Sapa Wonder and Minority Market

Please, be ready at your hotel lobby at 20.00 for a short transfer to Hanoi railways station for taking the overnight train (first class 4 beds cabin with air-condition) which arrive in Lao Cai city, near the Chinese border next morning. 

If trains are unavailable, you will be picked up at your hotel in time to catch the 10PM sleeper cabin bus to Lao Cai.

The train arrives at Lao Cai station early at about 6AM, meet your guide and driver as you check out and an hour transfer uphill the Hoang Lien Son mountains to Sapa. Great views of valleys and terraced rice fields along the way.

After Breakfast your guide will show you around for a brief introduction of this charming town. At the market, ethnic minority people of different groups wearing their traditional costumes made by themselves comes every day selling local products includes vegetable, bamboo shoot, mushroom, medicinal herbs and souvenirs…there are chances to get intact and taking photos.

Later you will follow the footsteps uphill to the top of Ham Rong Mountain for over viewing beautiful scenery of the town and surrounding area, paying visit to an orchard garden and a mini museum which tells you a lot about ethnic minority people living in Sapa and the northwest region. Later in the afternoon, you may wish to continue your walk down hill to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong, 5 km away or drop in a local terraced café to enjoy your self as the cloud comes 

 Overnight at 3-star hotel in Sapa

Today morning, you will visit Ta Phin commune 14 km southeast of Sapa town. Located in a large valley, surrounded by high mountains, which covered by pine trees and forest, Ta Phin Commune is home to the Red Zao and Black H’mong ethnic. Although living close to each other for years, these two ethnic peoples are very different: The H’mong are cheerful and open minded while the Red Zao are economical and reserved… 

Take a 14km drive to the center of the valley, you will enjoy an easy walk following village path around the valley, paying visit to H’mong hamlets scattering from the bottom of the valley to higher mountain slopes. From high elevation, great view of the valley stretching under your foot. Continue your walk to the Red Zao village in which you will meet groups of women making handicrafts includes embroidered clothes, handbags… Transfer back to Sapa for Lunch and noon break.

Afternoon, Local guide and driver will pick you up at about 02.00 pm and then drive up hill to see the famous Silver Waterfall and then onto Tram Ton, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam at 1,800 m above sea level for enjoying the magnificence of Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range as well as over viewing spectacular landscapes of the whole area, stretching endlessly. Transfer back to Sa Pa and relax.

Overnight at 3-star hotel in Sapa

Two high ranges of mountains run in parallel southwest of Sa Pa town create Muong Hoa valley, famous for its breathtaking scenery in the region which is home to the major part of Sa Pa’s ethnic population including the H’mong, Zao, Zay, Tay and Xa Pho.

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the spectacular Muong Hoa. A Jeep will take us out of the town, following the only road built on the side of a mountain range, looking down the valley, over viewing magnificent landscapes composed of high mountains, deep valleys, and stream of water winding, waterfalls and terraced rice paddies…Many time, leaving the main road, you will visit tribal villages such as Ta Van of the Zay, Su Pan of the Black H’mong,  drive back to Sapa. Evening is at your leisure.

Overnight at 3-star hotel in Sapa

Depending on what date it is today, you can choose one of the market available for your interest in our market list and we shall refine a detail itinerary and activities.

After a day joining locals and enjoying their market atmosphere and activities, you will have VIP sleeping bus from Sapa to Hanoi at 4p.m and arrive in Hanoi at 10p.m-10.30p.m.