Surrounding Sapa are the Hoang Lien Mountains, which the French nicknamed the Tonkinese Alps. These mountains include Fansipan, which at 3143 metres is Vietnam’s highest.
Unlike the nearby hill tribe village, the architecture of Sapa looks distinctly European. This is because for nearly 100 years, up until 1954, many French people moved there from other parts of Vietnam to escape the tropical heat.
The H’mong and Dzao people are the largest ethnic groups in the region. While the most eye-catching people are Red Dao, who wear scarlet head-dresses with woollen tassels and silver trinkets.
The most numerous are the Hmong people, who make up over one third of the district’s population. Hmong women are the most commercially minded, selling their embroidered indigo blue waistcoats, bags, hats, and silver jewellery to tourists.
Sapa is a great place to base yourself and shop beside the locals who frequent the Saturday market.
If you’re looking to escape the tourist buses, head a bit further afield to Bac Ha.
There are 10 Montagnard hill tribe groups who live around Bac Ha in the highlands, and many make the trek down from the mountains for their big shopping day. Some hill tribe people have to walk up to 30 kilometres through the mountains to get there, with all their goods in tow on the way back.
Itinerary Summary:Meals : B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
DAY 1:HA NOI – SA PA – CAT CAT – SA PA (L-D)
6:30 – 7:00 – Our driver and tour guide will come and pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi to depart for Sapa.
10:00 – Follow the highway to Lao Cai City with a comfortable short break on the way to Sapa.
13:00 – Arrive at Sapa town and be amazed by the colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao, Tay ethnic people. Enjoy welcome drinks and itinerary briefing. Then, have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes before the hotel check-in.
14:30 – Start hiking downhill to Cat Cat village at the bottom of Muong Hoa Valley. Enjoy the
spectacular views of the beautiful valley towards Fansipan – the highest peak in Vietnam and
Indochina. Upon arrival at the village, you will have a chance to visit the Black H’mong’s traditional stilt houses as well as watch people weaving, embroidering, and drying their clothes, etc. Then, keep walking to visit the dramatic and picturesque Cat Cat Waterfall, which is a great spot for photo-shoots.
17:00 – Return to Sapa town for dinner. Enjoy your free time in the afternoon to explore Sapa
Market and town.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 2: SA PA – BAC HA MARKET – LAO CAI – HA NOI (B-L)
6:15 – 7:00 – Have breakfast at the hotel, check out, and prepare your luggage before departing for Bac Ha market.
7:00 – 14:00 – Take a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Bac Ha Town, the home of Flower H’Mong people. Visit Bac Ha market, the busiest and most popular weekly market of the minorities
in the Northern Vietnam. Have lunch at local restaurant at noon. Take a short walk to visit Hoang A Tuong’s palace (H’mong King’s palace), which was built in 1914 with French– Vietnamese architectural style and then visit Pho Village of the Flower H’Mong people. The trekking distance is about 4km and the duration is roughly 2 hours.
14:00 – Take a 2-hour drive back to Lao Cai City. Here you will have a short break and a shower before being transferred back to Hanoi City.
16:30 – Depart from Lao Cai City.
21:15 – Arrive in Hanoi. The tour ends
Two round trip train tickets in a 4 soft-sleeper shared-cabin (Except OPT 1)
Local English speaking guide, Other languges upon your request
Twin /Double sharing Room at hotel in Sapa
Meal as mentioned in program ( B= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner )
Sightseeing fees/Entrance fees
Transport as programe
Taxes
Service charge
* Breakfast every morning you back from the trip*
* Welcome drink
* Luggage storage
What to bring:
Passport
Sun Block
Camera + Film
Comfortable footwear for trekking
Rain gear
Warm clothes
Insect Repellent
Tour itinerary and price are very flexible. In order to get the most special price and your require is met perfectly, please contact us here
