Things to do in

Sa Pa

Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa 6:45 AM - 7:00 AM: Pickup from your hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and depart for Sapa. 9:30 AM: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city where you will make your first stop for breakfast. 11:00 AM: Stop off at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa. 12:30 PM: Arrive at Sapa Town, where you'll see the colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao and Tay People. Here enjoy a lunch of local Vietnamese dishes. 2:30 PM: Take a short trek to the gate of Cat Cat village, home of the Black H’mong ethnic people and located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. A local guide will give you insight into daily life of the locals. Trek down to the bottom of the valley to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station. Stop to take photos before walking back uphill to meet the bus. The trek is approximately 2.5 kilometers and lasts for 2 hours. 5:00 PM: Return to Sapa Town. You'll be recommended good local restaurants for your dinner and will stay overnight in a 2, 3, 4 or 5-star hotel (depending on option booked). Day 2: Sapa – Hanoi 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Have breakfast at your hotel and prepare a light pack for trekking. You can keep your luggage at the storage at the reception. 9:00 AM: Take a Trek to Y Linh Ho through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Streams to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.  See the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain before heading to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay People. The trek takes around 3.5 hours and covers about 12 kilometers. Tour guide will make the best itinerary for the trek depending on your ability of trekking. 11:30 AM: The bus will pick you up at Ta Van Bridge to take you back to Sapa center. 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Have a rest at the hotel and have lunch, before enjoying some time to explore at your own leisure. 3:00 PM: Meet the rest of your group at the hotel to prepare for your return to Hanoi. 3:15 PM: Get back on the bus to go back to Hanoi. During the journey you will stop for a break. 9:15 PM: Arrive back at your accommodation in Hanoi.

After meeting your local guide and driver, head about 30 minutes out of Sapa Town to visit the Silver Waterfall, Love Waterfall and Tram Ton Pass. Explore the area before leaving for the traditional village of Ban Khoan. From there, begin your trek. The trek, about 4 hours and 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), takes you along mountain trails and through remote tribal villages. Enjoy amazing views of the surrounding rice paddies, and take plenty of photos as you learn about the unique cultures of the Hmong and Red Dzao people. Take a break for a picnic lunch before continuing the trek to the home of the Red Dzao tribe in Ta Phin Village. In the afternoon, meet your driver to begin the 30-minute transfer back to Sapa.

Meet your local guide and driver at your hotel in Sa Pa Town at 09:00 AM. Depart for the first tour stops, located a 30-minute drive away, visiting the Silver Waterfall, the Love Waterfall and Tram Ton Pass. After discovering this area, leave for the O Quy Ho Pass, where the trek will begin. The trek is a 10km long dirt trail through the bamboo forest of Hoang Lien National Park, offering great views of the surrounding rice paddies. Enjoy a picnic lunch at 12:30 PM, being served at a beautiful spot in the wilderness.  Continue your trek after the lunch break to Sin Chai village, where the community-based tourism in Sapa takes place. Proceed with the tour to visit the nearby village, inhabited by the Black Hmong people, one of the largest ethnic minority groups in the Sapa area. Explore some native houses to learn more about the culture, customs and handicraft skills. Take the transfer back to Sa Pa in the early afternoon. You will arrive at around 03:00 PM and will be dropped off at your hotel in Sa Pa Town.

Day 1: Hanoi to Sapa Your day will begin with pickup from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter, from where you will board your bus to depart for Sapa. You will follow the highway to Lao Cai City, where you will have your first break. At 1:00PM, you will have lunch at a local restaurant, after which you will begin trekking to Y Linh Ho through rice paddy fields and small hamlets. You will then continue trekking through villages and terraced fields to Ta Van village. Once there you will be free to communicate with the local people, and will later cook, enjoy dinner, and overnight with a local family in Ta Van. Day 2: Trekking to Giang Ta Chai and Ban Ho Village Following breakfast at your home stay, you will farewell your local family before continuing to visit the Red Dzao people of Giang Ta Chai. The Red Dao women have colorful red embroideries and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf, with some of the women having shaved off their eyebrows due to Red Zao legend. You will later continue along small paths in the rice fields, crossing the Muong Hoa River via a suspension bridge and walking onward to Supan. Next, enjoy a picnic lunch by the stream before moving on to Ban Ho village. You will eventually overnight at Ban Ho with a local Tay family, who live in houses on stilts. Day 3: Ban Ho, Sun Pa Chai, Sapa, and Hanoi You will rise early on your final day at which point you will have breakfast at your home stay. From there, you will trek 2 kilometers to a waterfall which was discovered by the French during the colonial era in Vietnam. Whilst there, you will enjoy a picnic lunch, before trekking 4 kilometers up to the main road to board your Jeep and return to Sapa. Take a shower at the hotel's bathroom and then enjoy some free time until 3:30 PM, when you will board the bus for Hanoi. Your tour will eventually finish in Hanoi at around 9:00 PM.

Start the tour with an 8 PM departure from your hotel lobby in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, or choose to meet at the local operator's office on Au Trieu Street. The tour guide/driver will drive you to Hanoi station where you board the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. The next morning at 6 AM, get picked up from Lao Cai station for a 1-hour drive in a shared minivan to Sapa.  After freshening up and stopping for breakfast in a local restaurant, explore Sapa on foot. Stop to visit the local market and the old cathedral. Meet local communities such as Black H’mong and Red Zao. Browse fresh produce and handmade souvenirs. At 10:30 AM, return to the operator's Sapa Office and embark on your hike to the Muong Hoa Valley. Follow the main road heading south for about 1 hour before turning onto a footpath that leads downhill through the valley. Admire the spectacular scenery of the highest part of Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. On a good day, you will be able to see Fansipan Peak in the distance. Cross the river by a suspension bridge and then take a challenging uphill hike to the Y Linh Ho Village. Visit H’mong families and see their daily work. After a picnic lunch, continue along the undulating trail for about 2 hours until you reach Lao Chai, a large village that is home to the H’mong. Then, follow the river bank to Ta Van village which is home to the Zay people. Take the opportunity to visit local homes and village schools. Settle down in Ta Van village for an overnight homestay. On the second day, say goodbye to your host family and depart Ta Van village after breakfast. Take the uphill trail, passing incredible terraced rice fields and some small hamlets belonging to the H'mong peoples. Hike through a beautiful bamboo forest then stop for a well-deserved break as to admire the magnificent scenery. Continue walking for half an hour to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Zao peoples which sits on the top of a hill and looks down over the Muong Hoa River. Spend some time visiting the village, making friends with the locals, and experiencing their hospitality. Cross over the river by another suspension bridge and then continue uphill again to Hau Thao village. Here, spend some time visiting a local handicraft center where H’mong and Zao women gather to exchange experiences and skills. Stop for a late lunch nearby and chance to relax. Get acquaintance with local school boys, girls, and their teachers. At 5:30 PM the guide will transfer you back to Lao Cai station where you will board the overnight train to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at 5 AM the following morning.

Head to Sapa and enjoy an overnight stay in the mountains of northern Vietnam. Trek to ethnic minority villages and experience local culture and hospitality. Detailed Itinerary Day 1: Hanoi to Sapa and Short Trek (Lunch, Dinner) Meet the tour guide for the bus to Lao Cai and Sapa (duration roughly 5 hours). Check-in at your hotel, then take a walk around Sapa, visiting the market and old cathedral, and meet Black H’mong and Red Zao ethnic minorities selling handicrafts. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch and then trek through Cat Cat village, stopping at local homes and experiencing the hospitality. (Trekking distance approximately 2.5 km; duration about 2 hours) Return to the hotel for dinner at 5:00 PM and overnight stay. Day 2: Long Trek and Sapa to Hanoi by Bus (Breakfast, Lunch) Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and heading on a trek to Muong Hoa Valley. Walk to Y Linh Ho village and stop for a picnic lunch. Continue to Lao Chai and Ta Van village, visiting homes and local schools. (Trekking distance approximately 9 km; duration about 5.5 hours) Meet your group at the hotel and head to the bus station. Drop off in Hanoi is at the bus office (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) or your hotel/ apartment in the Old Quarter (Monday to Thursday).

Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa by bus, free and easy After 6:30 AM pick-up, depart to Sapa town. Following the highway to Lao Cai city, see the rice fields on both sides of the road and enjoy the peaceful scenery. Take a short comfort break at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa. At 1:00 PM, arrive in Sapa, take a quick break to freshen up then walk around this charming town, paying visit to Sapa market and the old cathedral. Meet local ethnic minority people such as Black H’mong and Red Zao wearing their traditional colorful dresses, selling farming products and handicrafts as souvenirs. A meal with local Vietnamese dishes will be served in a local restaurant. After lunch, spend some free time this afternoon discovering Sapa town by yourself. Around 5:45 PM,  enjoy dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. Overnight at hotel. Day 2: Sapa - Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van village (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Wake up in the morning and enjoy the fresh air. Have a local breakfast in the restaurant, then, get ready for trekking. Check out the room and begin your exploration trip to Muong Hoa valley. Follow the main road heading south for about an hour before turning right to a foot path down hill to Muong Hoa Valley. This part offers spectacular scenery of the highest part of Hoang Lien Son mountain range and on a nice day, Fansipan Peak can be seen. Crossing the river by a suspension bridge you will challenge your feet uphill to Y Linh Ho village. Here, pay a visit to some H’mong families, and watch them doing their daily work. After a picnic lunch, the trail continues up and down hill for about 2 hours as you reach Lao Chai, a large village of the H’mong and then follow the river bank to Ta Van of the Zay people. Visiting local homes, and village schools, enjoy your cultural discovery of local ethnic people as well as breathtaking scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley. Settle down in Ta Van village for an overnight home stay. Accommodation: Homestay in Ta Van Village Day 3: Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Sapa – Hanoi (breakfast, lunch) Leaving Ta Van village after Breakfast, take the trail uphill, passing fascinating terraced rice fields and some small hamlets of the H’mong before getting through a bamboo forest to a waterfall. Enjoy a break for some magnificent scenery and then continue walking for half an hour to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Zao people, which sits on the top of a hill and looks down Muong Hoa river. After spending time visiting the village, making friends with the Zao and experiencing the hospitality, cross the river by another suspension bridge and then go uphill again to Hau Thao village. Visit a local handicraft center where H’mong and Zao women gather to exchange experience and skills of making handicrafts. A late Lunch will be prepared nearby this center and then you have time to relax and prepare before heading back to Hanoi. The tour guide will take you to the bus station. Tour ends. The bus journey back to Hanoi takes five or six hours (depending on traffic). Arrive in Hanoi around 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Please notice the drop off location: - During weekdays (Monday to Thursday): your hotel/apartment in the Old Quarter - During Weekends (Friday to Sunday): the bus office or street corner that is close to your hotel/apartment in the Old Quarter. (There is a walking street area on some streets in the Old Quarter during the weekend and the transfers are not allowed inside these walking streets).

Learn about the ethnic minority people of Vietnam on a 2-day trek through the Hoang Lien Son mountains. Spend the night at a homestay and more. Day 1: Hanoi – Sa Pa (L, D) Journey towards Lao Cai past rice fields and peaceful scenery. Arrive in Sa Pa and take a walking tour to visit the local market and meet ethnic minority Black H’mong and Red Zao people in their traditional costumes. Trek through the Muong Hoa valley after lunch. Brave the suspension bridge to Y Linh Ho village, where you can watch the H’mong people go about their daily lives. Continue up the mountain to Lao Chai village, and then check into your homestay, where you can learn about the mountain life of the Dzay ethnic minority people.  Day 2: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Sa Pa – Hanoi (B, L) Trek from Ta Van village and see the terraced rice fields, small hamlets and bamboo forests of the Hoang Lien Son mountains. Continue to the Red Zao village of Giang Ta Chai and get beautiful views of the Muong Hoa River. Continue uphill to visit a handicraft center in Hau Thao village, where the H’mong and Zao women gather to exchange skills. Meet the children and teachers of a local school before driving back to Sa Pa. Get some free time to explore the market and town center before taking the bus back to Hanoi.

Day 1: Get picked up from the meeting point between 6:45 and 7:00 AM. The bus will stop for a couple breaks before arriving in Sapa at 12:30 PM. Once there, you will meet some local ethnic minority community members from the H’mong, Dzao and Tay tribes, in their colorful traditional costumes. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch and check in to your hotel afterwards. At around 2 PM, continue your tour with a drive to Cat Cat village, home to the Black H’mong ethnic minority and located at the foot of Mount Fansipan (the highest mountain in Vietnam). Your local guide will introduce you to local daily life and you will trek down to the valley. The two-hour trek covers about 4 km (2.3 miles). In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Sapa for dinner by 5:00 PM. Enjoy some leisure time afterward. Day 2: After breakfast, take a 5 km trek along rice terraces to the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai. Then, trek to Ta Van village, home to the Dzao ethnic minority. The total trekking distance is about 9 km and lasts about four hours. At 11:30 AM, a bus will pick you up at Ta Van Bridge to head back to Sapa. After lunch, enjoy some free time to discover Sapa on your own. In the evening, return to your hotel for dinner and another overnight stay. Day 3: After breakfast you will trek to Ham Rong (Dragon’s Jaw) Mountain. There are several well-tended flower gardens along the way and you will take in a breathtaking view at the top of Ham Rong Mountain. This two-hour trek is approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) long. At 11:00 AM, you will be back at your hotel to check out and have lunch. By 3:00 PM you will be on your way back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel around 9:00 PM.

The Chapa Express Train is one of the newest trains in Vietnam and makes the overnight journey between Hanoi and Lao Cai - Sapa, one of style and comfort with 14 compact yet fully equipped cabins featuring air-conditioning, reading lights, comfortable beds and Sapa-inspired décor. Travel through the night with the gentle swaying of the train to rock you to sleep, allowing you to arrive refreshed and ready to take on the day. Daily train departure from Hanoi (Tran Quy Cap Railway Station at 01 Tran Quy Cap Street) will be at 22:00 and daily departure from Lao Cai Railway Station will be at 21:40. High-speed internet, restrooms, toiletries and hot/ cold water will all be available on-board for your convenience. Feel right at home with complimentary welcome drinks, snacks (biscuits/ fresh fruits) and hot/ cold towels. Well-trained, professional and multilingual Chapa Express Train staff will also be on hand to assist you throughout the journey. All Chapa Express Train guests have access to the Chapa Lounge in the Lao Cai Railway Station with shower facilities, food and beverages and complimentary Wi-Fi.