NIGHT 1: HANOI - NIGHT BUS/TRAIN
OPTION 1: HANOI - NIGHT BUS
21.00 - 21.30 Our shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotels/hostels in Hanoi Old Quarter and transfer you to bus station to take about 5,5 hours by the sleeping bus to Sapa. You will arrive Sapa Bus station at 3.30 - 4.00, you can sleep on bus until 6.00 (no air-condition on bus when stopping).
OPTION 2: HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN
20.30 Our staff from Indochina Beauty Travel will pick up at your hotels/hostels in Hanoi Old Quarter, transfer to Hanoi Train station, take the night train to Lao Cai, this train departs at 10:00 Pm – arrive in the next morning at 06:00 Am - Train cabin 4 berth with A.C - sharing cabin.
DAY 1: SAPA – Y LINH HO – LAO CHAI – TA VAN – SAPA (BREAKFAST/ LUNCH/ DINNER)
6.00 Our driver will pick up at the Sapa bus/train station when you arrive and transfer by shuttle bus to the hotel in Sapa.
Have breakfast at hotel.
09:00 Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel, then we start 3km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong - visit local school and local houses then continue 4km of trekking down to Lao Chai village of the H’mong.
Have picnic lunch on the way.
After lunch, we trek more 4 Km through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people. This is a good chance to learn about the local architecture, daily life styles and customs. Then return to Sapa town by minibus.
Enjoy a dinner and free time in the evening. Stay overnight at hotel.
DAY 2: CAT CAT – SIN CHAI – SAPA (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
9.00 A walk down the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong. It is located in the foot of Fansipan Mountain. You can learn about their way of life and see traditional clothing being made, hemp being dyed and women weaving. Relax at the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam.
Then walk through Muong Hoa Valley for 3km through rice terraces and small dwellings to Sin Chai, the village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. You will have the opportunity to see traditional wooden homes built using the indigenous Pumu tree. Take a jeep to back your hotel.
Enjoy a dinner and free time in the evening. Stay overnight at hotel.
DAY 3: SAPA – BAC HA MARKET – BAN PHO VILLAGE - HANOI (BREAKFAST, LUNCH,) (on Sunday only)
07:30 Our tourguide will pick you up at your hotel in Sapa town, then we depart to Bac Ha Town, which is located at 110km far from Sapa, well-known for a small mountain town with the biggest colorful market of the hill tribes in the North of Vietnam.
Bac Ha Market is attended by at least 8 ethnic groups and especial opens only on Sunday's morning from 08:30 Am to 12:00 (noon). Visit this market is the great chance for foreigners who want to explore and touch the local cultures and customs.
After visiting market, we go to visit the H’mong King’s palace (old building built by the French and Chinese). Have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we go for a light trek to visit Ban Pho village, village of Flower H’mong minority group. This village is well-known for making local corn wine which is so strong taste but good quality in Bac Ha area.
We are invited to enter several local houses to have some green tea, corn wine, listen to the host talking about their family, talk to them… and then we drive back to Sapa town.
Have dinner then we transfer you to bus/train station. Take the night bus/train back to Hanoi. Tour ends.
Notes:
- Overnight on train: soft sleeper train cabin 4 berth with A.C - sharing cabin.
- Overnight on bus: You will arrive Hanoi about 3.30-4.00am, you can not continue to sleep on bus, so please prepare the accomodation for early arriving. Or you can change to day bus starts at 3.30pm from Sapa and arrive in Hanoi at 9pm (this option excludes dinner on the last day).