Mountain escape

Nestled up in the mountains near the Chinese border, Sapa was built by the French almost a hundred years ago, and is now a favourite amongst Hanoians escaping the summer heat, cultural enthusiasts and climbers. Sapa lies at the foot of Mt Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3143m. Surrounding valleys sport terrace-farmed rice paddies, waddling buffalo and pigs and ethnic villages. The two largest of the local ethnic minorities are the H’mong and Dzao peoples, whose traditional dress and culture transports you back to a time seemingly forgotten by the rest of Vietnam.


Women wearing brightly coloured woven head dresses and clothing and carrying babies strapped to their backs can be seen all over town, eclectic and picturesque. Visiting the local markets, we bought masses of hand woven cushion covers and throw rugs, lamenting and bemoaning prices in basic Vietnamese while the shop keepers laughed at our accents and promised us discounts if we buy more.

Even in summer, the weather is much cooler than Hanoi and the air crisp and clean. Sudden fog and rain are not uncommon though, as we found out, after renting motorbikes and driving up muddy roads and sheer cliff faces to Tram Ton mountain pass near Lao Cai. Just as we got to the pass, anticipating the promise of spectacular views, the road disappeared into dense fog. After several cups of local tea from a solitary tea stand, we climbed back on the bikes and bumped our way back down to Sapa.

Boating the Nam Ou, Northern Laos

Not many travellers boat all the way down from Hat Xa, near Phongsali to Laos’ former Royal capital, Luang Prabang, as it’s a three day journey, but I decided to opt for the river over the road for a glimpse into riverine life.

In the early morning, cloud was glued to the hilltops; the sun didn’t burn through for several hours. Almost immediately after leaving Hat Xa, mini rapids in the sludge-green river buffeted our long boat. Out of the rapids, the river was a glassy stillness and when the motor cut, birds could be heard in the bamboo thatch. Lining the route were other long boats tethered on sandbanks sheltered by clutches of bamboo trunks leaning over the water.

Small, ragged sandy islands carpeted in clumps of scrappy bush moulded by the flow of the river blocked the boat’s path frequently. The boat driver would sway this way and that as islands normally indicated rapids and he searched for the best route through. The boat’s nose would tip down as we gravitated towards the eddies and the engine would grind and gnaw as we upped the speed to navigate the torrents. Slapping against the swirls, we would occasionally be sprayed and the boat would fill with giggles.

We passed lapwings, buffalo gingerly making their way along thin wedges of sandbanks, dozens of fishing net poles and rice huts perched on impossibly steep slopes.

At Houm village, of Tai Lue, Lao and Phu Noi ethnic minority, where we stopped for a visit, a local woman smoked a fat stub of cigarette as we watched cotton yarn being collected.

Muang Khua, the first major stop on the river, is a collection of higgledy piggledy shacks and bamboo landings piled up on one side overlooking the pull-ferry facing the road to Vietnam.

Time for a Beer Lao watching the river traffic which was what everyone else in town was doing!

Elephant Festival in Remote Laos February 2010

Get truly off the beaten track in Laos into the heart of the local community and raise money for a good cause!

The Elephant Festival (http://festival.elefantasia.org/ ) will be happening again in Sayaboury, a remote region in North West Laos in mid February 2010.

Last year a total of 60 elephants turned out for the festival and 80,000 people! It was a huge, two-day celebration that included logging demonstrations, markets, ceremonies and river crossings.

The Elephant Festival was created by the same team that help rescue elephants from the logging industry, ElefantAsia.

Sayaboury Provincial authorities believe the festival raised approximately two million dollars last year through handicraft, accommodation, transport and food and drink sales. That’s a huge amount for one of Laos’ most rural and poorest districts.

Buffalo Tours recommends you book now as accommodation in this area is limited. Email info@buffalotours.com for a customized itinerary.

Angkor Wat International Half Day Marathon

The Angkor Wat International Half Day Marathon will be held on 6th December 2009.

It consists of an International Half Marathon for Men and Women over 16 and a 10km Road Race Men and Women over 13.

A large part of these fees to enter will be contributed to charity activities managed by the NGO Hearts of Gold. The NGO utilizes the donation for supporting 1) sporting for disabled people, 2) upbringing youth, 3) project for implementing the P.E. National Curriculum and the Teacher's Manuals for Primary schools in Cambodia. For more information, on the NGO: http://www.hofg.org/en/about/index.shtml

Start training now! For a customized package in Cambodia contact info@buffalotours.com

World Nomads Travel Scholarship with Buffalo Tours

Go on assignment to Vietnam and have your video documentary broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure!
Mai Chau Valley, Vietnam Medical Trek
Applications close: July 5, 2009

Kick start your documentary career by going on assignment deep into the Mai Chau Valley with documentary producer Trent O'donnell (who filmed the Positive Footprints screened on Nat Geo Adventure Channel). Trekking with a team of 20 volunteer doctors who will be providing vital medical services to remote hill tribes, you will create your own short video documentary.
The lucky scholarship recipient will have their documentary considered for broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure! That's right - the holy grail that documentary makers work their whole lives to achieve, could be yours now!

Your assignment brief
* We'll fly you to Vietnam from your country of residence. You will join a Buffalo Tours trek with a team of volunteer doctors deep into the picturesque Mai Chau Valley. Their mission is to set up temporary health clinics to provide vital medical services to remote hill tribes, many of whom have never seen a Doctor before. Your mission is to tell their story.
* You need to be available between August 22 and September 2, 2009 to participate on the Medical Trek. * Under the mentorship of documentary film-maker Trent O'donnell you will shoot a video documentary about the Medical Trek.
* You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this plus pictures you've taken to your World Nomads travel journal.
* You will edit together your 3 minute documentary and submit it to Nat Geo Adventure and World Nomads within 2 months of your return.

Assignment Location
Mai Chau is the heart of a beautiful valley that is a world away from the hustle of Hanoi, a verdant landscape of tapioca and sugar cane fields, and lush rice paddies. The stunning area is home to the ethnic White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China.

To apply go to link:
http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships/post/29785.aspx

Luxury Prince Cruise

Buffalo Tours are very proud to inform that on 01^st May, we will launch our 4^th Luxury Prince Cruise in Ha Long Bay. The Prince Junk consists of 4 double/ twin bedroom with en suite bathroom, lounge deck with dining area and a sunbathing/cocktail drinking platform. Unlike other boats, Prince’s itinerary is very interesting which takes you away from other tourist boats. With its own docking area you’ll cruise through the quieter areas of the Bay to Bai Tu Long, passing floating villages, limestone peaks and hidden caves. Meet locals in the floating villages, explore the area by kayak and awaken your soul with Tai Chi. Prince Cruise is the best choice for family, honeymooner and small group and we are glad to offer you a very good rate at US$187 per person for a 1 night package and US$320 per person for a 2 night package; including return private transfers, all meals, activities and cruise. For more information, please click here.

Off the Beaten Track, Halong Bay, gets a Thumbs Up from Down Under

We sent an Aussie journalist on our Our fantastic Off the Beaten Track Itinerary. Click here to see what they had to say about it.

12 Buffaloes Summit Mt Fansipan

On the 7th February twelve very proud Buffaloes (members of Buffalo Staff) stood on the Roof of Indochina, Mount Fanispan, 3,143 metres above sea level. It was the first time a bunch of staff had set their sights on this challenge and it was made ‘oh so much harder’ by choosing the hardest route and doing it in a reduced time of 2.5 days trekking. This is a diary extract from Abs, our Sales Manager.

‘There we stood huddled in a group but with huge smiles, Vietnam flag waving frantically in the ferocious wind and cameras poised. We had made it, in record time. Our team consisted of 11 Vietnamese staff (including our CEO), 1 Vietnamese guide and 12 Hmong porters, oh and me (English). The views were, quite frankly, gob smacking, the mountains peaking through the cloud line and the terraced valleys deep below a bright green, ready for the next rice harvesting. The last couple of days had taken their toll on all of us, trekking mostly up hill through diverse terrain from crossing rivers to scrambling up practically vertical hills, using our hands to hoist ourselves up, but we never stopped smiling (or taking photos in true Asian style!). The porters had energetically bounced past us carrying our equipment, ensuring that when we reached each camp our tents were ready, fire was blaring and the sweet smell of dinner wafted through the forest. We set camp at 2,800 metres and feasted under candlelight then tucked ourselves into our tents to sleep peacefully whilst the wind howled outside. It reminded me of being back in the UK in the winter, sitting around the fire at home, whilst outside is cold and wet.

The trip was a weekend, we all agreed that we will never forget and I would recommend to anyone with a good level of fitness. My main memories include: The Vietnamese insisting that at every corner they took a photo, its amazing we reached the top!, Telling the female staff that their favourite boy band were waiting at the top to do a private performance for them, Our CEO changing his clothes for the photo shoot on the top, when the rest of us looked like we had been dragged through a hedge backwards, the staff playing strip poker on the train on the way up (I was asleep at this time, but they have photos!!!), and of course, being on the roof of Indochina and the 2nd highest place on mainland SE Asia.

Our CEO, Mr Kien sums it up 'We have probably been the fastest Fansipan Summit Group ever for the Cat Cat Route. An incredible acheivement for this Buffalo Team that consists mostly of office ladies and men'

Follow Top Gear's Tyre Tracks in Vietnam

Being very British, always having a love for Top Gear and motobikes, especially Hamster, and living in Vietnam I was over the moon when I heard that they had done a Vietnam Top Gear Special. It was possibly my best Christmas Present! After watching it a few times, and laughing hysterically until my stomach almost packed up, I decided to put together an itinerary for other fans wanting to follow in their 'tyre tracks' through Vietnam. The response has been fantastic and it seems that good old Clarkson and his team have a strong influence on the Brits. To find out more about our 'Follow In Clarkson's Tyre Tracks' itinerary click here. Enjoy!