Sapa surrounding trek

Sapa Vietnam is home to a great diversity of ethnic minority people. It is likely that, Sapa was first inhabited by highland minorities of H’mong and Yao group and later came the Tay, Zay, and a small number of Xa Pho to form the 5 main ethnic groups which takes about 85% of the district’s population today and a very small number of them live in Sapa town, most of them live in small villages and hamlets scattering in valleys and hamlets scattering in valleys and mountains. 

This tour is exclusively designed for those who want to spend most of their time relaxing and sightseeing at one of the most beautiful tourist sites in Vietnam. That is Sapa, where you can have a great time discovering one interesting place after another and learning new things about hill tribe people.

Sapa surrounding trek

8.00 pm: We depart ODC's Sales Office to Hanoi Railway Station to catch the night train (soft sleeper with air conditioning) to Lao Cai.

Day 1: Lao Cai - Sapa

5.00 am: Arrive in Lao Cai and be transferred by shuttle bus to Sapa, which gives yours eyes a massage with the endless blue sky and colorful terraced paddy field. The road is curved around the mountain and you will just go from one surprised to another. The further you go, the closer you are to the sky and to nature. 

On arrival, you will stop by our office and leave your luggage and possibly take a shower in our partner hotel’s waiting room.

7.00 am: Have breakfast at a local restaurant.

8.00 a.m: After breakfast, take a walking tour of Sapa for a visit to the busy market where Red Dao, Black & Flower H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts, vegetable, bamboo shoot, mushroom, medicinal herbs and souvenirs…

Tip from ODC:

At your free time, you could go up to Ham Rong peak where you are able to experience a stunning vista over the charming Sapa town. This is a great chance for some unforgettable photos! This is recommended for the good weather afternoon only (Entrance fee is not included).

2.00 p.m: Check in hotel and relax. Overnight at Sa Pa.

Day 2: Sapa-Giang Ta Chai-Seo Trung Ho- 17 km by car, 15 km trekking, round 5 hours of trekking.(B/L/D)

7.30 a.m: Breakfast at hotel.

8.00 a.m: Take a car ride along MuongHoa valley to visit Giang Ta Chai village; it is home to the Red Dzao who wears plain black trousers and a long black tunic with embroidered cuffs and lapels. From here, we can visit a waterfall and a rattan bridge.

8.30 a.m: Start treckking 4-5 hours through the forests up and down in Fanxipan range then reach Seo Trung Ho village of the Red Dzao. This is an almost untouched village and there are very few tourists getting here. In here, there is a chance to enjoy a most beautiful waterfall in Sapa which comes from a height of about 70 m. And it is time to have a delicious picnic lunch by the crystal clear river.

2.00 p.m: Arrive Seo Trung Ho village, enjoy homestay of stilt house. Stay overnight in this village with a Dzao family.

The Red Dzao is one of the ethnic groups that live in the region. They are called Red Dzao because they always use red to decorate the clothes they wear. There are two curiosities about this tribe. The first is that you can know how rich a woman is by the size of her hat. The other is that the local canon of beauty says women have to shave their hair and eyebrows. Can you see the girl at the background? She shaved her eyebrows.The Red Dzao live, mainly, in Tam Doung and Dong Van.

Day 3: Seo Trung Ho-Ta Trung Ho-Ban Ho. Round 17 km trekking in the forests. (B/L/D)

8.00 a.m: After breakfast with the family, start climbing up to the mountain for another untouched village: Ta Trung Ho village located at about 1450m above the sea level. 

1.00 p.m: Picnic lunch at the village and then descends forward to Nam Toong village with the Red Dao people originated from China and migrated to Vietnam starting around the 12th or 13th century and continuing until the early 20th century. The majority migrated into Vietnam during the Minh dynasty, due to drought, failed crops and the pressures of Feudalism in China.

And the last minutes trekking is go to visit BanHo village with different minority: The Tay people who have houses on stilts.

5.00 p.m: Stay the night at Ban Ho village in a house on stilts. Have dinner with the family.

Ban Ho is worth the somewhat difficult journey to get there, as the village rewards visitors with stunning views of unspoiled sites and an opportunity to discover the daily activities of the ethnic people Tay. 

Day 4: Ban Ho-Su Pan-Sa Pa, 4 hours trekking of 10 km and 23 km by car.(B/L/D)

8.00 a.m: After breakfast at BanHo, walk out of the Lavie Stream in the scenic village Ban Ho, more than 26 kilometers away from the famous resort town of Sapa. The water was fresh and cleans in the stream which ran from rocks and hills where a few minority groups live.

Young citizens of Lao Cai Province Vietnam and foreign tourists often trek to Ban Ho to indulge in the pristine Lavie Stream, enjoy the sweet sound of running water from the Ca Nhay Waterfalls and other natural attractions of the tranquil village.

1.00 p.m: Back to Ban Ho and get up to the river, cross it and keep going to Su Pan Village for 2 minorities – The H’Mong and the Red Dzao. Also located along Muong Hoa Valley like Lao Chai and Ta Van but Su Pan Commune can be referred to as “mountainous commune”. Occupying the highland on the east side of the main road about 17 Km from Sapa town, Su Pan including 4 small hamlets of the Black H’mong and Red Zao looks down to the Muong Hoa Valley and is one of the poorest commune to Sapa due to the thin and poor soil, you can take a rest while you are served lunch.

3.00 p.m: Take jeep back to Sapa. Have hot shower at the hotel.

6.00 pm: Bus departs ODC's Office in Sapa for Lao Cai.

7.00 p.m: Dinner at Lao Cai station.

8.20 p.m: Night train back to Hanoi.

5.00 a.m: Tour ends at Hanoi Railway Station.

Tour includes:

• Transfer from the hotel to Hanoi Railway station 

• Roundtrip transfer between Lao Cai and Sapa 

• Train ticket Lao Cai – Hanoi - Lao Cai ( Soft sleeper with A/C - 4 persons in one cabin)

• 1 night at 3* hotel in Sapa (breakfast included) 

• 2 nights home-stay in the villages 

• Full board meals 

• Tours and activities as stated above 

• Security permits 

• English speaking guide 

• Entrance fees

Tour excludes: 

• Travel insurance 

• Extra food and beverages 

• Phone and laundry 

• Tips and personal expenses

Tour Notes:

• Breakfast in hotel : Buffet(plentiful and variety food) 

• Bring walking shoes, Raincoat, Jacket, extra clothes, torch, insect repellent and Sunscreen... 

• Train departure from Ha Noi at 9'15PM and from Lao Cai at 20'45PM 

• Pick you up at your hotel at 8'00PM 

• Please take your passport to check in hotel. 

• Beware of your luggage and money 

• Inform in advance if you are vegetarian. 

• All customers must obey the order of your tour guide for your safety. 

• Passengers are advised not to take along big luggage for convenience.