5 Days Sapa Expansion (start from Ha Noi)

Today your adventure begins when you are transferred from your hotel to the Hanoi railway station to get on either Victoria Express,  Tulico, or Livitrain overnight train to Lao Cai. Stay relax on this 8 and a half hour journey through the exotic landscapes of northern Vietnam. Of these trains, the Victoria have air-conditioned cabins (2 or 4 berths).

Overnight on the train.

Arrive at Lao Cai station in the early morning, where you will meet your guide who will take you to a local restaurant for a tasty hot breakfast. Then you will take a short and scenic drive to Bac Ha to visit the popular Sunday market, where you will find plenty of locals from the various hill tribes. The Bac Ha market is the most colorful in North Vietnam with unique tribe foods, special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn plumps, apples, peaches, and other fruits. On next step, you will be on a tour of the house of King Hoang A Tuong, a tribal mandarin who ruled this area like a king while Vietnam was under the French colonial rule. This royal house-palace was built in the 1920’s by the French colonists, under the hand of Chinese laborers. Later we will drive through the countryside to arrive at Sapa and then arrived at your hotel during in the late afternoon. Sapa is nestled in a spectacular valley and surrounded by wonderful and ever-changing views. The town begins as a hill station by the French in 1922. The Hmong and Dao people are the majority here and known for their welcoming culture and distinctive colorful clothing.

Overnight in Sapa.

Today enjoy a full day of sightseeing through villages of more than 30 ethnic groups around Sapa. Start with a short trekking (1.6 km) towards the bottom of the Muong Hoa Valley where you will find the stunning Cat Cat village. Admire the lush scenery of green rice terraces and the colorful Hmong houses as you stroll down. Cat Cat village is an aged village and the homeland of the Black H’Mong’ ethnic minority. The village seems time stand still, with the existence of H’Mong’s unique customs and costumes. The village is filled with young women weaving colorful brocades adorned with patterns of local birds and flowers. After that, we will be heading off to Ta Van village, home of the Giay people, who are closer to the Red Delta area ethnics customs. After a break for lunch, we will climb up to the Ham Rong Mountain to enjoy a panorama view of this town. Then visit the orchid gardens filled with delicate and colorful flowers.

Overnight in Sapa.

Today begins with a morning drive to the Coc Ly market. Observe the peaceful life of the different ethnic tribes (Flower H’mong, Black Dzao, Tay, and Dzay) as you wander through the colorful marketplace. Your guide helps you meet the locals and learn about their wares. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we will depart to Trung Do village which is inhabited by Tay minority people. After visiting the local Catholic Church, get ready for an exhilarating 2-hours boat trip down the Chay River. Enjoy a majestic landscape of the high Tay Con Linh Mountains, consisting of breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful caves, and bustling life along the riverbanks. Next, drive back to the Lao Cai station to take the night train back to Hanoi.

Overnight on the train.

Arrive at the Hanoi train station in the early morning. Your tour ends today with your transfer to either the Hanoi airport or to your hotel.