overnight flight to Hanoi.

Day 2 (Sunday 5 Novemeber 2028)

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

Day 3 (Monday 6 November 2028)

Hanoi to 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! We will work alongside the local team to improve facilities at a health clinic or palliative care centre. 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: Hotel

Day 4 (Tuesday 7 November 2028)

Mai Chau
Today we will spend the whole day at the project. Our work is likely to involve painting, decorating or gardening, depending on their needs closer to the time. This evening we will celebrate our achievements with the villagers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Hotel

Day 5 (Wednesday 8 November 2028)

Mai Chau  – Hang Village
After completing your project tasks this morning, and after lunch, you will say farewell before we change into our trekking gear ready for the next part of the challenge. We drive an hours into the Mai Chau national reserve where we start trekking. Today is a gentle 4-hour trek to Hang Village, home to a Thai ethnic minority where 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

Day 6 (Thursday 9 November 2028)

Hang Village to Kho Muong
Today we will trek for around 6 hours on a rocky 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

Day 7 (Friday 10 November 2028)

Kho Muong – Cao Hoong
The trek is a little harder day today, as we trek uphill into the Pù Luông range, passing through several 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

Day 8 (Saturday 11 November 2028)

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

Day 9 (Sunday 1 March 2026)

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

Day 10 (Monday 13 – Tueday 14 November 2028)

Hanoi – London
Today is free for you to explore Hanoi at leisure before your indirect overnight flight home.
Meals: Breakfast

Notes: The day-to-day program is subject to weather, general conditions and the progress of the group. While we do not anticipate any changes to the itinerary, we cannot be held responsible for changes made due to unexpected circumstances. Ultimately, the safety and health of the group takes priority in all circumstances.

Costs & How to pay

Registration fee: £395 and then either…

Sponsorship: Fundraise £4,600 for Hospiscare

or

Self-funded: Pay £2,300 trip costs* and £2,300 sponsorship

or 

Flexi: Minimum £1,000 trip costs* and £3,600 sponsorship 

SPONSORSHIP

This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation Hospiscare. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.

  • A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.
  • You must then fundraise a minimum of £4,600, to be paid to the charity.
  • 80% of the minimum sponsorship (£3,680) must be paid to the charity by 11 August 2028.
  • The remaining 20% (£920) must be paid by the date of departure.
  • The amount the charity receives is at least 50% of the minimum sponsorship total.

SELF-FUNDED

This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves.

  • A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.
  • Your trip cost balance of £2,300 is payable to Different Travel by 11 August 2028. This can be paid in instalments.
  • You must also fundraise a minimum of £2,300 for Hospiscare.
  • 80% of the minimum sponsorship (£1,840) must be paid to the charity by 11 August 2028.
  • The remaining 20% (£460) must be paid by the date of departure.
  • Any fundraising cannot be used to pay for your trip costs.

FLEXI

This option is for those who choose to pay some of the trip costs (accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.

  • A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.
  • You are then asked to pay at least £1,000 towards your trip costs to Different Travel by 11 August 2028.
  • You must also fundraise a minimum of £3,600 for Hospiscare.
  • 80% of the minimum sponsorship must be paid to the charity by 11 August 2028.
  • The remaining 20% must be paid by the date of departure.

*NB the final trip costs are based on the overall group size and are subject to change.

What's included

  • Return flights from London to Hanoi
  • Airport taxes and charges
  • Local transfers and transport in Vietnam
  • Accommodation throughout as per itinerary (twin/triple share in hotels, dormitory style during trek)
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • English-speaking local guides and support crew
  • Project materials and co-ordination
  • Different Travel UK tour manager

What's not included

  • Any necessary vaccinations
  • Spending money (tips, drinks, souvenirs)
  • Transport to/from UK airports
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal trek kit
  • Visa (if required)

Have a question?

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.