Day 01: Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai
Train:
Pick up at your hotel then transfer to the station for a night train to Sapa. Overnight train soft sleeper with AC to Lao Cai. The train leaves at 20:25' from Hanoi railway station
Day 02: Lao Cai – Bac Ha Market (only on Sunday) – Sapa (B, L)
Accommodation: hotel
After meeting a guide at the Lao Cai railway station we have breakfast there and go to the Bac Ha Market for two hours by a van. This is the largest market in the region, a place where many ethnic groups gather to buy and sell, eat and drink together. There are 10 minority groups in the Bac Ha region. We can buy homemade handicrafts and clothes. In the afternoon we will have a 2 hour trek to Ban Pho village (Flower H’Mong people) where we can have look in their houses and understand little more about their lifestyle and traditional customs. Especially, we can try homemade wine from corn. And then we drive back to Sapa for 3 hours. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 03: Sapa – Lao Chai Ta Van (Homestay) (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Local Homestay
At 10 am we leave the hotel and start trekking. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. After this you continue to Ta Van Village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are built of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here.
Day 04: Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan - Sapa –Night train to Hanoi (B, L)
Train: King Express / Livitrans Express
After the breakfast we continue to visit Red Dzao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also see a waterfall. The Red Dzao women have very colorful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao Legend.
We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and trek up to Su Pan where you will meet the jeep and transfer back to Sapa. Evening take a transfer to Lao Cai station for a night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 05: Hanoi
Arrive Hanoi in the early morning. End of all services here. (No any services on this day)
Market Optional: (you can choose one of the below market)
- Coc Ly Market (Available on Tuesday only)
- Cao Son Market (Available on Wednesday only)
- Lung Khau Nhin Market ( Available on Thursday only)
- Can Cau Market (Available on Saturday only)
- Muong Hum Market (Available on Sunday only)
- Muong Khuong Market (Available on Sunday only)
All transfer and transportation vehicle with air conditioning01 night hotel in Sapa base on twin sharing room01 night home stayEnglish speaking tour guideSoft sleeper train ticket: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi ( soft sleeper)Meals as listed in the itinerary: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D – DinnerEntrance fees and water.
Car and guide on free timeHotel in HanoiOther meals and drinksPersonal expenseTravel insurance
