Series: the slow road North - Per aspera ad astra
16 km, 700 m of elevation gain and tropical heat enough to scare off even the leeches!
Day 11 really put us to the test, but the reward was well worth it: giant fan palms, the camaraderie of a ‘New House Festival’ and the raw majesty of the Dong Van karst plateau. When the body sweats, it is the soul that takes notes.


 

Series: the slow road north
Day 10 of "The Slow Road North" teaches us that true discovery requires getting a little wet. From a misty, rain-soaked descent to the heart of the Tày community, we walk through golden rice fields and share a profound, humble moment with an 87-year-old elder. A beautiful reminder that to truly know a culture, we must leave our shoes (and our preconceptions) at the door.
 

Series: the slow road north
From the mesmerizing chants of local shamans in Thông Nguyên to the healing warmth of a traditional Dao medicinal bath, experience what it truly feels like to touch paradise on earth and reconnect with your roots.
 

Take the test (No headaches included)
Humanity invented the sole, then the pedal, then the battery. And yet, on certain mornings in Vietnam, the same question returns: in the Northern highlands, do I walk, or do I roll? This test does not judge. It illuminates. Without headaches. Promise.
 

Series: the slow road North
Two extraordinary days in remote Northern Vietnam where life takes the lead: from humble Nùng homes and spontaneous hospitality to treacherous mountain roads. Discover the real heroes of Vietnam - children with quiet dignity, guides who changed their fate through study, and drivers who navigate the impossible with calm. A journey about letting go and letting life happen.
 

Series: the slow road North
Today, we slowed our pace to take a closer look around. Far from the beaten track in Sapa, amidst the sweltering heat and ever-present smiles, this sixth day reminded us of something obvious: love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a daily gesture. Sharing a bowl of noodles, a paper kite, an exchanged glance in 40-degree heat. Welcome to the day of the heart.
 

Series: the slow road north
Between the disinterested smiles of Ta Van and the outstretched hands of the Dao vendors, between a market selling traditional remedies and a labyrinthine cave, this fifth day taught us one thing: to understand Vietnam is to accept that every piece of the puzzle changes shape depending on the light. Welcome to a day of contrasts and intimate revelations.
 

Series: The slow road North
Sa Pa is calling us. Everyone knows Sapa, but today it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the contrast: the genuine smile of an anonymous village set against the hustle and bustle of a tourist market. An unexpected lesson: fewer crowds, more humanity.
Welcome to a day of paradoxes.

Series: The slow road North
After two days of moving through villages and mountains, today the journey slows to the rhythm. Fifteen kilometers across Mu Cang Chai’s terraced landscapes, and suddenly the goal shifts: it’s no longer just about covering ground. It’s about stopping. Watching. Trying to capture something that refuses to be held: light, color, and the quiet dignity of daily labor.
 

Series: the slow road north
“This is the Vietnam we came to see,” says Giuseppe mid-morning, standing amidst the green tea slopes, breathing in deeply the warm hospitality, the colourful Thai culture and the breathtaking views of the terraced rice fields.
Today, we’ve taken a giant leap forward.